It’s mid-winter season. You are clearing the ice off the windshield of your car or you are simply sick of the sky always being gray. We have all been there. The winter blues are there, but we have a way out (not hibernation).
Suppose that in some place there is winter that is not a sensation, but a word. A location where you can be wearing a t-shirt in the month of January and swimming in the ocean as your friends are home in the snow. Greetings from the Canary Islands in Spain!
This Spanish archipelago is usually referred to as the Land of Eternal Spring but is actually European in nature but it is situated off the coast of Africa. Not only is it a marketing phrase, but it is the truth. We recently delved into the reasons why these islands have become the best Spain tourist attractions.Truthfully the more time we spent researching, the more we felt like taking my bag pack as soon as possible.
Without the need to travel far, in case you are seeking a mix of cool volcanic sites, green forests and beaches that seem to be in the Caribbean, then continue reading. This is all you should know about abandoning the cold and getting to the Canary sunshine.
Canary Islands Weather: What Winter Means Here?
You are all likely to ask yourself: Is it warm?
Yes. London and Paris are freezing in the single digits, but the Canary Islands in Spain are usually having a nice 20C to 22C (or 68F to 72F). It is not ever scorching hot, but rather hot enough to feel some ease when resting on a beach towel and attain a tan.
At 19 C (66 F), the water temperature remains constant. It may seem like a brisk one at the start but it is all swimmable.
The contrast is one of the most interesting aspects when visiting in winter. You can be sitting on a beach bar in shorts sipping a cold drink on the island of Tenerife and look up and see that the massive Mount Teide volcano has snow at the top of it. It is something surreal and you cannot experience it in the summer.
What Island Should You Pick?
Many tourists believe that all islands are the same. They are not. They all are completely different in the atmosphere, landscape and the purpose. The following is the scoop to enable you to choose your idealplaces to visit in Spain.
Tenerife: The All-Rounder
Tenerife is where you will find a taste of everything. It is the biggest Island and most popular reason being. There is the city life of bustling Santa Cruz, the luxury resorts of the south and the wild nature.
- The Highlight: Mount Teide. It is the pinnacle of Spain. You can park on a cable car towards the top of the structure and you will have mind-blowing views.
- The Vibe:Busy, fun, and diverse. You may spend the night partying in Playa de las Américas or get lost in the quiet Anaga Rural Park that was a laurel forest similar to the Jurassic park set up.
Gran Canaria: The Miniature Continent
They refer to it as a miniature continent as the weather and scenery are so radically different even in a matter of a few miles. You may begin your day in the green mountains of the north, which are cloudy and then go on to the dry and sunny desert of the south.
- The Highlight:The Dunes of Maspalomas. These gigantic dunes of sand are similar to the Saharan desert. It is a must-do to walk through them during the sunset.
- The City:Las Palmas is an appropriate city with a wonderful beach in the centre of it (Las Canteras). It is awesome when you are interested in both city living and beach dips.
Lanzarote: The Artist’s Volcanic Dream
There is another planet in Lanzarote. Seriously, it looks like Mars. In the 1700s, the island was covered by a tremendous volcanic eruption that left most of the island blanketed in lava leaving a breathtaking black and red landscape.
- The Highlight:Timanfaya National Park. You can even not hike freely here due to the fragile ground (and it is hot too), however, the bus tours carry you through a prehistoric landscape.
- The Culture:Watch out for the impact of Cesar Manrique. He was a native artist who made sure that high-rise hotels did not destroy the island. His designs incorporate the lava rock in the buildings.
Fuerteventura: The Beach Bum’s Paradise
This is your island in case you want to be on the beach 90 percent of your time. Fuerteventura is older and smoother than the others meaning it has limitless white and golden beaches.
- The Highlight:Corralejo Natural Park. Sixteen-mile-long, white dunes and turquoise water
- The Activity:It is a windy area as the name suggests, and therefore the most ideal destination in the world to undergo windsurfing and kiteboarding.
The Hidden Gems: La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro
Want to avoid the crowds?
- La Palma:The Island of the Beautiful. It also has its own whistling language that was known as Silbo Gomero which the locals used to communicate between valleys.
- La Gomera:Magical and quiet. It possesses its own whistling language referred to as Silbo Gomero that was used by the locals to communicate between valleys.
- El Hierro: The smallest and most remote. It’s a diving paradise and runs almost entirely on renewable energy.
Things to Do in Canary Islands (Besides Tanning)
It is so nice to lie on the beach under the sunshine of the winter, and being relaxed all the time will leave you bored. Winters are in fact the best to be on active holidays as you will not die of heat stroke during hiking.
1. Hiking is World-Class
One does not have to be a professional mountaineer to be able to enjoy these trails. The Teno Rural Park has a dramatic landscape in Tenerife. Lanzarote is interesting to walk in the vineyards of La Geria. The winter air is cool and it is even a delight to tackle these trails and not a sweaty affair.
2. Surfing Season
The best swells are brought by winter. Between November and February, surfers come to Europe. It is high season, whether you are a pro who gets after a barrel or you are a complete novice who needs to attend a surf camp. Fuerteventura and Lanzarote offer one of the best breaks and things to do in Spain.
3. Whale and Dolphin Watching
Whales find refuge in the waters between Tenerife and La Gomera. There are pilot whales here all year round. Your best bet is to take a boat tour (preferably one that is eco-friendly) and you are almost guaranteed to see them. It is a memory you do not forget seeing a pod of dolphins playing in the wake of your boat.
4. The Carnival Factor
Going there in February, you are in the wild. Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival comes second to Rio de Janeiro. It is noisy, vibrant, and disorderly in a good way. There is music on the streets, dancing, and crazy costumes. It is a large celebration that engulfs the entire island.
5. Eat Like a Local
I no longer remember the tourist traps that sell burgers. Canarian cuisine is not sophisticated, and it tastes good.
- Papas Arrugadas:These are wrinkled potatoes. They are cooked in salt water (usually sea water) and are accompanied by Mojo, a sauce that is either red (spicy) or green (cilantro/garlic). I could eat this every day.
- Fresh Fish:The Atlantic Ocean is right there and therefore the seafood is fresh as it can be.
- Volcanic Wine:They cultivate grapes in small holes in the black ash in Lanzarote to shield them against the wind. The resultant white wine (Malvasia) is crisp, dry, and has no taste like any other.
Practical Tips for Your Winter Escape
- Pack Layers:This is crucial. It may be 22 C down by the coast, however, as you climb up to the mountains, it may freeze. You should come with a swim suit, a fleece and a windbreaker. You will use all of them.
- Book Ahead for February: Due to the Carnival, the month of February is actually the high season for those seeking culture. Santa Cruz Hotels are booked months before. To have a peaceful visit during this season, you either reserve another section of the island or you select the other island that is not very busy like La Palma.
- Watch Out for “Calima”:Sometimes, a Calima weather phenomenon takes place. It is at this time that dust in the Sahara Desert blows across the islands. It makes the sky orange and even hot and dry. It normally does not take much time but a few days are something to be noted.
- Rent a Car: This is not a big deal, since you want to explore the beaches and mountainous points that are not easily accessible by means of transport. This is not a difficult place to drive, although there are mountain roads that might be curvy and hilly.
The Bottom Line
The Canary Islands are not merely a convenient sunshine destination for Europeans. They are a group of different and unbelievable worlds floating in the Atlantic.
Going during winter is like getting away with it. You get to exchange gray skies with blue, coats with swimsuits and stress with island time. Hiking the crater of a volcano, sipping wine in a black ash vineyard or just reading a book by the pool, it is the ideal reset button.
Therefore, when the cold is dominating you, then cease to dream and begin searching for flights. The Eternal Spring is on hand!
