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The Canary Islands have got a good thing going on. With year-round sunshine, dramatic volcanic landscapes, and beaches of all shapes and sizes, this small group of sub-tropical islands in the Atlantic - 60 miles off the coast of north-west Africa and 600 miles south of Spain - are holiday heaven.
Tenerife, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria are the big-hitting holiday destinations in this Spanish archipelago, and each island has its own charm and appeal.
The largest of the Canaries is Tenerife and its landscape is dominated by the dormant volcano Mount Teide (Spain's highest peak at 3,715m, fact fans). Beaches with sand of every shade from black to white break up its 250 miles of coastline and most sun seekers head for lively Playa de las Americas, more relaxed Los Cristanos and vibrant Puerto de la Cruz.
Next is Fuerteventura, a long island with white sand dunes at its north and long stretches of golden sand at its south. A little more chilled than some of its neighbours, holidaymakers love its rustic fishing villages, lagoons and surf vibes.
Gran Canaria is so varied it's known as a continent in miniature and almost half its volcanic landscape is protected as a UNESCO biosphere reserve. Explore it to your heart's content, or simply soak up the sun at one of the islands' lively resorts - Puerto Rico, Playa del Ingles or the chic Puerto de Mogan.
Lastly is Lanzarote, famed for its black sand, fabulous food and the world's largest lava field in the Timanfaya National Park - an incredible maze of lumps of red, black and grey lava created 300 years ago. Costa Teguise and Puerto del Carmen are the two most popular resorts, Matagorda is more laid-back.
The Canary Islands have got a good thing going on. With year-round sunshine, dramatic volcanic landscapes, and beaches of all shapes and sizes, this small group of sub-tropical islands in the Atlantic - 60 miles off the coast of north-west Africa and 600 miles south of Spain - are holiday heaven.
Tenerife, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria are the big-hitting holiday destinations in this Spanish archipelago, and each island has its own charm and appeal.
The largest of the Canaries is Tenerife and its landscape is dominated by the dormant volcano Mount Teide (Spain's highest peak at 3,715m, fact fans). Beaches with sand of every shade from black to white break up its 250 miles of coastline and most sun seekers head for lively Playa de las Americas, more relaxed Los Cristanos and vibrant Puerto de la Cruz.
Next is Fuerteventura, a long island with white sand dunes at its north and long stretches of golden sand at its south. A little more chilled than some of its neighbours, holidaymakers love its rustic fishing villages, lagoons and surf vibes.
Gran Canaria is so varied it's known as a continent in miniature and almost half its volcanic landscape is protected as a UNESCO biosphere reserve. Explore it to your heart's content, or simply soak up the sun at one of the islands' lively resorts - Puerto Rico, Playa del Ingles or the chic Puerto de Mogan.
Lastly is Lanzarote, famed for its black sand, fabulous food and the world's largest lava field in the Timanfaya National Park - an incredible maze of lumps of red, black and grey lava created 300 years ago. Costa Teguise and Puerto del Carmen are the two most popular resorts, Matagorda is more laid-back.
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