The Canary Islands lie off the coast of Africa, 100km west of Morocco. This Spanish archipelago is one of the most far-flung reaches of the European Union, and made up of seven unique islands.
From largest to smallest they are Tenerife, Fuertaventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera and little El Hierro.
Beaches, nightlife and year-round sunshine make them a popular destination for tourists intent on spending a week on a beach. But the rugged mountain scenery, desert landscapes and coastal zones make it a mecca for pilots too.
Hang glider pilots soar the huge Famara cliffs on Lanzarote, while many paraglider pilots will have spent a winter week or two escaping the worst of Europe’s winter weather while sheltered in the flyable lee of Mount Teide on Tenerife.
Just before Christmas last year Karen and Jason Skinner packed their paramotors into their van and drove south through Spain from their home in Catalunya. Their mission? To fly seven islands in seven weeks.
Read their full trip diary in Cross Country 161, July 2015.
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