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 The
Canary Islands, a chain of volcanic islands
similar in size, number, and age to Hawaii,
are a self-governing province of Spain located
off the west coast of Morocco in the Atlantic.
The main island of Tenerife can be reached via
a 3-4 hour nonstop flight from Madrid or London,
making total travel time from most points in
North America 10-12 hours. The Canaries offer
the best beaches on either side of the Atlantic
rim, and the main volcanic cone of Teide on
Tenerife is arguably one of the most beautiful
mountains in the world (and the third highest,
measured from the sea-floor). It harbors an
amazing array of wildlife on its fertile slopes,
which helps to make this one of the top spots
for bird-watching worldwide. The people - North
Africans and Spanish - are warm and welcoming,
and the cities across the chain are in the midst
of a cultural and architectural Renaissance.
 Your
journey to the Canaries focuses on the main
island of Tenerife, avoiding the overdeveloped,
mass-market resort areas of the southern coast
and the neighboring isle of Fuerteventura, and
instead presenting you with a dramatic natural
and cultural context while affording you considerable
style and luxury. You'll alight at the southern
airport on the island, and pick up your convertible
for a drive halfway up the 12,000 foot slope
of Teide, where you'll be welcomed by a cozy
room and a terrace, taking in one of the most
stunning views on the planet. A government-managed
ecotourism lodge, this Parador promotes local
tradition, and features excellent cuisine and
guided excursions on the volcanic slopes: you'll
relax and acclimate your second day and night
for a hike on the third (five hours to the summit
from the parador, one from the cable car depot
if you cheat).
 After
your third night on the mountain, you'll drive
down to the northwestern coast to the beautiful
fishing town of Garachico, set back into the
seacliffs and offering vistas reminiscent of
Capri. Here you'll stay for three nights in
a postmodern design hotel carved out of a 17th
century aristocratic manor house - the San Roque.
You'll have the Tower Suite all to yourselves,
offering a beautiful sweep of the sea from your
balcony. While here, you can take a fishing
excursion or even arrange a ferry trip to a
neighboring island, but you'll most importantly
make some Canarian friends while shopping in
the boutiques and folk markets, dining in the
marina, and visiting historic sites if you like.
 A
final drive will take you across the northern
coast of Tenerife to Puerto de la Cruz, a busy
port with an upscale residential neighborhood
similar in slope and scope to San Francisco.
Spa treatments await you at the Oriental Spa
Garden of the Hotel Botánico, one of the prestigious
Leading Hotels of the World. The view from your
terrace  will
look back up towards the volcano where you started
your journey. By day you'll visit the remarkable
Loro Parque zoo and relax on the beach (a short
shuttle ride away), and by night enjoy fine
dining and an opera or dance performance at
the magnificent new auditorio in Santa
Cruz.
You'll
fly home after nine nights of a unique and very
different type of honeymoon in this wonderful
corner of the world. Please inquire about the
opportunity to extend this trip with some overnights
on the other islands in the chain - while more
tourism-oriented, there are intriguing natural
and cultural experiences to take in on neighboring
Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, and Gran Canaria.
Who
will enjoy this trip:
Couples enjoying hiking, driving, and being
treated like royalty in a more remote environment.
Those enjoying European island culture and nightlife,
and access to great beaches.
Who
should avoid this trip:
Those without a sense of cultural or physical
adventure; couples who wish to avoid any driving.
Travelers seeking a pure beach destination in
the Canaries with little moving around should
consider an all-inclusive resort, though finding
a good one can be difficult!
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