After a long and stressful year, you deserve a good vacation—and there’s no better place to spend it in the Canary Islands. This gorgeous archipelago offers pristine beaches, sparkling blue ocean water, an exciting night life and high-class hotels and tourist accommodations fitted with every luxury and amenity.

The Canary Islands has four major islands, called Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Fuerteventura. The most famous island of them all is the Tenerife, which is found on the south west part of the island. Thousands of visitors flock to Tenerife every year. It is one of Spain’s most well known tourist attractions and in fact has attracted a lot of real estate investment by people who wish to own a vacation home in the area. They enjoyed their stay so much that they want to live there!

One reason for the burst of tourism in Tenerife and the Canary Islands in general is the affordability of air fare. There are several budget airlines that have made the vacation costs much lower. Plus, there are several travel websites that offer the best bargains and discounts, not just on airlines, but on hotel accommodations as well. And because of the convenience of the Internet, even the busiest travelers can arrange their trip in mere minutes—without having to line up at the travel agent’s office!

Tenerife hotels are particularly easy to find because quite a number of establishments have opened to accommodate the increased influx of tourists. It’s best to avoid the peak season as the rates are higher and it’s harder to get a room. You also have a better chance of getting discounts when it’s off season. This doesn’t mean you miss out on the sun and surf, because Tenerife has 10 months of sunshine every year!

There are a number of hotels in Tenerife and they offer a wide range of benefits and prices, of course. You can find very luxurious accommodations, as well as budget friendly hostel rooms for students. Big families can also get a house which will let them get several rooms for a fixed price and also enjoy full use of the kitchen.

Canary Islands may not be immediately recognized for its wines, but many wine lovers and experts believe that it is home to the best dry white wines in the world.

The best wines from the Canary Islands are made in the Tenerife region, using the Listan Blanco grape. Most are located in the Ycoden-Daute-Isora area. First established in the mid 1900s, the original 800 hectares has grown to over 2,000 hectares. That is one very good sign of the wines’ success and how demand for it has increased all over the world! Wine is also made in the regions of Guia de Isora, La Guancha, Buenavista del Norte, El Tanque Icod de los Vinos, San Juan de la Rambla, Garachico, Los Silos, and Santiago del Teide.

The tradition of wine making in the Canary Islands first started in the 16th century. They started exporting it to Europe and America, and the reputation of “Canary Wine”, sold at the port of Garachico, began to grow. In fact, William Shakespeare paid homage to these wines in his play, The Merry Wives of Windsor, where he wrote,, “Canary, a marvellous and penetrating wine that perfumes the blood.”

The locals sculpt the terraces along the mountain slopes into vineyards. The fertile volcanic soil, and Tenerife’s wonderful climate, give the wine’s a unique and alluring aroma. These terraces are built at the altitudes of 200 and 800 meters. The grapes are usually of the Malvasia and Listan Blanco variety, though wine aficionados are also fond of the red wines made from Negramoll and Listan Negro, which have a velvety character. However, the Tenerife vineyards have been blessed with such an ideal climate that there are 27 grape varieties that thrive on its soils. The authorized varieties are Negramoll, Tintilla, Malvasia rosada, Bastardo blanco, Bermejuela, Forastera blanca, Gual, Listan blanco and Listan negro, Malvasia, Moscatel, Pedro Ximenez, Sabro, Torrontes, Verdello, Bastardo negro, Moscatell negra Vijariego (blancas), and Vijariego negro (tintas).

These wines are just one of the many reasons to visit Tenerife. The climate, the beaches, the shopping and the culture, are all something that deserve a fine “toast”!

The Canary Islands is actually composed of 7 islands. Though they are nearer the African Coast, they are actually part of the territories of Spain. Not many people know this—in fact, many have heard of the place but are unsure where to find it. But once you’ve found it—you always want to come back.

Centuries ago, the ancient Greeks already saw the Canary Islands as a paradise. They called it The Fortunate Islands, Maybe because the archipelago seems blessed with so many natural treasures: lush landscapes, the ideal temperature, 10 months of sunshine a year, abundant foliage, and soil so fertile that there was never any lack of food nor drink. And maybe it was Fortunate too, for those who went there—people believed that the Canary Islands was the basis for the poet’s description of the Elysian Fields—and a trip there was a trip to paradise.

Found on the north western coast of Africa, the Canary Islands continue to be the paradise for world-weary souls. They come here not only for the incredible climate, but for the wildlife. This is the best place in the world to watch dolphins and whales. There are also 26 species of animals that are difficult to find anywhere else in the world. Yes, you can find the famous canary here, but it’s not what the islands are named for. Actually, the Canary Islands were named after the dogs (canines) and the birds were named after the islands.

Thousands of people go here for vacation. In fact, a survey of Europeans, especially British, say that they are considering a trip here. Traveling here is also very convenient for them, since there are 10 months of sunshine every year (you have many options when scheduling your vacation) and the airports and ports connect the islands to the rest of the world.

The numbers of tourists have also increased since the Canary Islands was developed as a golf destination. There are many courses here, as well as sports facilities for windsurfing, diving, snorkeling, hiking and biking. With over 300 days of sunshine there’s a lot of opportunities to go outdoors and enjoy the weather.