Teide National Park stretches from Canary Island pine forests at an altitude of 1,600 metres to Teide at 3,715 metres, the highest peak in Spain. In this national park, striking elevations meet volcanoes, lava flows and the Circo de Las Cañadas caldera.
Volcanic formations and distinctive natural environments
The figures for species in Teide National Park also offer a closer look at nature: 44% are Macaronesian endemics, while 7% are found exclusively in this national park. The figures refer to different geographical areas: Macaronesia on the one hand, and Teide National Park alone on the other.
Garajonay National Park offers a different perspective. It preserves the best-conserved example of the laurel forest ecosystem in the Canary Islands and contains more than half of the archipelago’s mature laurel forests. A total of 450 vascular plant species have been recorded there, including 34 endemic species of La Gomera and eight species found exclusively in the national park. The figures therefore distinguish between species endemic to La Gomera and those found only in the park.
In the central west of Lanzarote, Timanfaya National Park lies in a volcanic landscape of black and red lapilli and sand, basaltic lava and lichens. This natural environment is also home to numerous endemic plant and animal species. The Caldera de Taburiente, in turn, is a bowl-shaped caldera eight kilometres wide, with an elevation difference of almost 2,000 metres and a network of streams and torrents. Here, different volcanic formations sit alongside a landscape shaped by its terrain and waterways.
Urban history and living cultural heritage
In San Cristóbal de La Laguna, the city’s history can be seen in its buildings and layout. The city preserves 627 listed public and private buildings; 361 of them date from the 16th to the 18th century. It is considered the first example of an unfortified city with a grid plan, which directly preceded settlements in the Americas under Spanish rule. The layout is therefore not just an urban form, but part of a specific historical development.
The “Risco CaĂdo and the Sacred Mountains” cultural landscape includes several cave settlements that largely retain their original form and design. The cave sites include places with rock art and Libyco-Berber inscriptions. Silbo Gomero on La Gomera is another expression of cultural heritage: this whistled language is the only fully developed one of its kind in the world and is practised by a community of more than 22,000 people. It has been taught in schools since 1999 and is also used at festivals, including religious celebrations.
Activities and guidance for choosing an island
The natural and cultural landscapes can be enjoyed in different ways, depending on your interests. Five islands in the archipelago are designated biosphere reserves; the Canary Islands as a whole have four national parks. Windsurfing and scuba diving are available at the beaches. Inland, varied landscapes invite you to go hiking, cycling, climbing and caving. Many hiking trails also pass through places where the cultural heritage reveals more than 2,000 years of history. You can use questions about water, landscape, activities or culture as a starting point for planning your trip.
The seven main Canary Islands have airports and ports that provide connections between the islands. If you are considering visiting several islands, it makes sense to include suitable connections in your plans. When looking for hotels in the Canary Islands, you can start by considering which of the natural, cultural or activity themes described here you would like to shape your trip.
Discover more destinations: El Hierro, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, La Gomera, La Graciosa, Lanzarote, La Palma, Tenerife.
Back to the main travel overview: Spain.
