Lanzarote, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, La Palma, you name a Canary Island, I’ve holidayed there. The islands are loved by holidaymakers all over the world, thanks to their climate and natural beauty. Often dubbed the “Islands of Eternal Spring”, the islands enjoy mild temperatures almost all year, with lows reaching 18°C.
The islands were formed by volcanic eruptions millions of years ago, and volcanoes are still active on them. Mount Teide, found in Tenerife, is the third-highest volcanic structure in the world and Spain’s highest peak. I’ve enjoyed many trips to the top of Teide, and although the Canaries are stunning, one thing has stopped me returning in recent years.
This is the black sandy beaches. In Tenerife, you will find numerous black sand beaches, especially in the north of the island. While it is true that you can also find beaches of white sand and pebbles, these are not the most common.
The sediment of volcanic lava, with the continuous roll of the sea, crushes this rock solidification to turn it into black sand.
Lanzarote also have many black sand beaches, such as Playa de Janubio and Playa de El Golfo. There’s no denying that these beaches are beautiful and a symbol of historic nature, but I just do not find them suitable for a beach holiday.
With the scorching Canary summers, I always found black sand extremely uncomfortable to walk on, as it absorbs more sunlight than white or golden sand.
I also found the beaches to be much less inviting than I imagined on the perfect postcard photo.
Take Sardinia, for example, which I recently visited on my holiday, with perfect white beaches everywhere and crystal clear water. It felt much more luxurious and tropical compared to my time in the Canaries.
That said, many people love black sand beaches for their dramatic beauty, rarity and connection to volcanic landscapes, so it really is down to personal preference.
There are also some golden beaches on the islands. Las Teresitas, located close to Tenerife’s capital, is a golden sand beach known for its calm, shallow, and safe waters.
The man-made beach was created in the 1960s using more than 5,000 tonnes of sand from the Sahara Desert. While it is a gorgeous beach, it is always super busy as tourists and locals alike fight for a spot.