It’s no surprise that the closer to the equator one gets, the warmer it is. And with the Canary Islands basking off the coast of Morocco, just above the Western Sahara, they maintain a temperature that’s at least spring-like, often hotter, all year round.
The weather for Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and the like from October through to February, for instance, make them a good choice for autumn and winter sun. No wonder they’re a popular choice for Christmas holidaymakers wondering “where is warm in December?”
Here’s an idea of the maximum temperatures on popular islands at different times of year:
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Weather for Tenerife
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Weather for Fuerteventura
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Weather for Gran Canaria
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Weather for Lanzarote
|
January
|
21.1°C
|
20.8°C
|
21.0°C
|
20.8°C
|
February
|
21.3°C
|
21.2°C
|
21.3°C
|
21.5°C
|
March
|
22.3°C
|
22.5°C
|
22.3°C
|
22.9°C
|
April
|
23.0°C
|
23.3°C
|
22.9°C
|
23.7°C
|
May
|
24.5°C
|
24.6°C
|
23.9°C
|
25.0°C
|
June
|
26.6°C
|
26.4°C
|
25.6°C
|
26.8°C
|
July
|
28.9°C
|
27.4°C
|
27.1°C
|
28.4°C
|
August
|
29.2°C
|
27.8°C
|
27.6°C
|
29.1°C
|
September
|
28.1°C
|
27.5°C
|
27.1°C
|
28.3°C
|
October
|
26.6°C
|
26.3°C
|
26.4°C
|
26.8°C
|
November
|
24.3°C
|
24.2°C
|
24.3°C
|
24.2°C
|
December
|
22.2°C
|
22.1°C
|
22.4°C
|
21.9°C
|
Source: Met Office
If you're a UK citizen, you can apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (Ghic) that will give you access to emergency or necessary state healthcare in Spanish territories, including the Canary islands, and other EU countries for free or at a lower cost. If you have the previous Ehic card and it's still in date, you can use it in the same way until its expiry.
Ehic and Ghic don't cover all eventualities, though. If you’re visiting the Canary Islands, travel insurance may help safeguard further against the risks associated with your trip, however unlikely they may seem. It may cover you for emergency medical expenses such as the cost of getting you home (called 'repatriation'). Without it, these expenses can soon add up.
Travel insurance may also protect you against cancellation or your trip being cut short in certain circumstances, missed departure or delay and other types of disruption, or reimburse you for replacing lost, damaged or stolen belongings like luggage and passports.
If you have existing medical conditions, make sure you inform your insurer when getting a quote. You may be charged a higher premium or might have to find a specialist policy to cover them.
Make sure you have enough gadget cover for the various devices you’ll be taking as this cover can be limited on standard policies. Check the policy wording.
You’ll find lots of activities in the Canaries to keep you occupied, from beach games to water sports on the coast to Jeep tours of the Lanzarote landscape.
It’s important to check if your travel insurance will cover the activities you’re planning, especially the riskier or more extreme they are, such as surfing, water skiing and diving. If not, you may be able to buy a specialist policy or add-on to a standard policy to provide the extra cover you need for them.
Of course, what you do on holiday can be spontaneous so it’s always a good idea to take a copy of your travel insurance policy with you on holiday so that you can check on the spur of the moment whether you’re covered.
If you’re planning on taking a cruise that takes in the Canary Islands on its route, it’s worth considering whether a cruise cover policy will provide protection more tailored to your trip. Always compare and consider your options to make an informed choice.
The Canaries are a Spanish territory and, as such, are also part of the European Union. That means they’re typically classed as part of Europe (rather than ‘Worldwide’) by insurers when giving you a quote for cover. Check with your insurer to be sure.
The quickest and most up to date way to check if it’s safe to travel to the Canaries is on the FCDO’s page with travel advice and risks for Spain as a whole.
There are also dedicated pages that look at issues and risks to keep in mind on topics such as health, terrorism, safety and security. Don’t travel against this advice as you’ll likely invalidate your travel insurance policy.
The Canaries are named not after birds but rather after dogs. Their Spanish name ‘Islas Canarias’, from the Latin ‘Canariae Insulae’, translates as "Island of Dogs." Some stories suggest this name arose when the first European visitors found large dogs on Gran Canaria in ancient times. Other stories suggest they weren’t dogs but seals, called “sea dogs” by the ancient Romans.