While thousands of Irish return home for Christmas, an equal number use the holiday season to get away from the cold dark December days for a bit of winter sunshine. And the destination of choice? A four-hour plane trip south to a little group of islands just off the north-west coast of Africa.
There are, of course, many more attractive options further afield, with the Caribbean, South America and South-east Asia all getting more popular but when you’ve only got a week to spare and working within a tight budget, then there really is no better option than the Canary Islands.
And with four main islands to choose from, there is something for everyone in these parts, whether it’s golfing in Gran Canaria, surfing in Fuerteventura, trekking in Tenerife or volcano climbing in Lanzarote.
Gran Canaria
The busiest of the Canary Islands and probably the most popular with the Irish tourist. The main resort is Playa del Ingles/Maspalomas, which is a firm favourite of the classic young-people holiday.
Tacky bars, late nights, annoying reps playing party games, it’s all here, but don’t let that put you off.
The place is big enough to avoid the madness with many excellent restaurants, which are generally all within walking distance of your accommodation.
And it’s not just the Irish who go there, it’s very popular with Germans, Scandanavians and of course our good friends across the water.
Puerto Rico is a more secluded, prettier resort and a lot more popular with older folk and families.
So while it’s famous for its nightlife, the daytime is when you’ll really get a chance to appreciate this very varied island.
The beach stretches for miles from Playa del Ingles and while the main strand consists of dark, volcanic, hard sand, you only have to walk ten minutes before you hit sand dunes of Sahara Desert proportions.
Camel rides are available for those less inclined to traipse across the soft sands but the only thing to be careful about in these parts is that you don’t lose your way and stumble onto the very open nudist beach where you’ll find a lot of naturists hanging out, some even playing volleyball. Or maybe you’re into that sort of thing.
The island also boasts several top golf courses all within easy reach of the main resorts. Travel inland to the fantastic mountains where you will find amazing hiking trails. The coast is ideal for scuba diving, or you can catch a wave at one of the many surfing or windsurfing hotspots.
Tenerife
More popular with the British than the Irish, Tenerife is ideal for the classic package holiday where sun, sand and sangria are the order of the day.
While Gran Canaria has Playa del Ingles, Tenerife is home to Playa del las Americas and Los Cristianos. As with Gran Canaria the nightlife can be a bit hectic but food choice can be excellent and some of the fish restaurants are top class.
Apart from the famed nightlife, Tenerife also has lots to offer those that like to wander a little further than the sunlounger during the day.
El Teide is the highest mountain in Spain and a ten-minute cable car journey will have you at 3550m from where you can climb the remaining 150-odd metres to the summit.
Altitude sickness and freezing conditions can lead to an unpleasant experience so be sure to talk to local guides before embarking on this particular adventure.
Puerto De La Cruz in the north of Tenerife has many fantastic outdoor bars and beautiful restaurants, while the capital Santa Cruz is becoming very popular as a city break destination as the old docks have been renovated and is now full of great shops, bars and restaurants.
Scuba diving is also very popular in Tenerife with great diving 
conditions throughout the year. Surfing and windsurfing are popular in the south of the island and the other usual suspects – jet-skis, para-gliding, banana boats – are all available at the main resorts.
If you do have a day to spare, you could do a lot worse than pay San Cristóbal de la Laguna a visit. The town is the cultural capital of Tenerife and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage site list in 1999 as it is a non-fortified colonial town.
Fuerteventura
This island does exactly what it says on the tin. A rough translation of Fuerteventura is ‘strong winds’ and for this reason it is no surprise that the island is seen as one of the best wind-surfing and kite-surfing destinations in Europe.
The main resorts are Jandia in the south, which boasts some fantastic beaches, the lively Corralejo is in the north and the man-made Caleta de Fuste resort, which is close to the airport.
The resorts are a lot more laid back than those of the bigger islands and the east coast boasts some fantastic white sandy beaches where the wind doesn’t blow as strong.
Lanzarote
Probably the quietest of the main Canary Islands, Lanzarote is ideal for couples who just want to get away for some rest and relaxation. A large area of the island was covered by a volcanic erruption in the 1700’s and it makes for an almost unearthly landscape – it is actually likened to the surface of the moon. Make sure to pay a visit to El Golfo Crater and Lago Verde, which is a mineral-rich lagoon with a very striking green colour.
Puerto Del Carmen is one of the liveliest resorts with a wide range of bars and restaurants, Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise are both a bit more laid back.
La Palma
Not one of the big four so choice is limited travelling out of Ireland. There is, however, a ferry from Tenerife. The island is known as ‘isla bonita’, the beautiful island as it is the greenest of the Canary Islands. The volcanic nature of the island has also created some spectacular sights and it has been declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, with many protected natural spaces and inland you will find the Caldera de Taburiente National Park.
La Gomera
The Magic Isle, La Gomera is small but packed with ecological treasures with its rugged coastlines and mountainous landscapes with palm-covered valleys, vast canyons and fascinating forests. The Garajonay National Park is a prehistoric forest, full of tracks and trails, with the UNESCO World Heritage designation.
Daily flights are available from Gran Canaria and Tenerife, while there is also a ferry service from Tenerife.
El Hierro
The edge of the world as it was known, El Hierro is the most 
western of the Canary Islands. Another island with UNESCO Biosphere Reserve designation. Explore the islands many natural swimming pools or travel inland to the vast inland area of protected woodland.
Paragliding, mountain biking, surfing, caving and hiking are all available, while the coast of El Hierro boasts clear, deep waters, which are ideal for scuba diving and snorkelling.
Daily flights are available from Gran Canaria and Tenerife, while there is also a ferry service from Tenerife and La Gomera into Puerto de la Estaca.
Ed Leahy
