Explore the Canary Islands with Grand Hotel Residencia and Windstar Cruises

Not named after the birds but the dogs that roamed the land, the Canary Islands are a part of Spain, located off the coast of Western Africa.

Bathed in sunshine and warm weather year-round, the archipelago is a popular vacation spot, and it’s where I found myself on a sunny spring day as I arrived on Gran Canaria. A 30-minute drive from the airport brought me to Maspalomas on the island’s southern tip. I checked into Grand Hotel Residencia, a 94-room boutique resort and a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.

Enjoying a welcome drink on the terrace, I surveyed my surroundings. Guests were swimming in the free-form saltwater pool, reading or napping on the loungers, and servers from the bar delivered lunch and drinks. I was surrounded by vines bursting with pink and white bougainvillea, swaying palm trees, enormous cacti, and various flowering shrubs while chirping birds and cooling breezes complemented the oasis vibe. The hotel’s interiors are of Spanish Colonial style, with glass lanterns and oversized lamps, rattan mixed with dark wood, wrought-iron details blending with blue and white tiles, and appropriately — canary yellow accents.

Steps away from the hotel are the famous Maspalomas dunes, formed by sediments from the island’s ravines and sand from the Sahara, then shaped by the wind and sea over several millennia. I enjoyed a peaceful walk on the undulating mounds and dipped my toes in the warm ocean. As night fell, Maspalomas’ restaurants and nightclubs beckon its visitors, but instead, I returned to Grand Hotel Residencia and dined on Canarian pulled pork croquettes, locally caught pink sea bream, and a selection of island-produced cheeses. A Guajiro on the rocks — Canary Island honey rum — was the perfect nightcap to end the day.

Next morning, I ventured into the mountainous heart of Gran Canaria in a rental car. Climbing a narrow, twisting road full of hairpin turns, the drive wasn’t for the faint of heart, but the views of the volcano-carved landscape were spectacular. Much to my dismay, many hiking trails were closed because of the heat and dry conditions, so I settled for the exhilarating drive and fresh air. Back at the hotel restaurant, another grand meal awaited — an amped-up barbecue of roasted meats, with fresh fish, prawns, steaks, pork, and lamb chops grilled to order. The selection of sides, salads, and desserts seemed endless, and I enjoyed every morsel.

Grand Hotel Residencia boasts that their guests often say: “I wish I could stay longer”, and sure enough, as I checked out two days later, I found myself whispering those words. But I had more adventures on the Canary Islands ahead, and waiting for me an hour away in the Las Palmas harbor was a yacht named Star Pride.

As I approached the cruise terminal, 312-guest Star Pride — operated by Windstar Cruises — was dwarfed by a 6,000-capacity mega cruise ship in the harbor. Meeting me at the gate was Star Pride’s hotel director, who walked me onboard the ship – something that would never happen on the mega-liner next door. For the subsequent eight days, I would go on to relish the personalized service from Star Pride’s crew.

All rooms are suites of at least 277 square feet, and after settling into mine, I went out to explore the intimate vessel. I was impressed with the dining options for a ship of its size. In addition to the elegant main dining room, there was also Cuadro 44 — a tapas-style specialty restaurant, an outdoor Star Grill by Steve Raichlen, and a buffet, which in the evening also transformed into another specialty restaurant called Candles. Unlike the big ships, there is no extra charge to dine anywhere, and I loved that I could order room service, a soft drink, or a latte without being nickel and dimed. Best of all, with just 276 guests on my sailing, there was never a wait for a table, lounge chair, or a beverage.

Windstar’s partnership with the prestigious James Beard Foundation results in quality and creative meals, from elegant multi-course dinners and extensive buffets featuring local and international cuisine to the lavish barbecue held on the top deck one evening. Star Pride’s officers and crew served their guests with gracious attention yet came across with a casual and relaxed demeanor. They were quick to laugh and joke while ensuring their guests’ needs were well attended to.

As Star Pride sailed from Gran Canaria, everyone gathered on the top deck for the Windstar signature sailaway event, with the amiable hotel director raising the company flag to a chilling rendition of Vangelis’ “Conquest of Paradise” – the title score to Ridley Scott’s film of the same name about Christopher Columbus’ expedition in 1492. This ritual would take place every time Star Pride left port, and became one of my favorite Windstar moments.

Onward, we first sailed to Arrecife on Lanzarote. Formed more than 20 million years ago, Lanzarote is one of the oldest Canary Islands, which are all volcanic. Our excursion to Timanfaya National Park was appropriately named “Walking on the Moonscape of Lanzarote”. Timanfaya was a volcano that erupted in 1730 and spewed lava that covered nearly the entire island. We walked for three hours across the barren lands, visiting the crater and its surrounding lava fields while learning about the formations from our local guide.

MORE CRUISES: Sailing the South of France

The next day, Star Pride arrived in La Gomera. Just 15 miles (24 kilometres) wide, La Gomera was the last supply stop for Columbus on that fateful voyage in 1492. The island tour took me to various lookout points, with towering cliffs and plunging hillsides. Back onboard, Star Pride invited two local women to demonstrate the Silbo Gomero – the Gomeran whistle. The fascinating communication technique came from the island’s original inhabitants called the Guanches, believed to have originated from North Africa. Back in the day, the vocal sounds were used to relay messages over the vast mountains and deep ravines of the islands, and today, Silbo Gomero is a mandatory subject taught in schools. The women entertained the crowd by whistling various phrases and names of people in the audience, and through a creative hide-and-seek game demonstrated how they can clearly communicate with each other through whistling.

Our final stop in the Canaries was Tenerife, a duck-shaped island whose star attraction is El Teide volcano — the highest mountain in Spain at 12,198 feet (3,718 metres) above sea level. From the pier in Santa Cruz, it was a 90-minute bus ride to El Teide National Park, driving through pine forests and eventually climbing up to barren landscapes above the clouds. A cable car took me to 11,663 feet (3,555 metres), where I wandered the trails to various lookout points. The air was thin and chilly; the views second to none.

As Star Pride left the Canary Islands with strains of Conquest in the air, I stood on the top deck and recounted my time. In a week, I traveled hassle-free through four Canary Islands and with comfort. Although I did not “conquer” all seven Canary isles, Star Pride gave me a good taste. Island-hopping is what I love about cruising, and now I can dream about coming back for a longer stay or to visit the others I missed.

MORE ABOUT CANARY ISLANDS

Spain Tourism Office: www.spain.info

Canary Islands Tourism: www.hellocanaryislands.com

Travel Tips:

• The Canary Islands can be reached by direct flights from continental Europe, most frequently from Madrid and Barcelona, serving Gran Canaria, Tenerife, and Lanzarote. The islands themselves are connected through ferries and puddle-jumper flights.
• Rates at the Grand Hotel Residencia include breakfast and WiFi, and a half-board option for lunch or dinner is also available.
• Rental cars should be booked in advance. Standard transmission is the norm, request automatic if you can’t drive stick.
• Windstar Cruises will offer the eight-night Canary Islands sailing between Tenerife and Lisbon in April 2025. Beginning in November 2025, it will offer 10-night roundtrip cruises from Tenerife onboard the 148-guest sail yacht Wind Star.