CANARIAS

CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING SELECTED FOR FULBRIGHT IN CANARIAS!

Let us be the first to welcome the cohort to this beautiful province, and to this amazing program, made possible by the co-sponsorship of the Canarias Regional Government. We hope you are ready to embark on this adventure, and we are here to help you as you begin the experience of a lifetime in Canarias!

Each island in Canarias has its own gems to discover, from natural pools to world famous guachinches — so read through the guide to get important information about living on each one!

Meet your Canarias mentor!

Carlondrea "LaLa" Petty (She/Her/ella)

What’s up y’all! Wow, you all did it… you made it to the beautiful islas canarias. I am LaLa Petty and I am so honored to be your mentor. Las islas canarias awaits you!

I am a proud South Bend native. I graduated from the University of Notre Dame which is right smack in the middle of the city I was born and raised in. At Notre Dame, I studied Science Pre-Professional Studies (basically pre-med) and Spanish. You may think, “oh this is another small town girl story,” however my love and aspirations for travel, cultural engagement, and language have always been out of this world (no pun intended).

Originally, part of my dream was to be an NFL Physical Therapist, Athletic Trainer, and Strength and Conditioning Coach. Summer of 2023, I was granted the opportunity to intern for the 49ers as a Sports Medicine Intern. I completely fell in love with the professional sports industry. However I didn’t know that the following fall, my life would change forever (Fulbright). My Fulbright experience made me realize there is so much more to explore and experience in life.

I knew I needed another year in Spain. Outside of work and studying, I love love love CrossFit, helping others meet their personal health goals (I am a personal trainer), trying new things, crafting, mini golf, playing darts, reading, dancing to old school music, and laughing!!! So if you’re ever available, I’d love to grab a coffee and plan out some activities together!

Additionally, I want to keep it real; I would not change my Fulbright experience but everything was not rainbow and flowers. Life lifes! From my parents getting a divorce, close family members passing away, realizing I may be living for others and not myself, my sister being diagnosed with cancer, to me switching schools at the end of my grant, and so much more in between. I mention all those things to say, things will happen, and sometimes life will be rough, but it is all worth it.

So get ready and meet me in Spain! Your new home awaits you! Remember, we are here for each other. I am here to join you in your journey on making Spain yours. As you prepare to come to Spain, we (the mentors) are here to answer questions and support you in any way we can. If you need anything, you can reach me at fulbrightcanariasmentor@gmail.com. Let’s get it! ¡Hasta Pronto!

Get to know canarias

Check out Sarah’s experience as a TA in La Palma in 2023-2024:

TRAVELING TO CANARIAS

Despite their relatively remote location, the Canary Islands are quite well-connected to the Iberian peninsula and the rest of the world due to an ever-increasing interest in tourism. While you may find that many Americans are generally unaware of Canarias, the connections between the two are growing. For example, in June 2022, the airline carrier United began a trans-Atlantic route between Newark and Tenerife Sur, representing the growing demand for connection between the islands.

In general, the cheapest and most convenient options for flights to Canarias are from major U.S. hubs (i.e. Boston or New York) through mainland Spain (Madrid or Barcelona), and then south to a larger island (Tenerife or Gran Canaria). However, past grantees have found excellent flights that route through places like Lisbon or even Stockholm. Remember that there is heavy tourist traffic between many northern European cities and the Islands, so be sure to explore your options – you might find a great (if unconventional) deal!

There are daily flights between most major cities in Spain and most of the Canary Islands. Airlines like Iberian, RyanAir, Vueling and AirEuropa offer a variety of times with decently priced fares, and can be fairly cheap when booked in advance. However, before you book, make certain that your flights will coordinate well with any necessary travel between islands – for example, if you live on La Gomera and your flight gets into Tenerife at 8 pm, it’s likely the last boat of the day has already set sail for your island and you’ll need to spend the night!

For a more detailed explanation of travel to Canarias and to each of the islands, be sure to check out the Canarias Travel Guide.

TRAVELING BETWEEN ISLANDS

Travel between the islands can offer many new experiences, and although swimming between the islands has been done, it is not recommended… What would you do with your luggage?! The two modes of travel between the islands are ferry and plane. Fares for both are generally similar, though this varies by case. Traveling by plane is typically faster, but traveling by ferry affords an unbeatable view as well as the ability to travel easily with larger objects, such as bicycles. 

On each website for inter-insular travel, you will see an option for a (much cheaper) resident fare. Unfortunately, these fares are only available to Canarias residents who are also citizens of the European Union (new restriction as of May 2018). Past grantees have had mixed success obtaining and using the certificado de viajes (being issued one depends on each Ayuntamiento), but as of right now there is no solid solution.

Again, more detailed information and advice can be found in the Canarias Travel Guide.

GET TO KNOW CANARIAS

Check out Casey's experience as a TA in El Hierro in 2019-2020:

USEFUL INFORMATION

There is a U.S. Consular Agency in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Edificio ARCA, C/ Los Martínez Escobar, 3, Oficina 7, 35007 Las Palmas). Consular Agencies offer limited services to U.S. Citizens in the area. Please note that Consular Agencies do not issue visas or passports, but they can provide and accept applications for passports (though not for emergency passports).

Emergency and Useful Telephone Numbers:

  • General Emergencies: 112 (toll free, 24 hours, equivalent of 911 in all of Europe)
  • General Information: 012
  • U.S. Embassy in Madrid (Working hours): 91 587 2240 – U.S. Citizen Services
  • U.S. Embassy in Madrid (After Hours): 91 587 2200
  • Tourist Information:
    • El Hierro (0034) 922 550 302
    • La Palma (0034) 922 423 340
    • La Gomera (0034) 922 870 281
    • Tenerife (0034) 922 635 192
    • Gran Canaria (0034) 928 771 550
    • Fuerteventura (0034) 928 860 604
    • Lanzarote (0034) 928 820 704

The official tourism website of the Canary Islands has a wealth of information and beautiful pictures to help you get excited for your new adventure.