Tenerife is the biggest island and is as lush as any tropical paradise except for the volcanic zones where the landscape is almost lunar-like and the famous Mount Teide with its snow-capped peak.

Gran Canaria has wonderful beaches to offer and a swinging nightlife. It is famous for bananas and tomatoes.

Fuerteventura has the most beaches of all the islands and just a stone's throw away from the Sahara Desert.

La Gomera consists of a hilly landscape and often appears as the most exotic island to visitors. You will arrive on the island by boat (75 minutes by ferry or 35 minutes by hovercraft), from Tenerife (Los Cristianos port). Your first stop is the capital of the island, San Sebastian de la Gomera, a town of some 6,000 inhabitants. The town has many interesting monuments. The island forest is the most treasured gem and is a protected park.

La Palma is the northernmost island and is referred to as 'la Isla Bonita' because of its immense natural beauty. The capital is Santa Cruz.

Since ancient times the climate has been the most outstanding attribute of the islands. It has been described as perpetual springtime. The Greeks called the islands the 'Fortunate Islands'. The fame of the Canaries as a travel destination began in the 18th century when Europeans began to visit the volcanic landscapes. The fame of the islands grew as a place of rest. The islands are currently one of the top destinations for European tourism, welcoming more than 8 million visitors a year. 50% of visitors to the islands return at some point.

The islands present more than 1,100km (930 miles) of coastline, most of which comprises of magnificent beaches. Coupled with the allure of volcanoes, forests and other spectacular scenery, the islands have much to offer.

The waters of the Atlantic are slightly cooler in the Canary Islands due to the fact that the Gulf Current moves in a north to south direction. The ocean between the islands is a deep blue colour due to the depth of up to 3,000 metres. Much of the sand on the beaches is pure white. Some of the beaches in Tenerife are covered with golden sand, imported from the Sahara desert. The temperatures here are mild, rarely going below 19ºC in winter or above 25ºC in the summer.

Hotels on the islands can accommodate more than 400,000 visitors and are among the best in Europe. Most of the hotels are located along the coastal strip, however, there is an increasing number of hotels springing up in rural areas, offering a very different type of holiday, including hiking, biking and other outdoor pursuits. The islands offer 13 golf courses, 141 nature reserves, 4 national parks, 29 archaeological monuments and hundreds of volcanoes.

The culture
Because of the location of the islands, the people have developed a personality combining many different cultures. Much of the old traditions have been preserved and folk music and folk lore are part of daily life. Canarian handicrafts have also survived. The islanders offer unique linen and lace as well as pottery. The most important festival is without doubt the carnival in February although there is not one month goes by without some kind of fiesta.

The cuisine
Another great attraction of the islands is the food. Its simplicity emphasises the quality of the vegetables, fresh fish and excellent meats. Thick soups are popular along with marinated meats.