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The Canary Islands - AKA the Canaries - are loved by some, and loathed by others. But whatever your opinion, holiday-makers continue to visit in their droves. Only 100km off the coast of Africa, one of the main reasons is year-round sun at affordable prices. This is our guide to budgeting your Euros for a trip to Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria or Lanzarote - the most popular of the islands.
This reflects what everyday travellers tend to spend when in the Canaries. Think mid-range - most of the major attractions, a few cab rides, maybe a big night out, and a bit of shopping on the side. It doesn’t include the cost of hotels or car hire as these are often booked in advance.
Want to see where it all goes? Read on!
Using real traveller data, we've picked out the most popular source of entertainment on all of the most-visited Canary Islands.
Real Traveller Average Daily Spend: €48
The Teide Volcano on Tenerife is the highest point in all of Spain and the highest point above sea level in the islands of the Atlantic. The most popular trip for WeSwap travellers in all of the Canary Islands is the cable car that takes visitors to the top. If it's winter then pack warm, it gets cold up there.
The Rancho Park is a family day out, especially popular with kids. Dolphins? Tick. Komodo Dragons? Tick. Water Park? Tick. Triple win and decent food options. All at super affordable prices.
The dinosaur-like Komodo dragon. Don't get too close...
Entry into the Aqualand Maspalomas waterpark is €28 online but keep an eye out for a voucher that will knock €3 off. Not bad if you're in a group of five. This is a proper water park with white-knuckle slides for thrill seekers and a wave pool as well as more relaxed options for less confident swimmers and children.
Fuerteventura is the windiest of the Canary Islands and therefore the best for water sports. There are several surf schools to be found online but this is a great place to learn how to surf with friendly English-speaking instructors. You're also not likely to get in the way of advanced surfers which can be an issue with surfing. Bondi Beach for example, is an embarrassing place to learn.
The Grand Canaria buggy tour is a great way to get out and see the island. Go on and off-road and take a passenger with you too. These are not difficult to drive and are actually much safer than quad bikes. You'll need a full driving license.
Make sure you have a full driving licence with you. They won't let you do it without one.
Real Traveller Average Daily Spend: €47
The Canaries are known for being cheap and sure enough, you can always find a pub selling cheap bear. But culturally they don't get the credit they deserve. Tenerife is leading the way with several Michelin star restaurants now on the island.
Restaurante Mirador de Sotavento (La Palma) is not an easy place to find (you'll need a car or a taxi) but it's worth the search. Top quality food, lovely atmosphere, great host and the best thing about it? The sunset. Make sure you see the sunset in this romantic little restaurant. The octopus is super-fresh and comes recommended.
Alongside the extraordinary volcanic beach at El Golfo, Bogavante (Lanzarote) is right by the sea on the southern tip of the island. All you need for a blissful afternoon is to order paella, and a bottle of chilled white wine.
Sabor Canario, La Orotava (Teneriffe) is a 16th century merchant’s house oozing Canarian autheticity. Start with the papas arrugadas (Canarian baked potatoes) served with mojo, a tangy sauce made from piquant red peppers. The food takes about half an hour to arrive, a mark of it's freshness. It's open every day apart from Sundays and most mains are under €10 which is really great value for the standard.
Sabor Canario offers authentic Canarian food at great prices.
We haven't broken this down island by island but gone with the most popular island - Tenerife. All the rest of the info can be found easily enough with a Google though. We thought it best to get one island right at least...
Real Traveller Average Daily Spend: €30
Most resorts across all the islands are self-sufficient and the bigger ones will have taxis and buses to get you around. But these islands have a lot to offer and car hire is something we would recommend. Get away from the resorts and visit some lesser-known beach cove, or go up a volcano! beware, some of them are active.
Real Traveller Average Daily Spend: €42
WeSwappers don't mind parting with a few Euros shopping in the Canaries and often that's done at the excellent markets where a bargain can be found. As always when it comes to market shopping, inspect what you're buying before you buy, and don't be afraid to haggle a little.
In Tenerife, El Medano hosts a weekly market every Saturday morning from 9am to 2pm. This market has bohemian edge by proxy - there is a surf beach right next door. Expect a lively affair with often live music, some top chic alternative clothing stalls and more.
In Lanzarote, the most colourful shopping is provided by Teguise Sunday Market where you can buy many interesting craft items, souvenirs and local produce (wine, cheese and mojo sauces) which make tasty reminders of your stay.
Many interesting craft items are on offer at the Teguise Sunday Market.
In Grand Canaria, Jinámar's open-air Centro Comercial Las Terrazas is located between the airport and capital Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Many a bargain can be found here and if you have any none-shoppers in the group, there's a cinema and go-kart track where they can keep themselves entertained.
Last checked and updated: 15.03.2017. All travel, accommodation and entertainment costs are taken from the provider’s official website – but don’t forget to double check yourself first before you head off.
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