'Best' Canary Island close to Tenerife but with barely any tourists

There is a little-known spot in the Canary Islands that is close to Tenerife but is arguably better than its famous neighbour for tourists looking for something a bit more authentic and peaceful. Tenerife is a hugely popular tourist island and many Brits fly there evey year to enjoy the good weather and the many resorts that are dotted around the island. However, it is a rather crowded island and much like other parts of , there is a growing anti-tourism sentiment among locals.

A today in protest of . So, Brits might be looking for an alternative for their summer getaway this year if they would rather dodge Tenerife. Just 84 miles away is La Palma, a smaller and less crowded island that many tourists say they prefer to Tenerife thanks to its more peaceful atmosphere and its scenery. While every tourist is different and people travel to the for a number of reasons, La Palma might trump Tenerife as a better option for a summer holiday this year.

La Palma is just over 273 square miles in size, much smaller than Tenerife which is 785 square miles. Taking that into consideration, it's no surprise that La Palma is less explored by tourists.

La Palma is famous for its rugged coastline and forested terrain. As well as the magnificent , there is the island's capital, Santa Cruz de la Palma, which features quaint narrow streets and lovely seaside bars and restaurants.

For nature lovers, La Palma is a dream getaway. There is Roque de los Muchachos, the highest point on the island where you will often find yourself walking above the clouds. Another highlight is Charco Azul, a stunning natural pool where you can enjoy a peaceful swim.

Other top-rated attractions on the island include the salt flats of Fuencaliente, the cultural park of La Zarza y La Zarcita, hiking routes to the top of the volcanoes, and such as Playa Nogales, Playa de Los Cancajos, Puerto Naos and Charco Verde.

Tourists have shared their experiences of La Palma and compared it to Tenerife, with many suggesting that the smaller island might be the better one to visit. One person on Tripadvisor described Tenerife as "more crowded" than La Palma, a sentiment that many others echoed.

One Reddit user raved about La Palma and wrote: "I was on La Palma last October. One of the best holidays! Such a nice small island! And Santa Cruz is a very lovely city! I can totally recommend it!"

"We simply adore La Palma. I can't recommend it enough," another said. Another person on Quora said that La Palma was definitely their "favourite" of the Canary Islands.

It seems that the general sentiment among travellers is that La Palma is better than Tenerife when it comes to an island that is less crowded with tourists and somewhere for more than just a beach holiday. Meanwhile, Tenerife is a better destination if you are looking for more nightlife and experiences designed for tourists.

However, holidaymakers feel increasingly unwelcome amid protests from locals who are fed up with huge crowds of tourists. For that reason, La Palma could be a better option in 2025.

Brits can fly to La Palma from a number of UK airports such as , , Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Birmingham.