Eight shades of paradise across the Canaries

When you come ashore on one of Tenerife’s expansive beaches to stay in luxury accommodation, you’ll understand why the largest and most populated of the islands is also the most visited holiday destination. Farther inland though, the quieter interior holds experiences that border on the fairytale. Birdsong pierces biodiverse forests draped in mist, harboring unique flora like the dragon tree, Canarian pines and palms, even almond trees.

Emerging from the forest, winding roads through gravity-defying rock formations lead to the base of Mount Teide—the tallest peak of the Canary Islands. A short gondola ride to the summit reveals the most incredible views, and a drop in temperature as you stand above the clouds. At certain times of day, the mountain casts a vast shadow over the sea, which some believe to be the illusion of a ninth island.

Should you wash up on the sands of the archipelago’s second largest island, Fuerteventura will match your mind’s vision of classic paradise. Nearly 60 miles (100km) of white sandy beaches, warmed by year-round sunshine yet tempered by cooling breezes, offer every way to enjoy the azure water—windsurfing, snorkeling, surfing, and boating. For those looking for a quieter experience, smaller more intimate beaches like Playa de los Ojos (pictured) take you away from the hustle and bustle and focus fully on nature.

It’s easy to imagine Saint Brandon harboring in La Palma, which has enjoyed a long history as a shipping hub between the old world and new America. Many ports in the Canary Islands have retained their bright colonial color, but none as well as Santa Cruz de la Palma, which displays bursts of flowers along its wooden balconies, watching over Latin-style festivities.

One of the smallest and wildest Canaries, La Gomera is as magical as it is mysterious. Waves of cloud roll and curl down mountainsides, while walking trails through gnarled, ancient forests open up to beach coves hiding volcanic caves. Although sparsely populated, La Gomera’s ancient past is kept alive though its native “whistling language,” once used by aboriginal shepherds to echo communication across valleys, and still used by villagers today.

Arguably the most “volcanic” of the islands, Lanzarote offers another landscape entirely. Ringed by lively coastal resorts and freckled with uniformly white architecture, the protected biosphere interior is a beautifully ethereal surface of frozen lava flows. Eruptions that formed the island also enriched the soil with ash that deliciously infuses the flavor of grapes grown in the island’s vineyards (pictured) to produce excellent wines.

Each February in Teguise, Lanzarote’s original capital, the diabletes (little devils) arrive with the clang of handbells, clad in painted colors and devilishly crafted goat masks. The diabletes send children shrieking with delight as they chase them through the streets in a carnival tradition reflective of the island’s dovetail with the devil.

Wild and barely touched, La Graciosa is the newest Canary Island, only officially recognized in 2018. Its lack of paved roads and only light scattering of holiday homes make it an ideal place for those seeking tranquility by the ocean. Fine-sand beaches like Caleta de Arriba (pictured) are often found in blissfully isolated areas, where you’ll likely find yourself the only human occupant.

A lively hub of gastronomic and entertainment delight, Gran Canaria is another seaside hotspot. Beyond the beaches and high-end resorts, though, lies a natural treasure trove of deep lush valleys, undulating sand dunes, colonial-era towns, and archaeological caves hewn into the mountains by aboriginal hands.

Gran Canaria’s internal topography is a world from which to view another—standing atop soaring monuments of volcanic rock to view stars under a glass-clear night sky. The naked eye can drink in constellations, while telescopes open up celestial wonders, like nebulae, tens-of-thousands of light-years away. All of which exemplify the island’s UNESCO recognition as a world-class destination for stargazing.

There’s a primordial feel to El Hierro’s volcanic lagoons, hidden beneath craggy cliff edges and basalt arches. The depth of the waters here makes for excellent diving spots around the island, and the mysticism of natural pools like Charco Azul (pictured) allow full immersion into the natural dreamscape.