An archipelago of eight sun-drenched islands 100 miles off the north west shoulder of Africa make up the Canary Islands on the Atlantic Ocean . Chiefly celebrated for year-round vitamin D and playas that rival the Balearics , a geology lesson of landscapes inland transcend even the bright lights of Canaries coastal resorts. The Spanish islands, each as dynamic as the next, offer endless active pursuits, beaches to bathe and cultural adventures to cement their popular position as the place to get away for Brits – five are even listed as Unesco biosphere reserves for their unusual flora and fauna.
Whether tucking into elevated plates of tapas, hiking steep lava fields or doing some serious stargazing, the Canaries masterfully balance budget travel with Michelin-quality luxury for trips that are sure to surprise you. From holiday hotspot Lanzarote to under-the-radar La Gomera, here’s where and how to find winter sun and summer holiday getaways on the Canary Islands – just over a four-hour flight from the UK . Read more: This Canary Island resort is a haven for active travellers – and surprisingly good for toddlers too What to do in winter: Take a whale-watching boat trip, hike in the Anaga Mountains and see snow atop Mount Teide Tenerife is sandwiched between the Sahara and the Atlantic, with tropical forest trails in Parque Nacional Las Cañadas del Teide, journeys into the arteries of a dormant volcano, Mount Teide and Europe’ s first Whale Heritage Site, home to 28.