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The Canary Islands (Islas Canarias) comprise Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro.

The islands' name is likely derived from the Latin term Insula Canaria, meaning Island of the Dogs, a name applied originally only to the island of Gran Canaria. It is thought that the dense population of an endemic breed of large and fierce dogs, like the Presa Canario, was the characteristic that most struck the few ancient Romans who established contact with the islands by the sea.

Despite being Spanish territories they are much closer to the coast of Africa than to mainland Spain and it is this mid-easterly Atlantic location that accounts for their remarkably mild climate.

All the islands are of volcanic origin, and the archipelago offers strikingly diverse landscapes including remarkable sub-tropical flora, luxuriant pine woods, giant sand dunes and mountain peaks.

By far the most popular holiday playgrounds are Gran Canaria and Tenerife. Away from the resorts however these islands, ironically, also offer the most varied landscapes. Next in popularity come Lanzarote, then Fuerteventura. Lanzarote has managed to combine modern resorts with much-praised eco-friendly development and low-rise aesthetically pleasing design, while Fuerteventura is famous for its wind-driven watersports and some of Europe's finest beaches.

La Gomera is a charming small undeveloped island, often visited as a Tenerife day trip (just 30 minutes by ferry), while La Palma, very green, uncommercialised and arguably the most beautiful island, is primarily a destination for walkers. Most westerly of all is El Hierro, windblown and well off the beaten track, attracting a mere handful of walkers each year.

Fuerteventura

With three thousand hours of sunshine a year, Fuerteventura is the closest Canary Island to the African coast with only 60miles (100km) separating the 'Punta de la Entallada' from Cape Juby in Morocco and is the second largest (after Tenerife) of all the islands.

The weather conditions of Fuerteventura are very similar to Florida and Mexico which are on the same latitude, which make this the ideal holiday location.

There is nowhere else in the Canaries with as many enormous sand dunes and long sandy beaches (more than one hundred and fifty). Even though most of the land consists of stone and rock, these are some of the most impressive beaches in the whole of Europe.

Fuerteventura is generally regarded as the oldest of all the Canaries and its strange contours come from various volcanic episodes. The last eruption occurred around 7,000 years ago so you're pretty safe.

Water sports are very popular in Fuerteventura. Every year hundreds of surfers, windsurfers and divers descend on Fuerteventura and during July the island is host to the P.W.A world windsurfing speed and slalom event at Sotavento in the south.

If you look around Caleta de Fuste, you will notice that it does not have a significant old town. This is because it is a purpose built holiday resort. It has been created around the original cove, because this offered a safe, sheltered environment for beach activities. Caleta is Spanish for cove and a fuste is a type of fishing boat.

Corralejo is a tourist resort situated at the northern end of Fuerteventura. It is considerably larger than Caleta de Fuste and has a more touristy feel.

Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is blessed with a wealth of natural resources, the most notable of these being the numerous and exquisite beaches of the island. Most of these beaches have white sand and some are completely unique in the world. Almost 60 of the 236 kilometres of Gran Canaria´s coastline consist of beaches of various descriptions, ranging from the impressive Maspalomas beach, where you can find 250 hectares of sand dunes right next to the sea, to the concealed and unspoilt beach of Güigüi, as well as the lively beach in the capital, namely the Las Canteras beach.

As a result of the temperate climate and agreeable temperatures of the bathing waters (ranging between 18ºC during winter months and 22ºC during the rest of the year) it is possible to enjoy the beaches throughout the year.

The main beaches are located along the southern part of the island, between Tarajalillo and Mogán, which is the sunniest and driest part of the island. The mountains of the interior act as a barrier against the clouds that come from the North, with the result that the skies in the South remain clear practically all year round, which makes it possible to enjoy the sun and bathe in the sea in summer as well as winter.

There are also many small coves and nudist beaches of outstanding beauty, most of which are situated on the south coast of the island.

Lanzarote

 Lanzarote is situated just 79 miles off the coast of Africa and is the most easterly of the Canary Islands. The island is 37 miles (60km) long and 12 miles (20 km) wide, making it the fourth largest island in the Canaries.

Lanzarote enjoys a mild dry climate with average daytime temperatures ranging from about 21°C in January to 29°C in August. Annual rainfall is just 140mm (5.5 inches). This makes Lanzarote the perfect year-round destination.

As with the other Canary Islands, Lanzarote is Volcanic in origin. Due to the recent eruptions during the 18th and 19th Centuries, many parts of Lanzarote appear to be from another world, often described as 'lunar' or 'Martian'.

The dry climate (and lack of erosion) means that the Volcanic Landscape appears much as it did just after the eruptions.

Amongst the many stunning Volcanic features of Lanzarote is the longest Volcanic Tunnel in the world, the Atlantida Tunnel, which is over 7 km long and includes the La Cueva de los Verdes and Jameos del Agua.

Despite the Volcanic nature of the island, Lanzarote has several beautiful white beaches such as at Playa Blanca and Papagayo.

Local authority regulations on the amount and style of development mean that there is no billboard advertising and no high rise buildings in Lanzarote.

Tenerife

Tenerife is the largest (2,034sq km) and highest (3,718m) in the archipelago of the Canary Islands.

Tenerife's central mountain, Mt. Teide, stands at 12,200 feet, and is the highest in Spain. A cable-car ride to the summit offers unrivalled views of the lunar-like landscape of the volcanic slopes. The view from its peak on one of the frequent crystal clear days is simply breathtaking.

The northern coast of Tenerife is bordered by steep cliffs, but the southern part of the island slopes down to one of the few regions of level coastal plain in the volcanic islands of the archipelago. Tenerife has traditional rural towns, hillside villages and extraordinarily unusual landscapes formed from the twisted lava-rock of Mount Tiede. It is indeed a paradise for tourists and makes an idyllic holiday destination.

The island experiences sunshine around the year, has an abundance of world class hotels and offers an exceptional choice of cuisine set against the stunning background of Mount Teide. Most people going on holidays to Tenerife stay in the main tourist resorts of Los Christianos and Playa de las Americas, which have all but merged to form one big playground for the younger tourists, with bright lights and vibrant clubs and bars.

Puerto de la Cruz is the second largest tourist city on the island with accommodtion for around 30,000 tourists. In contrast with the modern resorts of the south, El Puerto has had a great tradition as a place of relaxation since the end of the last century when the spa was built. Puerto de la Cruz is quieter and cooler, and more popular with the older crowd.

The lushness of the gardens and the agreeable atmosphere are very special features of this city, which has lively places to stroll around. In the evening the streets near the Plaza del Charco and the promenade are pleasant places of enjoyment where one can eat at any of the many open air restaurants, all this in a pleasant climate and with the ever present sea. The city hourses a number of buildings of great historical and artistic value such as the church of Nuestra Señora de la Peña, la Ermita de San Telmo, el castillo de San Felipe, la casa de la Aduana and the old quay where small fishing boats are still moored.

Golf del Sur is located on the south coast, only a short distance form Riena Sofia Airport.

As the name suggests Golf del Sur exists for golf. There are a number of superb courses however other entertainments haven’t been left behind. There is a large shopping centre and many restaurants and bars to choose form.

There are a large number of self-contained units in this resort and also a few Timeshare apartments also.