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The beautiful Canary Islands are home to four of Spains ten national parks.

Timanfaya National Park – Lanzarote

UNESCO named the whole of the island of Lanzarote a World Biosphere Reserve in 1993. The island is home to the Timanfaya National Park which is located in the southwest of the island. The park covers an area of about 20 square miles and is made up of volcanic soil with wonderful flora and fauna.
The park was created when over 100 volcanoes erupted in the space of six years during the 1700′s, completley destroying part of the island. In 1968 this area of devastation was declared a national park, Timanfaya National Park.
The land here is like a lunar landscape, with the temperature just a few yards below the surface reaching 400-600C.
You can explore the park on your own or take a coach trip, camel ride or guided walk around the park.
The El Diablo Restaurant is situated in the park and offers meals prepared using the geothermal heat from the earth and also wonderful panoramic views across the park.

Teide National Park – Tenerife

The Teide National Park was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2007. The park comprises of Mount Teide and its surrounding area which covers about 73 square miles. Mount Teide is an active volcano and is Spains highest mountain.
The park includes a huge volcanic crater which has a circumference of 30 miles.
This vast wilderness is home to fascinating rock formations, pine forests and many species of birds, animals, insects, flowers and trees.
The park offers guided walks or you can make your own way around the park using one of the many hiking trails.
If you wish to hike to the peak of Mount Teide you will need to obtain a special permit from the National Park office, bearing in mind that there are only a couple of hundred permits granted each day.

La Caldera de Taburiente – La Palma

Designated a national park in 1954, it was originally thought that the Caldera de Taburiente, which is located in the park, was a giant crater but it is now known that it is a mountain arch with a strange crater shape. Here in the park you will find a large forest made up of the Canary Island Pine and also the Canary Islands Juniper which is an endangered species of flora.
There are lots of walking routes in the Caldera, if you prefer to walk on your own rather than with one of the organised walks you will need to obtain permission from the Caldera Information offce.
There are 25 recorded bird species here making the park very popular with bird watchers. You will also find fascinating geological formations, waterfalls and lovely flora throughout the park.

Garajonay National Park – La Gomera

Declared a national park in 1981, Garajonay was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986. The park was named after the rocky formation Garajonay which stands just under a mile high.
The park has lots of footpaths through the laurel forests which cover nearly three quarters of the park. There are lots of springs and streams that run through the park which ensure the vegetation is always green and radiant.

There are lots of travel deals available to the Canary Islands which are ideal for the whole family.

Watch out for those last minute holidays that are on offer to these beautiful islands which offer so much more than just sun, sea and sand!

A great day out for all the family when visiting Tenerife is the Siam Park Water Kingdom which is based on the ancient kingdom of Thailand.

Opened in 2008, Siam Park is a fantastic theme park with great water attractions and is located in Playa de las Americas on the island of Tenerife.

The park has a magnificent wave pool where the waves reach heights of over 3ft enabling you to ride the surf. The pool also has a lovely sandy beach with the water temperature at 24C.

Siam Beach offers wonderful views of the Atlantic Ocean and the island of La Gomera. Here you will find The Beach Bar where you can enjoy a refreshing drink on the terrace and The Beach Club which offers a buffet with international cusine which you can eat on the terrace or on the beach.

The park has the Billabong Surf Shop and a floating market, built on a Thai Village theme, where you can enjoy a Thai massage and purchase souvenirs, refreshments, sun lotion, swimming attire and much much more.

ATTRACTIONS

The Tower of Power
In my opinion this is the best and most terrifying attraction here. After climbing to the top of the tower you plunge 92ft into an aquarium! A must for the thrill seekers.

The Dragon
Seated in a raft for up to 3 people, you will experience zero gravity when the raft enters a giant cone, spinning round and round until it is washed along to the end of the ride.

Mekong Rapids
This is a mad ride for all the family in family sized rafts along the rapids.

Naga Racer
Comprising of 6 lanes of running water, this is where all the family can grab a mat and have a race down to the bottom of the snakes.

Jungle Snakes
This consists of four entwinned snakes where you take a fast ride on a raft that slips and slides on the water through a mythical jungle.

The Giant
Another very popular ride where you will feel the force of gravity in a powerful twin cyclone.

The Volcano
Sitting in a dingy with 3 other people you will be transported through the darkened volcano as if you were caught in the lava flow until you reach the end.

The Lazy River (Mai Thai River)
For some relaxation you can take a ride on the long, gentle, lazy river which passes by an aquarium of tropical fish and magnificent waterfalls.

For younger children and babies there is
The Lost City
The two towers here are joined by bridges, nets and slides where it is safe for younger children to enjoy some adventures and fun. The city also has fountains and waterfalls.
The Baby Zone
Tis is a special area with a pool and slides where parents can safely enjoy some fun with their babies.

This is just one of the attractions the whole family will enjoy whilst on their package holidays to Tenerife.

If you are looking for cheap holidays to the Canary Islands, there are always great offers to be had on the internet.

The Canary Islands have over 900 miles of coastline which, together with the great weather conditions, make them the ideal location for scuba diving. The waters here are some of the clearest in the world as there is very little plankton produced in the area.

The ocean here benefits from the Gulf Stream giving the waters a low of 19C in the winter and up to 25C in the summer. The water becomes cooler as you get further away from the African Coast making it cooler off El Hierro than off Lanzarote. The difference in temperature affects the different species of marine life seen. You will see tropical and sub-tropical North Atlantic species and Mediterranean species.

Diving in Fuerteventura

With water temperatures ranging from 18C in the winter to 24C in the summer, this is the ideal place for both beginners and advanced divers. There are lots of different sites here including reef, wrecks and drop offs. Amongst the marine life here are octopus, barracudas, moray eels and sea bream.

Diving in Gran Canaria

Again an ideal location for all grades of diver as the ocean temperature stays between 20C and 24C all year round. In the east of the island is the Marine reserve at Arinaga, in the south there are wrecks, reefs, walls and caves, while in the north there are reefs and wrecks. Marine life here includes loggerhead turtles, angel sharks, rays, sting rays, bull rays, octopus, barracuda, octopus, sea horses, trumpet fish, parrot fish, groupers and puffers.

Diving in Tenerife and Lanzarote

Both of these islands have lots of sites ranging from house reef dives and wrecks, to wall dives night dives. Once more both are ideal locations for all grades of diver as the ocean temperature stays between 20C and 24C all year round. Life under the water includes octopus, moray eels, barracuda, sea bream and much more.

Diving in La Palma

With ideal visibility all year round many of the fish here swim close to the surface giving a great opportunity for snorkellers. Whilst diving in the caves, canyons and tunnels you will meet rays, moray eels, trumpet fish, groupers, barracudas and in the summer you may even see tuna and turtles.

Diving in La Gomera

There are only a few dive centres here but like the other islands there is an abundance of marine life to be seen, including rays, moray eels, trumpet fish, groupers, barracudas and in the summer you may even see tuna and turtles. Again with clear visibility all year round many of the fish here swim close to the surface giving a great opportunity for snorkellers.

Diving in El Hierro

Here you will find 25 sites and several dive centres. The main diving is from the village of La Restinga which is a protected marine park. El Hierro became a marine sanctuary in 1996 and in 2000 was also declared a UNESCO biosphere reservation.

Diving is something that can be enjoyed by all the family so why not take a look at the many last minute holiday deals that are around.

With much more to do and see please visit my Canary Islands blog for more information on this beautiful group of islands.

If you are looking for a destination with plenty to do and see then look no further than the Canary Islands, you won’t be disappointed.
Here are just a few of the many attractions of the islands, there are far too many to mention them all!

Corralejo

WINDSURFING & KITESURFING – FUERTEVENTURA

Fuerteventura has soft, golden, unspoiled beaches which are ideal for a spot of windsurfing or kitesurfing. There is Corralejo in the north and Jandia in the south, where world championship events take place.

TEIDE NATIONAL PARK – TENERIFE

The Teide National Park was declared a World Heritage Site in 2007. Here you can take the cable car up the 12,198ft Mount Teide. The cable car takes you to within 1,000ft of the summit from where you can walk to the peak of the mountain.

Costa Martianez Lido

PUERTO DE LA CRUZ – TENERIFE

Here in this old colonial-style town, you will find the Costa Martianez Lido, designed by Cesar Manrique, and the marine and wildlife park, Loro Parque.

CARNAVAL – TENERIFE

During February and March there are great colourful celebrations in Santa Cruz and Puerto Cruz.

CALDERA DE TABURIENTE – LA PALMA

Caldera de Taburiente is one of the biggest and most fertile volcanic craters in the world. Whilst taking a hike here you can also visit Mirador de la Cumbrecita with it’s wonderful views and also explore the charming capital, Santa Cruz.

Timanfaya National Park

TIMANFAYA NATIONAL PARK – LANZAROTE

The landscape here was created by a volcanic eruption that covered around a third of the island of Lanzarote. Whilst on a walking tour here you will be able to feel the heat of the dormant volcano.

TEGUISE – LANZAROTE

This picturesque colonial-style former capital of Lanzarote has great views and a castle which is built on a volcanic cone, palaces, churches and a Sunday market.

Jardin de Cactus

THE ATTRACTIONS OF CESAR MANRIQUE – LANZAROTE

Cesar Manrique, the renowned artist, landscape designer and ecological champion, has several visitor attractions on the island, including Jameos del Agua and Jardin de Cactus.

LAS PALMAS – GRAN CANARIA

Located between two bays, Las Palmas has a lovely beach and several attractions, including the Casa de Colon (Columbus House, Pueblo Canario, museums, a cathedral and market.

If you are looking for last minute holidays you will find 1,000′s of late deals on offer throughout the internet.

For more information on the Canary Islands and to view my latest articles please visit my Canary Islands Blog.

Thinking about taking one of the many bargain holidays to Tenerife offered on the internet? The following guest post from Holiday Insider will make that decision a whole lot easier!

Holiday Insider writes
“After trying to get away for a week in April and consequently being thwarted by the ash cloud, our quick week away to get some sunshine ended up being last week in Tenerife! We stayed at the Bareclo Santiago, booked by a lovely travel agent who advertises on holidayholiday.co.uk (if you’d like her details please email me, a good travel agent is worth their weight in gold!). The holiday was booked via Thomson/First Choice.

Overview:
The Hotel Barcelo Santiago is situated in Puerto Santiago in the South West of Tenerife. We flew into Tenerife South Airport which is located on the South of the island. The hotel itself is built on the cliff face overlooking the sea and has a beautiful view of Los Gigantes Cliffs and you can also see La Gomera island from the hotel.  There’s a mixture of Double rooms, Suites, Junior Suites and Deluxe Junior Suites.  We booked a sea view double balcony room.  The hotel was refurbished recently (according to its website) and its of a relatively good standard throughout, although when I was there some parts of the spa were out of use due to improvements still.  The nearest beach is 200metres away, although I wouldn’t go to this hotel for the beach, it’s very small and Tenerife’s beaches are volcanic sand.  However, it does make up for this in scenic views and lovely swimming pools overlooking the cliffs.

Food:

The restaurant here is buffet style plus a pool bar , plus also a spanish restaurant serving tapas and other meals which I have to be honest I didn’t see open apart from to show the football on a big screen.  The majority of holidaymakers here are on the All Inclusive option, which is good value for money as it includes local wines, spirits and beers, all meals plus snacks, there’s also a self service drinks bar at the poolside.  The food itself was ok, a variety of things to choose from each night although mainly unadventurous, plus the usual snacks at the pool bar.  It does get a bit monotonous at times, but then I guess that’s usual when it’s all inclusive and catering for the masses.  I think breakfast was my favourite as there was a lot of choice.

Facilities:

The pools are lovely, very clean and well kept, very refreshing on hot days!! The entertainment is your usual class of hotel entertainment, a bit like Butlins but marginally better and in French, German, Spanish and English.  We did have one night of good entertainment that consisted of an Eagles tribute band who were good.  I have to say the entertainment staff worked extremely hard, I don’t know where they got their energy from.  There was a different show on every night, plus kids clubs for those with children.  I didn’t use the spa in the end, but did use the gym which was moderately equipped and of an ample size considering there was no-one else using it!

Surrounding areas:

Walking around and about near the hotel there are a few bars, restaurants and shops.  They’re mainly catered to tourists and most of the bars are English bars and serve English food or holiday food like Pizza.  We visited during the World Cup so inevitably there were football games being shown in nearly every bar.  We started off the holiday as half board and then decided after two nights to upgrade to All Inclusive, partly because we had decided this was a rare ’do-nothing’ holiday and also because I didn’t feel that the restaurants around the hotel offered anything extra than the hotel already supplied and at a very competitive rate.  This may not suit everyone, but it worked for us on this occasion.  One thing to note if booking this hotel, the area is very hilly and there are steep stairs down to the promenade and to the beach.  If you have any problems with walking and are planning on seeing the surrounding area by foot I would advise not to book this hotel.

Los Gigantes cliffs

The Good…

1) Beautiful scenery and views out over the sea here, the Los Gigantes cliffs and La Gomera Island.  Had we been more active we would have taken a trip to the neighbouring island or hired jetskis.
2) Helpful staff – the Restaurant manager, waiters and waitresses in particular are very helpful, friendly and very busy!  The hotel was very full when we stayed and they rushed around the place at every meal.
3) The All Inclusive package here is very good value for money especially if you drink alcohol and are happy to choose from the buffet menu or snack bar.

… and the Bad:

1) Veggie meal booked on the flight, didn’t get it, although the air hostess did find me an alternative.  Unfortunately this has been my experience every time I’ve booked a package holiday with Thomson!!
2) Paid for a sea view balcony room, but on arrival we were placed in a sea view ground floor room.  I complained and we were finally moved to the 5th floor two days after arrival.  What a difference! Even the cleaning of the room on the 5th floor is better, which is lovely but disappointing for those on the 2nd floor!
3) Unhelpful staff – the Gym manager particularly.  As I was the sole person using the gym for an hour’s run I asked to turn the TV over to watch something other than Football.  The girls on the desk stated they were unable to do this as they had been told by their manager that the TV must show Football at all times regardless of what the clients requested.
4) Sunbeds – Oh wow it is amazing the dedication I experienced to sunbathing at this hotel.  After spending 4 days unsuccessfully getting a sunbed, I actually got up one morning at 7am to reserve two with towels.  I’m embarressed to admit it but if you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em!!  Be prepared to get up by 8am latest if you want a good spot.  The hotel has a policy of not reserving sunbeds but I didn’t see this in force at any point.

Overall:

Overall, did I enjoy my holiday at the Barcelo Santiago?  I would say yes, but…. it’s not really my type of holiday.  All inclusive package holidays are a new thing to me and not something I would repeat quickly.  I enjoy adventure type holidays in general, but this is personal choice and I recognise that.  I think if you are a family with kids its ideal for a relaxing week away.  It was very busy while we were there so perhaps our original plan of going in April may have been better suited to us.  I imagine it gets very booked up during the height of the Summer months so be prepared for it to be busy if you go during this time.  I enjoyed it, and despite the enforced relaxation I did come back home feeling like I’d had a proper break in the sunshine.  In my opinion and based on previous experience, it’s a good 3* hotel with an exceptionally lovely view…. as opposed to a 4*.”

Thinking of visiting the Canary Islands for your holidays?
Have you considered staying on Fuerteventura, the largest of the Canary Islands?
If you are considering this island destination then why not take a look at a really informative travel article for Fuerteventura that i have just come across.

Fuerteventura is the place for the best beach holiday.

Corralejo beach

Because Fuerteventura’s economy is purely built around tourism,  it is the perfect place for any holiday maker to get exactly what they want from their holiday. There are two towns on the island, Corralejo and Caleta de fuste, each offering a different experience.
Corralejo is located on the most northern tip of the island and is based around the small fishing town which has been adapted to tend to the tourists needs.
Purpose built Caleta de fuste is much more up beat and lively than that of the sleepy town of Corralejo.

Fuerteventura is also a top choice for golfing enthusiasts. With two golf courses, one is the championship golf course of the Spanish open and the

Caleta de fuste beach

 other is situated right next to it, there is plenty of opportunity to play.

Trevor Butler set up his first ‘travel’ related business in 2004 and has written many other destination articles with tips and information. I have found these articles both interesting and helpful, hope you do too.

Review supplied to us by our reader Martha Evans

“This was our second stay at the Isla Bonita and we enjoyed our stay yet again. We can’t understand the negative reviews on this hotel, don’t know what people expect when they book cheap holidays – most people we spoke to there had got good deals on their holiday just like us. OK the outside of the hotel could do with a bit of a make-over but inside everything was clean, from the reception to our room. All the staff were really friendly and helpful, including the entertainments team who often had us all in stitches. The food was of a high quality and variety. All in all we love the Isla Bonita and will visit again next year.”

ISLA BONITA HOTEL OVERVIEW

The Isla Bonita offers spacious accommodation in a peaceful location. The sandy beach is nearby and rooms are bright and comfortable, making this a great choice for a fun-filled, carefree holiday.

Location

Approx 500 metres from the beach and the promenade at Fanabe.

Accommodation

438 rooms which sleep 4 adults and have twin beds, double sofa bed in lounge area, individually-controlled air conditioning, full bathroom, satellite TV, fridge and furnished balcony or terrace.

Food and Drink

Buffet restaurant, Pool bar, Bar Plaza

Swimming Pools

Outdoor irregular-shaped pool, Sun terrace, Children’s pool.

Entertainment

Daytime activities and frequent evening entertainment may include live music and shows

Activities

Badminton, Darts, Football, Basketball, Keep fit.

For Children

Playground, Playroom with video games, Entertainment programme, Mini-club, Mini disco.

This review was supplied to us by our reader Trevor Haigh

“We always wait and search for last minute holidays on the internet, so we were really pleased when we found a really good deal for the Vistamar in Gran Canaria. We spent 2 great weeks here at the end of April and can’t wait for a return visit later this year. As the hotel is built on the cliffs, the hotel runs buses down to the beach about every 15-20 minutes. Our hotel room, although basic, had a lovely seaview and was clean. Food (plenty of variety), drink, staff and entertainment could not be faulted. There was plenty of activities all day long and a great kid’s club for our daughter where she made friends from day 1.”

club hotel riu vistamar

CLUB HOTEL RIU VISTAMAR

The hotel is situated on a clifftop with magnificent views of the ocean, just 1.2 kms from the sandy beach of Playa Amadores.

Location

600m from the Europa Centre with shops and restaurants, 3.1kms from the main centre of Puerto Rico and 100m to the bus stop.

Accommodation

The hotel has 475 rooms all with 2 or 3 beds, air conditioning, fan, satellite tv, telephone, mini fridge, hairdryer, safety deposit box and  a balcony with sea views.
Family rooms are twin rooms with extra beds and take a maximum of 2 adults and 2 children up to 12yrs or 3 adults, the minimum number of guests allowed in a family room is 3
There are also single rooms available.

Dining

Buffet restaurant, special evenings twice a week, optional evening meals on alternating days with Grill or Andalucian cuisine in theme restaurant, pool restaurant.

Sport and Activities

2 swimming pools heated in winter, separate children’s pool heated in winter, sunbeds and parasols, pool towels, sun terrace, gym, volleyball, aerobics, multi-purpose sports pitch, table tennis, billiards, shuffleboard, french bowls, tennis, children’s play area.

Entertainment

Lounge bar, daily entertainment programme, RIU evening programme with shows or live music daily, card room, bingo, children’s mini disco.

Facilities

Internet, exchange facility, 18 hole golf course nearby, laundry service, hairdresser and massage.

The mythological epic film, Clash of the Titans, was shot on Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands. Among the locations used were Teide National Park and parts of the coastline surrounding Icod de los Vinos, Buenavista del Norte and Guía de Isora.

Teide National Park

Teide National Park

Tenerife was an ideal location as the film is set in ancient mythical times.

By watching the film visitors will be able to sample views of the islands wonderful landscape and scenery before they take their holidays.
 
Clash of the Titans tells the story of the mortal son of the god Zeus who embarks on a perilous journey to stop the underworld and its minions from spreading their evil to Earth as well as the heavens and is released on 2 April by Warner Bros and Legendary Pictures.

This review has been supplied to us by our reader Carol Clarke

“When we booked this self catering holiday for our family summer holidays last year, we didn’t know what to expect as we had never been self catering before. The apartment for the 4 of us was a good size with everything you need to cook with, we didn’t cook much though as we found some great restaurants in Playa Blanca, why cook when there is someone else to do it for you! Really suprised that our apartment was cleaned 4 times and the beds changed twice, thought i would have to do it all myself as we were self catering! The kids loved the kids club (hate to say it but so did we!).
Have already booked to go back again this year and it can’t come keep enough.”

Aparthotel Sun Royal

Aparthotel Sun Royal

Aparthotel Sun Royal, Playa Blanca, Lanzarote

Located in a tranquil spot, just 600m from the beach at Playa Dorada, the Sun Royal is ideal for family holidays. Offering bright, clean accommodation, it is just a short stroll from the promenade and the resort centre.

 

 

Key Facts
200 Apartments
2 Lifts

Apartment Facilities
All of the apartments have a kitchenette with 2 electric rings, microwave, coffee machine/juice extractor, toaster and fridge, bathroom, satellite TV, telephone, hairdryer, balcony or terrace. The apartments have 2 single Aparthotel Sun Royal Bedroombeds, a sofa bed and a pull out bed. 

Facilities
Reception, bar area, mini-market, launderette,
2 large swimming pools, sunbeds, gardens, pool table, darts, table tennis, games room, squash court, water polo, bicycle hire, tennis and minigolf available in sister hotel next door, sauna.
Daily activities organised by hotel.
Non-smoking, air-conditioned buffet restaurant and cafe/snack bar.

Children’s Facilities
2 saltwater kid’s pools, playground, playroom, cots.