Profile: The Canaries The Canary Islands aren't all party central - there are smaller islands and quieter spots with villas and apartments for upmarket buyers. Fiona Tyrrell visits two new developments, on Lanzarote and La Gomera

With a year-round spring- summer climate, the Canary Islands have long been a popular spot for northern Europeans seeking a two-week break from rain and grey skies.

Now the Spanish archipelago, which is located just over 100km from the coast of Saharan Africa, is proving increasingly popular with holidaymakers returning to the islands to buy property.

Irish buyers in particular are very active in the property market. Some content themselves with standard one-bedroom apartments along the tourist strips of Gran Canaria or Tenerife, which can be picked up from €180,000. Other buyers at the top end of the market pay up to € 1.5 million for luxury villas in exclusive developments light years away from the international party resorts associated with the Canaries.

Two different developments in the Canary Islands - one on the small island of La Gomera, west of Tenerife, the other on the much better known island of Lanzarote - have just been launched,both aimed at well-to-do buyers .

Pueblo Don Thomas on the small island of La Gomera, west of Tenerife, is likely to appeal to buyers looking for a luxury island retreat, especially if they are golfers.

The island has long been a favourite haunt of independent travellers and hikers attracted to the sun-soaked terrain to the south, the green valleys to the east and the lush 400-hectare national park at the heart of the mountainous island.

Now Fred Olsen, the company which owns the island's leading hotel, Jardín Tecina, is building a development of 400 villas and apartments in a low-density low-rise estate beside the hotel's 18-hole golf course.

Set in 225,000sq m (2.42 million sq ft) of exotic vegetation, the development offers views over the Atlantic Ocean and the fishing village of Playa Santiago as well as Mount Teide on neighbouring Tenerife.

The complex is just 29 kms from the capital, San Sebastian de la Gomera, and less than a 10-minutes drive to the airport. Playa Santiago, a pretty fishing village, is five minutes down the road.

For sale through Irish agent Prunty Overseas Property, prices start at €361,000 for a two-bedroom 132sq m (1,420sq ft) apartment and go up to €425,000 for a three-bedroom 135sq m (1,453sq ft) apartment.

All apartments have two bathrooms, underground parking, storage rooms and small laundry rooms. Ground floor apartments have landscaped gardens and terraces. Upper floor apartments have terraces. Communal areas in the development will include swimming pools and gardens.

Also for sale are 50 three and four-bedroom villas, which are built on private plots of between 600sq m (96,458sq ft) and 1,200sq m (12,916sq ft).

Prices start at €800,000 and go up to €1.1 million for villas measuring between 190sq m (2,045sq ft) and 220sq m (2,368sq ft). All villas have private swimming pools, terraces and landscaped gardens.

The show apartment on view promises a top class spec for Pubelo Don Thomas, with cream porcelain tiles, spot lighting, marble bathrooms, fitted Shaker-style kitchens with granite worktops and appliances included.

The large main bedroom has a walk-in wardrobe and an en suite bathroom has a large shower and bath. All units are wired for air conditioning and alarm systems.

With protected river valleys on either side of the development and a golf course to the front, property owners at Publeo Don Thomas are guaranteed protected views. Buyers will also be able to join Club Don Thomas, a country club set in the middle of the site, with leisure facilities including a swimming pool, bar and restaurant.

Construction is underway and units from the first phase are due to be completed this October. Since the first phase was launched in 2002, prices have increased by 40 per cent, according to Johan Vogt of Fred Olsen. A two-bedroom apartment could earn rent in the region of €250 a week, he added.

The easiest way to get to La Gomera is on one of the eight direct flights to the island's new airport from Tenerife or Gran Canaria. Otherwise you can get there via boat from Tenerife in 45 minutes.

On the dramatic volcanic island of Lanzarote, a small development of luxury villas with marina facilities in Puerto Calero is aimed at buyers interested in sailing.

Lanzarote's largely volcanic terrain prompted Unesco to declared the entire island a biosphere reserve. This, added to careful adherence to traditional building styles in the interior, means that aside from a few relatively low-key resorts, the island is not as commercialised as other islands in the archipelago.

Although located just 10km from Lanzarote International Airport and a few minutes' drive from the larger resort of Puerto Del Carmen, the pretty and sophisticated resort of Puerto Calero is a tranquil oasis with a decidedly maritime theme.

For sale through Irish agent Ganly Walters, the Puerto Calero development comprises 24 luxury three and four-bedroom villas. Available in five different styles, the villas are between 193 and 446sq m (2,077-4,800sq ft) in size and are on plots of between 770 and 1,200sq m (8,288-12,916sq ft). Prices range from €725,548 up to €1,167,603.

All villas have large gardens, terraces, private swimming pools, separate garages and barbecue areas; their design was inspired by traditional island architecture.

The show unit for one villa type has three double bedrooms and two bathrooms. Accommodation includes a large family/diningroom, livingroom and kitchen complete with appliances. There is an outside toilet and utility room. Generously-sized bedrooms have large fitted wardrobes and the main bedroom has a private terrace. Good quality fit-out includes solid wood doors and marble bathrooms.

The outside area has a pool, outside shower, barbecue and a typical Canarian pergola area to provide shade from the 2,700 hours of sun every year.

The first phase of villas will be ready for occupation in October, according to the agent.

The Puerto Calero resort has a 420-berth marina, one five-star and one four-star hotel, an art gallery, dolphin and whale museum, sailing and diving schools, shops, bars and restaurants. The resort offers year-round sailing and water sports and is host to an international sailing race and fishing competition.

Future plans for the resort include a golf course, a sports training centre and a 25-berth marina for yachts measuring 70 metres plus.

There are regular charter flights from Ireland to Lanzarote

Contacts:

Prunty Overseas Property

01 4983733

Ganly Walters International

Division

01 6623255

Interealty

00 34 928566020

JKOverseas

01 6613788

BUYING . . . IN THE CANARIES

Get an independent lawyer

Get your lawyer to check if the vendors are the registered owners of the property

Get a legal description of the property and its boundaries

Find out if there are any debts, charges or mortgages attached to the property

Research the rental income if you need the property to help pay for itself

Make a Spanish will to avoid any inheritance problems

The IGIC (government tax) rate is five per cent in the Canary Islands compared to seven per cent on the mainland.