Canary Islands is round the year sunshine with hot summers and mild winters. It has a sub-tropical climate with maximum temperatures vary between 20 ° C and 30 ° C while the minimum average temperatures vary between 15 ° C and 21 ° C.
The Canary Islands are safe for solo travellers with low crime and good police presence therefore safety is not a problem for travel in Canaries, but as always reasonable care should be taken.
There is no mandatory requirement of vaccinations to go on holiday.
Canary Islands is covered by Spain’s national healthcare system with excellent public and private medical facilities for holiday makers. Public healthcare centres and services are widely available around the Canary Islands with good care at affordable price.
All the Canary Islands are relaxed in terms of what to wear, though you'll want to dress up for the smarter bars, restaurants and hotels. Skimpy summer wear is generally perfectly acceptable, though perhaps throw on a T-shirt to pop into the supermarket, for example, and remember to dress respectfully when visiting churches.
The most accepted cards are Master Card, Visa, and American Express and to a lesser extent Diners Club.
You can legally drive in Canary Islands with your UK driver’s license for at least six months; however after that period, it is mandatory to get a Spanish license if you want to continue driving.
Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. Outlets will fit the Europlug - round two-pin plugs, therefore, you need to pack an adapter for your holiday.
As in the rest of Spain, in the Canary Islands the official language is Spanish. However, as in the majority of countries, there are many people who speak English, though it certainly pays to learn some Spanish, which will add to your enjoyment and understanding of the culture.
It is advisable to check with your mobile provider before travelling to Canaries.
You can use debit cards in all ATM's just in like the UK, but bear in mind you will be charged per transaction so if taking euro's out do it in 'larger' amounts so you get charged less.
Yes, all public tap water in the Canary Islands is drinkable unless the local authorities state otherwise. The tap water adheres to the same strict standards as the water in UK.
Unlike other countries where tipping is expected and it's the general rule in all types of services, in the Canary Islands tipping is not always expected and it's usually given only when you are satisfied with the quality of the service provided. In general, anything between 5% - 10% is more than enough for eating out and moving around in taxis. |
The names of the islands – La Palma, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote – are synonymous with the Great British holiday. And rightly so. These islands, which stretch east to west roughly as far as the South Coast of England, were formed by ancient volcanoes and sit just off the western coast of Africa, off Morocco. It was the warm, fresh climate that first brought European tourists to its shores, but now the islands are fully developed and attract all manner of visitors, from party-goers and water-sports fanatics to those looking to put their feet up and let the world roll by.
Over to the East are Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, loved by those who want a singles beach holiday with all the facilities and entertainment they could wish for but with some breathtaking natural backdrops to explore. Can’t decide which one to visit? Don’t worry – there are regular ferries between the two islands that take less than a quarter of an hour.
The most populous – and largest – of the Canaries is Tenerife, which is where you’ll want to go if it’s nightlife, laughter and gorgeous beaches that floats your boat. But it’s not all about singing and dancing. If you like some oldeworlde charms, there are picturesque villages built by Spanish settlers hundreds of years ago that give a real flavour of the Canary Islands.