ABOUT LANZAROTE
Lanzarote is a Spanish island, the northernmost and the most easterly of the Canary Islands. The island is a very popular tourist destination, with its all year round sunshine, beautiful beaches and good selection of tourist attractions. It is located approximately 125 kilometres off the north coast of Africa and 1,000 kilometres from the Iberian Peninsula. Covering 845.94 square kilometres, Lanzarote is the fourth-largest of the islands. In the centre-west of the island is Timanfaya National Park, one of its main attractions. The capital is Arrecife.
As with the other Canary Islands, Lanzarote has a volcanic landscape, which gives the impression that you are in a lunar environment, so much so that many movies have been filmed in various locations of the island. As recent as the 18th and 19th centuries there have been volcanic eruptions on the island, and the dry climate and lack of erosion, means that this volcanic landscape appears much as it did just after the eruptions.
Local authority building regulations mean that there is no billboard advertising and no high rise building construction allowed in Lanzarote.
Whether you are looking for a lazy beach holiday or a fun filled and action packed adventure, Lanzarote offers the best of both worlds.
Places Of Interest
Amongst the many stunning volcanic features of Lanzarote is the longest volcanic tunnel in the world, the Atlantida Tunnel, which is over 7 km long and incorporates the La Cueva de los Verdes and Jameos del Agua.
The Timanfaya National Park is probably the most popular attraction on the island, it incorporate Las Montañas del Fuego (Fire Mountains). The area is a natural phenomena created during the 17th century eruptions, which devastated the whole southern region of the island. The result is the eerie moon like landscape of Timanfaya National Park, a must for anyone visiting Lanzarote.
If you want to find out a bit about Lanzarote art and culture then a visit to The Cesar Manrique Foundation should be on your itinerary. Cesar Manrique was a local artist and architect who fought to keep Lanzarote free of high-rise and over development, declaring that no building should be taller than the highest palm tree and all the buildings should be the same colour.
Another one of Cesar Manrique’s works, in fact his last, was the splendid Cactus Garden. The gardens are home to over 10,000 cacti, belonging to over 1,400 species from America, Madagascar and of course, the Canary Islands.
Los Jameos del Agua are spectacular lava bubble formations, which were formed from the eruption of a volcano some 3,000 years ago. Located next to the Green Caves in the north of Lanzarote, the interior of the lava formations have now become a dance floor, two bars and a concert room (for 600 visitors) where you can enjoy the natural acoustics of this natural phenomenon.
Beaches
Lanzarote has a large variety of wonderful beaches and despite the volcanic nature of the island Lanzarote also boasts several beautiful white beaches such as those of Playa Blanca and Papagayo.
Playa blanca offers the most beautiful beaches of the island with the immaculate white sand and crystal clear blue waters, the most popular beach is playa dorada beach, which offers bathrooms, bars and restaurants on the beach. Then in the centre of the town of playa blanca there is a small untouched beach which is perfect for soaking up the sun before some midday lunch in one of the frontline cafes or restaurants.
Playa Grande is the most popular and well known beach on the island, it is the Puerto Del Carmen beach, that is a long beach facing the busy resort.
Close to the old town lies the picturesque beach of Playa Chica, where you can partake in a host of sporting activities, including diving lessons, jet skis, parasailing or snorkelling.
In the South of the Island near the resort of Playa Blanca lies the most stunning of all of Lanzarote’s beaches, Papagayo beaches. The gorgeous white beach is a beach lovers paradise, and although nudist bathing is allowed, it is not a strictly nudist beach, it’s for everyone to enjoy.
If you enjoy water sports such as surfing and body boarding, then head to the beaches of Famara and La Santa to the West. Famara is world famous for its surf, but definitely not for beginners or the fainthearted.
Finally the golden beach of El Reducto, situated in Arrecife, Lanzarote’s capital, enjoys great facilities and is facing some excellent Canarian bars and restaurants.
