Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Strange Facts About the Beaches on the Canaries

By Catherine McCulloch


The Canary Islands don't offer just golden sandy beaches, but also some unusual ones. For example, Lanzarote has a volcanic landscape so some of the beaches have black sand! Then there's Playa Bastian - a beach made up of half sand and half volcanic rock, giving the beach an unusual hue.

But some resorts in Lanzarote have imported white sand from the Sahara. One of the most interesting of these golden beaches is Papagayo beach, a quaint formation of sheltered bays all formed together to create one sandy stretch. To reach it, you have to travel down a bumpy dirt road, which has a small charge. The high cliffs shelter the beach, which is divided into small bays.

Tenerife offers some unusual beaches as well, including Playa Jardn, situated on Puerto de la Cruz. This beach has black volcanic sand, as well as interesting ornamental gardens near the top. Nearby, along the north-west coast, is Garachico. The beach here is popular with the locals, and a somewhat hidden gem among tourists. It's worth a visit because of the natural swimming pools in the volcanic rocks; these were formed following a volcanic eruption.

Other famous beaches are in Gran Canaria and are renowned for their nudist beaches that are mostly around the Maspalomas and Playa del Ingles regions. However, the volcanic landscape also boasts a rich history. On the north coast of Gran Canaria lies Cenobio de Valeron, which features a group of caves which are covered in volcanic lava. However, there are also loads of offers on bargain holidays to the Canary Islands that are available online.

So despite what you might have initially thought about the area, these fun facts prove that the Canary Islands aren't your typical destination to go to for a beach destination and offer a wealth of sites, history and culture to experience.




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