General Information

Area: 7242 sq km (2796 sq miles). Population: 1,630,015 (1998). Population Density: 225.0 per sq km. Capital: Provincial capitals are Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: Population: 352,641 (1998); and Santa Cruz de Tenerife: Population: 211,930 (1998). Geography: The Canary Islands are situated off the northwest coast of Africa and consist of seven islands which are divided into two provinces. Las Palmas comprises the islands of Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. Santa Cruz de Tenerife is made up of Tenerife, La Palma, Gomera and Hierro. All the islands are of volcanic origin and the climate is subtropical. The landscape is varied, and includes mountain ranges, valleys, deserts, cliffs, craters and forests. Time: GMT (GMT + 1 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

Travel

AIR: Local flights run by Iberia (IB) link all the islands. Approximate flight times: From London to Las Palmas is 6 hours 10 minutes (including stopover in Madrid) and to Tenerife is 6 hours 10 minutes (including stopover in Madrid). Direct flights from London to either destination take 4 hours 15 minutes. International airports: Gran Canaria (LPA) is 22km (14 miles) south of Las Palmas. Hotel coaches to the city leave every 30 minutes (0630-0200; journey time - 20 minutes). Return journey is from Iberia terminal (Hotel Iberia), Avenida Maritima (0520-0130). Public bus service to the city leaves every 30 minutes, operating a 24-hour service. Return is from the bus station, Parque de San Telmo. Taxis to the city are available. Airport facilities include banks/bureaux de change (0800-1415), post office (0900-1400), chemists (0600-2300), 24-hour medical service and car rental. Tenerife-Norte Los Rodeos (TFN), in the north of the island, is 13km (8 miles) from Santa Cruz. Bus service runs every 30 minutes from 0600-2300. Tenerife-Sur Reina Sofia (TFS), in the south of the island, is used for resorts such as Playa de las Americas. Bus service is scheduled according to flight arrivals. Taxis are available. There is also a recently opened airport in Gomera which offers regular connections with Gran Canaria and North Tenerife. For further information please contact La Gomera Airport (tel: (34) 922 873 000; website: www.aena.es). SEA: The majority of cruises stop in the Canaries. Further details are available from the Spanish National Tourist Office. Trasmediterránea operates a weekly (Saturday) car ferry departing at 1800 from Cadiz - Tenerife - Las Palmas. Contact their UK agent, Southern Ferries, Fifth floor, 179 Piccadilly, London W1V 9DB (tel: (020) 7491 4968; fax: (020) 7491 3502); website: (www.trasmediterranea.es). Local: All the islands are linked by regular car and passenger ferries. Day trips to the smaller islands are quickly and easily arranged. ROAD: There are bus services available. Cars may be rented.

Entry

Passport Visa Return Ticket Required Australian  Yes  No  2 British  Yes  No  No Canadian  Yes  No  2 Japanese  Yes  No  2 Other EU  1  No  No USA  Yes  No  2

PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least 6 months including 90 days beyond the planned stay required by all except the following: (a) 1. nationals of EU countries with valid national ID cards; (b) nationals of Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland holding valid national ID cards. Note: It is advisable to have a return ticket, but not obligatory. If a visitor is not in possession of a return ticket, proof of sufficient means of support may be required. VISAS: Required by all except the following for stays of up to 90 days: (a) nationals referred to in the chart above; (b) nationals of Andorra, Argentina, Aruba, Bolivia, Bonaire, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (SAR), Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Korea (Rep. of), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Macau (SAR), Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Switzerland, Uruguay, Vatican City and Venezuela; (c) transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport (except nationals of Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Congo (Dem. Rep.), Cote d'Ivoire, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, India, Iran, Iraq, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka and Togo who always require a transit visa). As the preceding list is liable to change at short notice, visitors are advised to check transit regulations with the relevant Embassy or Consulate before travelling. Additional Visa Information: http://www.spainemb.org