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 Lanzarotes west coast,  the
coastal cliffs of Los Hervideros rank among the
islands 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 Spains 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 worlds 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 parks 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. Theres 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 Tenerifes 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
churchs 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 Lanzarotes
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 islands
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 Blancas
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 Tenerifes 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 islands 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 islands 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 areas 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.
15

• For More Details

Visit our Website
https//www.canaryislandsinfo.co.uk