Why I highly recommend Lanzarote as this years holiday destination

Lanzarote is very popular with holiday makers and tourists from all over Europe, and its easy to see why.  The laid back culture, year round sunshine and unique volcanic landscape all make for a captivating and memorable week or fortnight away.

The landscape, a result of volcanic eruptions over 35 million years ago, may seem sparse, dry and barren to some, but for others it offers opportunities - a chance to get close to history and what was a very turbulent past.  

Of course, it isnt just the history of Lanzarote that attracts the tourists.  Tourism is a big part in the economy of Lanzarote and given how busy the islands only airport is, in Arrecife, its plain to see just how big a part it plays.

There are a number of large, very high quality hotels on the island, but for those who were thinking of spending a little less there is a huge selection of self catering complexes and private villas and bungalows available for rent.  With low cost airlines making frequent flights to Lanzarote it is also very easy to get there.  The flight time to Lanzarote from the UK is a shade over 4 hours and yet the difference in climate and temperature makes it feel like you are much, much further away!

When on the island the three main resorts certainly dont let the holiday makers down.  There is definitely something for everyone from all night clubs to fine dining and bars.  There is a huge selection of family friendly restaurants and establishments and the entertainment ranges from UK tribute artists to traditional Canarian acts.

Of course, one of the things that people go on holiday for is the combination of sun, sand and sea (and lets throw in Sangria for good measure).  Lanzarote doesnt fall short in the beach department.  The main resorts all have a number of large and well maintained beaches to choose from and although the sea can be a little cool at certain times of the year, it is usually crystal clear and ideal for scuba diving enthusiasts.

Still not convinced?  If you want to do a little more than just lie around on the beach then why not take an excursion or trip to one of the attractions on the island.  The Timanfaya National Park gives you a glimpse into the islands history.  This volcanic park is made up of hundreds of craters and in places the temperature, just a few feet under the ground, can get up to 600 degrees!  Other attractions that were born out of the volcanic past, along with a little creativity from the local, late artist Cesar Manrique are Jameos del Agua and The Green Caves.  Along with Mirador del Rio which is a lookout over the Rio straights and to the neighboring island of La Graciosa.

And it doesnt stop there.  There are so many things to do, for couples and families of all ages including extreme water sports, submarine trips, scuba diving, quad biking and much, much more.

Lanzarote, in my view, is the perfect paradise in which you are able to unwind, relax and escape from the real world.

About the Author

Lanzarote is, quite simply, the authors favourite place on earth! Ian is also the owner and editor of Destination Lanzarote - an online guide book to the island of Lanzarote.

5 things do to in Lanzarote (apart from lie in the sun)

Lanzarote attracts millions of visitors every year, from all over Europe.  This is partly down to the climate as there are no ‘seasons' in Lanzarote.  It is sometimes said to be in a state of ‘ever spring'.   In the winter temperatures rarely drop below 20 degrees during the day although the nights can be much cooler.

Due to the climate, which it gets from its close proximity to the Sahara, Lanzarote is a very popular all year round beach holiday destination, but there is much more to the island that just lying on the sand and soaking up the rays.

The Island of Lanzarote has a history of volcanic activity that can be seen in the magnificence of the landscape, especially within the Timanfaya National park.  This history, along with the artistic flair on one man, Cesar Manrique, has created an individual identity to Lanzarote, something that you will not see on the other islands in the Canary archipelago.  This identity has also created some of the most unusual, if not amazing, visitor attractions in Europe.   The natural wonders of the island and the creative mind of one man creates a number of ideas for things to do other than lie on the beach....

Here are 5 things you can do other than top up your tan:

1. Visit the Timanfaya National Park.    The west side of the island was devastated by Volcanic eruptions in the 1800's which have left a distinguished mark on the landscape of the island.  You can also visit the El Diablo restaurant and have your food cooked on a grill where the heat is supplied from natural sources, just a few feet underground.

2. Go Scuba Diving.  The waters around Lanzarote are said to be some of the most active in the world.   Lanzarote has a biosphere status, which means that the waters surrounding the island are protected.  The marine life is attracted to the minerals in the volcanic rocks which makes Lanzarote one of the best places to go diving in the world!

3. Go Quad Biking!  With such an amazing terrain who wouldn't want to jump on a quad and go biking around the island.  There are specially created Quad tracks that go up the island through the Timanfaya National Park, although unfortunately Quad bikes are not allowed on the main roads as in some European Countries.

4. Take a ride in a yellow submarine.  Yep, thats right. Head over to Puerto Calero and take a ride in a yellow submarine safari.  If Scuba diving isn't for you then don't miss out on what the shores of Lanzarote have to offer.  The submarine safaris are a great way of seeing the Lanzarote marine life and you don't even have to get wet!

5. Go Shopping.  There are craft fairs and local markets happening in Lanzarote almost every day of the week.  Playa Blanca holds a market at the Rubicon every Wednesday and Saturday morning and the main market on the island takes place in Teguise every Sunday.  Local crafts can be purchased, along with Lanzarote wines and Aloe Vera.

So whilst many people simply associate Lanzarote with the sunshine, there is so much more to do.  We haven't even listed the Cesar Manrique attractions here... thats for another time.

About the Author

Ian is the author of Destination Lanzarote, the ultimate Lanzarote Holiday Guide. Visiting the island soon? Don't miss out on the Timanfaya National Park

What does Lanzarote mean to me?

Lanzarote means different things to different people. Different memories, different experiences, different events. It's an island that offers so much to many different people – people who live there and people who visit on holiday.

The big draw to Lanzarote is the weather. Northern Europeans often jump on a flight down to Lanzarote during the colder winter months to get some sun and absorb some ‘feel good factor'. The island doesn't really have a summer season as such as the resorts remain active pretty much all year long to accommodate the annual footfall of visitors.

People visit Lanzarote for more than just the weather though.


For me, Lanzarote is compelling. It has a mystique that surrounds it that creates an irresistible draw. I find it very difficult to put my finger on the exact reasons for this, but the contrast of simplicity and magnificence truly captures my ideals.

For many people that visit Lanzarote its about the main three resorts, which in themselves are all very different in terms of their appearance and offerings. For me a holiday is about a nice beach, nice food, a beer and a resort that has enough to create an atmosphere but not somewhere that is going to keep me awake at night. That resort is Playa Blanca.

Outside of the main holiday resorts Lanzarote is a gold mine of natural wonder and artistry. The Timanfaya National Park on the west coast reminds us back to the 17th and 18th Centuries when Volcanos shaped Lanzarote as we know it today. Add on top of that the brilliance and imagination of the famous Canarian Artist, Cesar Manrique, and you have the perfect blend of man and nature.

For me, Lanzarote can be described as a timeless retreat. Yes, it thrives on Tourism which it bases its economy on, but it has managed to combine an importance balance of combining tourism whilst retaining its identity. Again, thanks to Manrique, you won't find many high rise buildings or billboards whilst driving around Lanzarote. Instead you will see quaint looking towns and villages of white washed buildings sporting green or blue doors and window frames.

So in summary, Lanzarote to me feels like home. It has a hold on me that I cannot truly explain. Yes, the weather certainly helps, but the way of life and the raw beauty of the island is quite amazing. It's a mixture of back to basics with current times. It's a blend of tourism with traditional canarian way of life. It has a magnificent, yet humbling, history that remains prominent in attractions throughout the island. It's a place where you can step back, and remind yourself of what life is really all about.

About the Author

Ian is the founder and author of Lanzarote Tourist Site, Destination Lanzarote. The site is aimed at holiday makers and is a one stop shop for everything you need to know about the island, from Car Hire to local markets.

Lanzarote or Lanza-grotty?

For people who like to travel around Europe, the term Lanza-grotty might be familiar.  If you speak to people who use it freely they have basically come away from Lanzarote having had a bad experience, usually with a particular resort or accommodation.  Of course, in principle, its easy to have a bad holiday experience wherever you go, but poor old Lanzarote was unfortunately labeled - 'Lanza-grotty' - by a few bad experiences and the name stuck.

Personally, I have never had a really bad experience in Lanzarote.  On one occasion the apartment we stayed in wasn't particularly great, but I certainly wouldn't label the island because of it.

It's perhaps easy to see, when you get off the plane and hop into your hire car or shuttle transport, why people think that Lanzarote doesn't offer much.  The first thing you see as you travel down the LZ-2 is dry, baron land.  Having said that, if you are lucky enough to arrive to a perfect blue sky, the orange landscape does sit quite nicely against the blue backdrop!

I can't help feeling that people who have their bad experiences generally pay a little less for their holidays.  I am not saying that is a bad thing by any means, as I often look around for the best deals to save a few pounds.  But as the saying goes, you generally get what you pay for, and again I find it a little unfair that the island gets a bad reputation for the sake of us keeping a few notes in our pockets.

I would also like to point out that my bad experience was in Puerto del Carmen, about 10 years ago.  Now, Puerto del Carmen, or PDC as the locals like to call it, is sometimes known as Blackpool in the sun, and its easy to see why.  The sea front is lined up with English Cafes and Bars and it does little for the image of the island.  Again, I am not saying that there is anything wrong with this as the resort obviously does very, very well in attracting visitors year on year but I wonder if people who have had these experiences might have had them in PDC rather than Playa Blanca or Costa Teguise?

Having said all that, we are all entitled to our own opinions, and the fact that we are all so different is what helps to make the world go around.  Just because I find something satisfactory doesn't mean someone else will and so its very easy for a place to get a bad reputation.

The unfortunate title of Lanzagrotty, in my view, is totally unjustified.  I love the island, the year round climate, the great food and compelling culture and am happy to put my bad experience down to, well a single bad experience!  Lanzarote has so much more to offer than the odd complex in need of repair and I urge anyone who has once had a bad experience to go back, hop in a hire car and explore the, quite frankly, stunning island.

About the Author

Ian is the author of Destination Lanzarote, an online guide and resource to the fourth largest, volcanic island of Lanzarote.