The Canary Islands remain a massive soft spot for Brits who want to escape the British weather – and one island is ranked cheaper than its neighbours
The Canary Islands have remained a popular holiday destination for decades, with millions of British tourists flocking to at least one of them each year.
The family of islands, ranging from Lanzarote and Tenerife, to Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura – there are an astounding eight in total, and not all of them are as well-known as each other. Many travel experts pinpoint Tenerife, the largest of them all, as being the most sought after, with an estimated seven million visiting in 2024.
Lanzarote is often dubbed the hottest island of them all, but Gran Canaria actually retains its warm more so in the winter months, or low season, because of its close proximity to the Sahara Desert. The Met Office says: “Gran Canaria is hot because of its geographical location near the Sahara Desert, which brings warm air and sunshine year-round, combined with the influence of the Canary Current that keeps the temperature moderate without getting too extreme.”
This is why sun-soaked videos of Gran Canaria are posted in abundance across social media in January and February, as Brits boast about the relatively warm 19C t-shirt weather they are experiencing, while their friends and family are freezing at home. But even in March Gran Canaria is an island to earmark because the mercury starts to ramp up for the first time – with temperatures hitting around 23C with an average of seven hours of sunshine per-day.
The island is dubbed a good all-rounder for families, couples and solo trippers due to its variety. There’s a good city life buzz in the capital, long stretches of beaches as you’d expect, but also mountainous terrain for people who like to explore and hike for some of the best views.
And its appeal not only stretches from its weather, Travel Supermarket also insists it is a budget-friendly Canary Island to consider, with affordable accommodation mostly found in the island’s biggest resort, Puerto Rico. It added: “For something a little different, stay in Las Palmas, the coastal capital of Gran Canaria. As it’s less popular with tourists, the prices tend to be cheaper and there’s still a good range of accommodation options. With a wealth of affordable bars, restaurants and cafes, plus an enormous beach, it’s a great option for a cheap holiday.”
Puerto Rico is set in a picturesque cliff-line, occupying a small valley in the south of the island, with the huge, family-friendly Puerto Rico beach at the forefront. With an impressive harbour, and countless local restaurants to pick from, it’s easy to choose an affordable self-catering option and explore some of the local culinary culture each day.
Las Palmas, the island’s capital, sits on the north-eastern vertex of the island, and has a range of restaurants and museums to see. It looks more traditionally Spanish, with the occasional high riser populating the sky-line. Populated with shopping centres, beaches and cruise ship moorings, this city is buzzing with noise most days.
Travel Supermarket recommends hiring a car, which is under £3 per day, or using the bus service which can range from as little as £1.16 per journey. And there are often deals to be had with buying a bulk number of fares at once.
According to Jet2 Holidays, a self-catering apartment in Puerto Rico costs £87.57-per night with 22kg of baggage allowance per person in March. In Bahia Feliz, TUI also offers a £69-a-night, per person, option for a studio apartment – including return flights, transfers and 25kg of luggage per passenger. Prices are expected to increase during the peak summer months.