Autumn and winter are the perfect times of year to enjoy a sunny break abroad and the Canary Islands are well-placed for those travelling from the UK.
Hailed as one of the cheapest destinations in the cooler months (the low season), visitors will get great value for money in the likes of Tenerife, Gran Canaria and La Palma.
With its proximity to the African coast, the Canary Islands boast an average temperature of 22C and more than 300 days of sunshine per year, making it the perfect weather for sightseeing and exploring its beautiful volcanic landscapes.
Many resorts on the islands remain open for most of the year too, so there are plenty of places to stay while making the most of quiet beaches.
As for where on the archipelago to go, Tenerife, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote are three of the most popular islands among visitors.
These three sought-after spots boast unique and unexpected landscapes, stunning parks and a wealth of natural beauty. A dream for beachgoers even in winter, these three islands are renowned for being the best spots in Europe to enjoy sun and outdoor activities all year long.Â
While all of Spain’s Canary Islands are trusty warm-weather bets in autumn Tenerife typically ranks among the hottest and yields six daily hours of sunshine in November.Â
The southwesterly hotel resorts that populate Costa Adeje and Playa de las Americas have been joined by cooler boutique hotels further up the west coast and inland.
Head inland and you’ll find the vast Teide National Park, named after the world’s third-largest volcano – up which go cable cars, weather permitting, and pretty pine forests ripe for picnics. November is also when humpback, fin and sometimes blue whales pass the island of Tenerife.
Lanzarote is known as the land of 1,000 volcanoes – known for its very unique landscape. Much of the island is a Biosphere Reserve meaning the nature and vast lava fields are untouched and protected.
One thing that makes Lanzarote unique from the other islands is that all of the buildings are painted white. Lanzarote boasts an array of beaches, from volcanic black sand to beautiful soft white sand and incredible natural rock pools for swimming.
Like Tenerife, Gran Canaria is one of the most diverse islands in the Canaries. It does have some intense microclimates, however, so pack accordingly.
If you plan to go hiking, it’s best to bring layers that you can take on and off as you venture through the diverse climates. The dunes of Maspalomas are one of the island’s iconic attractions and resemble the dessert, in terms of visuals but also weather conditions. It can be extremely hot during the day, and then temperatures plummet at night time.
Gran Canaria, La Palma, La Gomera, La Graciosa and El Hierro complete the seven-island lineup that forms the Canaries, though some are cheaper than others.
According to Skyscanner, direct return flights from London to Tenerife start from £44. They’re even cheaper from London to Gran Canaria in the same month at just £31 per adult.
Direct flights from London to Lanzarote start at £32 per adult in November. La Palma is harder to visit from London airports.
Experts at Kayal recommend Heathrow (LHR), Gatwick (LGW), and Stansted (STN), which offer the most flights each day. London City (LCY) and Luton (LTN) usually only have one or two flights departing each day to La Palma (SPC).