Canary Islands Points of Interest and Places to Visit

1. Canary Islands Points of Interest and Places to Visit

2. Los Hervideros An extraordinary collage of rocks, caves and lava tubes looming over Lanzarote’s west coast,  the coastal cliffs of Los Hervideros rank among the island’s most unusual geological attractions. Formed during the 18th-century eruptions of the Timanfaya volcanoes, the dramatic coastline is now adorned with sharp rock columns, oddly shaped archways and natural rock sculptures, created as the hot lava met with the icy waves. While the unique landscape makes for some remarkable photo opportunities, the real highlight of visiting Los Hervideros is watching the waves crash against the coast. Looking out from the cliff top, visitors can witness the all-natural spectacle as the waves explode against the rocks and the water funnels through the spillways, sending spurts of sea water roaring into the air – a fitting example of how the cliffs got their name - Los Hervideros is Spanish for "boiling waters."

3. Casa de Colon Charming Casa de Colon was reportedly a rest-and-repair stop for Christopher Columbus and his ship, La Pinta, en route to the New World in 1492.Originally belonging to the Governor of the Canaries, Casa de Colon was one of a small number of houses that became Las Palmas' first settlement, marking the beginning of the city in 1478. As you might expect, displays at Casa de Colon have a strong nautical theme and include a replica of a ship's cabin that belonged to Columbus’ fleet, navigation instruments, nautical maps, charts and paintings related to voyages made by the famous navigator. The site's ornate doorways, latticed balconies and chocolate-box-like exterior make it one of Las Palmas’ most eye-catching buildings. If its pretty facade doesn't make you want to discover more about the building's history and Columbus's visit here, the interesting and well-run museum inside will.

4. Timanfaya National Park Spanning 20 square miles (51 square km) of southern Lanzarote, Timanfaya National Park is a unique and eerie landscape of dormant volcanos and lava fields. Visitors flock to the park from nearby beach towns to explore the otherworldly terrain that looks more like the moon than the Canary Islands. Visitors pay a small fee to enter the park, and it includes a guided coach tour — but lines can get long during busy season. You can avoid the wait and get round-trip transport from elsewhere in Lanzarote by booking a half-day or full-day tour in advance. Many of these tours take you through the park on a coach bus and make stops where you can get out to walk or hike the volcanic landscape, while others also include options to ride a 4x4 or take a camel ride through the lava fields. 

5. Teide National Park The largest and oldest National Park in the Canary Islands and home to Spain’s highest peak, Mount Teide, the UNESCO World Heritage listed Teide National Park is one of the top attractions on the island of Tenerife. At 3,718m, the landmark peak of Teide - the world’s third highest volcano from its base - is omnipresent and taking the cable car to the top is one of the most popular pastimes for visitors, with views spanning the surrounding islands. Even from ground level, the park’s rugged landscape is magnificent, a geological wonder featuring an expanse of rugged lava fields, ancient calderas and volcanic peaks. 

6. Auditorio de Tenerife  With its sweeping white façade looming over the waterfront of Santa Cruz harbor, the Auditorio de Tenerife (Tenerife Auditorium) is an instantly recognizable landmark of the Tenerife capital. The futuristic design by architect Santiago Calatrava has drawn comparisons to the Sydney Opera House and its signature white concrete arc looks particularly spectacular at night when the rooftop is lit up from beneath. Although guided tours are a popular way to admire the interiors of the Auditorio de Tenerife, the best way to experience the famous venue is to book tickets for a show. There’s a varied schedule of music and dance performances throughout the year, with highlights including the Tenerife Opera, the Symphony Orchestra of Tenerife and special Christmastime musicals.

7. Church of the Immaculate Conception With a history dating back to 1498, the Church of the Immaculate Conception is Tenerife’s oldest church and an iconic landmark of the capital of Santa Cruz. Legend dictates that the original church was erected under order of Alonso Fernandez de Lugo, commander of the Spanish conquerors, but the modern-day church dates back to 17th and 18th century renovations. The church’s most striking feature is its bell tower, a prominent city landmark, but the Mudéjar-style tilework, elaborate baroque interiors and silver altarpiece are also notable highlights.

8. Fire Mountains A vast range of black and red peaks dominating the landscape of the Timanfaya National Park, the evocatively named Fire Mountains (Montañas de Fuego) serve as a lasting reminder of Lanzarote’s explosive past. Although the last eruption was recorded in 1824, it was a series of eruptions in the 18th century that was most memorable – the blasts covered a large portion of Lanzarote with hot ash and lava and created much of the island’s unearthly topography, including natural wonders like the El Golfo crater lake and the Los Hervideros cliffs. Today, the mountains are classed as dormant, but an anomalous magma chamber still remains under the surface, leaving a geothermic area riddled with steaming vents and fire pits. Due to the intense heat and geothermal activity, hiking around the Fire Mountains is prohibited and the best way to take in the views is on a guided coach tour around the scenic Route of the Volcanoes.

9. Museo Canario The Museo Canario (Canarian Museum) houses the most complete archeological collection in the Canary Islands. Its permanent exhibition can trace its beginnings to the founding of the museum in 1879 and consists of an impressive range of artefacts devoted to the original inhabitants of the Canaries (the Guanches). Visitors are invited to develop an understanding of how these early humans lived as the exhibition leads you through 11 rooms displaying mummies, skeletons, jewelry, pottery, statues and other items that played an important role in the Guanches lives from the second half of the first millennium BC to the 15th century. Displays include scale models of their dwellings and a replica of the Cueva Pintada (Painted Caves) at Gáldar. 

10. Roque Nublo The Roque Nublo is a unique rock formation on Gran Canaria that truly is a sight to behold. At 70 meters tall, the red basaltic monolith is the most dramatic formation on the island. Translated it means “cloudy rock” and after a short hike visitors are rewarded with panoramic views of surrounding nature. The rocky landscape is dotted with pine trees and shrubbery and drops off into cliffs. The rock was formed by volcanic eruption on the island about 4.5 million years ago, and today is an icon of the island and is protected as a national monument. On a clear day it is possible to even see the Teide volcano in the distance. Often though, the rock will disappear into or appear out of dense fog and clouds (hence the name.) It is one of the tallest natural crags in the world, and is also a climbing destination. Trekking tours to the rock are available to those who preferred a guided hike.

11. Playa Blanca If white-sanded beaches are your thing, then look no further than Playa Blanca (quite literally meaning “white beach”) in Lanzarote. This once-humble fishing village offers more than just a beach, though, but several beaches, as well as a lively restaurant and shopping scene. Though the southern town is home to a cluster of resorts, it still retains a low-key vibe, minus much of the nightlife buzz found in Puerto del Carmen. It is, however, ripe with restaurants, bars and harbor-front seafood establishments eager to satisfy visitors’ cravings for the kind of mellow but swanky beach holiday that comes along with some good eats. Playa Blanca’s location on the southern tip of Lanzarote also places it within convenient distance of other major island sights, including Los Hervideros – a geological masterpiece of caves and lava tubes -- and El Golfo with its Lago Verde, the vibrant-green, ocean-side lagoon.

12. La Laguna La Laguna (or San Cristóbal de La Laguna) might have passed its role as capital over to Santa Cruz in 1723, but the lively student town remains one of Tenerife’s most important cities, linked by tram to Santa Cruz. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999, the Old Town of La Laguna is most famous for its colonial architecture and strolling the cobblestone streets unveils a number of historic gems, including the elegant townhouses of Las Casas Consistoriales and a number of noteworthy churches. The city is also home to some of the island’s most important museums, so you can brush up on local history at the Museo de Historia, then indulge in some interactive fun at the innovative Museo de Ciencia y El Cosmos
 (Museum of Science and the Cosmos).

13. La Graciosa Those looking a change of pace from the busy beach resorts and lively nightlife of mainland Lanzarote will find the tranquil isle of La Graciosa to be an enchanting place, just a short boat ride from the island’s northern coast. The largest and only inhabited inland of the small Chinijo archipelago, La Graciosa is home to just 600 people, has no roads or natural water supply, and no hotels, making it the perfect spot to get away from it all.With its dreamlike landscape of sandy beaches, sweeping dunes and volcanic hills, most visitors come to La Graciosa to soak up the scenery and getting around the 30 square-kilometer island is easily done on foot, by jeep or water taxi.

14. Playa del Janubio You can smell the salty air as the edges of white waves crash into the black sands of Playa del Janubio. Beside the beautiful beach, historic salt ponds sit that have been used to collect and extract salt from the seawater for centuries. Water evaporates in the shallow lagoons, leaving the salt behind. In the days before refrigeration, salt was even more prized for its food preservation qualities. Remnants of the old salt production and trade here, including a small windmill, remind of the area’s past. Today the beach, formed by the breakdown of black volcanic rock, is still a lovely place to stroll by the sea. Depending on the season you may see a variety of local birds as well. Currents are often quite strong on the beach, and the powerful waves are beautiful to watch from the shore.

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