The name of the entire archipelago comes from the main island of Gran Canaria. In the streets of the capital of the island Las Palmas, on the large urban beach Las Canteras and on the long seaside promenade with numerous cafes and restaurants, young and old meet. The city port is one of the largest in the Atlantic and is part of the city panorama. The official language of the entire archipelago, which is politically part of Spain, geographically part to Africa and biogeographically part of Micronesia, is Spanish. About 70% of the gross domestic product gets generated from Tourism.
The easiest way to get to the Canary Islands is by plane. From many major airports charter carriers offer cheap direct flights, predominantly to Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Lanzarote.
An alternative might be a ferry trip transporting also your own car from mainland Spain. In addition to the main island of Gran Canaria, Tenerife attracts attention with its beaches, cliffs and impressive mountain ranges. Inland of Tenerife you can find the highest mountain of Spain, Pico del Teide ( 3.718m) with a spectacular volcanic crater. The picturesque little port cities of the islands surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean enchant with their small streets and promenades marked by the warmth of the sun and sometimes heavy winds.
