Self Catering Holidays In The Canary Islands

The Canary Islands are located in the Atlantic Ocean, little more than 100 miles from the coast of Africa. The weather is reputed to be the best in the world, a bit like Goldilocks' porridge: neither too hot nor too cold, and much the same all year. Average temperatures fall between 21 degrees in winter and 27 degrees in the peak of the summer.

The most popular winter holiday destination in Europe, The Canary Islands are Spanish and tourism is the main industry. The islands offer a wide choice of self catering apartments and villas, most with pools. English is widely spoken.

The coastal areas of all the islands are well developed with hotels, apartment blocks and villas. Many of the apartments and villas were purchased by absentee owners who spend only part of the year in their properties. Most are rented during the remainder of the year on a self catering basis, a profitable business as holiday accommodation is in demand all year because of the agreeable climate.

Tenerife is the largest of the islands. Triangular in shape with a dormant volcano, Mount Teide, in the middle of the island, Tenerife is the most popular winter holiday destination in Europe with most visitors coming from the UK. Tourism is concentrated in the south of the island which is hotter and drier. The north is more lush and cooler. Mountains separate the two different mini-climates.

Gran Canaria has the largest population of the seven Canary Islands and is home to the largest town, Las Palmas which is a shopper's paradise. Like Tenerife, Gran Canaria's climate is split into tow distinct halves with a hotter, drier south and a cooler, greener north. Mountains separate the two.

Again, like Tenerife, tourists flock to the south of the island which is home to the well known beaches of El Ingles, Maspolmas, and Casa de los Coroneles. If you visit Gran Canaria you should take trips to the picturesque fishing villages of Puerto de Morgan, Pasito Blanco and Puerto Rico.

The Canary Islands were formed by volcanic eruptions in the 17th and 18th centuries. Nowhere is this more noticeable than in Lanzarote where the landscape is black and almost moon-like. The National Park of Timanfaya includes spectacular scenery and is a popular tourist choice. The beaches here are famous for their fine sand.

Fuerteventura is home to the longest beaches in the Canary Islands. The stretch running between the towns of Pajara and Jandia offers some 4 miles of golden sand. This area is popular with divers who can enjoy the spectacular underwater world.

The other 3 Canary islands are less developed in terms of tourism and offer much less choice of self catering apartments and villas. Tenerife has a ferry service to the island of La Gomera which has large banana plantations and small sandy bays. La Palma, or Green Island as it is also known, is, as the name suggests, home to lush green forests. The island also has spectacular waterfalls and a wild landscape. The smallest of the Canary Islands is El Hierro which is very popular with divers.

Not for nothing are the Canary Islands the most popular holiday destination for so many Europeans. The climate is as near perfection as one could ask for, and the scenery is spectacular and varied. Indeed, the islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria in particular enjoy completely different climates and scenery in the south and north of each island. Once you visit the Canaries you will want to return many times, as on each visit you can enjoy a very different experience.