The Canary Islands

Tour Code: ESP15

An 8-day tour to Fuerteventura, Tenerife and Gomera in search of the endemic plants, birds, butterflies and cetaceans of the Canary Islands.

8 days from
£2,295
Land only price from
£2,045
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Highlights

Summary

Summary

On this wildlife holiday we visit three of the Canary Islands – Fuerteventura, Tenerife and Gomera – in search of the five endemic birds, many of the 600+ species of endemic plants, and other wildlife. We begin our tour with three nights on Fuerteventura, flatter and more arid than the other islands, and home to a totally different flora and fauna, more African than European. On Tenerife we explore the pine forest and high slopes of Teide National Park, then we cross by ferry to the tranquil island of Gomera, where we will spend a full day exploring the marvellous Garajonay National Park. The unusual, exotic and magnificent subtropical Canary Islands with their endemic flora and fauna and spectacular volcanic scenery will make this a memorable and rewarding tour.

  • Mount Teide’s fabulous volcanic scenery … plus endemic Blue Chaffinch & Tenerife Kinglet
  • 5 endemic birds & 3 Macaronesian endemics: Berthelot's Pipit, Plain Swift & Canary
  • Endemic Bolle’s & Laurel Pigeons in Gomera's ancient Laurel forests
  • Fuerteventura Chat and Houbara Bustard on Fuerteventura 
  • Ferry to Gomera – and chance for whales, dolphins, Cory’s & Little Shearwaters
  • Led by expert naturalist guide

The Fortunate Islands, so named by early buccaneers and conquistadors, are remarkable for their wealth of unique plant and animal-life. These seven islands have been isolated for long enough to have evolved an endemic flora and fauna, and now provide one of the naturalist’s greatest opportunities to appreciate the evolutionary process first observed by Charles Darwin in the 19th century. From a botanical point of view, the Canary Islands constitute one of the most interesting areas of the world, not only because of the variety of flowers but also because of the large number of endemic species — more than 600 — and their unique origin. During this tour to the islands we will be certain to see many of the endemic Canary species of plants in flower. This is also the peak time to observe the five endemic breeding birds of this magnificent and diverse volcanic archipelago. On this tour we will visit three of the islands — Fuerteventura, Tenerife and Gomera — and cruise or fly between them. Our purpose will be to admire and observe all the endemic bird species and many of the endemic plants, not forgetting the fabulous marine-life!

We start our tour with a 3-night stay on Fuerteventura which, with its considerably more arid climate in comparison to Gomera and Tenerife, provides an excellent home for such north African bird species as Egyptian Vulture, Barbary Partridge, Cream-coloured Courser, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Lesser Short-toed Lark, Spectacled Warbler, Southern Grey Shrike and Trumpeter Finch. The star attractions, however, are the endemic Fuerteventura Chat and the endemic race of Houbara Bustard, a species that is becoming seriously endangered over most of its range. We should see most, if not all, of these species.

Next, we travel westwards to Tenerife, our base for a 4-night stay. Tenerife presents an array of habitats of which the pine forest and high mountain zone of Teide National Park are the most interesting. The pine forest has only one native species of tree — the Canary Pine (Pinus canariensis) — and an undergrowth dominated by Myrica faya and heather (Erica arborea). Curiously, this pine’s closest relative is found not in Europe or north Africa, but in the Himalaya! It is in this unique forest that we will be able to look for the two endemic species of Canary Island passerines that occur on Tenerife — the Blue Chaffinch and the Tenerife Kinglet. We should also see the endemic subspecies of Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Rock Dove, Kestrel and Chiffchaff (all showing a high degree of differentiation).

The high mountain zone starts above the pine forest at a height of about 1,980 metres. Teide National Park encompasses the vast caldera called Las Cañadas, with its inward-facing cliff walls that rise to about 500 metres, as well as two volcanoes which have obliterated the northern rim of Las Cañadas — Pico del Teide (3,718 metres) and Pico Viejo. The proportion of endemic species of plants in the high mountain zone is amongst the highest for any region in the world. About a dozen species of vascular plants are found almost exclusively in Teide National Park, whilst a large percentage of the other plants found here are either restricted to Tenerife alone or to the Canary Islands as a whole. The vegetation of this high mountain zone is dominated by two species of leguminous shrubs — Teide Broom (Spartocytisus supranubius) and Adenocarpus viscosus — both Canary endemic species. It is in this national park that we will look for the three Macaronesian endemic bird species: Berthelot’s Pipit, Plain Swift and Canary. The Canary Lizard is very common in this zone and Mouflon (Wild Sheep) can sometimes be seen.

From Tenerife we will cross by ferry to the tranquil island of Gomera, where we will spend a full day. On the crossing we will have the opportunity to do some sea-watching, for these waters are the year-round home of Short-finned Pilot Whales and Bottlenose Dolphins, as well as such seabirds as Cory’s and Little Shearwaters, and the rare White-faced Storm-petrel. On reaching Gomera we will explore the marvellous Garajonay National Park and its extensive ancient Laurel forests where a tremendous variety of flowers and butterflies may be found. This is also the home of two endemic birds — Bolle’s Pigeon and Laurel Pigeon — which we should see flying over the forest canopy.

The unusual, exotic and magnificent subtropical Canary Islands with their endemic flora and fauna and spectacular volcanic scenery will surely make this a memorable and rewarding tour. Above all, we will be able to observe and appreciate the fascination of these islands by exploring the countryside beyond the tourist resorts.

DETAILED INFORMATION
Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1
Fly Fuerteventura
Day 2
Costa Calma Desert and Jandia Peninsula
Day 3
Central Fuerteventura
Day 4
Transfer to Tenerife
Day 5
Teno Peninsula and Masca
Day 6
La Gomera
Day 7
El Teide National Park
Day 8
Fly UK
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What's Included

What's Included?

  • Flights
  • Accommodation: Comfortable hotels with private facilities throughout.
  • Food: All included in the price.
Reviews
Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

2026

Departures Availability Cost
Thu 12th Feb – Thu 19th Feb FULL £2,295
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£2,045
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£250
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Jessica Turner
Jessica Turner

Tour Leader: Jessica Turner

Jessica claims she started her lifelong love of plants through having a field guide as a favourite picture book at an early age! She went on to study Botany at Cambridge University, specialising in ecology and pollen analysis, and has been involved in a variety of botanical survey projects for the National Trust and a local Wildlife Trust. Jessica is based in Oxford where she now works as a hospital chaplain. However, plants remain a passion, together with birds, butterflies and other aspects of natural history. She loves sharing her enthusiasms with others, and has travelled with Naturetrek over a number of years, first as a client and now a leader.

Thu 5th Nov – Thu 12th Nov SPACES £2,295
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£2,045
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£250
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Jessica Turner
Jessica Turner

Tour Leader: Jessica Turner

Jessica claims she started her lifelong love of plants through having a field guide as a favourite picture book at an early age! She went on to study Botany at Cambridge University, specialising in ecology and pollen analysis, and has been involved in a variety of botanical survey projects for the National Trust and a local Wildlife Trust. Jessica is based in Oxford where she now works as a hospital chaplain. However, plants remain a passion, together with birds, butterflies and other aspects of natural history. She loves sharing her enthusiasms with others, and has travelled with Naturetrek over a number of years, first as a client and now a leader.

2027

Departures Availability Cost
Thu 11th Feb – Thu 18th Feb SPACES £2,295
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£2,045
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£250
Thu 4th Nov – Thu 11th Nov SPACES £2,295
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£2,045
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£250

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Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

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Why Naturetrek?

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

  • The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
  • Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
  • Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!

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