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Travel insurance for Tenerife and the Canary Islands

The Canary Islands are some of the most popular summer holiday destinations where sunshine is almost guaranteed. The archipelago (group of islands) has something for everyone with its varied landscapes providing luscious white sand beaches and adventurous mountain terrains. You're just as likely to find a sleepy easy going village as you are a lively town packed full of activities.

There are 8 islands in total, La Graciosa was the latest to be recognised in 2018. Tenerife is the largest and most populous of the archipelago, but Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote are tourism hotspots in their own right.

The southernmost region of Spain is located just over 60 miles west of the African coast, specifically Morocco. Going for a dip in the Atlantic Ocean is accessible wherever you are, and yes, that does mean the islands specialise in seafood!

Alvaro Iturmendi - Confused.com travel insurance expert

Reviewed by Alvaro Iturmendi Travel insurance expert 7 min read | Published 08/10/2024

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Important information

There are currently no travel advisories for the Canary Islands*. So, you should be able to buy travel insurance. It's worth highlighting there are active volcanoes around the archipelago, they can disrupt air travel so it's important you check for any issues before you go.

If you travel against Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice, you won't be covered by any travel insurance you buy. The same applies if you don't meet your destination's entry requirements.

All insurance products exclude cover for known events. Known events are global events that can disrupt travel and/or put you in danger. An example of this is the Covid-19 pandemic. This exclusion applies if the event was declared as a known event when you bought your insurance.

Your travel insurance may, or may not cover you if the presence of volcanic ash delays or cancels your flight, for example. This type of cover can vary between providers, so it's always worth checking when you buy a policy.

*Correct as of October 2024

Do I need travel insurance for Tenerife and the Canary Islands?

Travel insurance isn't a legal requirement for the Canary Islands. But, it's an important consideration as the right policy can give you peace of mind that you're protected if something goes wrong.

Planning for some sunshine? Pickpocketing can be common in popular places like Playa de las Américas and Playa de la Arena. In this situation, travel insurance can cover the cost of stolen personal belongings.

There are many active volcanoes around several of the islands. This can raise the chance of travel delays and disruption . If your flight gets delayed or there's changes to your holiday because of volcanic activity, travel insurance can help.

Is Tenerife and the Canary Islands in Europe?

Yes. If you look for the Canary Islands on a map we won't blame you for thinking it's a region of Africa. But that is not the case.

The archipelago is an autonomous community of Spain, so travel insurance will fall under Spain and therefore Europe.

When you get travel insurance you’ll need European cover, unless you're leaving the region.

Choosing the right policy for your trip

Single-trip travel insurance

Planning a one off summer holiday to Tenerife? If you are, single-trip travel insurance is what you need. It can cover one trip up to 31 days - perfect if you prefer a nice long beach holiday once a year.

Explore single trip travel insurance

Annual travel insurance

Annual or multi trip could save you money if you visit the Canary Islands, mainland Spain or other countries often throughout the year. You’ll pay one annual amount and can then travel without having to take out a policy each time you go.

Explore annual travel insurance

Family travel insurance

Can cover up to 2 adults and 8 children. With family travel insurance , children don't normally have to live at the same address as the adults. They can live away from home, be fostered, or step children. It's a flexible policy that can make things cheaper and easier.

Explore family travel insurance

Cruise cover

If you're visiting the Canary Islands as part of a wider cruise, cruise travel insurance covers you while on board and at the destinations you visit.

Explore cruise travel insurance

What does travel insurance for the Canary Islands cover?

What's covered:

Emergency medical treatment

If you receive medical care in a private hospital or don’t have a EHIC or GHIC card, travel insurance can cover costs.

Repatriation to the UK

If you need to get back to the UK due to a serious injury, illness or death, you're covered.

Theft, accidental damage or loss

Popular tourist resorts on the islands offer criminals and thieves opportunities to steal your belongings, especially around Tenerife, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.

Travel disruption

This could protect you from disruption caused by volcanic activity around the islands. Just make sure you check your policy inclusions, it's worth considering specialist cover if the insurer does not offer protection for these occurrences.

Cancellation or curtailment

If you need to cancel your trip before it starts or cut it short for an unexpected reason. For example, if you suffer an illness or have a death in the family.

What's usually not covered:

Travelling against FCDO advice:

If you travel against government advice, you could invalidate your policy. For example, if the FCDO advises against travel to a certain location but you go anyway.

Undeclared pre-existing medical conditions

Travel insurance can cover pre-existing medical conditions, but you must declare them to your insurer. If you don't make your insurer aware, any claims you make could be rejected.

Extreme sports and activities

'High-risk' sports and activities aren't covered by standard travel insurance. For example, if you want to go hiking up Mount Teide, you'll need to consider activity travel insurance.

Incidents involving alcohol and drugs

If illness, injury or death occurs as a result of these substances you won't be covered.

Changing your mind

Simply changing your mind about travelling without a specific reason isn't covered by a travel insurance policy.

What our travel insurance expert says

"With so many different types of holiday to choose from in the same area, the 8 islands of the Canaries offer something for every tourist. But with such a popular destination, crime can be surprisingly high in some parts and catch tourists off guard. You should also consider a travel insurance policy for medical emergencies. That's because if you end up at a private medical centre, your EHIC or GHIC won’t cover the cost.

Having the correct travel insurance in place means you’re covered against both and can relax and enjoy your trip."

Alvaro Iturmendi Travel insurance expert

How much is travel insurance to the Canary islands?

How much you pay for travel insurance depends on a number of factors. For example, pre-existing conditions, the type of policy you choose and your destination. But here's a rough idea of how much travel insurance costs for the Canary Islands:

Policy type	Price¹
Single trip travel insurance	£6.85
Annual multi-trip	£11.40
Backpacker	£38.09

¹Cheapest price for a 30 year old with no medical conditions. Correct as of August 2024 - Confused.com data"

Medical care in Tenerife and the Canary Islands

As the Canary Islands are an autonomous community of Spain, you will have the same access to care as mainland Spain and its other islands. Despite how remote the islands are from mainland Spain, there are a variety of private and state hospitals and medical centres with excellent standards of healthcare.

You can use your Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to get essential state healthcare. The UK GHIC has replaced the existing European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). You can apply for a new card up to 9 months before your current card expires.

If you require urgent medical treatment, it's important you contact your insurance provider as soon as possible. Many insurers provide a 24/7 helpline for medical emergencies. You should keep a note of emergency contact numbers in case you need it during your time in the Canary Islands.

But your EHIC or GHIC cards might not cover everything, which is why having travel insurance is important. If you don't have the right travel insurance policy in place, you might have to pay for:

Changes to travel and accommodation bookings
Additional standard costs for treatment
Medical repatriation to the UK
Treatment that's ruled non-urgent
Private healthcare

Travel insurance for activities in the Canary Islands

If you're planning any activities while you're away, it's best to know your covered for whatever you decide to do. If in doubt, check with your insurer as knowing what you have to get extra cover for can be confusing.

Golf travel insurance

Golf del Sur and Golf Costa Adeje are among the most popular courses around the archipelago. Standard travel insurance will cover a round or two as part of your holiday and other activities. But if you’re planning a golfing holiday with your own clubs and equipment, you should consider golf travel insurance . A specialist policy can cover damage, loss and theft of your clubs, along with the cost of hiring replacement clubs.

You're also protected from missed green fees and a large bar bill if you get a hole in one. Yes, if you're not aware it's tradition to buy the entire clubhouse a drink if you actually manage to get a hole in one!

Activity and adventure travel insurance

You're not going to be short of activities in the Canary Islands, trust us. A fairly low risk activity or sport is likely to be covered by a standard travel insurance policy while you're on holiday.

But if you're planning on hiking up an active volcano or kayaking in the Atlantic Ocean, you may need extra activity cover.

There’s no set list of what requires extra cover, so check with your insurer if you’re planning any activities. Not having the right cover could void your policy meaning having to pay for medical care and treatment if you get injured.

Do I need a visa to travel to the Canary Islands?

No. As the Canaries are an autonomous community of Spain, they have same entry requirements as mainland Spain and it’s other islands, which are all part of the Schengen area. UK citizens can travel and stay in the Canary Islands for up to 90 days.

Your passport must:

Have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive (if you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it may have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago).
Have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave.

The requirements for working on the islands outside of a single business trip are different. You can get more information on entry and staying or working in the Spanish region on the GOV.UK website.

Tips for travelling to the Canary Islands

Time zones

Conveniently, the islands belong to the same time zone as the UK.

Driving

Your UK car insurance is unlikely to cover you driving a hire car on the islands. In Spain third party liability is a legal requirement to drive on the road, as it is in the UK. The basic insurance required for cover on your rental vehicle is Collision Damage Waiver (CDW).

However hire car excesses can be very high, so it's worth considering car hire excess insurance. You can buy this online which is normally cheaper than buying it at the hire car company.

Getting around

It's possible to visit some of the other Canary islands. For example, you can get a boat trip from Lanzarote to Fuerteventura or hop on a short flight from Gran Canaria to Tenerife.

The main holiday resorts in the Canary Islands have excellent transport services and local buses and taxis.

Trips and excursions

With so many on offer, always look to pre book these before you go. It's not uncommon for popular trips and excursions to sell out in advance, especially in peak seasons.

Weather and climate

If you're looking for sunshine, the Canary Islands can certainly offer it. Temperatures reach between 30-40 degrees Celsius in the summer months. It's slightly cooler in the winter, but you can still expect around 20 degrees Celsius.

It should go without saying, but rain is not that common!