Sci-Fi On Location: Real-World Settings from Your Favorite Films

6. Canary Islands, Spain – The Future on Film in Solo and Planet of the Apes

The Canary Islands, a volcanic archipelago off the northwest coast of Africa, offer a cinematic mix of raw, elemental beauty that has made them favorites for science fiction filmmakers. Islands like Tenerife and Fuerteventura served as alien planets in Solo: A Star Wars Story and Planet of the Apes, with vast lava fields, sand dunes, and Martian-red valleys providing natural backdrops that look more galactic than earthly. These islands are accessible yet feel remote—ideal for stories set on distant worlds or dystopian futures. From cratered peaks to pine-covered slopes, the visual diversity here eliminates the need for heavy CGI. Visitors can hike through volcanic national parks that mirror lunar landscapes, swim in tidal pools, or watch sunsets over jagged cliffs that seem to belong in another galaxy. For sci-fi lovers, the Canary Islands are a scenic shortcut to otherworldly immersion.