🏝️ The Hidden Paradise of the Canary Islands
Where Spain Meets Africa
There’s a magical corner of the world that belongs to Spain, yet lies just off the western coast of Africa. The Canary Islands enjoy eternal spring — warm sunshine, turquoise waters, and a year-round temperature of around 20°C.
Many know this paradise through the words of the famous writer Sanmao, but the islands’ beauty goes far beyond her tales.
🌞 Tenerife — The Brightest Note in the Canary Symphony
If the Canary Islands are a melody of seven notes, then Tenerife is its most powerful and radiant tone.
It’s the largest and most populated of the islands — a place where beaches, forests, mountains, and fiestas coexist in harmony. 
A Pink Castle by the Sea — The Ritz-Carlton, Abama
One of Tenerife’s dreamiest landmarks is the Ritz-Carlton Abama, the world’s only pink Ritz-Carlton. Perched on cliffs above the Atlantic, it looks like a castle from a fairytale.
The hotel gazes toward La Gomera island, surrounded by gardens and palm trees. Its pink walls glow softly in the sunset, and its Michelin-starred restaurants — M.B and Kabuki — make it a favorite escape for Europe’s elite.
Morning sea breezes, golden dusk skies, and starlit nights make you want to pause time itself.
Touch the Sky — Mount Teide
Rising 3,718 meters above sea level, Mount Teide is Spain’s highest peak and the third-tallest volcanic island mountain in the world.
Driving through Teide National Park feels like a journey across Mars — pine forests give way to lava fields and crimson deserts.
A cable car ride to the summit offers breathtaking views of the entire archipelago. At sunset, the Atlantic Ocean turns to liquid gold. By night, Tenerife reveals one of Europe’s clearest skies — protected by the UNESCO World Heritage as a “Starlight Reserve,” beloved by astronomers and photographers chasing the Milky Way.
The Ancient Dragon Tree
In the northern town of Icod de los Vinos, an ancient Dracaena draco stands watch — known as the Millennial Dragon Tree. Estimated to be over a thousand years old, its red sap was once called “dragon’s blood,” believed by locals to hold healing powers.
The Secret Pool of Los Abrigos
At Los Abrigos, waves and lava have carved natural sea pools of stunning clarity — the water so blue and glassy it mirrors the sky.
There’s no crowd, no noise — only cliffs, waves, and salty air. Swim at low tide, or simply sit on the rocks and feel the ocean’s rhythm.
🌋 Lanzarote — The Island Sculpted by Fire and Art
Among the seven jewels of the Atlantic, Lanzarote stands apart — a place where fire meets creativity.
Its landscape is raw, powerful, and alive.
Timanfaya National Park — Earth’s Fiery Heart
At Timanfaya National Park, there’s no greenery — only black and red volcanic rock. Formed by six years of eruptions in the 18th century, the ground beneath your feet still breathes heat, reaching over 400°C just meters below the surface.
Take the Route of the Volcanoes, where tour buses glide across lunar landscapes. It’s as if you’ve stepped onto another planet.
El Diablo Restaurant — Dining with the Volcano
In the middle of this volcanic wilderness stands the El Diablo Restaurant, where chefs cook directly over vents of volcanic heat — no gas, no electricity, just Earth’s fire.
As meat sizzles over a volcanic pit, the aroma of smoke and stone fills the air. Sit by the panoramic window, sip local wine, and gaze over the rust-colored horizon — it feels like sharing dinner with the planet itself.
La Geria Vineyards — Wine from Ash and Fire
It’s hard to imagine vineyards on a volcano, but La Geria defies logic.
Farmers here dig deep pits into volcanic ash to shield vines from strong winds and trap precious moisture.
The result? Grapes with intense sweetness, turned into Malvasía white wine — smoky, mineral-rich, and utterly unique.
Tasting it at a local bodega feels like sipping the essence of the earth.
César Manrique — The Artist Who Shaped Lanzarote’s Soul
Born on the island, César Manrique transformed Lanzarote into a living artwork. He fought to preserve its natural beauty — banning high-rises, integrating art with lava, light, and wind.
His vision gave the island its identity — wild, harmonious, and poetic.
Jameos del Agua — A Symphony of Lava and Light
Manrique’s masterpiece, Jameos del Agua, lies within a volcanic tunnel. Once a natural cave, it’s now a breathtaking fusion of architecture and nature — part concert hall, part art space, part underground lagoon.
White walls, blue waters, and dark volcanic rock create a surreal atmosphere — raw yet refined, primitive yet modern.
It’s not just a place to visit, but a place to feel — a living dialogue between nature and imagination.
🌅 Conclusion — Waiting for Sanmao’s Sunset
The Canary Islands are more than just a destination — they’re a dream suspended between continents, where every sunset feels like a story unfolding.
From Tenerife’s pink palaces to Lanzarote’s fiery heart, this is a world where you can still find silence, stars, and the scent of the sea.
Come, and wait for the sunset that once inspired Sanmao — it’s still glowing beyond the Atlantic horizon.
