Why you should go island hopping in the Canaries on a cruise

The Canary Islands are famed for their year-round climate, making them a perfect destination to visit. There is so much you can do here with pine forests, enormous volcanoes, lunar-like landscapes, miles of Sahara-style dunes, and plenty of beach-hugging resorts.

One of the best ways to explore the contrasts of the islands that make up this archipelago is to go island hopping in the Canary Islands.

On a Canaries cruise, you can visit the different islands and experience their unique beauty. In this guide, we discuss why you should island-hop the Canaries on a cruise, and we highlight the unique attractions of each island, from Tenerife's volcanic landscapes to Lanzarote's artistic heritage.

Before we delve into each island and their attractions, we first want to take a look at why a cruise is the best way to island-hop the Canary Islands. By choosing one of our Canary cruises, you can explore multiple islands and enjoy a diverse range of experiences in a comfortable and convenient way.

Our cruises offer convenience as they handle the travel between islands, so you can enjoy each island without needing to worry about booking ferries or flights. Our cruise ships provide great accommodation, food and amenities that will make your travel relaxing and enjoyable.

The island-hopping cruises in the Canaries that we offer at Fred.Olsen means you can experience a variety of landscapes, from volcanic terrains to lush forests, on a single trip, and there are cruises where you can go on some exciting shore tours, so you can tailor your trip to your preference.

Tenerife is an island of contrasts with white sandy beaches in the south and remote mountain-ridge villages and ancient towns in the north. There is so much to see and do, but here are just some of the top attractions that you can enjoy on the island.

Home to Spain’s highest peak and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mount Teide National Park is a must-visit attraction.

The cable car offers the easiest way to get up to the peak of El Teide, and at the summit, you can enjoy lunar-like views and see the islands of La Gomera, La Palma, and El Hierro.

If you want a bit of a challenge, you can hike to the summit. The national park is a hiker’s dream, with trails suitable for all levels of fitness crisscrossing through the spectacular landscape.

Paweł, who is the travel writer behind the Hunting for Bliss blog, has hiked to the summit of Mount Teide, and he talks about his experience: “Climbing Teide marked my first hiking adventure above 3,000 meters. I can’t stress enough how excited I was to experience such elevations and to see how my body responded to the thinner air. It is a memory for the ages. Honestly, if you’ve never reached such altitudes before, Teide provides an ideal ‘playground’ for a test run.”

Regularly voted as the best water park in the world, Siam Park is ideal for people of all ages. The water kingdom, which is based in Costa Adeje in the south of the island, is inspired by Thailand, and it offers attractions like the ‘Tower of Power’ water slide or the exciting wave pool, as well as relaxing experiences like the tranquil ‘Mai Thai River’ and the Siam Beach.

Tenerife has a diverse range of beaches, and this is in part due to the volcanic island’s Indigenous geology and imported Saharan sand, meaning its 40 miles of beaches are as varied as anywhere else in the world.

Fay Doyle, the founder of the This Expansive Adventure blog, says Playa del Duque was one of her favourite beaches on the island: “Firstly, it was a lot quieter – but the contrast between the light sand and the pristine turquoise waters was beautiful. When we visited, there was a small beach kiosk offering drinks and snacks.

“This was one of my favourite sandy beaches on the island and, in my opinion, one of the best beaches on Tenerife that I had visited.”

Some of the top beaches that you can visit are:

• Playa del Duque
• Playa de las Teresitas
• Playa Jardin
• Playa del Camison
• Playa de la Tejita

The third-largest island in the archipelago, Gran Canaria, is a must-visit. Many of our Canary Island hopping cruises stop off at Gran Canaria, and you will be able to explore the dramatic variations of terrain that the island possesses. Below are some of the top attractions and activities you can enjoy during a visit to Gran Canaria.

The capital city brings a mix of history, trendy shops and golden sands to the table. If you want to do a spot of shopping during your time on the island, the chic boutiques and bazaar-like streets are perfect for picking up a souvenir.

It is worth exploring the historic Vegueta district as you can climb up Santa Ana Cathedral, stroll past magnificent monuments and check out museums like the Christopher Columbus Museum.

You can also substitute sightseeing for sunbathing in Las Palmas, as there is a double helping of picturesque bays where you can relax.

Puerto de Mogán is a charming fishing village nicknamed “Little Venice” and is regarded by many as the most picturesque resort on the island of Gran Canaria.

From large open-air markets to a golden-sand beach that is perfect for swimming, there is so much you can do.

Lanzarote is home to some extraordinary geology as it hosts 300 volcanic cones, eerie blackened lava fields and the occasional bucolic, palm-filled valley. Below are some of the top things you can do on the island.

At Timanfaya National Park, you can walk through a surreal, Mars-like landscape shaped by eruptions that took place between 1720 and 1824.

As a result, there is no vegetation, and the extreme ruggedness of the terrain, the variety of colours, the silhouettes of the volcanoes and the jagged coastline all make Timanfaya extraordinarily beautiful.

The park is a haven for hikers with trails ranging from easy, short walks to challenging hikes. To enter the national park, you have to go on a guided bus tour, and guides will then take you on different walks within the park. There are limits on the number of people who can visit the park at one time, so it's best to do some research if you want to visit during your time on the island. There are alternative ways to explore the national park, including tours where you can ride on a camel.

Roberto and Ellen, the travel writers behind the Our Big Journey blog, have hiked in Timanfaya, and they loved the scenery: “The scenery in Timanfaya literally looks like the moon, originating from volcanic eruptions. Strange rocks and lava formations welcome you with red and orange colours. Honestly, it’s a place you’ll remember for being so unique.”

ALSO READ: Discovering the Canary Islands’ National Parks

The Cueva de los Verdes are around 8 kilometres long and is home to a network of tunnels and lagoons that were formed by lava flows erupting from the nearby volcano Monte Corona.

Some of the cave systems were developed to become an attraction, and within these areas, the cave walls are illuminated by colourful lights, and concerts are also held here. There are tours that will take you through the caves, and you will learn about their history and how they were created.

The greenest of the Canary Islands, during a visit here you will experience real, unspoiled nature – from the verdant forests of the north to the desertscapes of the south, where volcanic craters and twisted rock formations define the views. Here are some of the top places and activities you can enjoy on La Palma.

The giant crater that is located in the centre of this national park is picturesquely surrounded by pine forests and waterfalls, making it a real oasis in which leafy forests coexist with the breathtaking views that the peaks of La Palma offer.

The national park is the perfect place to go hiking, and there are so many routes that you can follow. According to AllTrails, the best routes you can follow are:

• La Cumbrecita – Lomo de las Chozas (3.1km long)
• Mirador de Cumbrecita - Pico Bejenado (7.6km long)
• Los Brecitos Viewpoint - Colors Waterfall - Caldera Taburiente (13km long)

La Palma is regarded as one of the best places on Earth for astronomy. The island has its own law that protects its sky from light pollution, hosts one of the most advanced telescopes in the world, and is a pioneer in obtaining Starlight Destination and Reserve certifications.

A must-do activity if you are visiting La Palma on your island hopping cruise in the Canary Islands is to go stargazing.

By joining us on our Canary Islands & Geminid Meteor Shower cruise in December, you will get to witness one of the most active and reliable meteor showers in the world. The Geminid Meteor Shower often produces up to 120 meteors per hour at its peak over La Palma, and you will be able to marvel at the meteors streaking across the sky from the Gemini constellation. One of the best ways to see this natural display is from the decks of your ship on clear winter nights in the Canary Islands.

La Gomera is home to awe-inspiring cliffs, lush valleys, impressive rock formations and black-pebble beaches that have been sculpted by hundreds of years of volcanic activity and erosion. Read on to learn about some of the best activities and attractions on La Gomera.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Garajonay National Park is almost permanently shrouded in clouds and mist, but don’t let that put you off. The forests are relic ecosystems, living remnants of the old rainforests and warm temperate forests that occupied much of Europe and North Africa.

There are a variety of short and long trails that you can walk along to experience the magic of this primeval laurisilva forest. Many of the plant species found here are endemic to the island, with some only found in the national park.

The waters around La Gomera and Tenerife have been designated as a Whale Heritage Site, one of the first in Europe, as they are home to an array of whales and other marine wildlife.

You can enjoy excursions and get the chance to watch bottlenose dolphins, pantropical spotted dolphins, rough-toothed dolphins, sperm whales, rorqual whales or short-finned pilot whales in their natural habitats.

The Canary Islands are home to various attractions that can only be found in this part of the world. So whether you are visiting as part of a longer cruise to the Caribbean, or you are going island hopping in the Canaries, there is so much to do on each island.