About El Hierro

El Hierro is the smallest of the Canary Islands, lying south west of its more well-known neighbors. It has been nicknamed 'Meridian Island' and it is situated in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. El Hierro's remote location and cliff-lined shores once earned it the reputation of being the 'island at the end of the world', until Christopher Columbus' famous voyage of 1492 put paid to such claims. The delight of arriving at El Hierro by ferry is not to be missed. Ferry crossings operate most days sailing from Los Cristianos port on the neighboring island of Tenerife to Valverde on El Hierro. Tenerife itself is well connected to the rest of the Canary Islands and mainland Spain as well as featuring two airports so should be used as a base for onward travel to El Hierro. The remoteness of the island has always been one of its most seductive attractions. As is the case with all the Canary Islands, El Hierro is volcanic and the terrain is dramatically mountainous with huge craggy cliffs against which the Atlantic waves crash fiercely. The island has recorded only one volcanic eruption, lasting a month, in 1793; since then the juniper forests, evergreen woodlands, and pines have reclaimed much of the terrain, although in the south of the island there is clear evidence of the volcanic activity in the strange, unworldly rock formations to be found there. El Hierro has much to offer the visitor that is truly unique; so much so that the island was designated by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve in 2000, which means that 60% of its territory is protected to preserve its natural and cultural diversity. The translucent waters surrounding the island provide ideal conditions for diving revealing the extraordinary marine life which dwells below them. It is testament to the natural beauty of these shores that each year El Hierro hosts one of Europe’s biggest underwater photography competitions. Restaurants and accommodation are in plentiful supply across the island offering traditionally prepared food and a warm welcome.

About Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is one of the main tourist destinations in the Canary Islands thanks to its exceptional beaches and promise of a warm and dry climate all year round. Home to around 838,000 people, it is the second most populated isle in the archipelago after nearby Tenerife and, while it is located in the Atlantic Ocean close to Africa, it is undoubtedly a Spanish island. While it has a thriving business sector in its capital city Las Palmas, Gran Canaria's main industry is tourism, with British, German and Scandinavians making up the largest proportion of visitors. There are currently 2 direct routes from mainland Spain to Gran Canaria Island sailing from the southern Spanish ports of Cadiz and Huelva. Due to the distance between the mainland and the Canaries, crossings are not overly frequent and are generally long in duration. The ships used on these crossings are usually of a high standard though so a pleasant time at sea is likely. Most of the ferries arriving in Gran Canaria are travelling from the other Canary Islands with numerous routes offered from Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma and Tenerife. Gran Canaria's position between Tenerife and Fuerteventura naturally make those the easiest islands to get to and from. There are 2 active ferry ports in Gran Canaria. Las Palmas, the main port of arrival, can be found on the north east side of the island and is where the ferries sailing from Spain and the other islands arrive at. Puerto de las Nieves, the picturesque village port of Agaete is on the north west side of Gran Canaria and connects you with Tenerife. Gran Canaria's main attraction is its weather. During the summer months temperatures soar to the 80s Farenheit and even during the winter it is unusual for it to be any colder than the mid 60s F. This climate makes the island great for beach holidays, with families typically heading to the resorts in the south of Gran Canaria such as Maspalomas and Puerto Rico. Key attractions in Gran Canaria include the Palmitos Park Zoo, Aqualand Water Park and the Maspalomas sand dunes.