Best time to visit the Canary Islands

November is wine time, with vines being harvested and festivals to celebrate. A great time to go on a walking break with plenty of wine tasting thrown in![]()

Hot all year round, only daring to dip below 20°C in January or February, although usually only in elevated areas. In July and August, temperatures hover around 30°C with a cooling coastal breeze in most places. They dip to delightful in September and October, possibly the best time to visit the Canary Islands, when the sea is still lovely and warm for swimming too. For hikers, almond trees are in bloom in January and February on Gran Canaria, and the wild flowers, from corn poppies to cirsium come out to dance in March and April. As do whales and dolphins.
Our Canary islands Holidays
La Palma walking holiday in the Canaries
Walk a biosphere reserve that is home to over 900 endemic species
From
£1479 to £1649
8 days
inc UK flights
Canary Islands walking holiday
Visit Teide volcano and walk through the Garajonay Forest
From
£1336 to £1557
8 days
inc UK flights
Gran Canaria walking tours, Canary Islands
This unique volcanic island reveals unexpected variety
From
£1117 to £1551
8 days
inc UK flights
Lanzarote 8 bedroom villa and yurt
Wow factor Villa, 2 x private pools, Sea Views, Nr Beach
From
€700 to €2000
per accommodation per night
Lanzarote yurt holiday with pool
Luxury Yurt with Private solar pool, 1km to Beach/Restaurant
From
€150 to €320
per accommodation per night
Lanzarote eco barn accommodation, Canary Islands
Self-catering stunning eco-accommodation, at the beach
From
€1505 to €5355
per accommodation per week
Canary Islands Weather Chart
MIN °C
MAX °C
RAIN (mm)
JAN
13
18
64
FEB
12
19
55
MAR
13
20
42
APR
13
20
33
MAY
15
21
13
JUN
16
23
7
JUL
18
26
1
AUG
19
27
3
SEP
19
26
12
OCT
17
24
41
NOV
16
21
65
DEC
14
19
74
Our top Canary islands Holiday
Canary Islands walking holiday
Visit Teide volcano and walk through the Garajonay Forest
From
£1336 to £1557
8 days
inc UK flights
Small group travel:
2022: 5 Nov, 12 Nov, 19 Nov, 22 Dec
2023: 14 Jan, 4 Feb, 18 Mar, 4 Nov, 11 Nov, 18 Nov, 21 Dec
2022: 5 Nov, 12 Nov, 19 Nov, 22 Dec
2023: 14 Jan, 4 Feb, 18 Mar, 4 Nov, 11 Nov, 18 Nov, 21 Dec
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Canary islands or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.

01273 823 700
Call us after 9am
Calling from outside the UK
Things to do on the Canary Islands
Things to do on the Canary Islands...
Things not to do on the Canary Islands...
Canary Island travel advice
Lanzarote tips
Michelle Braddock, co-founder of Lanzarote Retreats, our leading supplier in Lanzarote, shares her Canary Islands travel advice:
“Get out and about, many people don’t leave their holiday home/resort, they don’t even know there are 300 volcanoes here, plus many things to visit such as Manrique’s caves, beaches, markets and so on.”
Trekking tips
Trekking tips
Melanie McAnaw, walking holiday expert from our supplier, Headwater:
“Don’t overlook the Canary Islands for walking holidays. They are much more unspoilt that you would think.”
Canary Island travel advice
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travellers are often... other travellers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful Canary Island travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday.
We have selected some of the most useful Canary Island travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday.

If the time is okay, it would be better to take the Naviera Armas ferry as it goes slower, with less impact on dolphins and whales. And what's more, you can have a better chance to spot some dolphins or whales on the way![]()

- Patty Tse, whale and dolphin watching in La Gomera
“La Gomera is a very relaxing location. If you can, come for more than 7 days, especially if you enjoy walking, cycling swimming etc. There is a surprising amount to do.. The most memorable or exciting part? Seeing whales so close to our boat. We had very good sightings of about 20 pilot whales on one trip and on another saw two Blainville’s dense beaked whales for about 20 minutes by the boat.” – Clare Galton on a whale and dolphin watching holiday in La Gomera
“Get up early if you want to go the National Park. It is well worth the effort but the traffic queues were enormous by mid-morning.” – Kate McNab in Lanzarote
“Get up early if you want to go the National Park. It is well worth the effort but the traffic queues were enormous by mid-morning.” – Kate McNab in Lanzarote

Probably good not to go there in December if you want to enjoy warmth and sea-swimming, weather was rather unsettled, a bit of wind and rain, although of course it was 10,000 better than where we flew from!! (England)![]()

- Astrid Bergerot
“Hire a car to explore the island, there is lots to see, from beaches to the national park, it's well worth it!” – Lila Caballero in Lanzarote
“The stars by night tour was exceptional. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about astronomy. We particularly liked his storytelling style of his talk as he guided us through the night sky. This was perfectly balanced with the scientific input.” – Helen Kemp, stargazing in Fuerteventura
“The stars by night tour was exceptional. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about astronomy. We particularly liked his storytelling style of his talk as he guided us through the night sky. This was perfectly balanced with the scientific input.” – Helen Kemp, stargazing in Fuerteventura