7 Nights Atlantic Islands Cruise - Marella Discovery 2

DAY 1  Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tenerife

Santa Cruz is one of the Canary Islands’ biggest hitters. It shares its capital city title with Las Palmas, on the neighbouring island of Gran Canaria, and more than lives up to the role. In the space of just a few streets, the bustling port area melts into an inviting old town. A century-spanning mix of church towers and hotels peeks above the rooftops, and the whole town’s backed by the silhouette of a mountain range. You’ll find one of the Canary Islands’ most futuristic buildings by the harbour – the Auditorio de Tenerife, which looks like an edgier version of the Sydney Opera House. At the more historic end of the scale is the Basilica of Candelaria, which is dedicated to the patron saint of the Canary Islands. Further afield, you’ll find beaches hugging the south coast and the mighty Mount Teide rising up in the island’s centre.

You’ll have to travel to Hawaii to see a volcano that’s taller than Mount Teide. Tenerife’s snow-capped giant is the third highest in the world, when you measure from the ocean floor. Head to the national park that surrounds it, and you can explore the wildlife-lined walking trails.

Take a drive through the Orotava Valley, stopping at the Humboldt viewpoint. There’s a bronze statue of the naturalist it’s named after – look over his shoulder, and you’ll be treated to panoramic views of the island’s vineyards and banana plantations.

Wander along the paved streets of Santa Cruz’s old town, where you’ve got family-run restaurants, antique markets, and a Baroque church with a pretty bell tower.

---

DAY 2 Las Palmas, Gran Canaria

Golden dunes drenched in year-round sunshine. Rugged mountains hiding pretty whitewashed villages. Bays and coves linked together like a magnificent sandy necklace. Nature’s been kind to Gran Canaria so little surprise it lures sun-worshippers back year after year.

Take a trip to Puerto Mogán, where narrow, cobbled streets are lined with traditional whitewashed houses, clad in bougainvillea and hibiscus. There’s also a fancy harbour, perfect for yacht-watching.

Discover the island’s cosmopolitan capital, Las Palmas, where chic boutiques and tempting tapas bars are tucked in among some breathtaking architecture. In the old town, or Veguetta district, you’ll come across the Christopher Columbus Museum, which is well worth a visit, too.

Feast your eyes on the incredible wind-sculpted sand dunes of Maspalomas. Then pick a patch of sand and soak up the sun.

---

DAY 3 Arrecife, Lanzarote

Its lunar landscape is legendary, its sun-soaked beaches loved worldwide, and its all-round postcard prettiness powerful enough to draw people back year after year. In fact, there’s not much to dislike about Lanzarote. Soaked in sunshine and dotted with whitewashed villages, it’s got a charm all of its own.

Behold the world famous Timanfaya National Park, the jewel in Lanzarote’s crown. It’s renowned for its Montanas del Fuego or Mountains of Fire, a huge area of solidified lava dominated by enormous, dormant volcanoes. Breathtaking stuff.

Head along the coast to Costa Teguise for lazy beach days. It’s been a go-to for tourists for decades and there are five beaches to choose from. Playa Bastian’s sprinkled with palm trees which offer shade from the Atlantic breeze, while Playa Cucharas is one of the island’s most picturesque portions.

Get your history fix at the Castle of Saint Gabriel. It’s set on its own island with a bridge connecting it to the waterfront, and it attracts just as many visitors for its front-row views over the Atlantic as its museum which details the city’s history.

---

DAY 4 Puerto del Rosario, Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura is the Canary Island of choice for beach connoisseurs. Its coastline morphs from the 10 kilometre-long blonde sweep in the Parque Natural de las Dunas to the wind-whipped sands in Playa de Sotavento, which hosts the Windsurfing World Championships every year. Away from the coast, the island’s interior is blanketed with lava fields, euphorbia valleys and clock-stopped villages.

Take a trip to Corralejo's picture-perfect beach. Lay back on the 11-kilometre-long stretch of sand, tip-toe over the dunes, or explore the town's pavement bars.

If you're after a spot of relaxation, board a catamaran cruise out into the Atlantic Ocean. You'll drop anchor at a deserted island, where the beaches are footprint-free.

Aloe vera has been harvested in Fuerteventura for centuries. You can visit a farm to learn more about the medicinal plant and pick up some products to take home.

---

DAY 5 At Sea

---

DAY 6 Funchal, Madeira

Sweeter than wine, Madeira’s a fine excuse to binge on beautiful scenery to your heart’s content. Funchal is the island’s capital, a bewitching collection of cobbled streets, quaint museums and buzzing café and restaurant life.

Get to know Funchal. This spellbinding city is a portion of Portugal sprinkled with a dash of Garden of Eden and Edwardian Britain. The whole place seems to be smothered in vivid bougainvillea, jasmine and other exotic blooms. Don’t miss the covered market, a dizzying montage of exotic fruit stalls and flower-sellers wearing traditional costume. And take a look at the city’s impressive Sé cathedral with its ornate ceiling and artworks.

If you’re really into blooms, meander around Funchal’s tranquil Botanical Gardens, admiring their dazzling displays of orchids, cacti and Madeira’s iconic dragon trees.

Take a cable car up to the mountain village of Monte and hurtle back down the cobbles towards Funchal in a wicker toboggan.

Gaze in awe at the colossal Cabo Girao, one of the world’s largest coastal cliffs. Then take in the simple charms of the quaint fishing village, Camara de Lobos, one of Winston Churchill’s favourite retreats.

Sign up for a jeep tour to explore parts of the island that are usually off limits.

---

DAY 7  Santa Cruz de La Palma, La Palma

Mother Nature had a field day with La Palma. All rolling mountains, plunging valleys and sweet-smelling pine forests, the little island certainly isn’t short on breathtaking scenery. Things are just as good looking along the coast, where dramatic black-sand beaches give way to hidden coves. Another great thing about the island is its relaxed, laid-back vibe. It offers up a more authentic picture of the Canaries than its bigger neighbours – one of quaint whitewashed houses, grand colonial buildings and sleepy squares. It’s no wonder the locals call it La Isla Bonita – the beautiful island.

Discover La Palma’s volcanic past with a trip to La Caldera de Taburiente National Park. This enormous National Park is actually a volcanic crater. With a circumference of 28km, it’s the biggest in the world. And the spectacular scenery doesn’t stop there. The park is also crammed full of towering pine trees. Plus, it’s home to over 25 different species of birds.

Hurtle over La Palma’s rugged terrain on a quad bike - it’s a great way to explore the island and discover what lies off the well-trodden path. You’ll tackle dirt tracks and whiz past banana plantations, taking in views of the coast on the way.

Hike through the protected tropical rainforest of Los Tilos. It’s completely unspoiled, crammed with caves, springs, lime trees and giant ferns. Keep an eye out, too, for wildlife that’s unique to this corner of the world, such as the Maculada de Canarias butterfly.

---

DAY 8  Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tenerife

Santa Cruz is one of the Canary Islands’ biggest hitters. It shares its capital city title with Las Palmas, on the neighbouring island of Gran Canaria, and more than lives up to the role. In the space of just a few streets, the bustling port area melts into an inviting old town. A century-spanning mix of church towers and hotels peeks above the rooftops, and the whole town’s backed by the silhouette of a mountain range. You’ll find one of the Canary Islands’ most futuristic buildings by the harbour – the Auditorio de Tenerife, which looks like an edgier version of the Sydney Opera House. At the more historic end of the scale is the Basilica of Candelaria, which is dedicated to the patron saint of the Canary Islands. Further afield, you’ll find beaches hugging the south coast and the mighty Mount Teide rising up in the island’s centre.

You’ll have to travel to Hawaii to see a volcano that’s taller than Mount Teide. Tenerife’s snow-capped giant is the third highest in the world, when you measure from the ocean floor. Head to the national park that surrounds it, and you can explore the wildlife-lined walking trails.

Take a drive through the Orotava Valley, stopping at the Humboldt viewpoint. There’s a bronze statue of the naturalist it’s named after – look over his shoulder, and you’ll be treated to panoramic views of the island’s vineyards and banana plantations.

Wander along the paved streets of Santa Cruz’s old town, where you’ve got family-run restaurants, antique markets, and a Baroque church with a pretty bell tower.