Visitor Guide to Lanzarote

Part of the Canary Island chain Lanzarote is one of the most popular holiday hot spots in Spain.  Boasting weird and eerie volcanic terrain, breathtaking beaches and a clement climate that makes it possible to enjoy a break here all year round.

Lanzarote can be found just off the coast of West Africa, on the same line of latitude as the Bahamas. And as a result has a semi tropical climate that makes it an ideal destination even in winter.  Like the other six islands in the chain it has been owned by Spain ever since the 1400´s.  So it is a very familiar for anyone who has enjoyed an Iberian holiday before.

Most visitors to the island arrive on flights to Lanzarote from the UK.  As more British visitors spend their holidays here than any other nationality.  With around 900,000 UK tourists expected to pass through Arrecife airport during the course of 2010.

There are three main holiday resorts which are all located in the south, whilst the north has been left largely untouched by tourist development.  And as a result has become a growing focus for rural tourism on the island.

Around half of all visitors stay in hotels, the other half in self catering accommodation.  With the island offering thousands of tourist beds all year round.  As here, thanks to the climate the holiday season never stops.

Hotels in Playa Blanca are especially popular, as this resort has been developed more recently than the others.  So facilities and amenities here are all still virtually brand new.  Prices are reasonable here too with room rates starting at about €60 per night.  Although there are some more upmarket establishments for those seeking a little more luxury.  Such as the Gran Melia Volcan located next to the Rubicon Marina.

Exploring the islands many attractions is relatively easy.  Lanzarote is a small island and the roads are all well signposted.  Car hire in Lanzarote is also very affordable, as is petrol.  The Timanfaya Volcano Park is the most popular sight, along with the works of the local artist César Manrique.  Who designed breathtaking visitor attractions such as the Jameos del Agua – an old lava tunnel and now a concert venue.

Lanzarote is also home to wealth of pretty, traditional towns and villages.  Such as Teguise, where some of the buildings date as far back as the 1450´s.

The Island of Lanzarote

Lanzarote is the ideal choice if you’re on the lookout for a holiday that involves the holy trinity of sun, sea and sand.

125 kilometres west of the coast of Africa, the island of Lanzarote is one of the Canary Islands. Its close proximity to the equator ensures that the island gets hot weather all year and thanks to the island’s volcanic origins, there’s no shortage of sandy beaches and dramatic landscapes. From the lively nightlife of Puerto del Carmen and Arrecife to the spectacular Timanfaya National Park, Lanzarote has it all.

Arrecife

The island’s main city of Arrecife, home to half the island’s inhabitants, has a wealth of shops and a bustling nightlife too. Approximately 45 minutes from the airport, Playa Blanca is the newest and fastest growing resort on the island. The town has a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere with plenty of shops, bars, restaurants, and, of course, beaches! You can even hop over to the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura using the regular ferries that leave from the harbour. Costa Teguise is one of Lanzarote’s oldest and most established resorts with plenty of things to do including golf, windsurfing or just lazing on the beach. If you’re looking for something a bit more upmarket, then Puerto Calero, with its splendid marina, is definitely for you.

Whichever part of Lanzarote tickles your fancy, don’t forget to make sure you take out holiday insurance before you leave.