Mapi hatched on a Canary Islands beach and is very clear about one thing: the best memory of a trip is the one that leaves no trace on the place you visited. Children learn to care for nature the way they learn almost everything, by watching the grown-ups. A trip to the Canary Islands is a perfect chance to show them, without lecturing, why some places need to be treated with special care.
Mapi says
Exploring also means caring for the place you visit. Stones, shells and sand stay where they are, for the next family.
Places that ask for permission
Some natural areas limit visitors to protect themselves. Lobos Island, off Corralejo, is a nature park with limited access: you need a free prior permit from the island council (Cabildo). Explaining to children why you need permission to visit an islet is a good way to start the conversation.
Animals that live only here
In El Hierro, the Guinea Lizard Centre breeds the El Hierro giant lizard, an endangered species found only on this island. Seeing it up close helps children understand what it means for an animal to be in danger and why its home deserves protection.
The sea, best from a distance
The Canary Islands are one of the best places in Europe to see whales and dolphins, and one of the places that most needs responsible watching. That is why we select trips such as those from Puerto Rico, with an operator certified by the World Cetacean Alliance, or from Puerto Colón, with official authorisation and a maximum of six passengers. Next to La Restinga, in El Hierro, the Mar de las Calmas marine reserve is another good example of a protected sea.
National parks: learn before you step in
Before exploring a national park, it is worth stopping at its visitor centre. Juego de Bolas is the gateway to Garajonay National Park, in La Gomera, and the Caldera de Taburiente centre, in El Paso, to La Palma’s national park. In Lanzarote, the Fire Mountains are toured by coach along the Volcano Route, so the landscape stays intact.
Small everyday gestures
Stay on marked paths, do not take stones, shells or sand, always pick up your rubbish and speak softly in forests and near animals. These are simple gestures that children repeat proudly once they understand why. And every destination you look after together can become a stamp in your Traveler Passport.