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Catching some winter sun is a travel perk that’s hard to beat.
Enjoying the warm embrace of the sun on pristine beaches, while knowing people at home are putting on their winter coats and shivering on their way to work, can be very satisfying indeed.
And it seems the Canary Islands are one of the trendiest places to do that this fall and winter season.
This Spanish archipelago of volcanic islands just off the coast of West Africa in the Atlantic Ocean is expecting a wave of visitors this winter that could break its tourism record.
In fact, according to a report, 35 percent more air seats will fly there this winter compared to winter 2019. recent report by Guide to the Canary Islands.
So why is this unique Spanish area having such a moment now?
The ‘best climate in the world’
At least this is the claim of the Canary Islands tourism board (although it is difficult to disagree).
The islands have long sunny days all year round due to their very southern location compared to the rest of mainland Europe.
Even in the depths of winter, the sun rises at 7:30 am and sets at 6:30 pm, with average temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees Celsius – a particularly pleasant climate if you live somewhere that gets a lot of snow in winter.
Unique landscape to explore
The seven main large islands of the Canary Islands are El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.
These islands were formed here by volcanic activity and then boast a unique and striking landscape that every photographer dreams of (you don’t even want to know how many photos I took when I visited Lanzarote).
The blacks and reds of the ground and the strangely barren but beautiful vistas of these islands give them something that not many other places have: it almost looks like a European Hawaii.
Volcanic activity only occurred here in 2021, when Cumbre Vieja erupted on La Palma. However, this is constantly monitored and very effective warning systems are in place.
Mount Teide on Tenerife is even the highest mountain in Spain, with a height of over 3,000 metres.
Affordable for longer trips
The Canary Islands are still relatively affordable if you know where to look.
Of course there are expensive areas such as Tafira in Gran Canaria or Puerto Calero in Lanzarote, but it is not that difficult to find a place that fits your budget.
Lonely Planet claims that a cheap hostel can cost from just €20 per night, while a decent Airbnb can cost from €50 per night.
Add to this the fact that the US dollar is rising strongly against the euro at the time of writing, and it makes these magical islands even more accessible.
Although most flights to the Canary Islands involve a transfer at a major mainland European airport such as Madrid or Frankfurt, there are some flights direct from the US from cities such as Miami.
Hotspot for digital nomads
The Spanish digital nomad visa is already attracting a lot of interest, so it makes sense that the Canary Islands will also benefit from it.
The website Nomad List currently lists the island of Gran Canaria as the fifth best place to live for digital nomads.
Although the islands have well-developed tourist markets, it is still possible to live here on a relatively modest budget – somewhere between €2,000 and €3,000 you will be very comfortable.
To obtain a Spanish digital nomad visa, you must earn double the Spanish minimum wage, you must not be employed by a company based in Spain, and you must not have lived in the country for the past five years.
The nice thing about this visa is that you can earn up to 20 percent of your income at a Spanish company.
LGBTQ+ friendly
The island of Gran Canaria is known as a very friendly and welcoming place for the LGBTQ+ community.
The Canary Islands Tourism Board says Maspalomas has plenty of exclusive accommodation and is even home to Yumbo Centre, the world’s first shopping center dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community.
Throughout the year, Gran Canaria hosts several Pride parades and events, including one in November, billed as the last Pride of the year.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
