What Advisors Should Know Before Sending Clients to the Canary Islands

Brits, Germans, and Spaniards have flocked to the Canary Islands for generations, much in the same way that Americans head to the Caribbean or Hawaii for a holiday break. The difference is that for Americans, it’s a solid 12 hours in transit to reach these seven Spanish islands off the coast of Africa’s Saharan Desert. That’s one day lost on either end of our minimal vacation time, by European standards.

That won’t be the case for long, according to Gregory De Clerck, general manager of the Ritz Carlton Abama in Tenerife, recently awarded one of Conde Nast’s Gold List resorts for 2022. We had the chance to visit the property on a stop during our seven-night Azamara Journey cruise, round trip from Gran Canaria, where we learned that more Americans than ever are coming to Tenerife for some time away. Affluent travelers, more than anything, have shown little to no impact from the pandemic, able and willing to shell out for testing, socially distant villas, and even private jets.

The masses — especially the East Coast, economy-traveling masses — will be pleased to learn that starting in June 2022, United will offer direct flights from JFK to Tenerife three times a week. Effectively cutting travel time in half, these flights will further entice U.S. travelers to kick off a Canary Islands trip from one of its most popular destinations.

Another way to see the Canary Islands without the hassle of ferrying or flying is on an Azamara cruise like ours, which offers itineraries that visit all of the islands, as well as Portugal’s nearby Madeira. Our seven-night sailing visited Funchal, Madeira, plus four other islands: Gran Canaria (tropical cosmopolitan), La Gomera (wild and untouched), La Palma (historic and volcanic), and Tenerife (resorts and recreation). Lanzarote is known for its black sand; Fuerte Ventura, which means “strong wind,” is covered in dunes of Saharan sand; and El Hierro is the smallest of all, with quaint fishing villages throughout.

The Canary Islands are gaining in popularity, undeterred by the global pandemic. Whether you’re assisting budget travelers or curating a lavish tour, we have a few tips to prepare potential visitors — from one of the few Americans on a ship of Brits.

Transit through Madrid when possible
If a client’s flight route includes a stopover, choose Madrid. Despite ever-changing airport protocols, one thing remains the same: The Canary Islands are part of Spain, and so on return to the States they do not need to pass through passport control in Madrid. This saves precious time during the final dregs of vacation, allowing clients to enjoy one last glass of rioja on their layover instead of waiting in more lines before running to the gate.

Of course, en route to the Canaries, U.S. citizens will have to pass through immigration once they land in their first foreign port. However, diverting from Heathrow in London means avoiding any potential UK requirements that might differ from those of Spain.

Microclimates mean packing in layers
We’re told that most Brits — and Germans, for that matter — tend to park themselves on the sunny beach resorts of the south. But knowing how Americans travel, trying to jam every activity into a short trip, clients will want to pack for a variety of conditions. While weather is relatively consistent year-round throughout the Canaries, a variety of microclimates means that you can go from hiking on packed ice at the top of El Tiede, Spain’s highest peak, then descend to the warm beaches of Los Cristianos in Tenerife below.

In preparing for our trip, we added Tenerife to our weather app and were confused by its temperatures that were consistently 20 degrees below that of the other islands. Once we arrived, we realized it’s impossible to account for all of the weather on the island and were relieved by ample Spanish sunshine despite ominous iPhone readings of 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Getting to high altitudes on many of the Canary Islands will reward visitors with staggering views, alien landscapes of lava rock, and some terrific hiking opportunities. But getting to 12,000 feet results in some crisp mountain air, the chance of wind, and as we discovered in La Gomera, a fine mist of rain. A packing list for adventurous Canary tourists might look quite similar to Alaska: windbreaker, warm layers, and the chance that it will transition to summer in the span of an hour.

You can still visit La Palma during an active volcanic eruption
Looking ahead to our Canary Island-intensive itinerary, we wondered how it was possible that Santa Cruz de La Palma was still on the docket as the world tuned to CNN to watch epic lava bursts flow forth from its active volcano, destroying hundreds of homes (luckily, no one was injured). But while flights were suspended during our time of travel, ships were still calling and ferries were still running to Santa Cruz, which was relatively unaffected by the natural disaster on the other side.

La Palma is one of the steepest islands in the world, and despite the volcanic ash that dusted the streets, what was happening on the other side of the island felt a world away to visitors if you didn’t know it was there.

Many tours are possible to DIY but consider rides and reservations
December is a busy time for the islands, like many tourist destinations, but we didn’t have a problem accessing cable cars or botanical gardens, and we’re chalking that up to pandemic levels of tourism. Still, it’s always a keen idea to reserve spots on coveted attractions to avoid disappointment. In an age of contactless bookings and QR codes, it’s easier than ever to access your own tickets.

For example, the cable car or to the top of El Tiede in Tenerife has a limited number of slots per day. It’s an hour up the dormant volcano to get there, and so you wouldn’t want clients to arrive to find they couldn’t make it to the tippy-top.

If on a hiking holiday (La Gomera is prime for this), consider advising for a guide or a satellite phone, as reception can be spotty at high elevation and in case of emergency. Knowing a few Spanish words is helpful, but because of the islands’ long affair with the British, many here speak at least some English.

While tickets, self-guided tours, and well-marked trails make the Canaries accessible to many, winding island roads make it dangerous for foreign drivers. We wouldn’t recommend renting a car to drive to the top of La Gomera or to the “lost” village of Masca in Tenerife; these routes are best left to skilled local drivers.

Wine is hyper-regional, as are bananas
Spain is a country known for its red wine or , but don’t be surprised if the selection is heavily influenced by which island you are on. The Canaries has its own regional wine culture, namely in La Palma, where residents primarily enjoy varietals produced on the island. Unfortunately, a reported 80 percent of these vineyards were damaged or destroyed during the 2021 volcanic eruption, which means that in about two years there will be a shortage.

Still, we were able to try varieties that we wouldn’t find on the mainland let alone at home. If the trip is paired with a visit to Madeira, a name synonymous with wine, don’t be surprised to find it . And prepare your palate — even the “dry” version is honeyed and sweet.

Another local delicacy that you won’t find as an export is Canary bananas, or . These smaller varieties are more concentrated and are therefore packed with flavor. You’ll see the plantations throughout the islands, but mainly in Gran Canaria and Tenerife.

Get comfortable with Spanish time
The well-traveled will be familiar with the existence of various cultural concepts of time throughout the world. But for the uninitiated, it will seem like no one in Spain wants to take your money after a meal. This isn’t true, it’s simply considered rude to pester patrons beyond taking their order. If you’re running on a tight schedule, consider Spanish time before ordering wine and tapas. If all else fails, four words and a little flail will help get attention: , or “the bill, please.”

COVID considerations:
As with any travel these days, vacationers have to be hyper-prepared and organized, and a visit to the Canary Islands is no different. Masks were worn by the majority of folks we encountered and are required for indoor venues throughout Spain and the Canaries. A full vaccination course was required to board our flight, and because we transited through the UK, we also had to show a negative PCR test taken within two days of departure. This is not currently the case for direct flights to Spain or the Canary Islands.

Another required document is the Spanish health form, which should be filled out online prior to travel. Travelers will need the accompanying QR code to board flights and enter the islands. We were not asked for the UK locator form, even though we transited through the UK.

We were tested prior to boarding our ship, and before being admitted to an Christmas market in Funchal, we were asked for proof of vaccination and our negative test results. Having both on hand could prevent disappointment if the attraction clients are looking to experience has similar requirements.