The cheapest holiday resorts in the Canary Islands this winter

1. Caleta de Fuste, Fuerteventura

Average price for a 7-night holiday: £533pp

Purpose-built resort Caleta de Fuste meets all the holiday criteria. There’s a sandy, shallow beach for little ones, more than enough watersports for big kids, and lovely boutique hotels for grownups seeking a quieter retreat. Add in that it’s the cheapest resort in the Canaries for a winter sun escape and it's a tough one to beat.

Make the most of the warm weather (average highs in January still peak at 18C) by getting stuck into activities. Head to the marina to join a scuba diving trip or check out the neighbouring Fuerteventura Golf Club if you fancy practising your swing.

You’re perfectly placed for day trips, too. Drive 35 minutes north to see Corralejo Natural Park’s golden dunes or go south to Oasis Park – a zoo and botanical garden rolled into one.

2. Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife

Average price for a 7-night holiday: £538pp

Puerto de la Cruz, on the north coast of Tenerife, is just £5 more expensive than Caleta de Fuste on average, making it another great pick for a cheap Canary Islands holiday.

The town itself has retained much of its former fishing village feel, dotted with seafood restaurants and local shops. It’s the kind of place where you can spend mornings browsing street markets and afternoons sipping sangria in a plaza café.

On the coast, a series of craggy bays shelter some of Tenerife’s best black-sand beaches, and a historic harbour gently babbles with fishermen’s boats going in and out.

Bordering the Orotava Valley, you’ve also got dozens of lush hiking trails on your doorstep. For an even closer view of Tenerife’s flora, the botanical gardens are an Eden of cacti, orchids and palms.

3. Las Palmas, Gran Canaria

Average price for a 7-night holiday: £572pp

Got your eye on Gran Canaria? Capital city, Las Palmas, is your best bet for a cheap holiday thanks to the mountain of affordable accommodation options. From great-value all-inclusive resorts to budget self-catering apartments, wallet-friendly holiday deals aren’t hard to find here.

If your idea of a winter sun escape is fully focused on the sunshine part, Las Palmas’s sprawling main beach, Las Canteras, is a top spot for soaking up some rays. With miles of soft sand, loads of laidback restaurants and an offshore reef perfect for snorkelling, it outdoes itself as an urban beach.

To add some sightseeing to your sand time, the city’s beautiful old town is a hub of pretty plazas, winding backstreets and an impressive twin-towered cathedral.

4. Taurito, Gran Canaria

Average price for a 7-night holiday: £603pp

From one of Gran Canaria’s largest resorts to one of its tiniest, Taurito proves that lesser-known towns can offer just as good value, with a week’s winter sun holiday coming in around the £600pp mark.

Nestled on the southwest coast between popular Puerto de Mogán (known as ‘Little Venice’) and busy Puerto Rico, you can understand why at first glance this resort may slip under the tourist radar. But once you find out that it can easily hold its weight against the big hitter – we’re talking rave-reviewed four-star hotels, a family-friendly beach with calm, clear sea and a water park.

All holiday types are covered here. Sporty? The AquaSports Taurito offers everything from kayaking to parasailing. Nature lover? See some phenomenal cacti at the botanical gardens. R&R seeker? Get yourself over to Lago Taurito Park’s spa and wellness centre.

Suddenly, Taurito becomes hard to ignore.

5. Costa Calma, Fuerteventura

Average price for a 7-night holiday: £622pp

When it comes to winter sun beach breaks, Fuerteventura is a frontrunner. Home to sugar-soft stretches of white sand lapped by cobalt sea, the island has some of the best beaches in the Canaries – and Costa Calma is an excellent base to make the most of them.

The resort’s own beach, Playa de Costa Calma, has 2km (1.2 miles) of strawberry blonde sand, while the silky swathes of Playa Esmeralda and Playa de Sotavento are a stone’s throw away. Whichever you choose, surfing should be at the top of your itinerary here – hire a board or a windsurf sail and get out on the waves.

Beyond the surf, you’ll find a decent selection of hotels, holiday apartments and restaurants that all cater to budget-conscious travellers. The resort also backs on to the Jandia Nature Reserve, a must visit for walking and wildlife enthusiasts.

6. Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote

Average price for a 7-night holiday: £643pp

Puerto del Carmen, one of Lanzarote’s largest and liveliest resorts, slides into the sixth-cheapest spot – at just under £650pp on average for a week-long holiday.

You’ll certainly get plenty for your money here: three big beaches, a restaurant-lined promenade, live music clubs, a casino, a zoo and an old harbour are just the tip of the entertainment iceberg.

Head to Playa Chica – considered one of Lanzarote’s best beaches – for a lazy morning sunbathing. Small and sheltered, it's great for chilled swimming and snorkelling sessions. Around the corner, the old town harbour is a hotspot for seafood restaurants and the departure point for sailing and diving tours.

Come evening, follow the music drifting on the sea breeze to Avenida de las Playas for upbeat clubs and cocktail bars overlooking the waterfront.

7. Costa Teguise, Lanzarote

Average price for a 7-night holiday: £695pp

Home to Lanzarote’s biggest waterpark, the island’s only aquarium and its oldest golf course, this classic seaside resort has lots going for it beyond its cheap holiday prices.

Factor in some gorgeous sandy beaches and fuss-free cafes and shops, and Costa Teguise easily takes the crown as one of the best family holiday destinations.

Playa de los Charcos and Playa del Jablillo are both lovely, sheltered coves perfect for swimming, while Playa de las Cucharas has watersports and lifeguards. Hire some bikes and you can beach hop your way along the coast.

Make sure to set aside time for a day trip. The historical town of Teguise, about a 20-minute drive inland, is a cornucopia of traditional Canarian buildings and has some fascinating museums. Or visit Lanzarote’s capital, Arrecife, for shopping and castle exploring.

*Please note: The research looked at all price searches via TravelSupermarket from 14 - 28 October 2024 for seven-night holidays departing between November 2024 and February 2025. The cheapest destinations were based on the median holiday price across the whole of that winter period.