If the Caribbean is the obvious autumn escape, the Canary Islands are the clever one. By October the water is at its warmest, the trade winds have eased, and the beaches, trails and harbours hum at a slower, less frantic pace. A flight that’s shorter than most audiobooks delivers you into a world of volcanic drama, black-sand beaches and sunsets that seem to last twice as long as they should.

The Canaries aren’t just Europe’s winter fallback; they’re at their best in autumn. Sea temperatures nudge 24°C, Tenerife’s Teide still catches crisp, clear skies, and Lanzarote’s lava fields glow under golden evening light. In January you’ll still find sun, but the days are shorter, the seas cooler, and the occasional Atlantic squall can nudge your beach plans indoors. October is different. It feels like a bonus season: one foot still in summer, the other edging into winter.

So if you want bath-warm water, long golden evenings and island-hopping volcano drama without a transatlantic slog, autumn in this Atlantic archipelago is the moment. Sea temperatures usually peak around 24°C in October on Tenerife, while daytime highs hover in the mid-20s. In January the seas cool to roughly 19–20°C and the weather turns a little more changeable.

The short-flight, warm-water equation

From London you can be in Tenerife in about 4½ hours. A Barbados hop is closer to 9 hours. If you are craving warmth without committing to a whole days' travel, the Canaries deliver summer-leftovers with half the flight time. 

Why October beats January here

• Warmer seas and longer days: October brings peak sea temps and around 11½ hours of daylight in Tenerife. Early January is nearer 10¼ hours. That extra hour or so is the difference between “quick dip before dinner” and “where did the sun go.”
• Softer winds: The north-east trade winds are strongest in summer and ease into autumn, especially noticeable on wind-kissed Fuerteventura. Great for beaches and beginner-friendly watersports.
• Fewer winter blips: Winter can bring occasional Atlantic lows and dust incursions known as calima. These are most frequent in the mid-winter months, which is another point for October. 

Islands that shine in autumn

Tenerife for big views and easy peaks
Take the Mount Teide cable car to 3,555 metres in under eight minutes, then walk the short signposted paths on the rim for Mars-like panoramas. If you want the very summit, apply for a free national park permit in advance. 

Lanzarote for lava landscapes
Timanfaya National Park is the archipelago’s great ash-grey theatre, a 5,000-hectare sweep of craters and frozen lava. Bus the volcano route, then explore otherworldly viewpoints around the Fire Mountains. 

Fuerteventura for sand-and-sea days
Autumn means warm water and calmer breezes on Europe’s answer to the Sahara by the sea. Base yourself by Corralejo’s rolling dunes for long beaches and simple, happy days. 

La Gomera for laurel-forest walks
Garajonay’s ancient, mist-touched woodland is laced with short marked trails and lookouts. It is close enough to the ports for a satisfying half-day leg-stretch. 

La Palma for stargazing
If your sailing overnights here, the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory crowns a UNESCO-recognised starlight reserve and explains why the night sky is such a draw. 

Bonus wildlife tick
The strait between Tenerife and La Gomera is Europe’s first Whale Heritage Area with resident pilot whales and frequent dolphin sightings year round, a fine plan B if the beach flags are up. 

A simple plan if you are docking for a day

• Tenerife: Cable car up Teide in the morning, fish lunch on the coast, late swim. Book tickets and permits before you sail.
• Lanzarote: Timanfaya’s volcano circuit, then coffee among César Manrique’s sculpted landscapes.
• Fuerteventura: Taxi to Corralejo dunes, walk the shore, quick snorkel, back in time for sail-away. 

Practicalities and smart picks

• Packing: October is “shorts and a layer” season. Bring a light fleece for evenings on deck, reef-safe sun cream, and a scarf in the event that the trade winds freshen. Met Office climate pages are a good sense check on temps where you are headed.
• When to swim: If the flag is green, autumn water is at its friendliest. October’s typical sea readings are in the low to mid-20s; January trends lower, which is fine for hardy types but too cool for some.
• Getting there: For fly-cruise or DIY stays, Tenerife South and Gran Canaria see frequent UK flights. As a rule of thumb, think four to five hours, not nine.
• Wind and dust: If your plans hinge on views, autumn usually dodges the peak summer trades and the more frequent winter calima events. Keep a light, flexible mindset if visibility drops. 

The verdict

If January in the Canaries is the reliable winter jumper, October is the just-right jacket. Warm seas, longer days, softer winds and island-hopping that feels like play rather than penance. For anyone weighing “Caribbean or something closer,” this is the smart, sunlit middle; the unofficial Caribbean you can reach before your audiobook chapter ends.