Get more from your Canary Island Holidays by listening to the locals …
If you’ve been following our story, you’ll know that our children were born in the Canary Islands, on the island of Fuerteventura. They are little “Majoreros”.
We keep saying we should organise a trip back to Fuerteventura so the children can discover the place where they were born. So, in preparation, for this still-to-be-planned trip, I decided to give a shout out to the lovely “Canary Island” Facebook friends we have. These are a wide range of people who have lived or are currently living on one of the Canary Islands. We know that travelling is so much more interesting when you get insider advice and travel tips from people that live in the area.
This is what I posted:
“Calling all my Canary Island friends … If you had to recommend 1 place to visit/thing to do on each of the islands, what would you say?”
Needless to say, these very knowledgeable people shared some excellent tips and suggestions with us. Far too many to share on in this post alone. So, we’re going to share some of the best ones with you.
Here are Our Top Tips for Canary Islands Holidays: From Locals That Know (ie. Not the typical tips you may find in mass produced tourists guides 😉 )
Stunning scenery on La Palma
Fuerteventura: If you are a beach lover, head South and enjoy an away-from-it-all walk from Cofete beach to El Islote. Don’t forget your sun hat, sun cream, camera and plenty of water!
Cofete, Fuerteventura by @AlexBramwellGC
La Graciosa: Visit the tiny island of Graciosa, off Lanzarote. Great for children and walkers as there are very few cars that use the dirt roads all over the island
Lanzarote: Take a Cesar Manrique tour and visit Jameos del Agua, the Mirador del Rio, the Monumento al Campesino, Valley of a Thousand Palms, a Cactus garden and the César Manrique Foundation which was the artist´s home until 1988.
Fresh Fish from Lanzarote, by @grancanariainfo
La Gomera: Visit the Hermigua Valley, walk and then eat in Tasca Telemaco.
Tenerife: walk the forests of the Anaga Mountains & visit World Heritage city of La Laguna.
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- Vews of Tenerife by @madreislena
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- Anaga by @madreislena
El Hierro: Visit the coastal village of La Restinga, it so peaceful and wonderful and offers deliciously fresh fish.
La Palma: Drive to Roque de las Muchachos and then walk into the Calder, a 5 mile-wide crater, and a national park. You will want a camera! And we had to include an extra one here … Go stargazing with one of the firms that take out small groups with good amateur telescopes. Unforgettable!
Gran Canaria: Drive the GC 200 from Mogan to La Aldea, then cut inland to see the centre.
The GC 200 in Gran Canaria by @AlexBramwellGC
With each of the islands having such a variety of experiences to offer, island hopping is a great option. There are companies who offer Canary Islands Cruises, an easy way to visit several of the islands in one trip. You can also opt for a self-drive option, although, travelling by car, to all the islands is not an option. However you chose to travel, plan your trip carefully. Don’t let complicated logistics detract from your enjoyment!
We have not yet decided on a date for our trip down memory lane with our children, but when we do, we know it is going to be an unforgettable experience. We’ll keep you posted.
Mis pequeños Majoreros, by @familyinspain
Before we go, we’d like to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who shared their ideas with us. If you are planning a trip to the Canary Islands, you may want to get some input from these wonderful Canary Island residents, via Twitter: @AlexBramwellGC @grancanariainfo (http://www.photosgrancanaria.com/) @madreislena @MatthewHirtes @sheilacrosby403
