einatshoval

my husband and I are traveling next September to the canary islands for 10 days. we really need help choosing an island....we don;t want to hop from one island to the other....we want to get settled in a villa in one island, 2 islands tops....we like to hike, love scenery and mountains, small villages etc.
we hate big hotels and over touristic places....what is the island for us? woul you recommend staying in one island or deviding our time between the island? (or maybe 1 island and a couple of days in madrid on the way back?)
thank you all for your help

hetismij2

My favourite island, with lovely houses and great walking, is La Palma.
If you want two islands combine La Palma with La Gomera, or for something very different with Lanzarote perhaps.

traveller1959

Gran Canaria: the largest island with many options, mediterranean flair, mountains, sand dunes, beaches, villages, a bit of everything.

Tenerife: the highest mountain, spectacular, volcanic scenery, desert in the south, rainforest in the north, historical towns, comparatively few beaches, but some of them really beautiful, mass tourism at some places, but authenticity at others.

Lanzarote: Spectacular volcanic scenery, absolutely unique. Also, modern art (Cesar Manrique). Black sand beaches.

Fuerteventura: Mostly desert, sand dunes, wide sandy beaches.

La Palma: Small, with a beautiful historic town and one volcano. Rather green.

La Gomera: Very small. No mass tourism.

maitaitom

I assume since you will be traveling to the Canary Islands, you will tweet about it.

bilboburgler

If you want the quiet life then Fuerteventura is the one for you, we spent a week riding a bike over it, the south and south west coasts are supposidly nature reserves so should not be built on so only a bit built on ;-) really nice hiking or riding, lots of little coves with a shack of a bar in the corner. Up North not really well developed either but good hiking, the main town is in the middle of the east coast ( I guess where the rain falls when it does) and very low key sort of place.

hetismij2

There are two volcanoes and a massive caldera on La Palma, plus lots of lovely small villages. If you opt for La Palma choose the west side of the island. Depending on when you want to go pay attention to the altitude of the house. Higher in summer, lower the rest of the year.
Our dog comes from La Palma, and it is our go to relax place. Dark skies are a bonus too.

einatshoval

Thank you all, you are great help!
it seems now that La Palma may be our choice, maybe with a couple of days in La Gomera...desert an beaches we have at home, so the volcanos and the wild scenery and the green appeal to us more. we wold love to hear more opinions though
thank you everybody and have a great weekend!

Rubicund

If you want the volcanic experience, Timanfaya on Lanzarote is the place. Lots of volcanic activity to see and you could stay in Playa Blanca and day trip over to Fuerteventura by ferry and see the town of Corralejo and the surrounding area.