Blog
The Canarian festival year: what plays when
Two separate celebration calendars run side by side in the Canary Islands. One is put on by the neighbours and costs nothing; the other needs a ticket bought months ahead. Here is when each happens, what to book a room for early, and why autumn is the best season.
The Guanches after the conquest: what a cave in Buenavista del Norte tells us
The conquest ended in 1496, and with it, so the usual summary goes, the Guanches ended too. A cave in the north-west of Tenerife says something else: people cooked, kept animals and buried their dead there for generations after that date.
Calima in the Canary Islands: what to do when the sky turns yellow
When it arrives, what the warnings mean, who should take care and where to see how much dust is in the air right now. Official data, no scaremongering.
Safety in Tenerife: what to know before you swim, climb or drive
Official drowning figures, the two Teide permits, the real UV index and what to do when you call 112. Verified data, no scaremongering.
Climbing Pico del Teide: the permit and the cable car, step by step
Plenty of people ride the Teide cable car believing it takes them to the summit. It does not. The upper station sits at 3,555 metres and Pico del Teide at 3,715, and the trail between them needs a permit requested in advance. Free, but limited, and easy to miss.
Farmers' markets in Tenerife: which day each one opens
Which day and time every farmers' market in Tenerife opens, how it differs from a flea market, and how to shop well. Cabildo data, with a listing for each market.
The Canary Islands without a car: buses, travel cards and hiking by guagua
You can travel the Canary Islands without a car, and in some ways you travel better. Here's which company runs each island, what it really costs as a visitor, why the free travel scheme isn't for you, and how the bus lets you walk linear routes that a car simply won't allow.
The next solar eclipses visible from the Canary Islands
The eclipse of 12 August 2026 has passed, but two more are coming: 2 August 2027 and 26 January 2028. Both will be partial from the islands.
The best beaches in La Graciosa
La Graciosa is the eighth island: no paved roads, dunes and crystal-clear water in the largest marine reserve in Europe. From the wild Playa de las Conchas to the turquoise coves of the Francesa and La Cocina, we tell you the best ones and how to choose yours.