Tenerife and La Gomera are the most diverse of the Canaries. Set in a dramatic landscape, these are islands of extremes: from sun-baked, shrubby lava fields to evergreen cloud forests and from lush, terraced mountain slopes to the strange high-altitude semi-desert in the crater of the Teide volcano – each corner is a different world. Only two ingredients are consistently present: spectacular scenery and an endemic flora and fauna. Over 30% of the wildflowers of Tenerife and La Gomera occur nowhere else in the world but here, bestowing the title of the ‘Galapagos of botany’ on the islands. Likewise, the birdlife, the reptiles and butterflies have evolved into unique faunas. Hence, these islands are a must-see for anyone with a passion for the natural world. * 17 routes (car and walk) * 35 site descriptions * Where to watch birds information * Finding butterflies, wildflowers, reptiles, etc. * Detailed background information on landscape and ecology