Canary Islands
The Canary islands form an autonomous community of Spain and are located off the north-western coast of Africa (Morocco and the Western Sahara). They consust if seven islands of volcanic origin in the Atlantic Ocean including Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Tenerife and Fuerteventura
Tenerife is the biggest island and is as lush as any tropical paradise except for the volcanic zones where the landscape is almost lunar-like and the famous Mount Teide with its snow-capped peak. Gran Canaria has wonderful beaches to offer and a swinging nightlife. It is famous for bananas and tomatoes.
Fuerteventura is the beachiest of all the islands and just a stone´s throw away from the Sahara Desert. La Gomera consists of a hilly landscape and often appears as the most exotic island to visitors. You will arrive on the island by boat (75 minutes by ferry or 35 minutes by hovercraft), from Tenerife (Los Cristianos port). Your first stop is the capital of the island, San Sebastian de la Gomera, a town of some 6,000 inhabitants. The town has many interesting monuments. The island forest is the most treasured gem and is a protected park.
The islands are outside European Union customs territory, though politically within the EU. Goods subject to Spanish customs and excise duties and Value Added Tax (VAT), such as tobacco or electronic goods, are therefore significantly cheaper in the Canaries. Spanish magazines usually have a similar or higher price than in the peninsula since VAT is substituted with air transport costs. The islands do not have a separate Internet country code from the rest of Spain. The currency is the euro. Canarian time is WET, one hour behind that of mainland Spain and the same as that of London.
