Costa Calma Beach

Fuerteventura’s Costa Calma is ideal for a quiet relaxing beach holiday in the Canary Islands. The main attraction here is the amazing sandy beaches which stretch for miles along the coastline and are regarded as some of the best in the islands. Running from Costa Calma to Morro Jable, these sandy beaches stretch for about 12 miles. Although nightlife is very low-key, the resort does have some discos but if you are looking for livelier nightlife you will need to visit Corralejo or Jandia. There is a range of hotels along the beachfront and even the hotels that are further inland are not very far from the coastline and offer great views of Costa Calma and the surrounding area.

The calm shallow waters are perfect for swimming and learning to windsurf. The resorts gentle shelving main beach is excellent for children or if you are looking for complete peace and quiet in a secluded spot there are plenty of peaceful havens just a short walk from the main beach. The resort offers plenty of water sports including scuba diving, snorkelling, windsurfing (with plenty of windsurfing schools), kitesurfing and sailing. The Annual Windsurfing World Championships are held at Playa

Windsurfing at Playa Sotavento

Sotavento beach.

Away from the beautiful beaches there is plenty for the whole family to do like jeep safaris, camel safari, golf and lots of other resorts to visit in the surrounding area. Explore the protected beaches on a hike through the Jandia National Park, the traditional fishing village of Morro Jable and visit the beautiful soft sandy beach at Playa Sotavento which is overlooked by an amazing extinct volcano. Not to be missed is a day out to La Oasis Park in Jandia for some alligator spotting! Nearby Jandia also has some great golf courses where experienced golfers can enjoy a round or two and beginners can take lessons.

Costa Calma has some lovely restaurants, cafes and tavern where you can enjoy some traditional, as well as International cuisine. There is a small restaurant by the beach called El Patio which serves, in our opinion, the best seafood, fish dishes and pasta in the area.

With a great sunny climate and mild winters, the Costa Calma is perfect at any time of the year we discovered when we visited the holidayholiday website. Check out this website for lots of fantastic offers. July and August are the busiest months of the year but due to the vast

Costa Calma

expanses of sandy beaches the resort is never crowded. June to September are the hottest months with average temperatures of around 30ºC and low humidity. Spring and autumn see temperatures in the mid 20′s and even winters see temperatures in the 20′s with up to 7 hours of sunshine a day.

The cheapest holidays are in the spring and autumn, click here to find some great offers.

El Sauzal

Airport and 12 miles from the islands capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The town itself is unspoilt with well-kept villas, pretty gardens, plazas, churches and a variety of restaurants serving traditional cuisine including some delicious seafood dishes. For a wider selection of good international eateries, you will need to visit nearby Puerto de la Cruz where you will find British, Chinese and Indian restaurants.

Right on El Sauzal’s doorstep is Casa del Vino la Baranda. This is a restored hacienda which is home to a very interesting wine museum and visitor centre with a restaurant attached where you can sample some excellent wines over a delicious meal whilst relaxing on the sun terrace which has amazing views of Spain’s highest

Casa del Vino la Baranda

mountain, Mount Tiede. The hacienda also displays over 150 wines of Tenerife, spoiling you for choice on your cheap package holidays to the Canary Islands. During the summer months the museum hosts classical music concerts.

Surrounded by vineyards, El Sauzal is just a short distance from what is regarded as one of the best beaches on Tenerife and is in an excellent position for visiting the quiet beaches of Playa do los Troches and Playa de San Roque in the north of the island. For livelier entertainment there are the vibrant clubs, bars and restaurants at Puerto de la Cruz just along the coast.

Away from the beaches there is historic La Orotava to the south and the lively university town of La Laguna to the east. La Orotava has quaint cobbled streets, exciting plazas and is brimming with colonial architecture. In the centre of El Sauzal is the

Inglesia de San Pedro

white-washed domed Iglesia de San Pedro which is well worth a visit.

Nightlife in El Sauzal is very low key with most visitors enjoying a relaxing evening sampling the local wines at the town’s traditional tavernas. If you are looking for more lively nightlife you will need to visit nearby Puerto de la Cruz where you will find vibrant nightclubs and trendy beachside cocktail bars.

El Sauzal enjoys a glorious all year round climate. The resort enjoys average temperatures of 25C during the summer months and 15C during the winter months. July and August often see the temperature around the 30C mark on a daily basis. There is virtually no rainfall from May to October when the sun shines for around 9 hours a day. October to December still enjoys good temperatures around 25C with at least 7 hours of sunshine a day. The combination of the Trade Winds and the Gulf current ensures that the temperature in El Sauzal is never uncomfortable. Just a 4 hour flight from the UK, El Sauzal is the ideal choice for your winter last minute holidays as temperatures hover around 20C and with 6 hours of sunshine a day this is the ideal time to escape the UK’s wintery weather.

La Caleta Tenerife

The beaches at La Caleta are perfect for relaxing in the sun or for the more energetic there are plenty of water sports to enjoy, including scuba diving, wind surfing, water-skiing and of course the family favourite banana boats. All along the waterfront there are restaurants and bars where you can enjoy a pleasant meal whilst watching the world pass by. Children will love splashing about in the little salt water pools, one even has a waterfall.

There are plenty of places to visit in and around La Caleta. La Caleta is usually quiet during the day, making this the ideal time for a quiet stroll to the beautiful beaches and designer shops at Bahia Del Durque. Take a daytime or evening beachfront walk from La Caleta, past Del Durque and Playa de las Americas and then on to

Mount Teide cable car

Playa de Los Cristianos. One of the best ways to explore the island is by hire car. A must do on your visit to Tenerife is a visit to Mount Teide, located about 15 miles from La Caleta. Standing at over 3,700 metres (12198ft), this is the tallest peak in Spain. A cable car takes visitors almost to the top of the volcanic mountain where they can take in stunning views and take amazing photos of the lunar like landscape of the surrounding National Park. Children will love a great day out at Playa de las Americas’ Aqua Park Octopus with its exciting rides, water chutes and dolphinarium.

Golfers will love the 27-hole Adeje Golf Course which is situated less than a mile from La Caleta. Opened in 1998 the course hosted the 2003 Spanish Open and due to the areas great weather, is ideal for a round or two

Adeje Golf Course

at virtually any time of the year.

La Caleta has a selection of restaurants from tavernas serving traditional Canarian food to restaurants serving international cuisine, Chinese and Indian meals. There are also lots of cafes and snack bars offering good snacks which are inexpensive. The local taverns and bars offer some evening entertainment but if you want a livelier party atmosphere you will need to head into Playa de las Americas where the beach is lined with discos and clubs.

The southern region of Tenerife enjoys the island’s sunniest weather with warm sunshine and clear blue skies at any time of the year. Take one of the late deals to La Caleta where the sun shines for 50 weeks of the year. May to October see temperatures over the 25C mark with around 9 hours of sunshine a day, with June, July and August seeing temperatures around the 30C mark with 10 hours of sunshine a day. The gentle Trade Winds ensure that the temperature is never uncomfortable. Evenings are warm enough to enjoy a cooling drink in the open air bars and relax over an al fresco meal at one of the resorts top-class restaurants.

Yaiza

island with less cloud and less wind than towns in the north. The town sees average annual temperatures of 21C, dropping to around 19C with 6 hours of sunshine in December, making Yaiza the perfect choice for your winter sun holidays to the Canary Islands. The area offers hotel and apartment accommodation to suit all budgets, beautiful beaches and lots of things to do and see on your bargain holidays to Lanzarote.

The town of Yaiza has a quaint central square with a 17th century church, Iglesia Nuestra Senora de los Remedios. This pretty church has been loving restored and is home to some very fine religious carvings and paintwork. You will also find a cultural centre, art galleries and shops in the town.

There are some beautiful beaches which are easily accessible from Yaiza including Playa del Papagayo, the peaceful Playa Blanca and Puerto del Carmen. Water sports, including scuba diving, snorkelling, jet-skiing,

Papagayo Lanzarote

water-skiing, windsurfing, sailing and fishing, are all available from the beaches. Boat trips to the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura are available from the harbour at Playa Blanca.

Away from the beaches there is plenty to see and do. Yaiza makes an excellent base for wine-lovers to visit the areas noted vineyards and to sample some of Lanzarotes finest wines. Follow the islands Wine Routes and tour the vineyards and cellars before enjoying a tasting session of the island’s best vintages. Lanzarote has an amazing volcanic landscape which was shaped by the activity of over 300 volcanoes which have laid dormant for hundreds of years. A visit to Timanfaya National Park, just a few miles from Yaiza, will give visitors an insight into how the island was formed. The park, which can be reached by the Volcanic Route from Yaiza, covers one third of Lanzarote and is the result of lava flowing from volcanoes over 250 years ago. The whole family will love exploring the volcanic caves and an exhilarating camel ride along the special camel route which runs through the park. For some culture a visit to the picturesque old town of Teguise is a must on your direct holidays to Lanzarote. Once the islands capital, Teguise is home to a traditional square, a castle built on the top of a volcanic core, historic churches and convents, beautiful ornate aristocratic houses and a water park. For

Timanfaya National Park

golf enthusiasts there are two courses to choose from. The 18-hole course in Tias is just 15 minutes from Yaiza while the other course is 25 minutes away in Costa Teguise. A great way to discover the natural beauty of the island is on a pony trek for all levels of competence.

Yaiza is a popular base for walking and hiking holidays. This is an ideal way to discover the wonderful volcanic landscape, spectacular scenery, quaint authentic villages and beautiful beaches on an island with an ideal climate.

Because of its ideal location on the southern tip of Lanzarote, Yaiza enjoys some of the best weather on the island. Spring months see highs of 21C and are an excellent time for exploring the island. Summer months see 9 hours of sunshine everyday with temperatures of 24C-27C with virtually no rain at all. Although temperatures drop in the winter, Yaiza still enjoys temperatures around 19C with 6 hours of sunshine a day making holidays in December a great choice for sightseeing and getting out and about.

Carnaval Las Palmas De Gran Canaria 2012

Carnival events include;

The Carnival Queen Election Gala on the 3rd February.
In the Parque Santa Catalina – The Children’s Carnival on the 4th February – A contest of children’s troupes celebrating choreography, rhythm, costumes and of course the hard-work and enthusiasm put in by the children throughout the year.
In the Parque Santa Catalina – The Canine Carnival on the 5th February – This popular event is a parade of costumed dogs and their owners.
In the Parque Santa Catalina – The Gala Gran Dama on the 5th February – Open to candidates over 60 years of age, this lively gala is a fun night filled with great performances.
In the Parque Santa Catalina – Murgas Competition on the 6th, 7th and 8th February – Held in 3 phases the Murgas (street musicians/musical theatre groups) re-enact social and political events which have taken place throughout the year in an ironic and satirical manner.
The Pre-selection of the Drag Queen on the 14th February.
The Drag Queen Gala (Gala Drag Queen) on the 17th February followed by an all-night party. Marvel at the glittering, sparkly costumes, feather boas and towering high heels.
The Big Parade (Great Carnival Parade) on the 18th February followed by another all-night party.
The Grand Gala of Carnival (Gran Gala Del Carnaval) on the 20th February.

Entierro de la Sardina

The festivities end with the traditional Burial of the Sardine (Entierro de la Sardina) on Las Canteras beach on the 21st February. Revellers parade through the streets in outfits which can be quite scary before congregating on the beach to bury the sardine and watch the amazing firework display. Watch out for the many holiday deals to the Canary Islands that are always on offer throughout the internet.

Puerto Naos

apartment complexes which offer last minute holiday deals to the resort. Away from the beach the town of Puerto Naos consists of a few streets and a boulevard with restaurants, bars and shops. There are plenty of inexpensive restaurants in Puerto Naos which serve a whole range of cuisine including traditional Canarian dishes, Asian and international options. Apart from the beautiful beaches, La Palma has plenty to keep the whole family occupied including scuba diving, paragliding, horse riding, mountain biking, boat trips and lots of walking and hiking trails.

The main attraction of Puerto Naos is long black volcanic beach which stretches for nearly half a mile along the coast. Backed by palm trees which offer some welcome shade, this is the longest beach on La Palma and is ideal for sunbathing under the clear blue sky. Lapped by the warm Atlantic Ocean, the beach at Puerto Naos has been awarded a European Blue

Puerto Naos beach

Flag. This west coast area is well known for its beautiful sandy beaches with Playa de Charco Verde situated close to Puerto Naos. The islands only nudist beach, Playa de las Monjas, is located just to the south of Puerto Naos.

Puerto Naos has a great climate that allows you to scuba dive at any time of the year. The clear Atlantic Ocean enables divers to explore the underwater volcanic formations, caves, canyons, tunnels and chimneys. For an experience you will never forget take a night dive and discover this amazing underwater world.

The Taburiente Caldera National Park is not to be missed on your cheap holidays to Puerto Naos. Located just over 6 miles from the resort, this national park is the fourth to be established in Spain. The park is the site of a gigantic six mile long volcanic

Taburiente Caldera National Park

rock wall, the islands highest point the Roque de los Muchachos and an amazing collection of flowers and plants. Also worth a visit is the west coasts main town of Llanos de Aridane. Just less than four miles from Puerto Naos this charming little town is home to some beautifully preserved buildings complete with traditional Canarian wooden carved balconies.

Nightlife is provided by the bars and the islands only hotel and is very low-key compared to the other Canary Islands but is still considered fairly lively for La Palma.

From May until the end of November temperatures are around 25˚C, peaking at 30˚C during July, August and September, with May to October basking in up to 10 hours of sunshine a day. Winter sees temperatures in December around 23˚C making Puerto Naos a great choice for a winter holiday. Puerto Naos sees very little rainfall, about one day a month from June till September but increasing slightly during the winter months. Sea temperatures are also high, reaching over 20˚C from June till the end of September. Occasionally, maybe once or twice a year, Puerto Naos experiences a weather phenomenon called the Calima. This phenomenon occurs when hot, dry desert winds from the Sahara sweep across the island pushing the temperature up to around 40˚C. However these occurrences don’t last long and should not spoil your visit to Puerto Naos.

El Hierro has over 200 small volcanic craters on the island, with the last eruption occurring back in 1973 creating lava flows.  A geological survey on the island has been underway during the last month to try to determine the cause of the frequent tremors.  The Canary Islands actually owe their existence to volcanic activity as they are all volcanic in origin, due to their position on the African plate on which they sit.  Despite these current warnings for El Hierro, La Palma is actually the most active of the Canary Islands with regards to tectonic activity and the last volcanic eruption here was in 1971.

The goverment has played down any talk of disaster and has stressed the ‘yellow’ alert is precautionary to ensure safety of the island’s inhabitants and they have been reassuring residents that the raised alert level does not indicate that an eruption is imminent.

You can follow us on twitter/facebook for any updates on the El Hierro situation or keep an eye on the blog.

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The ‘healthy kids’ programme was developed exclusively for Seaside Hotels by Lucy Thomas, founder of the UK-based Mange Tout company. Lucy recently appeared on the BBC programme ‘Fast Food Baby’. Mang Tout specialise in creating fun ways for children to explore healthy attitudes towards eating, including introducing them to fruit and vegetables.

Set in a 20,000 square metre grove of palm trees, the Los Jameos Playa hotel is just a three minute drive from the resort of Puerto del Carmen and 20m from the vast Pocillos beach area. The design of the hotel was inspired by the internationally renowned artist and local boy Cesar Manrique. The hotel has outer whitewashed walls, a huge atrium-style lobby, guest rooms furnished in modern stripes and florals, a spa offering beauty treatments, massage and a Finnish sauna. Facilities at the Los Jameos include a 24hr front desk, currency exchange, 2 freshwater swimming pools (1 heated), children’s pool, large terrace with sun loungers, buffet restaurant with theme nights and show cooking, pool snack bar, 4 bars including a piano bar, a Wellness Centre with gym, sauna, steam room, beauty treatments and massage, an International Tennis school with 4 tennis courts (2 of which have floodlights), table tennis, squash court, minigolf, volleyball, archery, giant chess, billiards, Wi-Fi in reception, hairdresser, dry cleaning and self service launderette. All guest rooms have an en suite bathroom, hairdryer, air conditioning, satellite TV, telephone, minibar and safe.

The Los Jameos with restaurants, bars, shops and water sports all close by, is an excellent choice for last minute holidays to Lanzarote. The Costa Teguise golf course is also just a 15 minute drive from the hotel. Lanzarote attracts divers from all over the world and has some great dive locations around the island. Puerto Carmen has some good diving schools and instructors.

Jandia coastline

The island of Fuerteventura has over 125 miles of golden sandy beaches. Jandia offers over 12 miles of coastline with beautiful white sandy beaches which in some places are over half a mile wide. There are smaller less accessible secluded beaches along the coastline but these can only be reached by jeep or 4 wheel drive vehicles.

Home to the resorts of Costa Calma and Morra Jable, Jandia has developed into a popular tourist destination with large hotels catering for all types of visitor. Spread along the coast on the Playa de Sotavento, Costa Calma is very popular with German tourists and has a beautiful beach where the sand gently shelves into the Atlantic. Swimming conditions here are perfect. Just south of Costa Calma is the resort of Morro Jable. Once a small fishing village the resort is becoming increasingly popular with holidaymakers looking for last minute holiday deals to Fuerteventura. With all types of accommodation from luxury hotels to welcoming lodges, Morro Jable has a promenade lined with restaurants, cafes, bars and shops. The Playa del Matorral beach here is along expanse of beautiful white sand with a lighthouse which signifies

Morro Jable promenade

the start of the nudist section of the beach.

A perfect windsurfing spot, Jandia hosts the World Windsurfing Championships every year. Other water sports on offer include scuba diving, water-skiing and kite-surfing.

Away from the beach a great way to explore the island is by jeep, visiting the many traditional villages on your way around the island. Jandia National Park, with over 6000 acres of beautiful beaches, is an amazing place to visit on your late deals to Fuerteventura. For the more energetic a walk to the highest point on the island, Pico de Zarza, will give you amazing views across the island and out to sea. The walk takes around 5 hours and is quite strenuous but the journey back down is much easier and quicker as it is mostly downhill! Visitors can enjoy a round or two of golf at the golf course which is nestled in the hills of Morro Jable. For a great family day out catch the ferry that the runs from the port in Morro Jable to the island of Gran Canaria.

Nightlife tends to be low key and mainly centred around the hotels or at the restaurants, cafes and bars along the beach front. There is plenty of choice when it comes to dining out in Jandia with a good selection of restaurants serving a variety of cuisine including traditional tapas, Italian and German food, and good old British roasts.

Jandia enjoys an all year round stable climate with hot dry summers and warm winters. With the sun shining all year round temperatures in July and August often reach 30C and even the colder winter months still see temperatures around 20C with very little rainfall. From May until October the temperature rarely falls below 25C and together with around 7 hours of sunshine a day and perfect sea temperature this is the perfect time for a beach holiday in Jandia.

Matagorda

facilities, cleanliness and water quality, is the place to visit. Puerto Del Carmen also offers a host of water sports including snorkelling, windsurfing and parascending. Matagorda offers all types of accommodation from economy to high quality hotels, as well as bed and breakfast and self catering options. The resort is regarded by many as the cleanest and most attractive of all of Lanzarotes resorts.

Although the resort is a lot quieter than other resorts on the island, there is still plenty to do and see here. Matagorda has a variety of restaurants, cafes, bars and shops. There are some great restaurants in the main centre which serve a variety of cuisine including paella, fish, shellfish and international dishes.

A few miles from Matagorda is Puerto Calero where you can hire motorboats, take a trip on a catamaran to the beautiful beaches of Papagayo or take a ride on the Yellow Submarine. For those who like to shop there is the islands capital Arrecife which is

Yellow Submarine

located just to the east of Matagorda. Here you will find boutiques and fashion stores selling a vast range of duty-free goods. Arrecife is steeped in history and is home to some great museums and the 17th century Castillo De San Jose which is now a modern art gallery where you can enjoy a meal at the Cesar Manrique designed restaurant. If you are looking for a livelier atmosphere on your cheap holidays to Matagorda then Puerto del Carmen, located just a few miles away, is the place to visit. A long promenade with restaurants, shops and bars runs along the edge of the beach from Matagorda to Puerto Del Carmen and is great for an evening stroll in the warm evening air. Timanfaya National Park, a nature reserve with an epic rocky landscape, volcano and black volcanic beaches, is not far from the resort and makes a great day out for the whole family. Here at the reserve you can take in the magnificent views across the island and out to sea and enjoy a meal at the restaurant which uses heat direct from the earth’s core to cook your steak just how you like it. Another great day out is a visit to the Lanzarote Aquarium in Costa Teguise. The pools and tanks here house all types of marine life

Timanfaya National Park

including sharks, poisonous fire dragons, triggerfish, rays and clown fish.

If you are looking for relaxing summer or winter holidays to Matagorda there are always lots of holiday packages to choose from throughout the internet.