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If you should head to the Canary Islands then you will be certain to have a great holiday and there are many things that bring visitors to them time after time. First of all, these islands boast incredible weather. Being just off of the coast of Africa they are very hot as you can imagine, and this makes them ideal for beach holidays and for relaxing in the sun. At the same time as islands they also have lots of beach, and many of these are great for surfers.

The tourism on many of these islands is very pronounced meaning that there is a lot laid on for anyone wanting to visit including great nightlife and clubbing, and lots of places to eat and relax. However the islands are also known for their unusual and often stunning scenery – these islands feature volcanic terrain that looks sparse and desolate and almost like the surface of the moon or Mars.

If you want to visit the Canary Islands then you have several options of places to visit:

Tenerife

Of the Canaries, Tenerife is perhaps the best for night life and the one most associated with clubbing holidays and nights out drinking. To this end it has a fantastic strip of clubs and activities and a hugely bustling nightlife. At the same time though it also has plenty to do in the day and has great beaches and places to eat. One of the sites of most interest for tourists is undoubtedly Mount Tiede which is a volcano you can travel to the top of. Here the volcanic terrain is perhaps at its best – and interestingly this was actually the site on which the original Planet of the Apes was filmed.

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Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is another great spot if you’re after a good nightlife and the best spot for that is the YUMBO center which has everything you could need for a great night out. Again the island also has brilliant beaches for relaxing and even a small desert that you can trek through and get some great photos.

Lanzarote

Lanzarote is similar to both Tenerife and Gran Canaria in terms of climate and night life, though it enjoys a slightly more muted evening out with a little less drunken debauchery (though some of that still goes on) and a marginally cooler climate due to an ever-present breeze. This makes it the Canary island of choice for those who want to relax and kick back. At the same time it is also the island with the most impressively varied landscape of all – with more volcanic terrain, as well as mountain ranges, another desert and even caves. At the volcanic region of the island you can also enjoy having your dinner cooked for you by the heat of a volcano.

Nick Ball is a web enthusiast and maintains a Lanzarote Guidebook for all his travel queries which he likes to share through his blog. The latest column added to his guide are the list of Flights to Lanzarote.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Hector Garcia

Canary Islands also feature rocky volcanic peaks. The one on the island of Gran Canaria is called Pico de las Nieves. Its slope descends to the ocean and is cut by numerous canyons. The island is divided into two climatic zones. North is more fertile and wetter, while south is more dry and warmer. Actually, we can say that the whole island is quite diverse.

Gran Canaria is the third largest island of the Canary Islands, it is also one of the most popular and therefore most vibrant tourist destinations in this area. The capital is Las Palmas. Varied landscape consists of sand dunes which you can enjoy from the camel back, palm and pine groves, and also of inland mountain forests. Thanks to the favorable climate the island is also suitable for banana trees. Very famous is spectacular botanical garden Palmitos Park – an artificial oasis in the canyon near Playa del Inglés.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Cristian Bortes

The next stop you should certainly do in a picturesque port of Puerto de Mogan. It is indeed a picturesque town where you can meet with genuine Canarian residents and taste some of the local specialities in one of many nice restaurants. It is an island full of souvenirs and Spanish specialties. People in Gran Canaria are very hospitable and respectful.

Do not miss also the botanical garden Jardin Canario in the town of Alta Tafira (southwest of Las Palmas). Admission is free and you can see all the original flora here.

There are two famous ports suitable for Yachtsmen – Puerto Rico and Puerto de Mogan. You can find here both a school for sailors, as well as for divers. Puerto de Mogan is also a paradise for fishermen, because there are strong ocean flows that bring a food for fish. Grand Canaria offers ideal conditions for golf fans, you can even organize your own golf tournament here.

The hot favorite for accommodation on this island are well-furnished caves.

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Best beaches in Gran Canaria Island

Playa Amadores – Beach with white sand lined with various shops and restaurants, has a reputation as one of the most beautiful in the whole of Gran Canaria. Playa Amadores is located near the center of Puerto Rico. Interesting is, that the beach which is located among the rocks has been created artificially to meet the requirements of even the most demanding clientele.

Playa del Ingles – The longest beach on the island, located in the middle of Maspalomas. Playa del Ingles with its charms is the most visited beach of Gran Canaria. Jumbo Multifunction Center located directly on the coast provides a wide range of services.

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Other places worth visiting in Gran Canaria

Las Palmas When you visit Las Palmas you should definitely pay for a sightseeing tourist bus. It runs from the city station and take you to all the places that are worth seeing. Additionally, you can easily get off the bus any time, and later get in (with the same ticket) the next bus.

The historic city of Telde
About 13 km south of Las Palmas you can see the second largest city on the island – Telde. There is a picturesque Basilica of San Juan Bautista. There is also the widest coastal strip on Gran Canaria with many diverse beaches (such as Hombre, Melenara etc.).

Artenara
Artenara is a beautiful place with Canarian atmosphere and beautiful nature, situated in the mountains and the valley are. It offers stunning views of the surrounding forested hills and small mountain lakes.

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