The great thing about the Canary Islands is that there really isn’t a bad time to go! While most of Europe is sweltering under a blazing sun in summer, this volcanic archipelago enjoys blissfully warm temperatures, thanks to reliable trade winds.
And in winter, when the rest of Europe is suffering through freezing temperatures and early nights, the Canaries bask in winter sunshine, with hardly any rain and relatively long, light evenings.
While this is certainly a plus point, it does make it a bit difficult to determine the best time to go to the Canary Islands. I’ve lived in the archipelago for most of my life, so I can give you the lowdown when it comes to the best time to go to the Canary Islands, depending on what type of experience you’re seeking.
Whether you’re longing to sunbathe on volcanic beaches, party at world-famous festivals, test your limits with challenging watersports, or something else entirely, this post will help you decide when to visit the Canary Islands for your best vacation yet!
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When is the best time to visit the Canary Islands, Spain?
Unlike the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands are a year-round destination. This means that hotels, tourist attractions, bars, and restaurants never close down for entire seasons. So whichever month you decide to visit, you’ll still have plenty of choice when it comes to things to do and places to go.
With this in mind, here’s a local’s point of view when it comes to the best time to go to the Canary Islands for…
Partying – February
The best time to visit the Canary Islands for a high-octane party atmosphere is definitely February. During this month, all the islands celebrate their main carnival with a huge events program that goes on for around four weeks.
Each island throws massive street parties that go on until after sunrise, extravagant parades with phenomenal floats, live music concerts you’ll get swept up in, and pop-up fairgrounds where you can feel like a kid again. Most people agree that Tenerife puts on the best carnival celebrations. But with its incredible drag queen gala, Gran Canaria’s carnival is my favorite.
Wherever you decide to celebrate carnival in the Canary Islands, make sure you check out the Burial of the Sardine (Entierro de la Sardina). This event marks the end of the carnival and sees a huge number of people in mourning following a papier- mâché sardine destined to be burned.
Carnival dates change every year depending on when Easter falls. So make sure you double-check the dates before you make any commitments.
Watersports – April
When it comes to when to visit the Canary Islands for the best watersport conditions, you can’t beat April. At this time of year, the trade winds are at the optimum direction and strength to create the perfect environment for all kinds of watersports, from kitesurfing and windsurfing to sailing and regular surfing.
Tenerife, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote are the best islands for watersports. If you’re a newbie, you’ll find schools dotted along the coastlines with expert guides that can teach you how to ride the waves. If you already know what you’re doing, these schools will happily rent you out equipment for a very reasonable price.
If you’re looking for somewhere to learn or borrow equipment in Tenerife, I recommend the Red Rock Surf Academy in El Medano. This place has been around for more than 10 years and employs incredibly friendly, helpful staff that will support you at any level.
Festivals – May
With exciting events happening every month, it’s tricky to say when the best time to go to the Canary Islands for festivals is. But if I had to make a choice, I’d say it’s May. At this time of year, you’ve got a huge choice of events and festivals scattered throughout the islands.
In May, Tenerife hosts Festival Mueca, a fantastic street theater festival that goes on for four days. During the same month, two small villages (El Medio and El Sol) in Los Realejos have a fireworks contest that goes on for more than three hours!
Various municipalities on the island also celebrate Dia de la Cruz and create lavish cross displays made from fresh petals. Circuit Festival, one of the biggest gay events of the year with international DJs, takes place in May in Gran Canaria, too.
All the islands celebrate Canarian Day on the 30th of the month. A great opportunity to learn more about Canarian culture, this festival sees locals dressed up in traditional Canarian clothing while singing, dancing, and practicing traditional crafts.
Perfect Weather – May and October
The Canary Islands enjoy fabulous temperatures throughout the year, with very little rainfall and a yearly average of 300 sunshine-filled days. But if you’re looking for the very best weather in the Canary Islands that’s neither too hot nor too cold, I suggest traveling in May or October.
Not only is the weather excellent at this time of year, but these months are also considered to be shoulder months, so you should be able to snap up great deals on accommodation and flights!
During May and October, highs rarely exceed 28°C (83°F), while lows rarely drop below 20°C (68°F) – even at night. Of course, the temperature depends on where in the Canary Islands you are and how strong the wind is.
The further inland and the higher up you go, the cooler it tends to be. So pack accordingly if you’re planning on straying away from the coast. The monthly rainfall in May and October is less than 1/2”, so you can safely leave your umbrella at home.
Wine – November
The Canaries boasts several award-winning wineries that produce some of the most sensational wine you’ll ever taste in your life. If you want to savor the best of the best, November is the best time to go to the Canary Islands. This is when this season’s grapes have been harvested and this year’s wine has just been created.
For the ultimate Canarian wine experience, time your trip for one of the San Andrés festivals which take place toward the end of the month throughout the islands. These festivals date back centuries and involve everyone gathering in each village’s main street to enjoy hot roasted chestnuts and drink the season’s wine.
If you visit a village that has a steep main street, you’ll have the chance to watch children racing down the slope on metal trays! It’s a bizarre (and noisy!) tradition that goes way back.
Winter Sun – December
Wondering when to visit the Canary Islands for guaranteed winter sun? December is your best bet. Thanks to the archipelago’s location close to the equator, the islands enjoy gloriously warm weather, bright blue skies, and dazzling sunshine at this time of year.
If you need a break from all the Christmas festivities, you can practically avoid the holidays altogether in the Canaries. Lounging by shimmering infinity pools, snorkeling in search of loggerhead turtles, and hiking through sun-dappled forests will trick you into thinking it’s actually spring and not the most wonderful time of the year.
But if you’d prefer your December break to be a little more festive, you won’t be disappointed. Major attractions, hotels, and restaurants go all-out with festive decorations, while villages are decorated with twinkling lights. Many towns and shopping malls also host events with Santa Claus and the Three Kings as the guests of honor.
Times to avoid
Although there really isn’t a bad time to visit the Canary Islands, some times are definitely better than others. So you have the best possible experience and leave with stories you’ll be telling people about for years to come, I suggest avoiding the following months:
January
The Canary Islands are often nicknamed the “Islands of Eternal Spring” after the pleasant weather they enjoy year-round. The only exception to this is January, when the weather is often unpredictable. While this month could reward you with clear blue skies, oodles of sunshine, and highs of around 25°C (77°F), it could punish you with the opposite.
January is typically the wettest month of the year for the Canaries. The good news is that rain here tends to fall in short bursts that rarely last more than 30 minutes. When the storm is over, the sun faithfully shines through the clouds and quickly dries up the fallout from the rain.
August
August is best avoided as temperatures can peak around 45°C (113°F) if there’s a calima present. A calima is when blisteringly hot sand-carrying winds travel over the sea from the Sahara Desert, massively reducing visibility and spiking temperatures.
When this happens, the odds of forest fires increase dramatically. Almost all tourist resorts and hotels are located far away from the danger zones, so you’ll be perfectly safe if forest fires do break out during your vacation. But it does mean that the affected natural parks and surrounding areas close, which could affect your vacation.
