The Canary Islands have long meant crystal-clear sea, black-sand beaches and mild weather all year round. Behind that postcard image lies a mosaic of humid forests, historic gardens, centuries-old traditions and carefully tended landscapes far from the busiest resorts.
On our upcoming journey “Canaries: between fire, green and history” we will explore this more secret face of the archipelago: living places, real people and stories that endure.
Garajonay: a journey into Europe’s oldest laurisilva
Among the Canary Islands’ lesser-known natural treasures is Garajonay National Park on La Gomera.
This laurisilva forest, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of the rarest surviving examples of a subtropical environment that has remained almost intact for millions of years. Mist, moss, ferns and evergreen trees create a surreal landscape, explored only on foot, in silence, listening to moisture dripping from the canopy.
Garajonay is not only a nature reserve: it is a living memory of an ancient Europe once covered by similar forests.
Gomeran lunch and Silbo: when whistling tells a culture
Discovering La Gomera also means sitting down to a Gomeran lunch of simple ingredients and dishes tied to the island’s farming life: goat’s cheese, “potaje de berros”, palm honey.
The real surprise comes with a demonstration of Silbo Gomero, the famous whistled language still used by islanders to communicate from one mountain to another. A UNESCO intangible heritage, Silbo is not folklore for tourists: it is a form of cultural resilience, passed from generation to generation.
Mount Teide: fire, legends and lunar landscapes
No Canary Islands trip is complete without climbing Mount Teide, Spain’s highest peak.
The Teide National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, holds a universe of contrasts: volcanic rock, red-sand deserts, plants that survive extreme conditions.
For the ancient Guanches, Teide was the home of Guayota, the fire god behind the eruptions. Today it is a park of global geological importance, with guided routes at different altitudes.
Jardín Botánico de Puerto de la Cruz: plants from around the world
In the heart of Tenerife, the Puerto de la Cruz Botanical Garden is a true botanical institution.
Founded in the eighteenth century as an acclimatisation station for exotic species bound for mainland Spain, it now hosts more than 4,000 tropical and subtropical plants from every continent.
Walking its paths means travelling from South America to Africa in a few steps, seeing how plants that were never meant to stay have found their perfect habitat here.
Sitio Litre: rare orchids and literary history
A few minutes from the botanical garden stands Sitio Litre, Tenerife’s oldest private garden, still open to visitors.
Created as a residence for English families in the nineteenth century, Sitio Litre is famous for its collection of tropical orchids, the richest on the island. Among shaded paths you will also find a Dracaena draco more than 300 years old.
In the past it was visited by travellers such as Alexander von Humboldt and Agatha Christie, who found inspiration here for stories set in Puerto de la Cruz.
Finca La Laja: the secret of European coffee
Not everyone knows that Europe has a single natural coffee cultivation: it is on Gran Canaria, in the Valle de Agaete.
Here Finca La Laja has for generations produced an ancient variety of Arabica Typica, sheltered from wind and excessive heat by a unique microclimate.
Visiting the estate means discovering vines, fruit trees, farm paths and tasting a coffee unlike any other on the European continent.
Giardini della Marquesa: a microcosm of biodiversity
Also on Gran Canaria, the Giardini della Marquesa surprise with botanical richness and a romantic atmosphere.
More than 500 plant species from five continents share the air with jasmine scent and the proud presence of peacocks, true masters of the house.
It is a garden to visit slowly, watching how tropical plants and Mediterranean flowers dialogue with the island’s typical banana plantations.
Parque Huber and the aloe finca: between art and sustainable cultivation
On Tenerife, not far from San Isidro, Parque Huber is a sculpture park set within an estate of almost 80,000 square metres. Here contemporary art meets nature: monumental sculptures, tended paths and spaces for meditation make the visit an unusual experience.
Nearby, near Guimar, a finca specialised in aloe vera shows how the Canary Islands’ volcanic soil is ideal for leaves of the highest quality. During the visit you discover the production stages and taste very fresh derived products.
A journey between fire, green and memory
The journey “Canaries: between fire, green and history” is designed for those who want to experience the islands away from mass-tourism routes.
Humid forests, centuries-old gardens, unique cultivations and welcoming communities reveal an authentic Canary Islands of detail and story.
The tour will be available in autumn 2025: to stay updated on the programme and receive full information, you can subscribe to our newsletter or visit the blog.
