The 18 best places for stargazing in the Canary Islands

Would you like to be starry-eyed during your vacation, in the truest sense of the word? Then discover the 18 best places to stargaze in the Canaries!

The Canary archipelago is made up of seven magnificent islands, with landscapes as diverse as they are incredible. El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote offer an exceptional natural heritage, and are brimming with treasures not to be missed. And the sky is one of them!

Indeed, the Canary Islands are renowned as a unique astro-tourism destination. Their skies are even protected by the Law on the Protection of the Astronomical Quality of Observatories, so that the stars can be observed in complete peace of mind.

Thanks to ideal climatic conditions, clouds remain at low altitude. As a result, the archipelago’s peaks are clear, offering some of the clearest skies in Europe.

Indeed, there are some places in the Canaries that are absolutely ideal for watching the stars twinkle, shine and sometimes even twirl. Generation Voyage unveils its list of the 18 best places for stargazing in the Canaries.

El Hierro

1. Orchilla lighthouse

If you’d like to go stargazing in the Canaries, on El Hierro, head to the west of the island, to the Orchilla lighthouse. It’s easy to get there by car, and you can take a seat facing the Atlantic Ocean for an absolutely magical moment of sky-watching.

We recommend that you come in late autumn, when you’ll be able to make out the Taurus constellation very clearly.

To do this, stand with your back to the sea, with the lighthouse on your left, and look up in an easterly direction. The head and horns form a « V », with one star, Aldebaran, shining brighter than the others.

La Palma

The island of La Palma is the world’s first Starlight reserve. This « Starlight » status distinguishes skies of the highest astronomical quality.

This makes La Palma one of the most beautiful places for stargazing in the Canaries, and in the world.

2. Roque de los Muchachos

If there’s one place in the Canary Islands not to be missed for stargazing, it’s La Palma’s Roque de los Muchachos. In fact, it’s arguably one of the best places in the world to admire the sky.

Indeed, in this part of the island, the clouds created by the interaction between the ocean and the climate form a kind of barrier, preventing light pollution from the cities.

Situated above this cloud cluster at an altitude of 2,396 meters, this location offers exceptionally clear skies.

The site now boasts some fifteen observatories, including the Roque de los Muchachos Astrophysical Observatory, which can be visited during the day by reservation only.

The GranTeCan (Gran Telescopio Canarias), the world’s largest optical telescope, is also located here.

3. Mirador de Llano del Jable

From the Llano del Jable viewpoint, you can dominate the extinct volcano of Montagne Brûlée. During the day, the view over the Aridane Valley is exceptional.

In January, as night falls, this becomes a cool place, but one where stargazing is absolutely magical. The constellations of Pegasus and Cassiopeia will face each other, with the Great Galaxy of Andromeda in the middle.

4. San Bartolo Mountain

Discover the natural lookout point of the San Bartolo mountain, perched at 439 meters above sea level on the eastern side of the island. You can easily reach the San Bartolo hermitage by car, and then walk up a short, easy climb to the lookout.

You’ll find information panels and two sky charts to help you in your astral contemplation.

The best season for stargazing at the San Bartolo lookout is undoubtedly summer. It’s at this time of year that Vega, one of the stars closest to Earth, can be admired most easily, and is adorned in magnificent shades of white and blue.

Alongside it, you’ll no doubt spot the luminous constellation of Lyra.

5. San Antonio Volcano viewpoint

The astronomical lookout on the San Antonio volcano is ideally located for stargazing in the Canary Islands, south of the island of La Palma, at an altitude of 633 meters.

Its position, right next to the volcano, makes it a place to discover day and night. During the day, you can observe the volcano’s crater, and watch a magnificent sunset.

Then it’s time for night and its most beautiful spectacle: the stars. To help you find your way around the sky, you’ll find a pole pointing towards the North Star and a planisphere to help you locate the Big Dipper and Cassiopeia constellations.

6. San Borondón viewpoint

Would you like to go stargazing in the Canaries? Head west of the island of La Palma to the San Borondón lookout.

Easily accessible on foot, this site is suspended 132 meters above the ocean, offering a terrace where information panels are scattered to help you discover the sky.

The San Borondón lookout has the advantage of offering very clear views of the North Star and the constellations of Cassiopeia and Cepheus, especially in November. On moonless nights, the view of the Milky Way will leave you speechless.

La Gomera

7. Las Nieves recreation area

Just 20 kilometers from the island’s capital and at the gateway to the Garajonay National Park, lies the Las Nieves recreational area. It’s an ideal spot for stargazing in the Canaries, particularly in February and March.

At this time of year, if you look northwards, you’ll see the constellations Gemini and Cocher, easily recognizable by their stars (bright and orange for Gemini, and forming a pentagonal shape for Cocher).

8. Alto de Garajonay

Alto de Garajonay is located at an altitude of 1,487 meters, and is specially designed for observing the sky. It’s certainly one of the best spots for stargazing on La Gomera, thanks to its privileged position and low light pollution.

In August, grab your binoculars and try to recognize the constellations of Sagittarius and Scorpio, or catch a glimpse of the red star Antares.

Tenerife

9. Masca lookout

For star-gazing in the Canaries, head for the town of Santiago del Teide, in the north-west of the island of Tenerife. At the summit, you’ll find the large Masca lookout, a veritable paradise for sky lovers.

From mid-September to the end of October, many of the so-called « Zodiac constellations » are visible in the early hours of the night. Pisces, Aquarius and Capricorn will be shining brightly to your delight.

10. Guajara Mountain

Guajara Mountain is the third highest mountain on Tenerife. It is located in the sublime Teide National Park and rises to 2,718 meters. You can reach the foot of the mountain by car.

But then, you’ll have to double your efforts to climb to the top. But the view at the finish is well worth it, rest assured!

The experience is literally magical if you choose to sleep out in the open. Firstly, because « sleeping under the stars » takes on its full meaning. The constellations of Cassiopeia and Pegasus will seem to be just around the corner.

But also because the sunrise will be the second highlight of your escapade, and perhaps even the most magical.

11. Las Cañadas del Teide

Located within the Teide National Park, Las Cañadas is an extraordinary place for stargazing in the Canaries. In fact, it was the first UNESCO World Heritage site to be awarded the title of Starlight Tourist Destination.

It is also home to the world’s largest solar observatory.

The area, at an altitude of 2,700 metres, boasts several observation points and numerous lookouts dotted along the trails.

Here, the spectacle is magical at any time of year. But for a truly breathtaking moment, we recommend August and its showers of shooting stars!

12. El Palmar lookout

The El Palmar lookout in Buenavista is an exceptional place to admire the starry sky, especially at the end of the year. Access is a little tricky by car, but feasible.

With or without binoculars, you’ll be captivated by this 600-metre-high site, which offers an unparalleled interstellar spectacle!

Gran Canaria

13. Roque Saucillo

The Roque Saucillo Astronomical Observatory is located in La Vega de San Mateo, not far from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Located in the heart of the city, it offers you the chance to observe the stars in the Canary Islands through a state-of-the-art astrograph telescope.

Have fun recognizing the Cassiopeia constellation and its « M » shape, the Cygnus constellation or the Pegasus constellation and its central body.

14. Llanos de Garañón

Llanos de Garañón is a camping area located in Tejeda, in the south-west of the island of Gran Canaria, where it’s particularly pleasant to admire the firmament.

In spring, perched at an altitude of 1,700 meters, you can observe the constellations of Gemini, the Coachman, Taurus and Orion in the best possible conditions.

Fuerteventura

15. Sicasumbre viewpoint

In Pajara, in the south of the island, the Sicasumbre lookout is an absolutely fascinating place for stargazing in the Canaries. Special attention is paid to stargazers, with facilities for telescopes and cameras.

For the curious, there are information panels indicating the location of the constellations.

The constellations of Virgo, Cattle Dog and Raven are most easily observed in this location in early spring.

16. Tefía observatory

Discover here one of the best places for stargazing in the Canaries. The Tefia Astronomical Observatory is a unique place where you can spend the night.

The on-site hostel also offers observation domes and a telescope.

At the beginning of the year, the show is particularly magnificent thanks to Sirius and Canopus, the two brightest stars in the sky.

17. Morro Velosa viewpoint

On the west side of the island, the Morro Velosa lookout offers a magical night-time spectacle. Easily accessible by car, there is a parking lot where you can leave your vehicle for the duration of your contemplation.

Carefully wrapped up in warm clothes, lie down on the floor and let yourself be transported into the universe. If you look hard enough, you’ll spot the Cassiopeia « W », the Great Bear and the North Star.

Lanzarote

18. Peñas del Chache viewpoint

Located at the highest point on the island, at 670 meters above sea level, the Peñas del Cache lookout offers an absolutely spectacular panorama of the sky and its stars.

Totally sheltered from light pollution, this belvedere is an ideal spot for stargazing in the Canary Islands, on Lanzarote. From here, the Milky Way and the constellations of Scorpio and Sagittarius are sublime on moonless nights, especially in summer.

So, are you ready to go stargazing in the Canaries?