With our summer season climate now effectively and actually drawing to a detailed, many are considering of a winter sunshine break – and The Canary Islands have at all times been a preferred selection for Irish holidaymakers.
Sunshine all 12 months spherical, lovely seashores, and different sights for all ages all add as much as a close to good vacation vacation spot. However how a lot do you actually know concerning the islands and their historical past? Listed here are 15 fascinating info that might be conversation-starters as you’re sipping a cocktail in Gran Canaria or working in your tan in Tenerife:
There are seven foremost islands in The Canaries: Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro.
There are additionally six smaller islands, generally known as ‘islets’: La Graciosa, Alegranza, Montana Clara, Roque del Este, Roque del Oeste, and Isla de Lobos.
Regardless of the title (with ‘Gran’ being Spanish for giant or giant), Gran Canaria will not be the most important of the Canary Islands. As a substitute, it’s Tenerife. El Hierro is the smallest.
No, the islands weren’t named after little yellow birds. As a substitute, the title comes from how ‘canis’ is the Latin phrase for canine, as islanders are believed to have worshipped canine 1000’s of years in the past. One other concept is that the title refers to ‘sea canine’, which was a Latin time period for seals – which have at all times been plentiful within the waters across the islands.
Whereas canary birds are certainly native to The Canary Islands, they’re really known as after the islands – not the opposite approach spherical.
The Canary Islands have TWO capital cities: Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Should you don’t fly in, your solely different approach of attending to The Canary Islands is a ferry journey from mainland Spain, that takes greater than 20 hours. There are not any ferries linking the islands to Africa, regardless of it being solely 100km (62 miles) away at its closest level.
All of the islands are volcanic islands. Certainly, Tenerife is dwelling to Mount Teide – the third highest volcano on this planet. An estimated three million folks go to it annually.
In all probability the most well-liked sport within the islands is exclusive to the islands. It’s a type of wrestling, known as Lucha Canaria. It’s slightly like sumo wrestling, as contestants grapple in a circle in the identical approach. Nonetheless, their goal is to power their opponent to the bottom, not out of the ring. One other distinction is that they don’t are typically fairly so large as sumo wrestlers!
You received’t discover except you will have fluent Spanish your self, however locals converse with an accent that sounds extra like Latin America than mainland Spain.
Equally, there’s a actual Latin American affect to native delicacies – together with the Spanish and African influences you’d anticipate. It’s because the islands have been a daily stopping level for Spanish fleets on their approach to and from South America throughout the days of the conquistadors.
The inhabitants of the islands is simply over two million, however they get an estimated 12 million guests annually.
This makes tourism the primary business. Agriculture is quantity two. Many farms develop flowers commercially, in addition to vegetables and fruit.
The British Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson, who famously misplaced his proper arm in battle, misplaced it when he led a fleet to assault Tenerife. He misplaced 400 males in that battle too.
You’ll discover all the same old quick meals chains (McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, and so forth.) in a number of locations throughout the islands – however curiously, there’s just one Starbucks. It’s in Gran Canaria Airport. So, if you happen to merely HAVE to have your common grande half-caf, half-sweet, no-whip, coconut milk, cinnamon dolce latte with agave and no topping, then bear in mind you possibly can solely get it on the very begin and really finish of your vacation!
Keep in mind your journey insurance coverage for The Canary Islands
Should you’re planning a visit to The Canary Islands any time quickly, we hope you will have a good time, and that nothing worse occurs you than possibly not with the ability to place a sophisticated espresso order like that Starbucks one.
Keep in mind although, that issues can and do go improper on folks’s holidays on a regular basis, and subsequent time, it could simply occur to you. That’s why carrying complete Journey Insurance coverage in your journey is so essential.
You in all probability received’t lose an arm like Nelson did, however a coverage with Insure My Vacation will present nice safety towards the issues extra prone to occur – reminiscent of misplaced baggage, delayed departure, or private accident and medical bills.
Select Single Journey Journey Insurance coverage in case your journey to The Canary Islands will in all probability be your solely vacation for some time, or annual Multi Journey Journey Insurance coverage, if you happen to’re prone to do extra travelling within the coming 12 months too.
No matter coverage you select with Insure My Vacation, you’re assured of a excessive commonplace of canopy at a low value.
Key advantages of our Gold Plan journey insurance coverage
- Medical Bills Cowl of €5 Million
- Private Baggage Cowl of €2,000
- Private Cash and Paperwork Cowl of €1,600
- Delayed Departure Cowl of €200
- Cancellation or Curtailment Cowl of €4,000
- Abandonment Cowl of €4,000
- Missed Departure Cowl of €500
- Private Accident Cowl of €55,000
- Private Legal responsibility Cowl of €2,000,000
- Third Social gathering Provider Insolvency Cowl of €2,000
- Schedule Airline Failure Cowl of €1,000
- Authorized Bills Cowl of €10,000
- Hijack Cowl of €1,000
- Disaster Cowl of €750
- Credit score or Money Card Fraud Cowl of €300
Key advantages of our Platinum Plan journey insurance coverage
- Medical Bills Cowl of €10 Million
- Private Baggage Cowl of €3,000
- Private Cash and Paperwork Cowl of €2,000
- Delayed Departure Cowl of €400
- Cancellation or Curtailment Cowl of €6,000
- Abandonment Cowl of €6,000
- Missed Departure Cowl of €600
- Private Accident Cowl of €95,000
- Private Legal responsibility Cowl of €2,000,000
- Third Social gathering Provider Insolvency Cowl of €2,000
- Schedule Airline Failure Cowl of €2,000
- Authorized Bills Cowl of €20,000
- Hijack Cowl of €2,000
- Disaster Cowl of €1,000
- Credit score or Money Card Fraud Cowl of €500
All are as beneficiant or extra beneficiant as you’ll discover with some other Journey Insurance coverage supplier, so all of it provides as much as much more nice causes to decide on Journey Insurance coverage for all of your Journey Insurance coverage wants.
Simply get a quote now to see how a lot it can save you!
