A Stunningly Diverse Island
Lanzarote is the eastern most of the Canary Island chain and is largely volcanic. Perhaps less touristy than some of the more famous, more developed islands situated around the coastline of mainland Europe, it offers an excellent destination for the discerning traveller and a wealth of varied experiences.
The first thing to say about the island is that while it may be volcanic, don’t expect the desolate barren moonscapes of other such isles. Lanzarote offers perfect conditions for life, lots of it, in all shapes and sizes, and as such was the first island in the world to be declared in its entirety a UNESCO protected biosphere back in 1993.
You will find plenty of tourist infrastructure should you so require particularly if you have a car hire, and the almost always perfect weather will give you plenty of opportunity to get out and about, as well the good road network, reaching to almost anywhere on the island you could wish to get to in your car hire.
While the island may not possess much in the way of beach, what with the coastline being mostly rocky, the locals have managed to add a whole 6 miles of sand to the shores meaning that you won’t have to miss out on lazing on the beach should you so desire.
Truly Picture Perfect Scenery
An area of the island that we particularly recommend would be the Timanfaya National Park, otherwise known as Montanas del Fuego, leaving you in no doubt as to what to expect from this trip. Unfortunately for safety reasons it is not possible to just wander around the park on your own, but the mountains and geysers can be seen from the coach ride included in the price of the ticket. Well worth a look is the El Diablo Restaurant offering both spectacular views of the park and your meal cooked by geothermal steam.
The island is stunningly diverse, to the south are the beaches and lava fields, whereas in the middle of the island you’ll find wine country and the further north you move the more lush the flora becomes. All over the island you’ll find evidence of its tortuous conception in the form of mountains, craters and hot springs. One such is the green lagoon, a volcanic crater near the town of El Golfo which fills with water from the sea seeping through the rock of the island, the stark green colour being caused by algae collecting in the basin. Or perhaps the Atlantida Tunnel, one of the world’s longest lava tunnels at 7 km in length would tickle your fancy.
Lanzarote also offers cultural highlights in the form of museums and art centres, but a highlight is the impressive Castillo de Santa Barbara in Teguis which can be easily reached in your car hire.
The best time to come would undoubtedly be in early spring when the vegetation is in full bloom, but any time you chose to come will provide you with a stunning holiday.
