Lanzarote - Island of Nature, Food and Music

Lanzarote is my all time favourite place.  Not only just my favourite holiday destination but my favourite place on earth bar none.  The climate is just right and the island has a mystique that surrounds its preserved natural beauty.  Its a place that draws me back time after time.

When your flight starts to descend over Lanzarote, the first thing you will notice (usually out of the left hand window of the plane) is the volcanic landscape.  The view of crater, after crafter is truly amazing and the colours of the mineral rich landscape set off against the blue of the sky and the sea are a real sight to behold.  You will also notice how sparse Lanzarote appears from the air.  Its only a small island and yet is not overrun with high rise developments.  It really has the mix of tourism and nature spot on.

When the Plane touches down and you make your way out of the airport the landscape may appear quite literally, bone dry.  Lanzarote doesnt get much rain (it is off the coast of the Sahara Desert).  The landscape on Lanzarote has been likened to that on the moon and whilst this might not be for everyone it certainly has its hold on me.

There are three main tourist resorts on Lanzarote.  Puerto del Carmen (the largest and just minutes from the airport), Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise.  Each resort has its own appeal to different age groups but the one thing they all share is great food.  When it comes to dining out Lanzarote sets the standards.  Go into any restaurant that lines the sea front of the resorts (and they are a few) and you will, more often than not, be presented with a wide selection of outstanding dishes.  And the portions dont come small!  The price you pay for eating out in Lanzarote does vary.  You can basically pay as little or as much as you want, but the average price usually gets you a really nice meal.  A couple can easy have a nice meal for around €50 including starter, main, desert and drinks.

Finally, the music.  I dont know what it is about Lanzarote but the live music on offer tends to be so much better than anywhere else I have been.  It really seems to blend in with the island and provides a great nights entertainment.  Not only that but the musicians tend to be accessible so it easy to get to know them if you are a regular visitor to the island.

All in all, Lanzarote is the perfect place.  The climate, the nature and the tourism all seem to sit together so well.  Its not over commericalised and there is a real sense that whilst Tourism is very important to the island that it will not be forced into destroying the identity that has created the island we have come to know and love.

Christmas in Lanzarote

Being an 'all year round' holiday favourite, Lanzarote is a very popular choice of destination during the Christmas season.  Christmas is often a time when friends and family get together at home but more and more recently people are deciding to swap the cold, dark winter days with the warmer climate of Lanzarote and the Canary Islands.

Christmas is now one of the busiest times of the year in Lanzarote and visitors numbers are comparable with the summer season.  The nice thing about Christmas in Lanzarote is that there is no 2 month commercial build up where you are forced to listen to Christmas carols and fight your way through Christmas decorations in shops from the beginning of November.  Christmas in Lanzarote, whilst still celebrated, is a much more understated affair.

As is always the case in Lanzarote, you will be able to find a nice meal on Christmas day although you might have to hunt around if you fancy the traditional turkey.  The Spanish tend to have their Christmas feast on Christmas Eve, where Lamb and Lobster are usually ever present on the menu!  In typical Spanish fashion the Christmas feast usually consists of several courses and many different side dishes!  As the Christmas Eve meal is such a big event you will find that many of the local restaurants and bars close early on Christmas so that the staff can spend the evening with their families and also attending the Christmas Eve Mass celebrations.

The food aside, probably one of the biggest reasons that people choose to spend their Christmas in Lanzarote is the weather.  However strange it may seem to wake up on Christmas morning to blue sky, sunshine and warmth there is nothing better than a stroll beside the sea on Christmas morning (apart from maybe spending some time on the beach in the afternoon!)

Whilst I have said that the Spanish do celebrate Christmas the actual exchange of Christmas gifts takes place after New Year, on January 6th.  This is known as the day of the Kings and is a day of festivals, street parades and entertainment.

So in all, Christmas in Lanzarote is a very relaxing time, celebrated in an understated fashion (compared to the UK) in the warm climate of the Canary Islands.  If you've decided that you have had enough of the frantic festive Season in the U.K then maybe its time you thought about spending Christmas on the Island?

Check out the new Destination Lanzarote YouTube Channel

The new Destination Lanzarote YouTube channel is now online.

We have just put up a couple of videos for now, but this collection will grow over time.

Have a look and see what you think.

Destination Lanzarote on YouTube

Lanzarote - The family destination

Lanzarote is a popular holiday destination with Europeans.  It is a small island that forms part of the Canary Islands, just off the coast of Africa, and is governed by Spain.  The year round sunshine is one of the major factors that the island is popular with tourists for 12 months of the year but it also holds a number of 'secrets' that some holiday makers may never discover if they tend not to venture far from their resort.

Lanzarote is the perfect location for family holidays.  With a number of golden beaches, sunshine and family friendly hotels it has something to offer for every age group and generation.

Many families that visit Lanzarote simply enjoy the chance to relax on the beach whilst soaking up the sun.  This is probably very likely if you are a family with young children.  However, as the kids grow older they are more likely to want to explore the island and what else it has to offer.

Lanzarote is an island steeped in turbulent history.  The fiery mountains of Timanfaya Park were formed as part of years of ongoing volcanic eruptions and today it stands as a protected national park.  

As well as the natural attractions on the island there are a number of attractions that were created out of natural landscapes by the late Cesar Manrique.  Manrique was an artist who lived on the island, where he also tragically lost his life in a car accident.  Visitors to Lanzarote will see the Manrique Legacy quite apparent in everything from visitor attractions and architecture to logo designs on tourist guides.

If the kids are feeling a little more adventurous then Lanzarote is also a great place for the more 'extreme' sports such as windsurfing, kite surfing and surfboarding.  To the north of the island lies Famara.  Famara is shadowed by huge cliff faces but the sea conditions at Famara are perfect for the extreme sports community.  There are often regular international  extreme sport competitions held on Lanzarote!

Sometimes a holiday is about soaking up local culture, and there is plenty of that on Lanzarote.  Families can enjoy local craft markets at all the major resorts and then there is the large Sunday morning market at Teguise where you will find local crafts, produce, clothes and more all on sale at very reasonable prices.  The market boasts a great atmosphere as local and international musicians line the streets and perform from the rooftops to entertain the shoppers and tourists.

One of the main things that I have found about Lanzarote is that it portrays a very safe environment - this is something that is extremely important to families.  The hotels and aparthotel complexes are all supervised 24/7 and there are very rarely any major reports of crime that affects holiday makers.

Overall, If you are struggling to find somewhere for you next family holiday location I would strongly recommend Lanzarote.