I spontaneously flew to the Canary Islands from the U.K.

Flights are cheap.

Weather is great in November. 😎

On arrival I found you couldn’t easily purchase camping fuel. Nor are hiking guidebooks available for sale.

Surprising.

I decided to stay just one week. And only on Tenerife. Reconnaissance.

But I’ll be back.

The best islands for hiking are:

Some of the best hikes require complicated permits. Some are only open on weekends. I’ll need to do more planning next time.

I’m thinking at least 3 weeks. At least 4 islands.

• La Gorma by ferry ➙ Cicerone: Walking on La Gomera and El Hierro
  • GR132 in La Gomera 
  • Garajonay National Park
    • Ruta 18 leading to Garajonay, the highest mountain of the island
• Tenerife ➙ Cicerone: Walking on Tenerife: 45 walks including El Teide and GR131
  • Mt Teide from Altaviste Refuge 
    • Mirador de Sámara (Teide views)
  • Masca Gorge (weekends only)
  • Rambla del Castro (coastal)
  • Pico Viejo permit-free volcano climb
  • Mil Ventanas de Güimar
  • hike more in the Anaga Rural Park
    • Taganana to Tamadite
    • Chamorga to Playa de Roque Bermejo
• La Palma ➙ Cicerone: Walking on La Palma: 45 day walks and long distance trails including the GR130 and GR131
  • Roque de los Muchachos Observatory
  • Barranco de la Angustias
  • Pico de la Nieve
• Gran Canaria ➙ Cicerone: Walking on Gran Canaria: 45 day walks including five days on the GR131 coast-to-coast route
  • Roque Nublo
  • El Pico de las Nieves
• Lanzarote
  • Volcanoes of Timanfaya

Buy my hiking books online. Book permits well in advance.

November ➙ February look to be the best months.

There are plenty of European tourists. But I didn’t meet even one American or Canadian over a week.

Also, you need to speak Spanglish here.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

P.S.

Once I bought a cheap flight to Lisbon, I found the fuel canister I needed in a hostel FREE BOX. So I know they exist on the Canary Islands.

They MIGHT be for sale from either Leroy Merlin or Decathlon in Santa Cruz, Tenerife. Some have found them at petrol stations and ferreterias, hardware stores.