Lost in the heart of the Atlantic, 100 km off the Moroccan coast, the Canary Islands promise a swift change of scenery and mild temperatures year-round (between 20 °C in winter and 26 °C in summer). Head for a mosaic of atmospheres where luxury hotels and all-inclusive resorts mix: Moorish kasbah in Tenerife, intimate boutique hotel in Gran Canaria, chic oasis in Fuerteventura, world’s end retreat in El Hierro, or volcanic getaway in Lanzarote. Ready to unpack your bags between sea, lava, and palm trees?
Located off the coast of Morocco, the Canary Islands unfold grand volcanic landscapes, golden beaches, and generous weather (around 20 °C in winter and 26 °C in summer) that make it an ideal playground year-round. Between five-star resorts and ultra-confidential boutique hotels, discover a selection of places where you can find funiculars to private coves, giant spas, infinity pools, views of volcanoes, and terraces overlooking cathedrals. A chic and refreshing interlude, perfect for a stay with a partner, friends, or family.
Spanish archipelago scattered in the middle of the Atlantic, the Canary Islands promise a sensory rollercoaster between golden dunes, lava fields, laurel forests, and colonial cities. The irresistible advantage: a mild climate that allows swimming and exploration in any season. If you are preparing your vacation, take a look at summer inspirations and getaway ideas with this guide to the best summer destinations. Now, let’s focus on the hotels that make the archipelago shine.
Ritz-Carlton Abama, the Moorish mirage of Tenerife
On the west coast of Tenerife, after winding through the solidified lava flows of the Teide National Park, a fortress of volcanic earth color emerges: the Ritz-Carlton Abama. Like a Moorish palace facing the ocean, this 5-star resort unfolds rooms, suites, and villas at the heart of a 160-hectare tropical park where palm trees and eucalyptus play the conductors.
Swimming pools abound, sometimes in cascades, sometimes like lagoons edged with greenery, while the decor draws on the minerality of the island to assert a contemporary and soothing style. On the culinary side, head for a cosmopolitan table: Spanish, Italian, Japanese influences, seafood, and vegetarian options come together. One climbs in a panoramic funicular to a private cove, plays on an 18-hole golf course designed by Dave Thomas, and then surrenders to 2,500 m² of a spectacular spa (herbal steam bath, sensory showers, sauna, hammam, hydrotherapy pool, yoga pavilion). The Teide volcano, the highest peak in Spain, watches over just a few cables away.
Veintiuno Emblematics Hotels, discreet charm in Gran Canaria
In Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, a colonial residence from 1780 reinvented into a boutique hotel cultivates the art of intimacy. The Veintiuno Emblematics Hotels houses only 16 rooms opening onto a central patio, dressed in a contemporary sobriety with light colors and Scandinavian touches. The trump card? A rooftop with a pool and a royal view of the Santa Ana Cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque arts.
Perfectly located for wandering through historical neighborhoods, one visits the Casa-Museo de Colón, the Canary Museum, or the Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno, housed in a splendid 18th-century building. Then, one enjoys the freshness of the high ceilings before contemplating, at dusk, the ochre stones of the old town. For more ideas on secret heritage to explore during your next trip, indulge in these hotels near abandoned villages in Cantal, or, on the Mediterranean side, these hidden treasures in Corsica.
Secrets Bahia Real Resort & Spa, the adults-only oasis of Fuerteventura
Head to Fuerteventura, the “red island,” where the warm calima breeze caresses the Corralejo dunes. On the edge of a private beach, the Secrets Bahia Real Resort & Spa (reserved for those over 16) presents itself as a chic and minimalist Andalusian palace, designed by Spanish designer Thomas Alia. Designed for couples, the address offers multiple hypnotic views towards Lobos and Lanzarote, among lush gardens and peaceful pools.
The 2,500 m² spa is a sanctuary of blue mosaics with sauna, oriental hammam, jacuzzi, and revitalizing jet pool. The Preferred Club enhances the experience with priority check-in, private areas, and suites with butler service. To ensure your stay is perfectly tailored to your group, check out the access policies and restrictions for families in certain hotels: useful information to avoid disappointments.
Hotel Puntagrande, thrill at the world’s end in El Hierro
At the western tip of the archipelago, El Hierro unfolds its natural theater: steep cliffs, lava flows, and the mysterious laurisylve, a subtropical forest inherited from prehistoric times. On a volcanic rock outcrop battered by the Atlantic, the Hotel Puntagrande stands like a lighthouse keeper’s refuge. A former lava stone warehouse (from the 1830s) converted into an intimate hotel – some swear it’s the smallest in the world – it has a handful of rooms and a Deluxe suite, with the ambiance of ship cabins, sometimes spiced with rococo touches.
The walls of volcanic stone, driftwood furniture, large terraces, the Cigar Club, and the spirit of the Alma Marina restaurant tell the story of the island with authenticity. No pool here: nature takes care of it with the natural pools of La Maceta, just a stone’s throw away. If this feeling of poetic isolation inspires you, you’ll also love these stops that flirt with the notion of the world’s end, like the forgotten villages of Auvergne mentioned above.
Dreams Lanzarote Playa Dorada Resort & Spa, family paradise in Lanzarote
Forged by nearly 300 volcanoes, Lanzarote is a science fiction backdrop where lava fields, craters, and underground tunnels electrify children’s imaginations. At Playa Blanca, the Dreams Lanzarote Playa Dorada Resort & Spa presents a 5-star all-inclusive facing the sea, ideal for gathering the whole tribe. Spacious rooms with elegant beach decor, a mini water park, and a constellation of swimming pools, some with slides and water games.
While the little ones have fun, the adults enjoy a break at the spa (heated indoor pool, hot tub, sauna, Turkish baths). The family then reunites around one of the six restaurants: Mediterranean, Spanish, Asian, or even burgers by the beach. For excursions, the must-sees are within driving distance: Papagayo beach and the Timanfaya National Park, a mineral theater of the famous “fire mountains”.
Want to extend the summer elsewhere on an island? Autumn also reveals gems, like these hotels in Minorca between September and October, perfect when the crowds fade away and the sea remains warm. Enough to alternate between the volcanic energy of the Canaries and the Mediterranean softness.
