Three Atlantic Islands Tour

Travel Notes: Tour of Three Islands

From 2019-10-18 to 2019-10-30, I visited Portugal’s “Madeira” island; Spain’s “Gran ganaria” Nali" and "Tenerife" islands. 18-22 in Madeira; 22-25 in Gran Canaria; 25-30 in Tenerife.

(1) Madeira Island (Portugal)

Funchal on Madeira Island is the capital of the autonomous region and the hometown of Cristiano Ronaldo, with an area of ??nearly 800 square kilometers and a population of Nearly 250,000. Because the geographical location is relatively close to the equator, the sunshine is relatively good, and the sea water temperature is relatively high. It has the reputation of "Pearl of the Atlantic", so many people come here for vacation all year round. There are many hotels in Madeira, mainly concentrated on the coastline of the capital Funchal, and there are also many restaurants. It is understood that many tourists come here frequently for vacation.

The average altitude of Madeira Island is high, and there is very little flat land on the seaside. Most of the towns and villages are built on the mountains, and most of the houses in Funchal are also built on the hillsides. When the lights turn on at night, it's quite spectacular and beautiful. In addition to relatively good climate conditions, Madeira also has good natural tourism resources, mainly including (1) the 3-kilometer seaside cliff hiking route in Porta sao lourenco, which is beautiful every step of the way. (2) The small fishing port of Camara de Lobos on the outskirts of Funchal has very beautiful scenery. Churchill came here for vacation several times. (3) In the seaside town of Porta Moniz in the northeastern corner of the island, there is a large group of natural seaside swimming pools. When the tide is long, the sea water rushes into the swimming pool. When the tide is low, it is a calm swimming pool. The natural swimming pool is built on the rocks. ,very beautiful. (4) Near the central peak of the island, Pico Ruivo, there is a group of towering mountains with an altitude of more than 1,500 meters. There are several hiking routes, which are often shrouded in clouds and mist, steep and beautiful. (5) On the coastline not far from the small fishing port of Camara de Lobos, there is Cabo Girao, the second highest cliff in the world, with a height of 580 meters. There is an observation deck on it. Although it is not big, the ground is made of transparent glass. The next look is not only beautiful, but also dangerous and exciting. (6) There are two botanical gardens connected by cable cars on the mountainside of Funchal, which are planted with many tropical plants. Next to the botanical gardens, there is a 2-kilometer-long traditional cane blue car ride under the church, which costs 25 per person. Europe, 35 euros for two people. It is a downhill road. The two "drivers" wear shoes with car tire soles on both sides, and use the sole brakes to control the speed of the descent. It is very unique and interesting. (7) There is a Ronaldo museum on the pier in the city center, which displays various trophies and medals he won during his football career. There are so many, it is eye-opening. (8) There is a fruit shop in the city center market that is very unique and beautifully decorated, which makes people feel a little amazing. The fruit shop is not only beautiful, but some fruits are not easy to see in other places; (9)...

After 4 days of observation, I personally think that the main reasons for the good tourism industry in Madeira are: (1) pleasant climate and good sunshine; (2) rich natural tourism resources, many hiking routes and cliffs; (3) ) The transportation is convenient, and there is an express highway across the island from east to west; (4) There are many hotels and restaurants of various grades, which can meet the needs of tourists; (5) It has the reputation of being known as the "Pearl of the Atlantic".

(2) Gran Canaria (Spain)

Gran Canaria is a garden-shaped island with an area of ??1,560 square kilometers. Las Palmas in the north is the Canary Autonomous Region The capital of the province and the capital of the province of Las Palmas, according to 2005 statistics, Gran Canaria has a population of 820,000, of which 380,000 are in Las Palmas.

Gran Canaria has a subtropical climate, with a small temperature difference between day and night, and a small temperature difference throughout the year. It is the most pleasant place in the world. It is not an exaggeration to say that it is like spring all year round. It is a favorite for vacation tourists. paradise. There are a large number of beautiful beaches scattered on the southern beach. Various star-rated hotels have been built on the hills above the beach, attracting countless tourists all year round for sightseeing, travel and vacation. In Mas on the seaside The Palmas Sand Dunes are beautiful, peculiar and spectacular, and the dunes under the sunset are particularly charming. There are also many small beaches hidden among the rocky cliffs, which are unique. The average daytime temperature is approximately 20°C in winter and 26°C in summer.

Gran Canaria is also where the late famous Taiwanese female writer San Mao and her husband Jose lived for 6 years. On the hills behind the small beach in Playa del Honbre, they retain the house they once rented. The house where I lived had a beautiful view from all around. Sanmao once wrote many beautiful and moving articles here. Here is left the unforgettable sweet love between her and Jose, as well as her tragic sadness due to Jose's unexpected death.

Morgan Harbor is a very beautiful sailing port, with many boats going to see dolphins and whales every day. The magnificent cliffs on both sides embrace a beautiful beach and sailing port. There is a large row of various desserts, coffee and food on the beach, attracting a large number of people here every day to enjoy the beautiful scenery, sunshine, sea water and food.

In the south, there is a very beautiful beach Playa de Amadores on the coastline not far from Port Morgan. This is a curved beach with a flat beach, clear water, and a bay about 600 meters long. A wave dam has been built outside to ensure the stability of the sea water inside. There is also a long row of shops and gourmet restaurants on the inside of the beach, which shows that this is a very lively place. We arrived at around 2pm on a Wednesday, and the parking lot was still full. This is also a very good place to enjoy the sun, sea water, beach and delicious food.

Mas Palmas is a flat area in the south with a large sand dune. Because it is located in the southeast corner of the island and the terrain is flat, there is a strong north wind every day. Standing on the sand dune Above, it feels like being in a real African desert. There are two long beaches around the dunes, Playa de Maspalmas and Playa Inglês. The sand here is very fine. It is said that the sand is blown by the wind from the Sahara Desert in Africa.

In the center of Las Palmas, there is a house where Columbus used to live, which has now been converted into the Columbus Museum. There are displays of the ship's warehouse at that time, Columbus's navigation route map, and many displays of supplies on the ship at that time. It's quite creative and worth seeing. The ticket costs 4 euros. Not far from this house is the oldest church on the island, with a beautiful appearance design. There is an old mercado (market) next to it. The fruit stalls inside are beautifully arranged, and the cactus juice (3 euros a cup) on the stall has a nice sour taste.

Gran Canaria is a volcanic island with rugged terrain. The highest mountain in the middle is 1,949 meters above sea level. There are rich volcanic geological relics in the mountains and canyons. I didn’t go there this time because of time constraints.

Through three days of tourism observation, Gran Canaria has many tourists on vacation. Personally, I think the main reasons are: (1) It is like spring all year round, the temperature difference between day and night is small, it is close to the equator, and the sunshine temperature is good. There are more than 300 days of sunny weather in the year, making it a good place for tourism and vacation all year round; (2) It developed relatively early, with many hotels, restaurants, and better infrastructure, with a highway running through it from north to south; (3) The Spanish government Duty-free, prices and consumption are relatively low; (5) There are many beaches on the island, each with its own characteristics. Playa Cantenas in the center of the city is one of the top ten most beautiful beaches in Spain; (6) Maspalmas Sand Dunes are a world cultural heritage, and the sand dunes Together are two famous beaches, Playa de maspalmas and Playa inglês, which have strong tourist gathering capabilities.

(3) Tenerife (Spain)

Tenerife (Spanish: Tenerife) is one of the seven Spanish islands of the Canary Islands located in the Atlantic Ocean near the coast of Africa. The largest island in the world. It is also the most populous island in Spain, with a land area of ??2,034 square kilometers and a population of 900,000, accounting for 43% of the total population of the Canary Islands.

Tenerife is also formed by volcanoes, and the highest point in Spain, Teide (3718 m), is on this island. Around five million tourists visit Tenerife every year, making it the most visited island in the Canary Islands. It is one of the most important tourist destinations in Spain and the world. Tenerife is home to one of the largest carnivals in the world and the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is being designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Tenerife is internationally known as the "Eternal Island". The island is located at the same latitude as the Sahara Desert and enjoys a warm tropical climate with an average temperature of 18-24°C in winter and an average temperature of 18-24°C in summer. 24-28°C, with an average of more than 300 days of sunshine per year. Except for the mountainous areas, there is less precipitation, which is mainly concentrated in the north and northeast of the island.

In the south, many star hotels embrace the Adeje coastline. Hollywood-style shopping malls with luxury goods and various restaurants are waiting for millions of tourists to flock here. Golf Adeje has An 18-hole championship golf course, plus a variety of cafes and bars served by various cafes, make a holiday in Tenerife wonderful.

Costa del Adeje in Nandu has a variety of beaches and piers, large and small. The dark and golden beaches attract tourists. The most popular ones are Playa Cristianos, Playa America, and Playa Torviscas. , Playa del Duque, and many small and beautiful beaches. Teresitas Beach in the north, with white sand imported from the Sahara, is one of the top ten famous beaches in Spain.

In the small town of Icod del las vinos on the west coast, there is a nearly 3,000-year-old dragon's blood tree, about 20 meters high. The current situation is like a mushroom, with a thick tree body and many twigs on it. , a kind of old-fashioned appearance, rare and unique. It grows next to a park in a small town and attracts a large number of tourists every day. If you want to see it up close, you need to pay 5 euros.

Puerta de la cruz was the most visited city in Tenerife before the development of tourism in the south. It has many hotels, apartments and B&Bs. The coastline has large natural swimming pools, gray beaches, and famous "Loro Pargue", the park has unique whale shows, dolphin shows, jellyfish shows, parrot shows, as well as animal exhibitions, aquariums and underwater worlds. Many people come here every day. Tickets are 32 euros each. Local residents are halved.

The most famous one in Tenerife is Tedel Volcano Geopark. Teide Peak is 3,718 meters high. It is said that steam is still emitting from the peak. It is an active volcano. The most recent eruption was in 1798. Geology The park is very large and is a world cultural heritage. More than 3 million tourists come here every year to visit this geopark. Many European tourists also hike on several routes above to appreciate the unique volcanic natural features.

The Teresitas Beach in the north is very close to the capital of Santa Cruz. The white sand flows into the Sahara and is one of the top ten famous beaches in Spain. It is very beautiful to take pictures of this beach from the road above the beach on a clear morning.

Tenerife has more tourists all year round than Gran Canaria. In addition to having many beautiful beaches, there is another main reason: there is an additional volcanic geopark with Mount Teide. (World Cultural Heritage). The two islands are very close to each other, less than 80 kilometers away. It takes an hour and a half by ordinary ferry, so it is very convenient. You can bring your car with you on the ferry. There are also many car rental companies on this island, the prices are cheap and very convenient. Hotels are not expensive, many European countries have direct flights, and air ticket prices are not high. These are all factors that promote the development of local tourism.

We spent 5 days in Tenerife. There are a lot of things to know, and there are still many places that we have not visited. If you want to truly understand a place, you must stay for a long time, understand it well, and learn about it well. Experience and enjoy.