Gran Canaria
From the Maspalomas Dunes, whose gold-sand slopes tumble in front of the glittering sea, to Puerto de Mogán, where colourful houses perch above the harbour, Gran Canaria has plenty of appeal. Venture into the mountains to explore traditional villages like Tejeda, hit up Playa del Inglés for lively beaches and bars, or take in a slice of Canarian culture in Las Palmas to see the variety of this diverse isle.
Book it: For an atmospheric stay in Maspalomas, head to Lopesan Baobab Resort. Here safari-style lodges sit between seven pools and four restaurants, with jungle-inspired gardens all around.
La Gomera
If you want to escape the crowds, look to La Gomera, where fluorescent-green peaks rise between verdant vineyards, and bohemian beach towns line a sweep of perfect cerulean. The island is a hotspot for hiking, especially around the UNESCO-listed Garajonay National Park, where you’ll find one of the world’s only ancient laurel forests. There’s history and culture in spades, too – not least in San Sebastián de La Gomera, Christopher Columbus’s last port of call before his voyage to the Americas.
Book it: If you’re after a beachfront stay, book the Gran Rey Hotel with TUI, which sits between the mountains and ocean, with the postcard-pretty harbour of Villa Gran Rey on the doorstep.
Lanzarote
Lunar-like landscapes make Lanzarote’s scenery one of the most dramatic in the archipelago, with copper-red terrain, vast lava fields and otherworldly rocks set between gold-sand beaches and palm groves. Especially unmissable is Timanfaya National Park, whose volcanic landscape can be toured by bus, and the Papagayo Beaches, a series of coves whose crystalline waters are ideal for swimming and snorkelling.
Book it: With views of the sea on one side and Montana Roja on the other, Hotel H10 Rubicon Palace in Playa Blanca makes for an ideal base, with five pools, four restaurants and a myriad of child-friendly areas on hand to entertain.
LaPalma
For an equally nature-focused, off-the-beaten-track spot, La Palma is an excellent choice. Known as ‘La Isla Bonita’ for its picture-book scenery, you’ll find plunging mountain slopes, kaleidoscopic pools, lush laurel forest and black-sand beaches in abundance here. At its heart is Los Tilos Forest and the Caldera de Taburiente, a huge volcanic crater surrounded…
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