Over 13 million visitors travel to the Canary Islands every year - more than 4.5m of them from Britain - to see their famous black and white sand beaches and enjoy attractions like the Carnival. Traditional tour guides give straightforward advice on what to do and where to go, but in this remarkable cultural history, the celebrated journalist and Canary Islands native Juan Cruz Ruiz offers something much more, for travellers and interested readers looking for an intimate exploration of this rich archipelago. Reading The Canary Islands is like travelling with a personal tour guide: one who will tell you in exquisite language about the original inhabitants of the Canaries, the history of the islands (including their conquest by Spain), and what life was like for residents of the Canaries before tourism. Ruiz explores their geography, food and art and introduces the reader to the Canario people and their life stories. The Canary Islands is a poetic, joyful look at the islands and the islanders, as well as a unique guide to unusual Canary Islands destinations, can't-miss food and wine, and the history, mythology and ecology of this cherished destination.