WINTER is a very swell time for honeymooners from Britain and other Western and Northern European nations when it comes to have a vacation this holiday season in the Canary Islands. The Canary Islands may be famous for its summer evenings, nights and parties till dawn but during winter, it is equally enchanting.
Many young people, especially those who are about to get married, would want a seaside resort. Seaside resorts in the Canary Islands are still well-kept whether summer or winter. They have a blue flag accreditation from the European Union which makes these resorts the most hygienic ones in all of Europe. The Canary Islands is a premier archipelago after all what with the infamous Tenerife and Las Palmas.
The Canary Islands is already located off the coast of Africa so it is not as cold here as it is in mainland Spain. So that will be another reason why people love being in here during winter. There are still those daily flights from Britain, Scotland, Ireland and other great European cities which fly directly to those islands.
What’s enticing about it is that you don’t need to reserve early when you come here during winter. Beach resorts are virtually nil and it’s not just the beach resorts that are a come-on for tourists here. There’s a dormant volcano called Mt. Teide and when you go there during winter, then snow abounds. It’s nice to camp out during an evening in Mt. Teide. You may bring the whole family or the whole gang with you if you’re not a honeymooning couple. Hey, take your kids on their very first overseas vacation. I’m pretty sure they’ll be swooning over it for a lifetime.
Mt. Teide is really spectacular when viewed during a snowy winter night especially when the moon is full. It is eerie as if you’re in an adventure movie in an African or European mountain where serenity abounds and only you and your friends are found. It’s really dazzling I tell you. I have spoken from a memorable experience. There are lots of animal sounds that you cannot tell what they are if you’re not from the place. It’s even nicer if you bring a guide with you as the local (those English speaking ones) can tell you what these animals are. Now that’s some enchanting Christmas or New Year to begin a brighter future for you and your family.
And when dawn breaks, mist enters into the picture. You will find moisture in the leaves. You can even find some croaking frogs or grasshoppers welcoming you in the morning. It’s like basking back from your old childhood. This is really a paradise here on earth as Mt. Teide is entirely different from the England that you have come to experience last summer – England that is flooded with rains all August long. Even the farms in the boondocks are flooded and there is no paradise in sight that you can see. Here comes the advantage of Mt. Teide and the rest of the Canaries for that matter.
THE Canary Islands are an archipelago of 13 islands off the coast of Morocco. Part of Spanish territory, the 13 islands are Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, Gomera, Alegranza, Hierro, Graciosa, Tenerife, Montaña Clara, Roque del Este, Roque del Oeste and Lobos. The islands are one of the tourist destinations of British people and most of them have even opted to retire there and buy properties there. The properties that they have bought are ultimately put to three uses: a) as permanent settlement, b) as a summer retreat, or c) to be leased to their fellow British folks who wish to have a vacation in the Canary Islands too. Persons who fall buy the real estate for the latter purposes are usually those who have already have Canary Islands properties themselves and who want to buy more and make them as investment. It is advisable that one must heed first the Canary Islands real estate tax laws before buying any property. Although it is governed autonomously, Canary Islands has laws very similar to its mother Spanish nation. They also have a garbage collection tax which is collected by the local authorities every month.
It is said that each of the seven islands have very distinct temperature. This is primarily one of the reasons why British tourists frequent there. In the larger islands of La Palma, Tenerife and Gran Canaria, there is constant precipitation while in the smaller islands of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, there is sunshine every part of the year. This is ideal for British tourists who really want to go sunbathing or even skinny dipping. There may not be a naturist beach in the Canary Islands but nobody will flag you if you’re naked especially in remote beaches. Just make sure you have company for remote beaches are not usually covered with roving lifeguards. Only resorts employ lifeguards. Another thing to note about the beaches scattered in the Canary Islands is that they have strict environmental laws to enforce. This simply means that tourists cannot just throw trash anywhere and off-road vehicles are, well, off the beaches too. These are rules that are simple to follow. Because of its mostly temperate climate, it is said that the people of the Canary Islands are slow to temper too. It is also said that this has influenced much on the rapid increase of tourists and foreigners who have made themselves a home here. Another reason why tourists frequent here is the existence of a dormant volcano, Mount Teide, which can be accessed using a cable lift. Mount Teide is the highest mountain covered under Spanish territory and the third largest volcano on earth.
When you go to the Canary Islands, it is best suggested that you try out its staple sauce, the mojo, which is actually concocted from garlic, olive oil, vinegar, lemon lime and orange. You must also try its small potatoes boiled in salty water and served with chicken on the side. Ground roasted sweet corn is likewise added to milk.
THE Canary Islands is an archipelago of seven islands off the coast of Africa, particularly in Morocco and Western Sahara. It is an autonomous territory of Spain and it lies in the Atlantic Ocean. The land area of the Canary Islands, when totaled, is at 7,447 square kilometers. The largest of the Canary Islands is Tenerife. With Tenerife being a premier summer destination, it boasts of its own international airport, the Reina Sofia International Airport which is named after the reigning queen of Spain. The most populous island in the Canary Islands where the seat of government is located is Gran Canaria so let’s zero in on that.
Gran Canaria’s capital, Las Palmas, also boasts of its own international airport just like its Tenerife counterpart. Although the International Airport of Gran Canaria-Gando does not have direct flights from the US, it still hosts to dozens of direct flights daily from major European cities like Lisbon, London, Paris, Bonn and Berlin.. Of course, if you come from New York, just hop into a connecting flight from major Spanish cities like Madrid or Barcelona to Gran Canaria. The same is true with Tenerife. The International Airport of Gran Canaria-Gando is a former military air base and it was converted for civilian use only in 1930 by then King Alfonso XIII. Of course, the Spanish Air Force still maintains some land space at this airport. This airport is relatively larger than the Reina Sofia International Airport in nearby Tenerife. Not surprisingly, this airport is the fifth largest in Spanish territory. Other airports in the Canary Islands are the La Palma Airport, Arrecife Airport, El Hierro Airport, El Mattoral Airport and Los Rodeos Airport.
Now here’s a piece of trivia for you. The Canary archipelago is declared as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO. To maintain the serenity of its beaches, the Spanish authorities have put in place a strict ecological system for the resorts. All beach resorts must pass the blue flag accreditation of the European Union. A blue flag accreditation means the resort has passed strict environmental quality inspection by the European Union. This means that the beaches must be free of pollutants as well as the tap water in the resort. This also means that the beach staff must constantly remind the tourists not to leave their trash in the sands. Drivers of off-road vehicles are likewise instructed to stay away from regular parking areas. They have their own parking areas – unpaved spots of course. This is to ensure that the tourists’ parking areas are not littered with mud coming from the off-road vehicles. This is particularly true during the months of August and September when the precipitation in the Canary Islands is relatively dense.
The number of annual visitors in the Canary Islands is a whooping 2.2 million. One of its most impressive attractions is the Maspalomas dunes, a 12-kilometer contiguous length of sand dune right beside the beach. The sand dunes are home to sand lizards. So what are you waiting for? Come here in the Canary Islands.
