The Canary Islands are a unique destination for anyone hoping to relax and improve their health and well-being, due to the sun and sea, the pure air, a relaxing atmosphere and the natural resources used for therapeutic purposes. As long ago as in the 19th century, numerous visitors came to the islands by medical recommendation, with the aim of resting and regaining their energy.
In addition, one of the most important issues for a traveller - especially if they are thinking of staying in a different country for a longer spell of time - is to ensure that they will be covered by the necessary health services, in case they require medical assistance. In this regard, the Canary Islands offer temporary visitors the very highest standards of quality in terms of healthcare.
The sun as a symbol of health
The more than 1500 kilometres of coastline and over 4000 hours of sunshine a year which the Canary Islands enjoy make the archipelago a natural spa, where the long, sunlight-filled days are an invitation to feel renewed and charge up with vitamin D after every dip taken in the crystalline waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
Another way of enjoying the sunshine of the islands, and its multiple health benefits, is by contemplating some of the sunsets that entrance every visitor, a unique spectacle for the senses, and perfect for bidding the final hours of the day farewell.
Spas and Wellness Centres
The Canary Islands offer visitors a wide range of Spas and Wellness centres with numerous services, such as all kinds of massages, therapies using natural elements and complete hydrotherapy circuits, perfect for eschewing stress and disconnecting. In fact, the Canary Islands’ archipelago has Europe’s largest thalassotherapy centre.
These therapies are highly recommended as a complement to treatments for rehabilitation, rheumatic diseases, skin and bone ailments and more generally, for people trying to rid themselves of the fatigue caused by their daily routine and hectic pace of life.
Coupled with this, people who choose the Canary Islands as a destination in which to spend longer periods of time will find a wide variety of medical establishments offering programmes specialising in weight loss, anti-ageing and cosmetic medicine and plastic surgery treatments, among others.
Forests for breathing pure air again
As well as the spectacular coastal scenery, the Canary Islands offer visitors mountain venues where they can engage in healthy activities. One of the most frequent activities is hiking, which keeps you in shape as you take in the peculiarities of the Canarian geography, breathing pure air all the while.
Rambling along any of the numerous trails in the Canarian archipelago is an excellent recipe for getting back in touch with nature in a healthy way, and in a unique setting, while living out an unrivalled experience, discovering some of the over four thousand endemic species of flora and fauna.
The highest healthcare standards
As well as all the benefits of their climate and landscape, the Canary Islands have an advanced, extensive primary healthcare system, the first level of access to the archipelago's Public Health System for citizens. This care is dispensed through surgeries and health centres, some of which have accident and emergency services.
With regard to hospital care, the archipelago has some of the best hospitals in Spain, with highly-qualified specialists working in them. The work carried out in these centres has been recognised with different awards. One of the most recent is an award bestowed on the Gynaecology and Obstetrics department of the mother-and-child hospital of Gran Canaria, ranking it as one of the best in Spain for the second consecutive year. These centres are usually in the island capitals, and are perfectly communicated through the public transport system.
The advantages of the European Health Insurance Card
Anybody from the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway and Liechtenstein who travels to the Canary Islands is entitled to free healthcare, by using the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
Visitors intending to stay on the archipelago for a longer time should prolong the card before they travel, after obtaining information from the health services of their country of origin.
Private health service
No obstacles will be encountered by anyone requiring private medical care on the Canary Islands, either, because most medical insurance policies are accepted in these centres. You should, however, check exactly what your insurance covers before travelling. In any case, there is also a wide range of specialist insurance products available for foreigners, which can be taken out after they move to the islands.
