Luxury hotel holidays to the Canary Islands

Luxury holidays to the Canary Islands: luxury hotel holidays, touring holidays and special interest holidays

An Expressions tailor-made holiday to the Canary Islands includes a selection of four and five star beach resorts which cater for families and couples alike. The Canary Islands can be found sitting off the western coast of Africa in the Atlantic Ocean. Warmed by year-round sunshine, the Canaries feature otherworldly landscapes of volcanic craters, lava deserts and cute coves with black-sand beaches. Meanwhile, steep hillsides and terraced farmland gives way to peaceful fishing villages and characterful old towns. In the west of the archipelago are the mountainous islands of Tenerife, La Palma, El Hierro and La Gomera. Expect black-sand beaches and buzzing resorts along Tenerife's coastline whilst the interior is dominated by the dormant Mount Teide volcano. Meanwhile the three smaller islands remain relatively unspoiled, with landscapes including terraced hillsides, craggy cliffs and subtropical rainforests. The eastern isles consist of Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, each with a unique atmosphere and plenty of attractions. Gran Canaria is home to sprawling resorts as well as stunning scenery with forests, mountains and sand dunes; Fuerteventura is an arid and sparsely populated island with a desert-like landscape and long stretches of white sand beaches; while Lanzarote is a rugged island where lava flows have solidified to create a lunar landscape which contrasts with sandy beaches and green valleys. Due to their location in the Atlantic Ocean just 60 miles away from the coast of Morocco, the Canary Islands' cultures fuse African, Latin American and European influences, creating a unique identity which is quite different to that of the Iberian Peninsula. Contrary to popular belief, there is no want for authenticity here....

Frequently Asked Questions

Beyond their coasts, the Canary Islands are volcanic mountain islands with four national parks, laurel forests, old colonial towns and vineyards grown in lava. Visitors can walk the crater landscapes of Teide on Tenerife or the Caldera de Taburiente on La Palma, follow ancient trails through the Garajonay forest on La Gomera, and see César Manrique's architecture woven into the lava fields of Lanzarote. The islands also offer some of Europe's clearest night skies for stargazing, Malvasía wine from the La Geria valley, and traditional villages in the mountains of Gran Canaria.

La Gomera, La Palma and Tenerife are the main walking islands, with El Hierro and the interior of Gran Canaria close behind. On La Gomera, paths descend from the Garajonay laurel forest through terraced valleys to the coast. La Palma offers the Ruta de los Volcanes along its volcanic spine and walks into the Caldera de Taburiente. On Tenerife, the Anaga mountains and the Teide National Park provide contrasting landscapes, while on Gran Canaria walks lead to Roque Nublo. Many routes can be arranged one way, with a driver or taxi to return you.

La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro are the quieter western Canary Islands, with small towns, few large resorts and landscapes of forest, ravine and volcano. La Gomera, a short ferry crossing from Tenerife, is known for its UNESCO-listed Garajonay laurel forest and for the whistled language of Silbo Gomero. La Palma is green and mountainous, with the colonial capital of Santa Cruz de La Palma, the Roque de los Muchachos observatory and the landscape left by its 2021 eruption. El Hierro, the smallest and most remote, is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with natural sea pools and walking trails.

Yes. The Parador de Cañadas del Teide is the only hotel inside the Teide National Park, set at around 2,100 metres beneath Mount Teide, which at 3,715 metres is the highest point in Spain. Staying there allows you to walk the crater landscapes early in the morning and in the evening, when the day visitors have left, and to watch the night sky from one of the clearest observing sites in Europe. A cable car climbs close to the summit; reaching the summit itself requires a free permit, which should be booked well in advance.

The Canary Islands have a long history as a crossroads between Europe, Africa and the Americas, reflected in their towns and traditions. San Cristóbal de La Laguna on Tenerife is a UNESCO-listed colonial town, and La Orotava and Garachico have streets of carved wooden balconies. Christopher Columbus called at San Sebastián de La Gomera before crossing the Atlantic in 1492. On Lanzarote, the artist César Manrique shaped sites such as Jameos del Agua and the Mirador del Río, and on Gran Canaria the cave dwellings of Risco Caído form a UNESCO-listed cultural landscape.

The islands are linked by regular ferries and short inter-island flights. Ferries from Los Cristianos in southern Tenerife reach San Sebastián de La Gomera in under an hour, and also serve La Palma and El Hierro, while flights connect Tenerife North and Gran Canaria with the smaller islands. Hire cars cannot be taken between islands, so Expressions arranges a separate car on each island, along with ferry and flight connections, so that an island-hopping itinerary runs smoothly.

The Canary Islands can be visited all year, but October to May is the most comfortable period for walking and touring. Temperatures on the coast typically range from around 17°C in winter to 24°C in summer, while the mountains are noticeably cooler and can see snow on Teide in winter. Northern slopes are greener and receive more cloud and rain from the trade winds, and southern coasts are drier and sunnier. Spring brings wild flowers to the hillsides, and walking in high summer is best kept to early mornings.

Alongside its beach resorts, Expressions Holidays offers a selection of smaller hotels in the islands' towns and countryside. On Tenerife, Hotel San Roque is a 20-room boutique hotel in a 17th-century house in Garachico, the Parador de Cañadas del Teide sits within the national park, and Hotel Botánico is set in gardens in the north of the island. Hacienda de Abajo, for guests aged over 16, is near Tazacorte on La Palma. Paradors on La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro, and the Parador de Cruz de Tejeda in the mountains of Gran Canaria, complete the choice.

Each Canary Islands holiday is planned around your interests, whether walking, culture, food and wine or a combination with some time by the sea. Examples include the 12-night Western Canaries island-hopping tour from Tenerife to La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro, staying in boutique hotels, from £3,560 per person, and the seven-night Tenerife and La Palma two-centre holiday from £3,180 per person. One specialist consultant looks after the arrangements from first enquiry to your return, and every holiday includes a concierge service and Expressions Helpful Hints.

Our bespoke, luxury hotel holidays can be

● Single centre or multi-centre
● Long or short stays
● Combine a number of different hotels in different regions and islands
● Island-hopping holidays using flights, cars and ferries

Our special interest holidays to the Canary Island

● Food and wine holidays
● Golf holidays
● Tennis holidays
● Private guided sightseeing
● Spa holidays
● Family holidays
● Walking holidays

Included in all our holidays

● Concierge service
● Handcrafted helpful hints and local information provided with all our holidays
● Personal service by your sales consultant who looks after all aspects of your holiday

Call us on 01392 441245

Highlights of the Canary Islands

There is great variation between the different islands which make up the Canaries, with each destination offering much for visitors to enjoy during their luxury holiday.
Tenerife: Teide National Park, an area surrounding the volcano with stunning natural landscapes. Traditional towns such as La Orotava and La Laguna. The Museum of Fine Arts in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Fuerteventura: Untouched white- and black-sand beaches which surround the island. Betancuria, the island's former capital which is now a picturesque town. Primitive stone dwellings in the village of Poblado de la Atalayita.
Lanzarote: The Fire Mountains, a number of volcanoes which form part of Timanfaya National Park. The modern yet charming city of Arrecife. Teguise, an old-fashioned town which hosts a weekly market with folk dancing. Volcanic caves at Jameos del Agua.
Gran Canaria: Picturesque towns and fishing villages such as Puerto do Mogán and Agaete. Undulating sand dunes at Maspalomas, a protected nature reserve. Botanical gardens in Tarifa. Cave complexes in the valley of Barranco de Guayadeque. Views of the volcanic crater at the Caledra de la Bandama. The old quarter of the island's capital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
La Palma: Santa Cruz de la Palma, the island's colourful capital where you will find cobbled streets, buildings with pretty wooden balconies and a full-sized replica of Columbus' ship. Caldera de Taburiente National Park, set in a volcanic crater at the island's centre. Picturesque villages including El Paso which is still known for its silk production.
El Hierro: The extensive network of walking trails which traverse the volcanic interior of the island, designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Natural seawater pools along the coastline, as well as excellent scuba diving opportunities.
La Gomera: San Sebastián, the island's main town where Christopher Columbus stayed before sailing to the New Wold. Stunning natural scenery including terraced hillsides, subtropical rainforest, dramatic gorges, steep cliffs, picturesque coves and black-sand beaches. Garonjay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Gastronomy of the Canary Islands

Due to the geographical location, gastronomy in the Canary Islands incorporates elements of Spanish, African and Latin American cuisine. A staple of Canarian cuisine is fish, which may be grilled, baked, salted or dried in the sun, along with shellfish which is also abundant. Bananas and tropical fruits are all grown across the islands, whilst rum, Malvasía wine and goat's cheeses are also produced. Key ingredients include ‘Gofio’ (cornmeal which is used in bread and stews), ‘Mojo’ (a sauce which contains either coriander or chili peppers and is frequently served with fish and meat) and ‘Papas arrugadas’ (a kind of jacket potato which is cooked in salt water). Typical dishes include ‘Sancocho’ (boiled fish served with potatoes), ‘Puchero canario’ (a hearty stew made with meat and vegetables) and ‘Bienmesabe’ (an almond cream dessert).

Festivals on the Canary Islands

January to February: Canary Islands Music Festival. February: Carnival celebrations. March: Holiy week celebrations. 29 April: Festival of the Aborigines, April to May: Cheese Festivals, 30 May: Day of the Canary Islands, May/June: Corpus Christi celebrations, 14 to 15 June: Festival of Saint John, marking the beginning of summer. July: Festival of the patron saint of fisherman. July: Canary Islands Jazz festival. 14 to 15 August: Festival of Virgen del Candelaria.

Climate of the Canary Islands

The Canary Islands' year-round sunshine, clear skies and spring-like temperatures make them a suitable holiday destination for all seasons. Winters are mild with average temperatures of around 17 degrees, whilst summers are warm with temperatures of around 24 degrees. Most of the islands are cooler and wetter in the northeast thanks to the trade winds which prevent the temperatures from getting too hot in the summer.

Canary Islands travel information

The Canary Islands are reached very easily from the UK by air. There are frequent ferry services between the islands, as well as short connecting flights between the islands.

By air

It is possible to fly directly from UK airports to Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Tenerife's South Airport with airlines including British Airways (although some routes are seasonal). Low cost airlines fly to Tenerife's North Airport as well as La Palma and Fuerteventura. La Gomera is served by low cost airline from Tenerife, whilst El Hierro can be reached from Gran Canaria. Other islands are linked by short flights with low cost airlines. Most hotels and resorts located throughout the Canary Islands offer transfer services.

Car hire

For visitors who wish to explore any of the Canary Islands, a hire-car is an incredibly convenient way to travel around. However, it is not possible to take hire-cars between islands.

Two centre recommendations

Experience the great diversity of the Canary Islands by visiting more than one of the islands during your luxury holiday, travelling by ferry or hydrofoil. Perhaps stay for a few days on Tenerife before travelling to nearby La Gomera or one of the other smaller islands.

Our bespoke, luxury hotel holidays can be

● Single centre or multi-centre
● Long or short stays
● Combine a number of different hotels in different regions and islands
● Island-hopping holidays using flights, cars and ferries

Our special interest holidays to the Canary Island

● Food and wine holidays
● Golf holidays
● Tennis holidays
● Private guided sightseeing
● Spa holidays
● Family holidays
● Walking holidays

Included in all our holidays

● Concierge service
● Handcrafted helpful hints and local information provided with all our holidays
● Personal service by your sales consultant who looks after all aspects of your holiday

Call us on 01392 441245

Here you will find a map of Canary Islands showing the locations of the hotels that we offer

Our bespoke, luxury hotel holidays can be

● Single centre or multi-centre
● Long or short stays
● Combine a number of different hotels in different regions and islands
● Island-hopping holidays using flights, cars and ferries

Our special interest holidays to the Canary Island

● Food and wine holidays
● Golf holidays
● Tennis holidays
● Private guided sightseeing
● Spa holidays
● Family holidays
● Walking holidays

Included in all our holidays

● Concierge service
● Handcrafted helpful hints and local information provided with all our holidays
● Personal service by your sales consultant who looks after all aspects of your holiday