Epic lunar landscapes, boundless beaches, numerous marine parks, and watersports galore – there’s so much to experience on a family holiday to the Canaries. Explore these diverse islands and prepare to be awestruck by the dramatic lava fields and volcanic peaks of the National Parks.
Tour the coasts and idle away the day on a glittering black beach in Tenerife, or amble over fine sandy dunes to find the perfect picnic spot on Fuerteventura holidays. Take to the water on an exhilarating banana boat ride, or discover the world beneath the waves on a glass-bottom boat trip. The possibilities are endless.
A visit to Timanfaya National Park in Lanzarote, for instance, is a geology lesson made real. Its ash and lava-covered terrain has been left virtually unchanged since the last eruption. Bus tours of the park give visitors an up-close view of swirling black lava flows fossilized in time and multicoloured mineral deposits that ring the Fire Mountains.
At the visitor centre high up on a semi-dormant volcano, staff members give demonstrations of the volcano’s intense heat. Brushwood placed in a hole in the ground bursts into flames within seconds and water poured into a borehole turns into a fierce geyser. The heat also powers the oven at the nearby El Diablo restaurant, where you can eat volcano-grilled chicken and take in spectacular views over the other-worldly landscape.
Timanfaya is an absolute must-see during Lanzarote family holidays. Trips are easily arranged from most resorts and tour operators also run excursions from the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura. Hopping between the Canaries is made simple by the regular ferry services that operate from ports on all the main islands.
Another volcanic wonderland not to be missed is Teide National Park on the largest Canary Island of Tenerife. The walk up mighty Mount Teide, which is the highest peak in Spain and the third largest volcano in the world, might be too much for little legs but luckily there’s a cable car waiting to take you to the summit. Daytrips to the park are popular during family holidays to Tenerife and it’s within easy reach from all of the island’s main tourist centres.
The Canary Islands are fringed by beaches too numerous to mention and there’s certainly one to suit every taste. For a classic paradise beach to rival the Caribbean, head to Jandia at the southern tip of Fuerteventura. The fine white sands backed by dunes shelve gently into the turquoise sea and the water is calm and shallow enough for everyone to enjoy.
The beach stretches for miles along the south-east coast, becoming more secluded further south. The white sand is only interrupted by the occasional rocky outcrop where kids can explore the tidal pools for crabs and other marine life. Families keen to take to the water can try windsurfing and other activities near to Morro Jable.
In contrast to Jandia’s white sands, Tenerife’s startling black volcanic beaches offer something a bit different. Explore the remnants of ancient lava flows along the coastline, cool down on a thrilling banana boat ride or hire a snorkel and discover the diverse underwater life of this strange and beautiful coastline. No family holiday to the Canaries would be complete without a visit to one of its excellent marine and animal parks. Tenerife has a variety of parks, including Jungle Land and Monkey Park, and is also home to Loro Parque – possibly the best marine park in the Canaries. It has the largest dolphin pool in Europe and the longest shark tunnel, and it’s one of the only places where you can see an Orca Ocean.
