{"id":1603,"date":"2016-08-17T17:10:45","date_gmt":"2016-08-17T16:10:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mercuryholidays.co.uk\/oyster\/?p=1603"},"modified":"2019-10-22T10:34:05","modified_gmt":"2019-10-22T09:34:05","slug":"think-know-canary-islands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mercuryholidays.co.uk\/inspire\/guides\/destinations-trips\/think-know-canary-islands\/","title":{"rendered":"So you think you know the Canary Islands?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Turn your thoughts to the Canary Islands and you\u2019ll conjure up visions of sunshine, blissful beaches, those famous black sands, beautiful landscapes and quaint little whitewashed little villages. As if that wasn\u2019t enticing enough, delve a little deeper and you will see that the islands have so much more to offer.<\/p>\n

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When\u2019s the best time to go?<\/h3>\n

Pick a day, any day! The Spanish archipelago is made up of seven islands set adrift off the coast of Africa and the weather stays lovely and warm all year long. In fact, the temperature rarely drops below a balmy 20\u00b0C. It\u2019s warm in the winter, and you can rely on a gloriously refreshing cool Atlantic breeze in the summer.<\/p>\n

Between the 7 islands, there are over 500 beaches ranging from the fine white sandy shores of the south, to the dramatic and remote pebbly coves of the north – the Canary Islands have it all. Choose from the soft rolling dunes of Fuerteventura<\/strong>, the wide arcs of golden coastline in Tenerife, <\/strong>the secret coves and cliff sheltered bays of Lanzarote, <\/strong>or the gently sloping sands and shallow waters of Gran Canaria.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Considering how picturesque the islands are, and how popular they are with all kinds of travellers, holidays there still a real bargain. There\u2019s no shortage of accommodation options to suit a range of budgets and the Islands are served by several low-cost carriers leaving from your local airport. Convenient and cost effective – the perfect combination.<\/p>\n

Cuisine of the Canaries<\/h3>\n

If you think that gastronomy in the Canary Islands mostly consists of ham and egg and toasted cheese sandwiches, think again. There’s a burgeoning gourmet scene and if you enjoy your food, you\u2019ll be spoilt for choice.<\/p>\n

Canarian cuisine combines traditional Spanish fayre, with influences from Africa and Latin America. In short, it\u2019s delicious! The surrounding Atlantic Ocean offers up a superb selection of fantastically fresh seafood dishes and thanks to the island\u2019s varied climates and elevations, you can also look forward to washing it all down with a fine selection of award winning wines.<\/p>\n

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Each day brings a new adventure<\/h3>\n

From total relaxation one day, to a quick trek to the snow-capped peak of Pico del Tenerife the next, those predictably sunny days make outdoor activities so accessible. That, combined with ever-changing landscapes across the islands, mean you\u2019re spoilt for choice when it comes to what to do.<\/p>\n

Here’s a just a taster of what you can do:<\/p>\n