Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The Canary Islands belong to Spain as an autonomous community. This volcanic archipelago—seven main islands and several islets—lies in the Atlantic Ocean, roughly 100 km west of Morocco's coast and 1,000 km southwest of mainland Spain.
Despite their African proximity, the Canaries have been Spanish since the 15th-century conquest. They enjoy a unique status: part of the EU (as an Outermost Region), using the euro, but outside the VAT area. The islands—Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro—each offer distinct microclimates and landscapes, from Teide's snow-capped peak to Maspalomas' dunes.
Tourism drives the economy, but agriculture (bananas, tomatoes, wine) and a growing tech sector diversify it. The Canaries bridge continents culturally and geographically: Spanish language, African latitude, European institutions.