Costa Calma Holidays

Costa Calma lives up to its name – it’s one of the more laidback places to stay in the Canary Islands. Bar streets and open-all-hours nightclubs are replaced with a clutch of decent pubs and family-friendly restaurants. Location-wise, it’s wedged in between the enormous Jandia Natural Park and a flawless white-sand coastline.

Costa Calma gets some really impressive waves. The surfing conditions are so good that it attracts wave-riding pros from around the world, and you can take lessons to have a go at it for yourself. When the tide’s in, there’s a shallow lagoon that tots can paddle in. And if topping up your tan is more your scene, you’ll have plenty of space for it – the sand unravels for a massive 160 kilometres.

Mountainous peaks, volcanic landscapes and powder-white beaches spread throughout the huge Jandia Natural Park, which is on Costa Calma’s doorstep. Hire a bike to spend a day exploring it, or sign up for an organised dune buggy tour to get the full low-down from a guide. Alternatively, watch sea lion shows and feed the lemurs at the Oasis Park Zoo, or pick up a bargain at the twice-weekly market.