Lanzarote Holidays

Lanzarote is the fourth largest of the seven islands that make up Spain’s Canary Islands. Tenerife is the largest island. Lanzarote is the easternmost island, located 79kms off the coast of Africa. It’s of volcanic origin and the central part of the island resembles a magnificent lunar landscape. The island gets very little rain and has a mostly arid feel. The north,however, is a little greener than the rest of the island. The south has some of the best sandy beaches.
For an island that’s 60 kms long and 20kms wide, there’s surprisingly a lot to do and see on your holiday travel. From culture, history, art, beaches and volcanic marvels, to diving, windsurfing, kitesurfing and snorkeling, you will have plenty to do during your Lanzarote holidays. The best way to explore the island is by hiring a car. There are a variety of package holidays available to suit every budget from the UK and the US.

Lanzarote Beaches

If you ask the locals, they will rate Punta del Papagayo and La Caleta de Famara as the best beaches in Lanzarote. Papagayo is on the southernmost tip of the island and is a collection of coves, while Famara is a long stretch of sandy beach with fabulous cliff views. Papagayo has ideal weather all through the year while Famara gets a bit cold for sunbathing in winter. Famara’s waves are rated as one of Europe’s best breaks and draw many windsurfers.
The tourist resorts of Costa Teguise, Puerto del Carmen and Playa Blanca have some nice beaches. But, as you can expect, get crowded during peak season. The beaches are generally well-maintained and have loads of bars and restaurants in their vicinity.

Lanzarote Attractions

Timanfaya National Park
This is by far the biggest attraction on the island. Volcanic eruptions in the 18th and 19th centuries have created a stark and dramatic lunar-like landscape. The lack of rain has meant that there’s been hardly any erosion and the landscape looks much the same as it did after the eruptions.
A bus tour takes you on a 45-minute ride through the Montañas del Fuego, or Mountains Of Fire, where you can view volcanic craters, witness evidence of underground geothermal activity and admire the unusual fauna. Alternatively, you can go on a walking tour. The walking tours tend to fill up early so book your tour as soon as you land on the island. A 15-minute camel safari can also be a fun option to ride through the park.
Lunch is a must at El Diablo restaurant which is near the car park at the Park’s entrance. The restaurant uses a volcanic grill to cook chicken and other dishes. The volcanic grill basically uses the geothermal heat coming from the earth.
Atlantida Tunnel
Stretching for over 7kms, this is the longest volcanic tunnel in the world. It includes the la Cueva de los Verdes (the Green caves) and the Jameos del Agua cave systems. You can see both in one day. The caves were formed when Monte de la Corona erupted three thousand years ago and are an incredible example of natural architecture.
The Green Caves are beautifully lit to highlight the unusual rock formations. These caves were used by the local people as hiding places from pirates. In the area open to the public, sometimes a part of the cave is used as a concert hall.
Jameos del Agua has a 600-seat auditorium, swimming pool, gardens and restaurant, all of which are naturally integrated into the volcanic caves with collapsed roofs.
The Cactus Garden
El Jardin del Cactus is the creation of artist Cesar Manrique whose work is found throughout the island. At the entrance to the garden is his 8m-high sculpture of a cactus. Inside you will find more than 10,000 varieties of cacti, some are from the island itself and others have been brought from America and Madagascar. There’s also a restored windmill in the garden along with Manrique’s metal sculptures.
Other Attractions:
Charcos de los Clicos: A volcanic crater with a green lagoon filled with algae.
Salinas de Janubio: The largest saltworks in the Canary Islands.
Castles: San Jose Castle, San Gabriel Castle, Santa Barbara Castle and Coloured Castle or the Tower of Aguila.

Best time to visit Lanzarote:

September and October, when the average day temperature is around 29°C and the sea temperature is about 23°C.
The weather is generally mild throughout the year although temperatures can drop to 12°C at night in winter.