All Year Sunshine – Canary Islands Cruise

The seven islands which go to make-up the Canary Islands are situated of the west coast of Africa, each island is home to fascinating wildlife, surreal landscapes, and elegant cities full of marvellous architecture. A cruise holiday has the added luxury of avoiding the well known tourist destinations and takes you to some of the more remote islands, such as La Palma totally unspoilt my visitors. If you choose to cruise to the Canary Islands it will take you three days across the Bay of Biscay. The other option is to fly-cruise with European lines such as Costa and MSC. All distances between ports of call are short and most sailing is done at night, which gives ample opportunity to explore each of these fascinating islands. 

Lanzarote one of the more well known of the Canary Islands is inhabited by no less than 300 volcanic cones, and has experienced volcanic eruptions as recently as the 19th century, whereas the tiny island of La Gomera which has avoided devastating volcanic eruptions is described as a Living Outdoor Museum. La Gomera is famous for the Garajonay National Park where up to 400 different species thrive; many of these species are indigenous to the island and are now extinct on mainland Europe and Africa.

Docking at Tenerife’s capital Santa Cruz you can see Mount Teide which dominates the skyline, at a staggering 12000ft it is Spain’s largest mountain. Some of the best excursions are from Santa Cruz including a trip to the banana and pineapple plantations located nearby in the pretty Orotava valley, or take a trip up Mount Teide and witness first hand its strange lunar landscape.

Lanzarote is the easternmost island in the Canaries it has a windswept and in parts barren terrain, but due to its arid climate it is home to five hundred different types of plants and lichen. At the centre of the island is Timanfaya National Park which is famous for the changing colours of the sand dunes at sunset. At the top of the national park guides demonstrate the geothermal energy simmering beneath the surface, placing brushwood in to the volcanic holes and watching as they burst into flames.

La Palma in relation to its size is the world’s steepest island and completely unspoiled. The capital Santa Cruz still has some beautifully preserved Canarian houses pained in shades of orange and bright yellows. Nearby Los Tilos National Park has been designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. This amazing primeval rainforest has the most astounding waterfalls that plummet to the tree canopy below

Las Palmas the capital of Gran Canaria is full of al fresco cafes, restaurants and stylish shops. Fifteen minutes from the cruise pier is a beautiful beach to sunbathe on, or visit the banana plantations and try the potent banana liquor. All the islands in the canaries have an individual beauty which is best appreciated whilst on a cruise, giving you the opportunity to visit all those hidden gems that have yet to be overpopulated by tourists.

About the Author of this post - Amanda Barnes is a regular guest author for Ideal Cruising, the UK’s premier independent cruise specialist.

By: Amanda Barnes

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