Canary Islands Mini Guide
The Canary Islands , otherwise know to locals and the true name being Islas Canarias are slightly north of the Tropic of Cancer and close distance to the great shoulder of the Saharan Africa. They are the nearest places to Northern Europe with real hope of winter sun. Booming tourism in the 1960's and 1970's led to the construction of colossal and stillgrowing resorts in the two largest islands, Tenerife and Gran Canaria (the latter also known under the name of its capital city, Las Palmas). Some of the islands, unbelievably, are virtually untouched by tourism.
Basically there are two groups. The eastern islands are Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura lying close to Africa. Then there are the western islands, Tenerife, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Palma (not to be confused with Las Palmas) riding a little further out into the Atlantic Ocean.
The Canary Islands are Spanish controlled islands which are located near Cape Verde in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of West Africa.
They are a favourite with
European holiday makers who want to go somewhere exotic without having to travel far and are completely different to anywhere else in Europe.
Around two million people live in the Canary Islands though this number is significantly boosted by tourists. The roads are accordingly well developed as is the entire infrastructure of these remote islands. To truly appreciate the hidden beauties of the Canary Islands you will want to have your own car so that you are free to explore. Rhino car hire can also give you off road vehicles if you want to stray from the beaten track.
The islands are Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro, Lobos and La Graciosa. The largest of the islands in Tenerife which has two different airports and the third largest volcano in the world if you count the part of it that is submerged underwater. El Teide is also
Spain’s highest mountain.
For a full list of all the
Car Hire Locations in the Canary Islands