The
Canaries today consist of seven islands divided, for administrative
purposes, into two areas. The province of Las Palmas brings
together the major island of Gran Canaria and the lesser ones
of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. The province of Santa Cruz de
Tenerife encompasses Tenerife and
its satelite islands of la Gomera. La Palma and Hierro. Within
the archipelago there is a variety so extreme that it is easiest
to refer to it as a mini-continent. The isles share an eternal
spring climate but they differ dramatically amongst each other.
Exploring the Canaries you move from sub-tropical vegetation
to volcanic semi-deserts, from verdant cliffs and gorges to
sand dunes by the sea shore.
One
wonders to this day when and how the ancients learnt about
this little paradise which Herodotus called the Garden of
Hesperides, Homer the Elysian Fields and Pliny the Fortunate
isles. Modern contact with the Canaries began to develop in
the Middle Ages as sailors from peninsular Spain arrived to
plunder the isles of their orchids, which were used to make
dye, and of their inhabitants, who were enslaved. Conquest
in earnest only began with the Norman adventurer Jean de Bethencourt
who, in 1402 , claimed Lanzarote on behalf of his feudal lord.
Henry III of Castile. In 1483, during the region of the Catholic
Monarchs, Pedro de Vera established a base in Gran Canaria
and in 1496 Alonso Fenández de Lugo won control of
Tenerife. From then on colonization started in earnest.
The
original inhabitants of the Canaries were a race known as
the Guanches, a name derived from guan, meaning man or people,
and achinch, meaning white mountain in an obvious reference
to Tenerife's snow-capped Mount Teide. The natives lived a
Stone Age existence of shepherding and very rudimentary agriculture.
They buried their dead and, in the case of chieftains, mummified
the, much like the ancient Egyptians. In Tenerife, Bencome,
the mencey or leader of the tribe, fiercely resisted the conquistadors
with his flint exes and slings, while in Gran Canaria the
ruling guanarteme. Semidán, welcomed the European strangers
and established truces.
The
isles began to realize their potential for the Crown of Castile
as the links developed with the New World. Right at the beginning
of that awesome period Christopher Columbus, on his first
voyage, rested at La Gomera before venturing into the unknown,
westwards in search of the Indies. Before long the Canaies
were to become the vital link in transatlantic crossings,
a stepping stone between Europe, Africa and the American continent.
Last century, as trade and travel increased, the first hotels
began to open in Tenerife. Since then commerce and leisure
have spread and never ceased developing throughout the archipelago
which still retains the paradisiacal qualities that earned
it such poetic appellations so many centuries ago.
Shopping
The
Canary Islands are a shopping paradise because there is no
joy-cooling customs barrier. Shopping therefore is a pleasure
as never before. Not even the tax-free shops at the airports
can compete with prices in the Canaries. Liqueurs, tobacco,
cameras and film cameras, tape recorders, transistor radios,
watches, everything is cheaper than in their countries of
origin. From Nigerian crocodile skin to ivory carved on the
banks of the Ganges or real Chinese silk, the most curious,
rarest objects can be found.
Sports
The
islands are the ideal setting for the practice of all kinds
of sports. There are many fans of underwater fishing, swimming
and whatever other sports there are on the beach and at the
swimming pools. The traveller has a thousand training possibilities
at the tennis courts, trap-shooting, riding clubs and the
magnificent golf courses with a perfect lawn on undulating
terrain. There are also occasions to get to know local sports,
such as cock fights, the game of sticks, a kind of fencing
with two long poles, and the famous Canary catch as-catch-can
of remote origin, which requires great skill and strength
and is a spectacle of major interest. Another tradition is
el salto del regatón or de la garrocha, practiced above
all in the island of La Palma.
Communications
The
Canary archipelago is connected with Europe, Africa, but especially
with the Spanish peninsula, by numerous sea and air links.
The
shortest distance between these islands and Africa is 115
Km. From Gran Canaria and Tenerife to the port of Cádiz,
there are 680 and 705 miles, respectively, the equivalent
of two days at sea. Direct flights by jet from Madrid take
a little over two hours. Every island, with the exception
of Gomera, has airports for national and international flights.
For the moment, the airport on the island of El Hierro only
receives national flights. There are numerous air and sea
links between the different islands of the archipelago. Especially
between Tenerife and Gran Canaria there are several air and
sea links every day.
Climate
The
Canary Islands have a climate of their own, due in the first
place to their geographical position in the middle of the
Atlantic, near the African coast; secondly, because of their
place in the path of the trade winds, which are responsible
for the peculiar character of their climate, and thirdly,
because of the variety of their geographical features, ie,
the more mountainous islands have more rain, such as Tenerife,
La Palma and Gran Canaria, and the less rugged ones, such
as Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, have less rain. Consequently,
the mountains have a direct bearing on the amount of rain
that falls and not the proximity of the African continent,
as is commonly believed.
All
the climatic indicators based on the sensation experienced
by the human body when the values of temperature, humidity
and wind speed are combined coincide in showing that the islands
have the best possible conditions for eternal spring throughout
the year.
The
temperature variations between the different seasons are especially
eye-catching: 6C (42.8F) between the warmest and the coldest
month. The number of really good days varies from between
90 per cent in August and 50 per cent in January, and it is
typical for them to be mild - between 18 and 24C (64.4 and
75.2F) -, with clean, fresh air, a rather high degree of humidity
(80 per cent) and a partially clouded sky in places lying
east of the mountains and close to them. The less agreeable
days with a southern African wind only account for 7 per cent
(26 days in the whole year). At the same time, its mountainous
features produce temperature changes depending on the altitude
so that even snow is found on some peaks.
The
so-called Canary current contributes to the mild climate.
It keeps the surface temperature of the sea below that corresponding
to the latitude. The mean temperature of the sea water is
22 in the summer and 19 in the winter.
As
a result of their pleasant spring with a mean temperature
of 18C (64.4F) and their splendid summer with 22C (71.6F),
the climate of these marvelous islands is unmatched and the
feeling of well-being constant.
Gran
Canaria
The
island of Gran Canaria is third in size in the archipelago,
after Tenerife and Fuerteventura. It has a surface area of
1,532m2 and its most outstanding features are the ravines
which come down from the central peaks - which are over 2,000m
high - to the shore.
There
is no other place with such an eloquent variety of little
known scenery. There are desert and sandy areas as well as
mountains with lush, tropical vegetation. In Gran Canaria,
the steep cliffs of El Puerto de la Nieves and de la Aldea
together with the rugged ravines of Tirajana, Moya and Azuaje
alternate with pleasant valleys where thousands of banana-trees
grow and which - like the Arucas - gently descend towards
the sea. Gran Canaria has not in vain been called a continent
in miniature, because beginning by La Cumbre (a 2,000m peak)
with its granite masses of El Roque Nublo, nature has provided
for all kinds of scenery, where plants from Europe, Africa
and America grow (the Tamadaba pine forests, Los Tilos - lime-trees
-, the El Monte vineyards, the coffee plantations at Agaete,
palm forests, banana-trees, almond-trees, sugar cane and tomato
crops).
Las
Plamas, the capital of the province, is the largest city of
the archipelago, a prosperous, beautiful place with 370,000
inhabitants and the largest port in GRT in Spain. Its airport
receives the most important airlines, with flights from Europe,
Africa and America. The capital has the attractions of a large
city, with excellent hotel and catering facilities, night
clubs, international shows, an intense social life and an
ample calendar of festive occasions and celebrations throughout
the year. A must in this modern, active city is the noble,
peaceful old area of Vegueta, where one finds stately old
houses with impressive, private inner courts and with artistically
worked balconies facing onto narrow streets and sheltered
squares. The Old city has the most important sights; the Gothic-neo-Classical
cathedral, which was begun in 1497, Columbus House, the residence
of the first governors of the island, which is a lovely building
housing an interesting museum about the times of Columbus,
the Canary Museum, which has the most complete collections
of the traces left by the Guanches, the pre-Spanish inhabitans
of the islands. Interesting churches include San Francisco's
and the Hermitage of San Telmo, which has a Mudéjar
coffered ceiling. The Provincial Fine Arts Museum, the House
cum-Museum of Pérez Galdós and the Néstor
Museum round off the treasure of art, architecture and history
in the city. In the splendid Doramas Park there is an area
called the Canary Village, a creation of the artists Néstor.
It is an expressive sight of Canary architecture. Against
this exceptionally beautiful background, popular dances and
songs are performed on Thursdays and Sundays.
Las
Canteras is magnificent, 2,600m long beach with a pleasant
temperature throughout the year.
Places
of interest
Telde
It
lies surrounded by excellent orchard lands. Noteworthy are
El Santo Cristo Basilica and the Parish Churches of San Juan
Bautista - which has an exceptionally valuable Flemish retable
-, San Gregorio and San Francisco.
There
are splendid beach and a harbour at Melenara. In the surroundings,
Tara preserves marvelous caves of the original inhabitants
of the island, and Cuatro Puertas has the most interesting
native sight of the island, dating from the palaeolithic period:
the holy mountain the Guanches.
Tejeda
After
45km on the road from Telde to Valsequillo and Vega de San
Mateo, there is Tejeda, the centre and highest point of the
island, in the vicinity of which the majestic silhouettes
of Roque Nublo and Bentayga reach skyward: two enormous basalt
rocks. La Cruz del Tejeda also comes into view there with
its Parador. The scenery - a petrified storm in the words
of Unamuno - is very beautiful, with almond trees, kitchen
gardens and powerful summits, towering over a splendid panorama.
Ingenio
It
is one of the oldest villages of the island, famous today
for its crafts, especially openwork and embroidery.
San
Bartolomé de Tirajana
23km
from Aguimes, after negotiating a winding road, there is San
Bartolomé de Tirajana in the mouth of a huge crater
at the foot of the central massif. There are the highest points
of the island: Pozo de las Nieves (1,965m) and Los Pechos
(1,961m), from where there is a marvelous view of the scenery
of La Galdera de Tirajana, the valleys of Ayacata and Fataga
with their villages and the Guanche necropolis of Artenara.
Aguimes
A
summer resort with beaches nearby. Agriculturally very rich.
In Temisas, a lovely village amongst prickly pear and olive
groves, there are traces of the historical Guanches.
Arinaga
A
beautiful, typical harbour next to the promenade of the same
name, from where there is a wide view.
San
Agustín
A
splendid beach in an area of perpetual calm. A magnificent
housing development with many gardens, hotels, bungalows swimming
pools and a recreational centre.
Playa
del Inglés
With
a length of 2,700m. A broad fringe of very fine, golden sand,
gently leading to an always blue, peaceful sea. A large housing
development with hotels, apartments, bungalows, etc.
Maspalomas
A
6,000m long beach, an extension of the previous one, and one
of the most beautiful on the island. Nearby there is a large
oasis with dense vegetation consisting of palm trees and salt
marsh brushwood. Next to the oasis there is a small lagoon.
The housing developments include hotels, bungalows, sports
grounds, etc. and are very important. Two kilometres west
of the Maspalomas lighthouse, there is Pasito Blanco beach
with a yacht harbour and a tourist centre.
Agruineguin
This
little village lies near El Perchel Point. Patalavaca beach
has fine golden sand. It is the best area for deep sea fishing
and there are the service facilities necessary for this kind
of sport.
Puerto
Rico
A
modern housing development with apartments, hotels, villas
and bungalows, tennis, a bowling alley, horses and a yacht
harbour for over 55 boats.
Mogan
A
beautiful valley where tropical fruit is grown. Lovely scenery
all along the 12km stretch. A modern yacht harbour with numerous
moorings, hotels and other accommodation.
Arucas
It
lies in the middle of an extremely fertile plain where the
largest and most important banana- growing area is found.
It is a clean village with beautiful gardens, such as the
Municipal Park, a collection of exotic flowers and plants.
It has an interesting parish church in pure Gothic. Close
to the village lies the volcanic cone called La Montaña
de Arucas, from the top of which there is a wide, panoramic
view, including El Puerto de la Luz and the mountains of La
Isleta. The beautiful Bañaderos coast lies at a distance
of six kilometres. The whole coast of this township is full
of beautiful scenery with cliffs, lovely coves and a breath-taking
panorama.
Teror
This
is an inland summer resort 11km fro Arucas. The Countryside
in the surroundings is bounded only by the impressive mountain
massifs where a large hamlet with scattered houses lies. The
village is most famous for the Sanctuary of La Virgen del
Pino, the patron saint of the island, which attracts many
worshippers.
Guia
It
is a prosperous village in the north near Point Guanarteme.
There are interesting cavings of the Canary image maker Luján
in the parish church. In the vicinity, the Cenobio de Valerón
consists of a series of caves under a huge eave-like projection
of lava.
Galdar
A
place of special interest from the point of view of history
and archaeology. Traces of the Guanche culture, mainly in
the cave, the Cueva Pintada, where geometric paintings in
different colours are found. Interesting sights are the Town
Hall with its age-old dragon tree in the courtyard, the parish
church and Mayor Sq. the Plaza Mayor. It has sheltered pebble
beaches.
Sardina
del Norte
This
small fishing village lies in picturesque surroundings. It
has a small pebble and coarse sand beach.
Agaete
It
is a beautiful village with a long sea-faring tradition near
Agaete valley. There is a long zigzagging canyon where bananas,
coffee, papayas, avocado pear, maize, etc. are grown. Note
the archaeological excavation site of Malpais, a Sight of
National Interest. The Virgen of Las Nieves, depicted on a
valuable Flemish panel, is worshipped in a beautiful hermitage.
Las Nieves beach consists of pebbles and coarse sand, surrounded
by rugged basalt cliffs. Seven kilometres away there is the
health resort called Balneario de los Berrazales in the middle
of lush vegetation. It has a spring with ferruginous water
and there is a good hotel.
A
Calendar of Celebrations
January
5th: Procession of the Magi. Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las
Palmas de Gran Canaria.
January-February:
Music Festival of the Canaries. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
and La Orotava (Tenerife).
February-March:
Carnival. Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
and Puerto de la Cruz (Tenerife)
March-April:
Opera season. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de
Tenerife.
April
29th: Commemoration of the incorporation of Gran Canaria into
the Crown of Castile. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
May:
Celebrations of La Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz de Tenerife. On
the third, the founding of the capital of the island is celebrated
(a Celebration of Interest to Tourists).
May
20th: A festive-religious excursion or romería in honour
of San Isidro Labrador. Los Realejos (Tenerife). (A celebration
of Interest to Tourists).
Corpus
Christi: Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and La Laguna (Tenerife).
Preparation of flower carpets. Villa de Mazo (La Palma). (A
Celebration of Interest to Tourists).
Octava
de Corpus: La Orotava (Tenerife). (A Celebration of Interest
to Tourists). On the following Sunday: a romería in
honour of San Isidro, La Orotava (Tenerife).
June
21st-30th (Every five years): Celebration in honour of Nuestra
Señora de las Nieves. Santa Cruz de la Palma. (A Celebration
of Interst to Tourists).
First
Sunday in July: Celebration and romería in honour of
San Benito Abad. La Laguna (Tenerife). (A Celebration of Interest
to Tourists).
July
14th: Day of San Buenaventura, patron saint of Betancuria
(Fuerteventura).
July
16th: Popular celebrations in honour of La Virgen del Carmen.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
July
25th: Romerías of Santiago Apóstol. Santa Cruz
de Tenerife. Commemoration of the heroic defence of the city
against Nelson's attack.
August
5th: Day of La Virgen de las Nieves. Agaete (Gran Canaria).
(A Celebration of Interest to Tourists). Santa Cruz de la
Palma.
August
16th: Day of the Tradition and romería in honour of
San Roque. Garachico (Tenerife). (A Celebration of Interest
to Tourists).
August
25th: Day of San Ginés. Arrecife de Lanzarote. (A Celebration
of Interest to Tourists).
August
28th: Romería in honour of San Agustín. Arafo
(Tenerife). (A Celebration of Interest to Tourists).
September
6th-8th: Celebrations in honour of La Virgen del Pino. Teror
(Gran Canaria). (A Celebration of Interest to Tourists).
September
7th-15th: Celebrations in honour of El Santísimo Cristo.
La Laguna (Tenerife).
September
11th: Typical celebrations of El Charco. Aldea de San Nicolás
(Gran Canaria).
Sunday
after September 17th: Day of El Cristo del Calvario. Icod
de los Vinos (Tenerife).
Second
Saturday of October: Romería in honour of Nuestra Señora
de la Luz and a procession of boats. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
December
13th: Day of Santa Lucía (Gran Canaria). (A Celebration
of Interest to Tourists).
Useful
addresses
Tourist
Office
Gran Canaria:
Parque de Santa Catalina, Las Palmas, Tel: 264623.
Terminal
Internacional/Gando airport, Las Palmas, Tel: 574058.
Tenerife:
Plaza de España, 1, Palacio Insular, Santa Cruz de
Tenerife, Tel: 605586.
Reina
Sofía airport, Tel: 773067.
Plaza
de la Iglesia, 3, Puerto de la Cruz, Tel: 386000.
Pueblo
Torviscas, s/n, Adeje, Tel: 750633.
Playa
de Médano, El Médano, Granadilla de Arona, Tel:773067.
Avda.
Paseo Marítimo, s/n, Santiago del Teide, Tel: 110348.
Fuerteventura:
o1 de mayo, 33, Puerto del Rosario, Tel: 851024.
Lanzarote:
Parque
Municipal, s/n, Arrecife, Tel: 811860.
Lanzarote
Airport, San Bartolomé, Tel: 813792.
Avda.
Marítima de las Playas, Puerto del Carmen, Tel:813792.
La
Palma:
O-Daly, 8, Santa Cruz de la Palma, Tel: 412106.
Gomera:
Calle
del Medio, 20, San Sebastián de la Gomera, Tel: 140147.
Iberia
Las
Palmas de Gran Canaria: Tel: 372111 / 254140 (airport).
Tenerife:
Tel:333111 / 635855 (airport).
Santa
Cruz de la Palma: Tel: 333111 / 440427 (airport).
Arrecife:
Tel: 810354 / 811450 (airport)
