Volcanic landscapes, eternal spring weather & sustainable stays across seven unique islands — with 1 tonelada de CO₂ eliminada por reserva.
Find Eco HotelesThe Canary Islands are an archipelago of seven main islands rising from the Atlantic Ocean, roughly 100 kilometres off the northwest coast of Africa. Governed as an autonomous community of Spain, these volcanic islands offer one of the most extraordinary environments for sustainable travel anywhere in Europe. The climate is often described as "eternal spring" — average temperatures hover between 18°C and 24°C year-round, meaning there is never truly a bad time to visit. It is a destination that rewards the curious traveller in every season.
What makes the Canary Islands truly remarkable is their geological and ecological diversity. Tenerife is dominated by Mount Teide, Spain's highest peak at 3,718 metres, which rises from a vast volcanic caldera that has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007. The surrounding national park receives over three million visitors per year, making it the most-visited national park in Europe. Meanwhile, the ancient laurel forests of Garajonay on La Gomera, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, represent a living relic of the subtropical forests that covered southern Europe millions of years ago. These misty, moss-draped woodlands are found nowhere else on the continent.
The islands' biodiversity is staggering. The Canary Islands are home to more than 500 endemic plant species — plants found nowhere else on Earth. The dragon tree (Dracaena draco), with its umbrella-shaped crown and red sap once prized by medieval traders, is perhaps the most iconic. Marine life is equally rich: the deep waters between the islands support resident populations of short-finned pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins, with over 30 cetacean species recorded in Canarian waters. La Palma earned designation as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2002, and El Hierro has pioneered renewable energy, aiming to become the first island in the world powered entirely by wind and hydroelectric energy.
For the eco-conscious traveller, the Canary Islands combine world-class hiking, dramatic volcanic landscapes, pristine marine environments, and a growing network of sustainable accommodation. From rural casas tucked into terraced hillsides to luxury resorts committed to zero-waste operations, the islands offer green stays at every budget. When you book through IMPT, every reservation removes 1 tonne of CO₂ from the atmosphere at no extra cost — you pay the same price as Booking.com, with EUR5 free credit on your first booking and 5% cashback in IMPT tokens.
The archipelago offers an astonishing range of experiences, from high-altitude volcanic treks to underwater adventures in crystal-clear Atlantic waters. Here are the standout attractions across the islands:
Spain's highest peak at 3,718 metres stands at the centre of a vast volcanic caldera. Take the cable car to 3,555 m and, with a free permit booked online in advance, hike to the summit for panoramic views stretching across all seven islands. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most-visited national park in Europe.
A 400-hectare field of golden sand dunes stretches along the southern tip of Gran Canaria, forming a Special Nature Reserve. The dune system, shaped by Saharan winds, borders a lagoon (La Charca) that attracts migrating birds including herons and plovers. The adjacent Playa del Ingles beach extends for over 2.7 kilometres.
This otherworldly volcanic landscape was created by eruptions between 1730 and 1736 that buried a quarter of Lanzarote under lava. The park covers 51 square kilometres of lava fields, craters, and geothermal hotspots. At the Islote de Hilario visitor centre, rangers demonstrate the underground heat by pouring water into boreholes — it erupts back as steam within seconds.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site protects the largest surviving laurel forest (laurisilva) in the world. The misty cloud forest dates back to the Tertiary era, over 2 million years ago, and covers 3,984 hectares. Walking through the moss-draped trees feels like stepping into a prehistoric world.
A 6-kilometre-long volcanic tube created by the eruption of Monte Corona around 3,000 years ago. The guided tour takes visitors through dramatically lit chambers with ceilings reaching 15 metres high. The acoustics are extraordinary — the cave has been used as a concert venue.
The deep waters between Tenerife and La Gomera are home to a resident colony of roughly 500 short-finned pilot whales, one of the largest in the world. Bottlenose dolphins are spotted year-round, and between November and March, migrating sperm whales and even blue whales pass through. Excursions depart from Los Cristianos and Puerto Colon.
One of the most visually striking wine regions on Earth. Vines are planted individually in shallow pits dug into black volcanic ash (picón), each sheltered by a semicircular stone wall called a zocos. The Malvasia grape thrives in these unique conditions, producing aromatic dry whites and sweet wines. Bodegas El Grifo, founded in 1775, is one of the oldest wineries in the Canary Islands.
La Palma is home to the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory at 2,426 metres — one of the world's premier astronomical observatories. The island has strict light-pollution laws (the Sky Law, enacted in 1988) that keep the night skies exceptionally dark. La Palma was declared a Starlight Reserve by UNESCO in 2012, and guided stargazing tours operate year-round.
A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the northeast of Tenerife, the Anaga mountains are home to ancient laurel forests, deep ravines, and isolated hamlets. The Cruz del Carmen visitor centre is the starting point for a network of hiking trails through cloud forest at elevations up to 1,024 metres.
Each island has its own personality. Here are the best areas for different types of travellers:
The sunniest corner of Tenerife, with luxury resorts, calm beaches, and easy access to whale-watching trips. Costa Adeje and Playa de las Americas offer the widest hotel selection. Perfect for beach-and-nature holidays with year-round warm weather.
Golden dunes, the lively Playa del Ingles strip, and a nature reserve make this the island's tourism hub. Quieter options at Meloneras offer upscale beachfront properties. A 30-minute drive from Las Palmas airport.
Lanzarote's volcanic landscapes and the artistic legacy of Cesar Manrique draw design-conscious travellers. Playa Blanca in the south offers beachfront calm; inland Teguise provides rural charm. The entire island is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
The island with the best beaches — Corralejo's 8 kilometres of white sand backed by dunes rival the Caribbean. Kitesurfers flock to Sotavento on the southeast coast. The driest island, with over 300 sunny days per year.
The greenest island and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, perfect for hikers and stargazers. Los Llanos on the western coast is the largest town, with easy access to the Caldera de Taburiente and the Roque de los Muchachos observatory.
Hand-picked sustainable properties across the archipelago. All bookings through IMPT include 1 tonne of CO₂ removal at no extra cost, 5% cashback in IMPT tokens, and access to 8M+ hotels worldwide.
Perched on a clifftop above Playa de Santiago in southern La Gomera, the Jardin Tecina spreads across subtropical gardens with panoramic views of Tenerife and Mount Teide. The 434-room property features multiple restaurants, a golf course, and a lift carved into the cliff to reach the beach 150 metres below. The hotel has earned the Travelife Gold sustainability certification.
Located on the Maspalomas beachfront in southern Gran Canaria, the Seaside Palm Beach is a 5-star design hotel with 328 rooms surrounded by tropical gardens. The hotel sits adjacent to the Maspalomas Dunes nature reserve and features an award-winning restaurant, two pools, and a wellness centre. It holds a Travelife Gold award for sustainable tourism practices.
A beautifully restored 18th-century mansion in the historic town of Garachico on Tenerife's northwest coast. This 20-room boutique hotel combines original features — volcanic stone walls, wooden balconies, a courtyard pool — with contemporary art and design. Garachico was Tenerife's main port until a 1706 volcanic eruption redirected the lava flow through the town, creating the natural rock pools (El Caleton) that visitors swim in today.
A sprawling 5-star resort in Playa Blanca at the southern tip of Lanzarote, the Princesa Yaiza offers 385 suites with views of Fuerteventura and the Isla de Lobos across the strait. The resort features six restaurants, four swimming pools, a thalassotherapy spa, and a kids' club. Its architecture draws inspiration from Cesar Manrique's design philosophy, blending low-rise buildings into the volcanic landscape.
One of Tenerife's landmark luxury hotels, the Bahia del Duque occupies a privileged position on the Costa Adeje coastline with direct access to Playa del Duque beach. The 346-room resort is designed as a Canarian village, with buildings inspired by traditional island architecture. Five pools, eight restaurants (including the Michelin-praised Nub), botanical gardens, and a vast spa make this one of the most comprehensive resorts in the archipelago.
A 32-suite luxury hotel occupying a 17th-century sugar hacienda in the town of Tazacorte on La Palma's west coast. The property is filled with antiques, religious art, and tropical gardens planted with exotic species from five continents. Rooms feature hand-painted ceilings and original woodwork. The hotel is a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World collection and sits adjacent to banana plantations leading down to the volcanic black-sand beach.
The Canary Islands are one of Europe's finest hiking destinations, with trails ranging from gentle coastal walks to challenging mountain ascents through volcanic terrain. The varied landscapes — from cloud forests and deep ravines to lava fields and alpine scrub — make every trail a different experience.
Distance: 4.5 km one way | Duration: 3–4 hours | Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging
One of the most spectacular gorge walks in the Canary Islands. The trail descends from the mountain village of Masca (650 m) through a dramatic basalt ravine to a black-sand beach on the coast. The gorge narrows to just a few metres in places, with towering cliff walls rising 600 metres above. After the trail's reopening in 2023, a free permit is required and must be booked online in advance. A boat or pre-arranged taxi returns hikers from the beach to Los Gigantes harbour.
Distance: 4 km loop | Duration: 1.5–2 hours | Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
The trail to Gran Canaria's most iconic landmark begins at the La Goleta car park near Tejeda and winds through Canarian pine forest to the base of Roque Nublo, a volcanic monolith standing 80 metres tall at an elevation of 1,813 metres. From the top, views extend to Mount Teide across the channel. The surrounding caldera of Tejeda has been recognised as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Distance: Varies (full route spans all seven islands) | Duration: Multi-day stages | Difficulty: Varied
The GR131 is an ambitious long-distance route that links all seven main Canary Islands, running roughly north-south across each island and connecting via ferry crossings. Highlights include the summit of Mount Teide on Tenerife, the volcanic spine of Lanzarote, the laurel forests of La Gomera, and the Caldera de Taburiente on La Palma. Individual stages make excellent day hikes — the La Palma section from the Roque de los Muchachos (2,426 m) down to the coast is one of the most dramatic.
Distance: 8 km one way | Duration: 5–6 hours | Difficulty: Challenging
A descent into one of the world's largest erosion craters, 10 km wide and nearly 2,000 m deep. The trail passes through Canarian pine forest, crosses streams with small waterfalls, and reaches the Cascada de los Colores — a waterfall stained orange and green by mineral deposits. The trailhead is at Los Brecitos, accessible by taxi or 4x4 from the visitor centre.
Month-by-month weather breakdown, festivals, crowd levels, and the best times for hiking, swimming, and whale watching across the archipelago.
From papas arrugadas with mojo sauce to fresh Atlantic seafood and Malvasia wines — a complete guide to eating and drinking across the islands.
15+ activities from Mount Teide summit hikes to stargazing on La Palma, whale watching off Tenerife, and surfing on Fuerteventura.
The Canary Islands enjoy mild weather year-round with temperatures between 18°C and 28°C. The most popular months are December to March when northern Europeans escape cold winters, but September to November offers warm seas with fewer crowds. Summer (June to August) is hottest on the eastern islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, while the western islands (La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro) remain cooler and greener.
La Palma is the greenest Canary Island, designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in its entirety since 2002. It offers outstanding hiking through laurel forests, the Roque de los Muchachos observatory for world-class stargazing, and a strong commitment to sustainable tourism. El Hierro is also notable as the first island in the world to aim for 100% renewable energy through its Gorona del Viento wind-hydro power station.
Eco hotels in the Canary Islands range from around €45 per night for simple rural casas to €450+ for luxury sustainable resorts. Mid-range green-certified hotels typically cost €80–€150 per night. When you book through IMPT, you pay the same price as Booking.com and receive EUR5 free credit on your first booking, plus 5% cashback in IMPT tokens.
You can visit Teide National Park and hike many trails independently, but reaching the summit (3,718 m) requires a free permit from the national park authority, which must be booked online in advance through the Spanish government's reservation system. The cable car takes you to 3,555 m, and the final ascent requires the permit. Guided tours are available and recommended for the full summit experience, especially at sunrise.
IMPT removes 1 tonne of CO₂ from the atmosphere with every hotel booking. This is funded through partnerships with verified carbon removal projects worldwide. You pay the same price as Booking.com — there is no extra cost for the environmental impact. IMPT also offers 5% cashback in IMPT tokens and works with over 25,000 green-certified hotel partners across more than 8 million hotel listings globally.