Family fun & winter sun: which Canary Island holiday is for you?

LoveEXPLORING’s family travel expert (and dad of two) Robin McKelvie, explains why Spain’s seven Canary Islands makes for an ideal break with the kids.

What if there was an archipelago of islands that work brilliantly for a family holiday, whether you're looking for world class theme parks and luxury resorts, or low-key activities such as wandering upon miles of deserted white sands and hiking in the wilds?

Well the good news is that there is: and that oasis is the Canary Islands, whose seven main isles I have, as a travel writing dad, properly roadtested with the hardest to please reviewers around – my two daughters. Here is why each of the main islands works so well for a family holiday.

1. Tenerife

Siam Park, on Tenerife in the Canary Islands is one of the world's leading water parks Slava296/Shutterstock

Let’s start with the most famous, and justifiably so, as the largest Canary Isle ticks all the family boxes and more. The south is home to a trio of big resorts. Of these, Los Cristianos is the most family friendly, while the Costa Adeje has the best hotels (although the Playa de las Americas can be a little bit too lively for some families).

The island is also home to two great family attractions. Loro Parque is so much more than a zoological park, with its animal hospital (where vets come from over the world to study and work) and unique range of animals from dolphins and red pandas through to white tigers and lions. Siam Park, meanwhile, is quite simply the best water park in Europe. Make sure to book a cabana and you'll have a private oasis for your family overlooking a massive wave pool and beach that is used for surf competitions.

TOP TIP: For a blow out special occasion, the Villa comes with its own hot tub!

2. Fuerteventura

Beaches and walks are stunning on Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain Elitravo/Shutterstock

For me the second largest Canary Isle is home to the finest family resort in the region. Corralejo is a real mix of proper Spanish town and tourist hub, with great beaches and a seriously welcoming and friendly vibe. There are also top-notch watersports with the chance for kids to have a go.

It’s a great base for exploring the island too and the epic sand dunes of the Corralejo Natural Park await just on the outskirts of town. Here you can walk for mile upon mile without any development and then ease back into the resort for all the usual trimmings afterwards.

There is a brilliant coastal walk for energetic families to El Cotillo (pictured above), though you can take just take the bus or drive to enjoy its family friendly seafood restaurants.

3. Gran Canaria

There's so much to explore, including palm-tree lined towns - in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain Laszlo Halasi/Shutterstock

Often eulogised as a ‘Continent in Miniature’ Gran Canaria stacks up very well for families and is the closest Tenerife has to a rival as an all-rounder. It already boasted a swathe of golden sand beaches and fun resorts, but things stepped up a notch further earlier this year when the Poema del Mar flung open its doors.

The most modern and sophisticated aquarium in Europe is epic in scale and ambition – it needs at least a day to explore properly – and you may well come back for more. Think everything from cute turtles and rays, through to scarily hulking sharks. Real thought has gone into this gem for families right through to the restaurant with views back towards the marine life, which helps keep wee ones enthralled.

4. Lanzarote

Lanzarote's sleek low-rise architecture is part of the Canary Islands' appeal Dziewu/Shutterstock

This is the isle for families with a sense of style thanks to one man, Cesar Manrique, the visionary Canarian artist who brilliantly fashioned this volcanic island with his tasteful Modernist designs.

He was committed to working organically with nature rather than blighting it, a lesson for any schoolchild in these times when environmental issues are to the fore.

He fought against high rise buildings, and instead built gorgeous public lidos, spectacular mountain viewpoints and his own studio (built on a lava flow), which is now a museum and foundation dedicated to this mercurial man.

Swirl in the best wines in the archipelago and mums and dads are happy here, as well as design conscious teenagers.

5. La Palma

Remote Funencaliente Lighthouse in La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain IndustryandTravel/Shutterstock

It’s easy to see why this glorious Atlantic island is known by Canarios as ‘La Isla Bonita’. It really is jaw-droppingly pretty.

It's also world class when it comes to hiking and I recommend it for families who love getting their boots on.

Trails vary from coastal scrambles to the remote Fuencaliente Lighthouse (pictured) through to the volcano-hopping adventures along the legendary Ruta de los Volcanes. Wee ones can walk in subtropical rainforest and dream of dinosaurs as they enjoy the bountiful flora and fauna of an island that is like one giant geography lesson.

The Caldera de Taburiente National Park is more Jurassic Park than theme park and is crisscrossed by a lush network of trails, which skim by its tumbling waterfalls and scythe through its thick forests.

6. La Gomera

San Sebastian de la Gomera on La Gomera, Canary Islands, Spain Mikadun/Shutterstock

When you arrive in San Sebastian de la Gomera it's hard to believe you are so close to Tenerife. The short ferry hop over is more like a time machine.

Fling off your shoes and slip on some sandals as you and your family come down several notches on this ultra laid-back isle. It was the last place Columbus is said to have stopped on his way to the New World and I’m surprised he didn’t stay. This may not be the best island for resorts laden with facilities – though Valle Gran Rey has been attracting a steady stream of holidaymakers looking for something different since the Seventies – but for a relaxed break it’s a real tonic.

And if you're staying on Tenerife you needn't miss out on La Gomera's charms either, simply pop over for a day trip.

7. El Hierro

Stunning coves like this one on the Canary Island of El Hierro will enthral adventurous kids Acongar/Shutterstock

This is the hideaway for mini adventurers and budding Robinson Crusoes. The most remote Canary Isle is set adrift all on its own – wow kids by telling them that the first sailors to pass by were literally sailing off the map.

Wherever you are now, ask around you and I bet no one will have been to El Hierro. So if you want to inject a bit of the pioneer spirit into your wee ones bring them here to holiday on what feels like an island set adrift at the end of the world.

Again we are not talking big resorts here – there is scarcely a town to speak of – but the all too rare chance to really get away from it all. This virginal corner of the planet was designated a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in 2000 and a Geopark by the same global body in 2014.

You really need a car to explore, though there are some brilliant hikes and also the chance to learn about Europe’s newest volcano at the Volcanic Interpretative Centre near Restinga.

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