If you can’t decide which Canary Islands island is right for you, you don’t necessarily have to choose. The key is ‚island hopping‘. Visiting several – perhaps even all – of the Canary Islands during a single holiday is becoming increasingly popular. Here are our tips.
Tips for island-hopping in the Canary Islands
First of all: there isn’t just one route for the perfect island-hopping trip in the Canary Islands. Especially if you’ve already visited one or more of the islands, you’ll have your own preferences.
It’s both a challenge and a real treat. Because it shows that the possible combinations are virtually endless. And also that you don’t have to stop at just one island-hopping tour. If you enjoy a trip like this, there’s nothing to stop you from planning the next one, each with a different focus.
Island-hopping in the Canary Islands: travel agency or book it yourself?
Travel agencies can be extremely helpful when planning a tour like this. But there’s a catch: you lose flexibility. If you particularly enjoy one place, or if the weather changes on the next island, it might make sense to change your plans at short notice. With a fixed itinerary from a travel agency, this is often not possible – or only with considerable effort.
If you book yourself, you’ll have more flexibility to change your plans. But to do that, you need to know in advance which route is worth taking. Here are our tips:
Island-hopping in the Canary Islands: Where to start?
One of the four islands with a major airport makes a good starting point. Tenerife, with two airports , as well as Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura offer the best connections. There are direct flights from many European cities. In our case, we’re setting off from the largest of the Canary Islands: Tenerife.
Canary Islands island-hopping: possible routes
Anyone flying to Tenerife usually lands at the South Airport. It is the airport with significantly more flight movements and, above all, direct connections. The island’s tourist centre is situated around the South Airport.
There are various luxury hotels and leisure activities on offer between Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos. On the day of arrival, it’s best to take some time to settle in. The following day, you can enjoy a few hours of fun at Siam Park, Europe’s largest water park, or go on a whale-watching tour by boat. Alternatively, a day at the beach is on the agenda.
The next day, you can plan a trip to Mount Teide or a round trip. Car hire is widely available and the South Motorway provides excellent connections. This means you can reach the other end of the island in just over an hour.
Our tip: Drive up to Mount Teide via the TF-21 and back down the other side. This way, you can spend a lovely few hours on the ‚roof of the Canary Islands‘ and then go on to visit the green Orotava Valley with La Orotava and Puerto de la Cruz. You could hardly see more of Tenerife in a single day.
And the best thing is: the small Canary Islands to the west are easily reached by ferry. This means you can easily cross over the very next day. And so our journey continues to La Gomera.
Island-hopping in the Canary Islands: Tenerife – La Gomera
Several ferries set sail daily from the south of Tenerife towards the neighbouring island. Tickets cost from 40 euros (excluding a car) and the crossing takes less than an hour. Our tip: Make sure you’re at the ferry terminal an hour and a half before departure, particularly during the busy tourist months.
On La Gomera, the island’s most famous valley is the Valle Gran Rey (Photos of La Gomera can be found here). It’s always worth a visit. However, if you want to experience just as much of the natural surroundings whilst encountering fewer tourists, you should head north-east and visit the green valley of Hermigua. It stretches for around seven kilometres and lies at the foot of Garajonay National Park. You should also book a hotel nearby.
After all, the next day, adventurers can book a kayaking trip to Playa de Iguala, so they’ll need to be well-rested. It’s a unique experience, and La Gomera looks completely different from the water. We recommend a kayaking trip to Iguala Bay, which is not far from the harbour at Valle Gran Rey.
A good starting point is Vueltas beach. From there, head out of the bay and follow the rugged cliffs along the coast. You should allow about an hour each way. Important: Don’t forget to pack a small picnic!
The alternative is to take a day off or simply visit Valle Gran Rey, which remains a very special place despite the tourists. After another night on La Gomera, the journey continues to La Palma (from 50 euros per person by ferry).
Canary Islands island-hopping: La Gomera – La Palma
Unfortunately, there is no direct connection from La Gomera to El Hierro. Although this would have made sense, we’ll be heading to La Palma first the following day and leaving El Hierro until later. This means we’ll only have to board one intra-Canary Islands flight during the whole trip, but more on that later.
The „Isla Bonita“ certainly lives up to its nickname. La Palma really is beautiful (the best photos can be found here). The Caldera de Taburiente National Park is always worth a visit. And the Roque de los Muchachos, the island’s highest point, is also a popular destination. However, we’d like to recommend something different here: the ‚cloud waterfall‘ at Cumbre Nueva:
After all, one of the reasons the ‚Green Island‘ gets its name is because of its many forests. And this spot gives the impression that the clouds are flowing through the trees – just like water through the gaps between the rocks. The view is unique. And so, at an altitude of 1,400 metres, this spot is our top recommendation. The Mirador del Birigoyo at Refugio El Pilar offers a fantastic view of it. So, it would be advisable to find accommodation somewhere near the access road leading up there.
Another unique attraction is the Poris de Candelaria smugglers‘ cave. It is situated in the north-west of the island, where there is a swimming lake as well as some houses. The site was first mentioned in 1588. It remains unclear whether smugglers actually stayed in the dwellings or whether they were pirates. What is certain, however, is that the view is truly unique.
Canary Islands island-hopping: La Palma – Gran Canaria
The journey continues by ferry, costing from around 120 euros per person, to the second-largest of the Canary Islands. Gran Canaria’s main attraction is its guaranteed sunshine. But the island is more than just the sum of its beaches. Charming little towns and, particularly in the interior, plenty of natural beauty also make Gran Canaria appealing to those who want more than just to lie in the sun.
Our first outing takes us to Roque Nublo. At 1,813 metres, it is one of the island’s highest peaks. It’s a fairly short walk from the car park to the summit and back again. If you’d like to walk for longer, simply use one of the car parks further down the hill. A word of advice: don’t set off too late, especially in summer, as the midday heat can be brutal. Whatever the season, sun protection is essential!
The evening is then rounded off with a meal at Camino al Jamonal. If you’d like to eat late, you should book a table. From ham and steak to fresh salads, there are all sorts of delicacies on offer. The selection has something to suit almost every taste!
If you fancy taking it easy the following day, you can unwind at Playa del Confital, near the capital Las Palmas, far away from the crowds of beach tourists. As the peace and quiet is partly down to the lack of beach huts, a picnic is highly recommended. This will make for an unforgettable day at the beach!
Canary Islands island-hopping: Gran Canaria – Fuerteventura
Then it’s finally time to catch the evening ferry to Fuerteventura. Those arriving in Morro Jable in the south of the Canary Islands (from 65 euros per person by ferry) can continue on towards Ajuy. This small village lies in the very west of Fuerteventura. This fishing village boasts one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. There are also caves and cliffs along the coast that not only make for wonderful memories but also look stunning in photos. After a day at the beach, the evening is equally beautiful – thanks to the breathtaking sunset.
A little further up lies the village of Betancuria. It shows the tourist island in a completely different light, which is why it’s well worth stopping off there for a night’s stay of your own choosing, somewhere around Ajuy, before heading east the following day. A stroll through the village is recommended before continuing on to Puerto del Rosario. There, you can enjoy lunch at one of the many tapas bars.
In the afternoon, we’ll carry on to Corralejo, where – depending on the time of year – we’ll spend a few more hours on the beach or, alternatively, take another stroll through the town. On the way there, there are numerous villages that are also well worth a stop. So if you’d rather skip the beach, you can take your time on the journey instead and stop off here and there.
It is important to arrive on time to continue your journey from the port town. From there, the ferry (20 to 40 euros per person) either sails to Lanzarote that same evening, or you’ll spend another night there. Then you’ll set off again after breakfast.
Canary Islands island-hopping: Fuerteventura – Lanzarote
The crossing to the neighbouring island takes only about 35 minutes, so you can carry on straight away once you arrive. The volcanic landscape of Timanfaya is a must-see. It includes the ‚Fire Mountains‘, which – true to their name – look like images of the ‚Red Planet‘, Mars.
From there, the journey continues to Playa de Famara, where the afternoon draws to a close. The beach seems to stretch on forever. It is also the longest on the island, with a cliff face in the background that completes the landscape. Surfers, kite-surfers and windsurfers add to the scene. However, swimming is not recommended due to the sometimes strong currents.
After a stopover booked separately, the journey continues the following day to the masterpiece of César Manrique, an architect much revered in the Canary Islands. A concert hall has been built inside a lava cave. In the centre of the cave is a lake inhabited by albino crabs, the sort usually found only in the deep sea. The „Jameos del Agua“ offers a veritable spectacle of colour. Amateur and professional photographers alike will be in their element here!
In the afternoon, Orzola awaits. This sleepy little village is beautifully situated at the foot of the Famara Mountains. A leisurely stroll along the promenade leads to a lovely dinner. We won’t be setting off again until the next day.
Canary Islands island-hopping: Lanzarote – La Graciosa
This is because ferries run from there to La Graciosa. As we’ll need to take the ferry back to Lanzarote from La Graciosa, this is the first opportunity to book a return journey. The fare is from 30 euros per person for both legs combined.
This small island was only granted the status of the eighth Canary Islands island a few years ago. Although La Graciosa is still essentially governed from Lanzarote, a visit here is a must on any Canary Islands island-hopping trip.
Of course, one day isn’t enough to take it all in. But as part of our island-hopping trip, we have to pick out the highlights on La Grciosa. And Playa de las Conchas is certainly one of them. It’s considered the most beautiful beach on the island.
Next, we head to Montaña Bermeja and the rock arches on the north coast. Depending on how quickly we make progress, there may still be time to visit Pedro Barba. It is one of the few inhabited places on the smallest of the Canary Islands. And even those few houses are unoccupied for part of the year. The turquoise water makes for a superb backdrop for a few final photos of La Graciosa.
Canary Islands island-hopping: La Graciosa – El Hierro
Anyone who has been paying close attention will remember that El Hierro was deliberately left out at first. Although the westernmost of the Canary Islands has slightly poorer ferry connections than some of the others, there is a solution: from La Graciosa, you can return to Lanzarote and head straight to the airport from there. You can then fly to El Hierro with the Canarian airline Binter from as little as 65 euros per person.
There are hardly any large hotel complexes there. Thank goodness. The island has been spared from mass tourism. And they’re now very proud of that. So they take great care not to repeat the architectural blunders of other Canary Islands. El Hierro is the perfect choice for the final stop on our journey, thanks to the tranquillity it offers. Here, we can really recharge our batteries once again.
This natural paradise has been designated a biosphere reserve by UNESCO. Anyone who takes a look around the island will quickly understand why. Around 500 volcanic craters await visitors, who will find themselves in the area with the highest concentration of volcanoes in the entire archipelago. Along the coast, on the other hand, divers will be in their element. And the small mountain villages are also very charming.
El Hierro therefore once again has something to suit almost every taste. We recommend a visit to the Iglesia de la Concepción. It is the fortified church in the capital, Valverde. It is also one of the most magnificent buildings on El Hierro.
Also well worth a visit is the Charco Azul on the coast of the El Golfo valley. This seawater swimming pool has carved its way into the rock over the centuries and is regularly filled by the waves. The result is a swimming pool right on the Atlantic, which, thanks to the sun, is usually a few degrees warmer than the seawater right next to it.
Not far away is the Frontera Landscape Park, which makes for a great day out the following day. Across 12,400 hectares, visitors feel as though they’re in an enchanted forest. This is thanks to the uniquely shaped trees, which also make for a brilliant photo opportunity.
Conclusion on island-hopping in the Canary Islands
From El Hierro, the ferry takes you back to Tenerife from 55 euros per person, where the round trip comes to an end after two weeks. Along the way, it quickly becomes clear that the aim is not to tick off every item on the itinerary in a rigid manner. Nor do the exact lengths of stay have to be fixed. For just as varied as the individual islands are, so too are their visitors. And so the focus is bound to be slightly different each time.
What Canary Islands travellers, on the other hand, tend to agree on is that the journey itself is the destination. Personal experiences are just as important as meeting different people and collecting special moments.
This way, island-hoppers will discover their favourite spots on the round trip and perhaps pick up some new tips along the way. We very much hope that our carefully planned Canary Islands round trip offers you a wonderful holiday. To round things off, we’d like to recommend our other tips for Tenerife. After all, who knows – perhaps you’ll stay on the largest island for a few more days before heading back home. We’ll let you in on one thing straight away: it’s well worth it!
No comments on this article yet.