Canary Islands

This is the El Hierro chapter from Lonely Planet’s Canary Islands guidebook.

It’s impossible not to be entranced by El Hierro’s slow pace and simple soulfulness; by its craggy coast; its eerily beautiful juniper groves and serene pine forests; by its peaceful walking trails and flower meadows; and by its volcanic southern moonscapes.

• tackle one of the island’s top hikes on the Camino de Jinama
• maps
• take a dip at the Atlantic-washed natural pool of La Maceta, then wander the coastal cliffs
• transport
• soak up the spectacular gulf panorama of Mirador de la Peña
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Northern & Eastern El Hierro, Valverde, Echedo, El Mocanal, Mirador de la Peña, Tamaduste & La Caleta, Timijiraque & Las Playas, San Andrés, Isora, Southern El Hierro, El Pinar, La Restinga, El Golfo, Tigaday, La Frontera, Las Puntas, Los Llanillos & Sabinosa, La Dehesa.

This is the Fuerteventura chapter from Lonely Planet’s Canary Islands guide-book.

Blown by the wind and baked by the sun, Fuerteventura is truly an arresting spectacle: for the full-on, wide-angle perspective of the Martian-like landscape, climb up to the Mirador Astronómico de Sicasumbre and take it all in.

• surf, windsurf or just enjoy a sunset dinner in laid-back El Cotillo
• maps
• kick off your shoes to do cartwheels in the soft, powdery sand of Parque Natural de Cor-ralejo
• transport
• discover the beautifully unspoiled sands of Playa de Cofete in the southwest of Fuerte-ventura
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Puerto del Rosario, Central Fuerteventura, Betancuria & Around, Antigua & Around, Pájara, Caleta de Fuste, Gran Tarajal, Northern Fuerteventura, Los Molinos & Around, La Oliva, Corralejo, El Cotillo, Lajares, Península de Jandía, La Lajita, Costa Calma, La Pared, Playa de Sotavento de Jandía, Morro Jable & Around, Cofete.

This is the Gran Canaria chapter from Lonely Planet’s Canary Islands guide-book.

Gran Canaria is a continent in miniature, with dramatic variations of terrain ranging from the green and leafy north to the lush mountainous interior and the desert south. In beautiful Arte-nara, the sheer drama of the mountains reaches a crescendo.

• drink in the incredible views from a restaurant terrace at the mountaintop village of Tejeda
• maps
• set out to explore the historic Vegueta barrio (district) in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
• transport
• motor up stupendous Barranco de Guayadeque and dine in a cave restaurant at the very end of the road
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Eastern Gran Canaria, Caldera de Bandama & Santa Brígida, Telde, Agüimes, Barranco de Guayadeque, Temisas, Northern Gran Canaria, Teror, Arucas, Moya, Santa María de Guía, Gáldar, Agaete & Puerto de las Nieves, Central Gran Canaria, Artenara, Tejeda & Around, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Fataga, Southern Gran Canaria, Maspalomas, Puerto de Mogán, Mogán, Mogán to Aldea de San Nicolás.

This is the La Gomera chapter from Lonely Planet’s Canary Islands guide-book.

Without the tourist-resort trappings of golden sands and animated nightlife, La Gomera has a tangible bohemian air; many foreign residents arrived here in the 1960s flower-power days. Pas-tel-painted San Sebastián is the low-key hub, while the laid-back southern beach towns draw sunseekers.

• wander the fairy-tale laurisilva forest at Parque Nacional de Garajonay, La Gomera’s heart, and climb its tallest peak
• maps
• peer into colourful backstreets and delve into the island’s history in pint-sized San Sebas-tián de la Gomera
• transport
• marvel at the tropical fauna of lush Vallehermoso
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: San Sebastián de la Gomera, Parque Nacional de Garajonay, Northern La Gomera, Hermigua, El Cedro, Agulo, Vallehermoso, Alojera, Los Ór-ganos, Southern La Gomera, Playa Santiago, Alajeró & Around, El Cercado, Valle Gran Rey.

This is the La Palma chapter from Lonely Planet’s Canary Islands guidebook.

La Palma, the greenest of the Canarian islands, offers the chance to experience real, un-spoiled nature – from the verdant forests of the north, where lush vegetation drips from the rain-forest canopy; to the desertscapes of the south, where volcanic craters and twisted rock for-mations define the views.

• gaze deep into the Milky Way from the world-class stargazing spot of Roque de los Muchachos
• maps
• take an evening stroll through the historic streets of picturesque Santa Cruz de la Pal-ma
• transport
• hike into the natural wonderland of Parque Nacional de la Caldera de Taburiente
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Santa Cruz de la Palma, Southern La Palma, Villa de Mazo, Parque Ecológico de Belmaco, Fuencaliente, Central La Palma, Los Cancajos, El Paso, Parque Nacional de la Caldera de Taburiente, Los Llanos de Aridane, Puerto Naos, Northern La Palma, San Andrés, Los Tiles, Barlovento, Parque Cultural La Zarza.

This is the Lanzarote chapter from Lonely Planet’s Canary Islands guidebook.

Intimately intertwined with the legacy of 20th-century lanzaroteño artist and environmentalist César Manrique, Lanzarote is an intriguing island with an utterly extraordinary geology of 300 volcanic cones, eerie blackened lava fields and the occasional bucolic, palm-filled valley.

• marvel at the otherworldly lavascapes of the Parque Nacional de Timanfaya
• maps
• escape to Isla Graciosa’s empty beaches
• transport
• taste the fruits of volcanic vines
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Central Lanzarote, Arrecife, Costa Teguise, Teguise, San Bartolomé, Tiagua, Lanzarote’s Wine Country, Parque Nacional de Timanfaya, Northern Lanzarote, Arrieta, Malpaís de la Corona, Órzola, Mirador del Río, Haría, La Caleta de Famara, Isla Graciosa, Southern Lanzarote, Puerto del Carmen, Yaiza, El Golfo, Playa Blanca, Punta del Pa-pagayo.

This chapter contains the Canary, Welcome to the Canary Islands, The Canary Islands’ Top 17, Need to Know, Accommodation, If You Like..., Month by Month, Itineraries, Activities, Travel with Children, Eat & Drink Like a Local, and Regions at a Glance chapters from Lonely Planet’s Canary Islands guidebook.

Your journey to Canary Islands starts here. You’ll find the tools to plan your adventure: where to go and when, how much to budget, plus in-depth info on travel with children.

• tailor-made itineraries, arranged by region, themes and events
• list of highlights and best experiences
• everything you need to know about the best local food and drink
• user-friendly country overview ensures you won’t miss a thing

Coverage includes: Canary, Welcome to the Canary Islands, The Canary Islands’ Top 17, Need to Know, Accommodation, If You Like: Scenic Landscapes, beaches, Hik-ing, Art & Architecture, History, Water Sports, Archaeology, Wine & Cheese, Off the Beaten Track, Month by Month, Itineraries, Activities, Travel with Children, Eat & Drink Like a Local, and Re-gions at a Glance.

This is the Tenerife chapter from Lonely Planet’s Canary Islands guidebook.

Get your explorer’s hat on and step beyond Tenerife’s tourist spots and you’ll discover an is-land of extraordinary beauty and diversity, with remote mountain-ridge villages, cultured port set-tlements and charming ancient towns.

• do a Darwin and explore the verdant expanses of the oldest geographical region on the is-land, the Anaga Mountains
• maps
• hike around the staggering moonscape of Parque Nacional del Teide, Spain’s most popu-lar national park
• transport
• check out the magnificent architecture and art exhibitions at contemporary Tenerife Es-pacio de las Artes (TEA) in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Northeast Tenerife, La La-guna, San Andrés, Anaga Mountains, North Coast Tenerife, Puerto de la Cruz, La Orotava, Garachico, Central Tenerife, Parque Nacional del Teide, Vilaflor, Northwest Tenerife, Punta de Teno, Santiago del Teide, Masca, Los Gigantes & Puerto de Santiago, South Coast Tenerife, Los Cristianos, Playa de las Américas & Costa Adeje, Las Galletas, El Médano, East Coast Tenerife, Candelaria, Güímar.

This chapter contains the The Canary Islands Today, History, Canarian Arts & Culture, Life on a Volcano, Directory A–Z, Transport, and Language chapters from Lonely Planet’s Canary Islands guidebook.

All the info you need on everything from history, arts and geology to flights, public transport, climate, money, the internet... you name it. Get tips for women travellers, gay and lesbian travel-lers, travellers with disabilities, and travellers with kids. And get the most out of your conversa-tions with a handy language guide and glossary.

• a rundown on the economic and environmental challenges facing the islands today
• info on the Canary Islands’ cutting-edge contemporary art and iconic architecture
• full coverage of the islands’ often-mysterious history
• details on giant lizards, moody volcanoes and the landscapes of the Canary Islands

Coverage includes: The Canary Islands Today, History, Canarian Arts & Culture, Life on a Volcano, Directory A–Z, Transport, and Language.