The Canary Islands. It’s well-loved travel destination. With its sunny weather, beautiful scenery, and sandy beaches, what’s not to love? And this is a sentiment shared by many, with Tenerife welcoming more visitors than the world’s fifth largest country, Brazil.
But its popularity doesn’t mean you can just hop on a plane and arrive. There are certain things you need to know before your vacation, no matter if you plan on staying in Lanzarote or Gran Canaria. Afterall, there are eight main inhabited islands that create the Canary Islands archipelago – and that’s a lot of ground to cover.
So, if you plan on visiting on of these islands in the near-future, it’s best to begin your research now. Doing so will ensure your vacation is just that – a vacation – rather than time lost to stress and ill-preparedness. Fortunately, this post is here to help.
Keep reading to learn more.
1. Beach Flags
The Atlantic Ocean surrounds the islands. Unlike calm inland seas, these waters are incredibly unpredictable. They feature strong currents, sudden swells, and powerful rip tides. As a result, even the most confident swimmers could be caught off guard.
Because of these risks, the Canary Islands – and Spain in general – utilize beach flags. These flags are colored and often placed on or near the beach. The most common colors are pretty easy to understand.
- Green flags = The conditions are considered suitable for swimming. Bathing is permitted.
- Yellow flags = There are increased risks. Bathers should take extra care.
- Red flags = Bathing is prohibited due to severe conditions.
But there are other flags to know about. Like the purple flag. This flag is used to warn of a danger from marine life. In Lanzarote, for example, this might mean jellyfish. The purple flag could be accompanied by either a red or yellow flag.
Or the black flag, which means the beach is completely closed.
There is also the black and white checkered flag. While this does not relate to the conditions of the ocean, it is still important to know what it means. This flag means that area of the seas has been zoned for surf and water sports. In other words, you should not swim there.
2. Sun Safety
The Canary Islands are close to the equator. Because of this, there are high ultraviolet (UV) radiation levels all-year-round. The severity of the sun is masked by the cool Atlantic breezes, too. So, if you aren’t sufficiently prepared, you could get severe sunburns, even if you aren’t sunbathing or in direct sunlight.
Sun safety is crucial, as you can imagine. This means that sunscreen should become a part of your daily routine when on vacation in the Canary Islands. Sunscreen should be reapplied throughout the day, roughly every two hours. You should ensure you are covered, with the commonly missed areas – your ears and the back of your neck – included.
Following other sun safety rules will protect your skin further. This is why you should avoid direct sunlight during peak hours – 11am to 5pm. It is also wise to wear light long-sleeved clothing and UV-blocking sunglasses. And don’t forget to stay hydrated!
Not following these rules could have serious consequences. Sunstroke and heat exhaustion are fairly common due to the high UV levels and intense sunshine on the islands. If you experience dizziness, high body heat over 40°C, nausea or vomiting, or a throbbing headache, you might have heatstroke. It is best to move to the shade and cool your body if so.
Of course, it is also wise to have medical insurance for travel here, too. In some cases, sunstroke symptoms will remain the same or worsen, and this is when you need to seek medical attention. With insurance, you won’t have to worry about expensive hospital bills.
3. Microclimate Shifts
Despite having warmth year-round, the Canary Islands do experience unique microclimates. What this means is that there are dramatic weather and landscape differences that occur over short distances. Not only will some areas be colder, but the vegetation and landscape will vary as well.
Let’s put this simply. You might experience wet and cloudy conditions on the north side of the island, which the south remains dry and hot – and there’s only a 30-minute drive separating the two!
You might be asking, “Why is this important?” Well, it affects what you pack. If you plan on traveling around the island, then you need to ensure you have suitable clothing for all environments you might encounter. So, bring a light jacket or fleece for high altitudes, but pack lighter clothes if you plan on sticking to the south.
To conclude, a trip to the Canary Islands is definitely an experience. It’s perfect for those chasing the sun, but also for those who was to explore unique landscapes. However, you must be prepared ahead of the vacation to guarantee you stay safe.
