Fuerteventura |
By Julius Choudhury
Spain is a favorite tourist destination among those looking for paradise-like islands that offer sunny beaches, vibrant nightlife and parties, and scenic landscapes. Some of the more popular island getaways include Ibiza, La Palma, and Formentera. dearJulius.com recommended this list of 10 amazing Spanish islands to add to your travel bucket list.
Ibiza
Widely regarded as one Spain’s party capitals, Ibiza is famous for its night clubs and all-night parties. But there is more to this gorgeous island than parties. It also offers clean and refreshing beaches and a carnival-style market where tourists can shop for handicrafts and enjoy fresh seafood. A boat ride to the Cova de Can Marca cave should be on your travel list.
La Gomera
Home to awe-inspiring mountaintops, picturesque villages and lush green valleys, La Gomera is an ideal island getaway for hikers and walkers. Although it is a relatively small island, Gomera has excellent year-round climate and is only a ferry-ride away from the nearby island of Los Cristianos.
Fuerteventura
Gran Canaria
Home to one of the country’s and world’s more popular beach holiday destinations – Las Palmas de Gran Canaria – this picture postcard-perfect island boasts majestic sand dunes and mountains, and offers hiking, snorkeling, golf and surfing opportunities.
Minorca
If all-night parties and crowded beaches aren’t your thing, head to Minorca. Also called Menorca, this lovely island may be relatively less developed, but its crystal-clear azure seas and golden-yellow unspoiled beaches promise a remarkable beach holiday experience. It even throws in a bit of history for the interested tourist – there are pre-historic monuments dating back to 1300 B.C.
Tenerife
Another island that offers great nightlife and some spectacular vacation beaches, Tenerife is quite popular among tourists. It has some outstanding diving sites and offers activities like surfing, parascending, windsurfing and jet-skiing. It houses the highest peak in Spain, which can be reached on a cable car.
Lanzarote
Belonging to the Canary Islands archipelago, Lanzarote has a dark and brooding quarter – dominated by a volcanic eruption that took place in the mid-18th century; there are still 300 volcanic cones on the island. The island is another of Spain’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserves but also offers tourists great beaches, gourmet restaurants and museums and art galleries.
Formentera
The ideal island for vacationers who want a bit of peace and quiet, this is a small isle south of Ibiza that is well known for nude sunbathing. Its clear blue waters and soft sandy beaches are a delight to wallow in; be warned that it can get crowded between July and August.
Majorca
Boasting a dramatic coastline, Majora is Spain’s largest island and has some of the best beach resorts in the country. Be sure to visit the island during its annual jazz festival, which is held on the east coast. The landscape is dotted with small mountain towns, wineries and monasteries… so keep some time aside to go exploring.
La Palma
Called “The Beautiful Island,” La Palma is closer to Morocco than Spain and has some of the world’s strictest light pollution laws, meaning it is an ideal spot to go star-gazing at night. Guided tours to the largest crater in the world – in the center of the island – is another experience you don’t want to miss, as are its clean beaches and green forests.
View of village of Agulo on La Gomera and neighboring island of Tenerife. |