Lanzarote is the fourth largest and most easterly of the Canary Islands. The Spanish owned archipelago which is located around 100 miles off the coast of West Africa.
This privileged position creates a climate that is clement all year round. Charactrtised by very low rainfall and temperatures that rarely fall below 20 Celsius. So creating the ideal preconditions for a thriving tourist industry.
Holidaymakers first started visiting the island during the 1970´s and Lanzarote now welcomes around 1.5 million foreign visitors every year. Around 50% of these tourists hail from the UK – but the island is also popular with German and Irish travellers. With the bulk of visitors concentrated in the three main resorts of Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise.
As well as year round sunshine Lanzarote boasts unique volcanic terrain – created by a number of enormous eruptions in the 1730´s. Which devastated around one third of the island, carpeting farmland and villages in lava. Leaving the area looking very much like the surface of the moon. Today this volcanic region is Lanzarote´s most popular tourist attraction.
Getting To Lanzarote
Whilst the island welcomes around 250,000 cruise passengers per year the majority of visitors arrive by air. Lanzarote is around four hours flying time from the UK and Eire and is now serviced by most of the leading low cost airlines, such as easyJet and Ryanair.
Accommodation
Visitors have plenty of accommodation options. Encompassing everything from studio apartments on holiday complexes in the main resorts through to chic rural hotels in the countryside. Many visitors now use the internet to book Lanzarote villas and apartments direct online with the owners.
Travel On Lanzarote
The best way to see the island and its many attractions is to hire a car or join a guided tour. Lanzarote measures just 58km by 38km – so it’s very easy to circumnavigate. The roads are well maintained, traffic is light and car hire and petrol are very reasonably priced. There are public buses – but these only really run in between the main resorts and don’t service many of the main attractions.
Sightseeing
The Timanfaya Volcano Park tops most visitor’s itineraries. As do the creations of a local artist, César Manrique. Who fused the volcanic terrain with his own creativity – resulting in sights such as the Jameos del Agua. Where he turned a large collapsed lava tunnel into a beautiful concert venue and underground grotto.
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