Believe it or not, there is more to the Canary Islands than beautiful beaches and great weather. The volcanic islands happen to have black sand, for one, due to the ash and rock from the extinct volcanoes. It's worth going to Playa Bastian in Lanzarote, which has a mixture between sand and volcanic rock, making its appearance even rarer.
But some resorts in Lanzarote have imported white sand from the Sahara. One of the most interesting of these golden beaches is Papagayo beach, a quaint formation of sheltered bays all formed together to create one sandy stretch. To reach it, you have to travel down a bumpy dirt road, which has a small charge. The high cliffs shelter the beach, which is divided into small bays.
Before the developers got their hands on Tenerife, the island had a quaint seaside town vibe about it, and the beach at El Puertito allows you to travel back in time and experience this. The bay is one of the old-fashioned areas of the island, with whitewashed buildings, brightly coloured boats and pale gold sand. Playa de los Abriguitos features lovely little sand coves, perfect for sunning yourself before going for a splash in the tempting turquoise waters.
Gran Canaria is home to several nudist beaches. So much so that some people consider topless sunbathing to be the norm, just make sure you're on the right beach before you take anything off! The main beaches around Maspalomas and Playa del Ingls both offer nudist sections in front of the sand dunes, you'll know when you reach them. Gi-Gi Beach is more remote; you'll have to trek about three hours to find it, but once you do you are likely to have it mainly to yourself.
So whether or not you've heard it before, it's fair to say that the Canaries isn't your average beach holiday destination, and provides plenty to do and see for the whole family, depending on your tastes and budget of course.
But some resorts in Lanzarote have imported white sand from the Sahara. One of the most interesting of these golden beaches is Papagayo beach, a quaint formation of sheltered bays all formed together to create one sandy stretch. To reach it, you have to travel down a bumpy dirt road, which has a small charge. The high cliffs shelter the beach, which is divided into small bays.
Before the developers got their hands on Tenerife, the island had a quaint seaside town vibe about it, and the beach at El Puertito allows you to travel back in time and experience this. The bay is one of the old-fashioned areas of the island, with whitewashed buildings, brightly coloured boats and pale gold sand. Playa de los Abriguitos features lovely little sand coves, perfect for sunning yourself before going for a splash in the tempting turquoise waters.
Gran Canaria is home to several nudist beaches. So much so that some people consider topless sunbathing to be the norm, just make sure you're on the right beach before you take anything off! The main beaches around Maspalomas and Playa del Ingls both offer nudist sections in front of the sand dunes, you'll know when you reach them. Gi-Gi Beach is more remote; you'll have to trek about three hours to find it, but once you do you are likely to have it mainly to yourself.
So whether or not you've heard it before, it's fair to say that the Canaries isn't your average beach holiday destination, and provides plenty to do and see for the whole family, depending on your tastes and budget of course.
About the Author:
Catherine McCulloch is a London-based writer who often goes to the Canaries on holiday. Click here to visit the MyTravel website for fantastic deals on flights and places to stay throughout the island.
