Suggested duration: One week. Recommended time to visit: All-year round.

This archipelago is made up of seven islands off the Affrican coast. Since the main attractions of the Canary Islands are nature and scenery, we suggest you combine them with a few days in Madrid or Barcelona.

We suggest you split the stay between one of the two main islands (Tenerife or Gran Canaria) and one of the three smaller ones such as Lanzarote (the warmest and most fascinating).

Tenerife and Gran Canaria offer a combination of day activities - beach, golf, tennis, an exciting nightlife, together with wonderful sightseeing. To give you an idea of the variety of natural wonders, Tenerife, for instance, goes from sand dunes to the crater of the Teide Volcano which, most of the year, is surrounded by snow, 13,000 ft. above sea-level.

As for Lanzarote, it is a world phenomenon. Its land is volcanic but with rich agriculture. It is the most African, to the point that some farmers still use camels to plough the land.

Some final advice: be prepared to bargain when you shop as the Islands are duty-free and many shopkeepers try to get the best prices for their wares.

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