Explore Forests, Deserts, and Black Sand Beaches in the Canary Islands
The Canary Islands—which are located not far off the coast of Morocco—have long been celebrated as the ideal getaway for travelers who love the desert just as much as they love the beach. If your dream vacation includes strolling along a black-sand beach, visiting a lush forest, and riding a camel through a bone-dry stretch of desert—a trip to the Canary Islands is an absolute must.
Considered an autonomous community of Spain, the Canary Islands are composed of 8 main islands with diverse geography which includes a volcano, sweeping sand dunes, and sheer cliffs with twisted juniper trees clinging to them. Needless to say, there is also plenty of coastline that is ideal for surfing, swimming, snorkeling, and cycling parallel to crashing waves as the sun sets.
Photo by depositphotos.com
One of the most popular destinations in the Canary Islands is Mount Teide which is a towering volcano on the island of Tenerife. Mount Teide last erupted in 1909 and is considered an active volcano. Visitors can explore the lunar landscape surrounding Mount Teide on foot or via a trolley which transports travelers over 11,000 feet above sea level. Access to the summit of Mount Teide is currently restricted, but visitors can still enjoy a sweeping view of the slopes of Mount Teide and the long shadow that the volcano casts over the Atlantic Ocean.
Photo by depositphotos.com
Several tour companies offer camel rides through the Maspalomas Dunes Nature Reserve on Gran Canaria. If you have ever dreamt of trekking through the Sahara Desert but questioned if you’re rugged enough, the Maspalomas Dunes are an excellent spot to ride a camel through seemingly endless sand dunes without worrying that you will get stranded without adequate food or water. Even if you feel like you’re in the heart of the desert while you’re exploring the Maspalomas Dunes, the shimmering waters of the Atlantic Ocean are minutes away.
The tiny island of El Hierro features black-sand beaches, cavernous lava tubes that cave enthusiasts delight in exploring, and a verdant fern-filled forest that offers a stark contrast to the blonde sand dunes of Gran Canaria. El Hierro is also known for its delectable quesadillas—pastries which feature locally produced cheese, sugar, and lemon.
Photo by depositphotos.com
Travelers who delight in seeing landscapes that change dramatically over the course of a short trip will be beside themselves with wonder in the Canary Islands. The arid sand dunes and soothing trade winds of the Canary Islands will invigorate your soul.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Canary Islands, Spain: a multi-island guide mentioning Mount Teide on Tenerife, Maspalomas Dunes on Gran Canaria and landscapes on El Hierro, among the archipelago’s eight main islands. No single town, island or attraction represents the article.
- Access
- This guide spans Tenerife, Gran Canaria and El Hierro; you must plan island transfers separately. The regional tourism board lists scheduled inter-island flights (all under an hour) and ferries, but routes and frequency depend on the pair of islands. Specific landscapes have local rules: Gran Canaria’s tourism authority asks visitors to Maspalomas Dunes to stay on marked paths and forbids camping. For the Teide summit, advance trail permits and required equipment apply; a cable-car ticket alone does not authorize summit access.
- Admission
- There is no single Canary Islands admission ticket. Prices and access conditions are set by each attraction or operator. As one specific example, the Teide summit trails require advance permits; some Teide trails also carry a public eco-fee, while the cable car and commercial camel rides are separate activities with their own prices. Check the selected island, park, trail and operator before travel; do not assume that a protected natural area or beach follows the same rules as a paid attraction.
- Time needed
- There is no published duration for this multi-island guide. Island transfers and attraction visits are separate parts of an itinerary; the tourism board says inter-island flights take less than an hour, excluding airport time. For scale, its Teide summit hike example is about 6 hours over 9 km and rated high difficulty. That is one demanding Tenerife activity, not a duration for the whole archipelago.
- Best season
- The Canary Islands tourism board describes mild weather throughout the year, so coast and low-elevation outings can be planned in any season. Conditions vary between islands and elevations: pack warmer layers for high ground, check wind and trail notices, and note that high-altitude Teide plants bloom in late spring. Choose dates for the particular landscape and activity rather than treating the islands as having one uniform season.
- Opening hours
- There are no shared opening hours for the archipelago’s beaches, forests and attractions. Hours and seasonal closures are site-specific. As an example, the current Teide information page lists cable-car departures beginning at 9 a.m. and the last one at 4 p.m., weather permitting; summit trails separately require advance permits. Check each attraction and any park alerts before setting out.
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-01
Explorer Passport
Next badge: Trail Scout
Unlocked after exploring 5 different unusual places.
0 of 5 places explored
Discover more from Unusual Places
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
