Lanzarote, the fourth largest of the Spanish archipelago, the Canary Islands, is a very popular holiday destination with tourists flocking from all over Europe.
Lanzarote is a tourist favorite thanks to its year round climate, thanks to its location and close proximity to the Sahara desert. Even during the winter months Lanzarote enjoys 8 hours of sunshine and temperatures that rarely drop below 20 degrees celcius.
However, whilst the tourist industry plays a major part in the economy of Lanzarote, there is much more to it than hotels, nightclubs, restaurants and beaches. Lanzarote was thought to have been named “The Red Mountains” after the it was born out of fiery volcanic eruptions around 35 million years ago! It is said that Lanzarote, along with the other Canary Islands was formed as part of the break up of the African and American continental plates.
One of the most magnificent natural attractions on Lanzarote is the Timanfaya National Park. The park that is sparse in vegetation and distinctly identifiable by air from the number of large craters on show, tells the story of volcanic eruptions that took place during 1730 and 1736. The eruptions of the 1730’s are known as the greatest in Europe and saw many residents on Lanzarote take refuge in Gran Canaria.
To this day areas around the Timanfaya park still measure temperatures of 600 degrees just 13 metres below the ground that you stand on. You can see demonstrations of how hot this is within the park, through geyser demonstrations and watch straw set on fire as it is pushed just metres underground.
Whilst the eruptions helped to forge Lanzarote’s natural landscape, in more recent times a local artist, Cesar Manrique, helped to shape Lanzarote as we know it today in terms of the style of buildings, local sculptures, paintings and genius natural attractions that are scattered around the island. You could say that Manrique used Lanzarote as his canvas.
Some of the Manrique creations that are open as visitor attractions on Lanzarote include Mirador del Rio, a lookout built into the northern cliffs with amazing views over La Graciosa (a neighboring island) and Jameos del Agua, a lava tunnel containing a natural pool that is home to albino crabs (said to be the only place in the world where they can be found). Jameos del Agua also has an auditorium / concert hall built into the lava landscape. The lava based rock formations that line the walls of the auditorium are said to creating amazing acoustics that really bring classical music alive.
The legacy of Manrique is still very much alive today. Apart from a few large hotels, there are no high rise buildings and all buildings are painted white with either blue or brown door and window frames. It is because of this, along with the barren landscape that Lanzarote stands out from the other islands that make up the Canary archipelago.
Saturday, 16 July 2011
Monday, 11 July 2011
Getting the most out of your Lanzarote Holiday
Lanzarote is a gem of an island that sits just off the coast of Africa within the Canaries Archipelago and is owned by Spain. It is an island that was formed by Volcanic activity, most of which is still evident in todays magnificent landscape.
Holidays in Lanzarote are very popular, especially with Europeans. The Canary Islands offer a warm climate 12 months of the year, with very little rain. With that said it is easy to see why they are such a popular choice when it comes to vacation time.
Holidays in Lanzarote can offer so much to some many different people. Wether its just taking time to relax, soak up the sun and enjoy some fine dining, or if you are looking for a full on adventure holiday with scuba diving and wind surfing then Lanzarote is the place for you. Got a young family? No problem. There is always plenty to do for the youngsters, from organised activities in Kiko Land in Playa Blanca, to entertainment provided by hotels in other resorts. There really is something for everyone.
Fancy a bit of shopping? Lanzarote can offer that aswell. Throughout the week there are different craft markets that take place around the main resorts and towns of the island with the 'mother' of all markets taking place in Teguise every Sunday morning between 10am and 2pm. If you have a hire car then get yourself up there - its a sight to be seen. If you don't then don't miss out. There are plenty of excursions available from different resorts that will get you there.
Interested in the history of Lanzarote? Then take a trip over to the Timanfaya National Park. This gem of an attraction takes you through the path of the volcanoes that shaped the landscape and you can even order food that has been prepared on a natural grill, heated from just meters under the surface.
There are many different types of accommodation in Lanzarote, and some suite people or families better than others. You might want to stay in a luxury hotel for example where typically you just get a room with a bed and you would visit the on site restaurant for meals. Or for those that fancy a bit more freedom why not consider staying in a self catering apart-hotel, or a holiday villa. Whilst holiday Villas can be a little more pricey for smaller groups, the larger the group the cheaper they come as they tend to be priced per villa and not per the number of people staying in them.
To get the most out of your holiday you need to know what you want from it before you go. For example if you want to get around and see the sights you should, in our opinion book a hire car. Lanzarote may only be a small island, but with your own wheels you can discover hidden gems that you would never know about if you were to stay within your resort.
Holidays in Lanzarote are very popular, especially with Europeans. The Canary Islands offer a warm climate 12 months of the year, with very little rain. With that said it is easy to see why they are such a popular choice when it comes to vacation time.
Holidays in Lanzarote can offer so much to some many different people. Wether its just taking time to relax, soak up the sun and enjoy some fine dining, or if you are looking for a full on adventure holiday with scuba diving and wind surfing then Lanzarote is the place for you. Got a young family? No problem. There is always plenty to do for the youngsters, from organised activities in Kiko Land in Playa Blanca, to entertainment provided by hotels in other resorts. There really is something for everyone.
Fancy a bit of shopping? Lanzarote can offer that aswell. Throughout the week there are different craft markets that take place around the main resorts and towns of the island with the 'mother' of all markets taking place in Teguise every Sunday morning between 10am and 2pm. If you have a hire car then get yourself up there - its a sight to be seen. If you don't then don't miss out. There are plenty of excursions available from different resorts that will get you there.
Interested in the history of Lanzarote? Then take a trip over to the Timanfaya National Park. This gem of an attraction takes you through the path of the volcanoes that shaped the landscape and you can even order food that has been prepared on a natural grill, heated from just meters under the surface.
There are many different types of accommodation in Lanzarote, and some suite people or families better than others. You might want to stay in a luxury hotel for example where typically you just get a room with a bed and you would visit the on site restaurant for meals. Or for those that fancy a bit more freedom why not consider staying in a self catering apart-hotel, or a holiday villa. Whilst holiday Villas can be a little more pricey for smaller groups, the larger the group the cheaper they come as they tend to be priced per villa and not per the number of people staying in them.
To get the most out of your holiday you need to know what you want from it before you go. For example if you want to get around and see the sights you should, in our opinion book a hire car. Lanzarote may only be a small island, but with your own wheels you can discover hidden gems that you would never know about if you were to stay within your resort.
Thursday, 23 June 2011
Lanzarote Attractions - Admissions figures for May 2011
Attractions in Lanzarote are enjoying a healthy year as Tourism on the island continues to grow. May 2011 enjoyed an increase of 7.88% across all attractions against last years figures.
The Timanfaya National Park remained the most popular attraction with 54,049 visitors during May. This was followed by Jameos del Agua, recording visitor numbers of 42,747.
Other key attractions on Lanzarote continued to admit improved visitor numbers.
The Green Caves admitted 22,097 visitors, Mirador del Rio 20,616 visitors and Jardin de Cactus 18,486.
In total, the attractions admitted a combined total of 162,061 visitors which took the total for 2011 to 973,412 to date. Compared to last year when 869,112 admissions where recorded - an increase of 12%
The Timanfaya National Park remained the most popular attraction with 54,049 visitors during May. This was followed by Jameos del Agua, recording visitor numbers of 42,747.
Other key attractions on Lanzarote continued to admit improved visitor numbers.
The Green Caves admitted 22,097 visitors, Mirador del Rio 20,616 visitors and Jardin de Cactus 18,486.
In total, the attractions admitted a combined total of 162,061 visitors which took the total for 2011 to 973,412 to date. Compared to last year when 869,112 admissions where recorded - an increase of 12%
Friday, 17 June 2011
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 spread.
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-1 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 rhyming slang of Lanzagrotty has certainly stuck and in my view is totally unjustified. I love the island 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.
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-1 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 rhyming slang of Lanzagrotty has certainly stuck and in my view is totally unjustified. I love the island 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.
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Lanzarote Tourism Figures April 2011
Lanzarote Visitor numbers continued to increase in April 2011, some say perhaps down to the continued unrest in the Middle East.
According to ASOLAN Lanzarote welcomed 159,693 foreign visitors during April - some 58,249 more than the same period in 2010. An increase of 57%.
To follow the trend reported occupancy shows an increase of 15.47% from the same period in 2010.
ASOLAN figures also report a 15% increase in occupancy in Lanzarote hotels, apartments and apart-hotels. The rise in occupancy has been steady throughout 2011 with the first quarter reports showing an increase of 13.79%
The dramatic increase in visitor numbers can be partly thanked by the fact that Easter fell in April this year.
Source : http://www.asolan.com
According to ASOLAN Lanzarote welcomed 159,693 foreign visitors during April - some 58,249 more than the same period in 2010. An increase of 57%.
To follow the trend reported occupancy shows an increase of 15.47% from the same period in 2010.
ASOLAN figures also report a 15% increase in occupancy in Lanzarote hotels, apartments and apart-hotels. The rise in occupancy has been steady throughout 2011 with the first quarter reports showing an increase of 13.79%
The dramatic increase in visitor numbers can be partly thanked by the fact that Easter fell in April this year.
Source : http://www.asolan.com
Wednesday, 4 May 2011
Lanzarote - An Island of Natural Treasures
Most people recognise Lanzarote as a year round holiday destination thanks to its ever spring climate. The temperature very rarely drops below 16 degrees at any point during the year and can hit the late 30's in the summer. It goes without saying that the weather is a huge pull for both summer and winter holidays in Lanzarote.
What people might not realise is that the island of Lanzarote is home to some wonder, natural attractions that stem back thousands of years. It's easy to see how many of the attractions on Lanzarote are definitely influenced by the volcanic activity that took place in the 1700 and 1800's. Add to that a talented artist by the name of Cesar Manrique and you have the perfect blend to create some inspiring visitor attractions.
Lets's start with the Timanfaya National Park - after all this is where the main focus on volcanic activity lies. Between 1730 and 1736, the area to the east of the island was completed devasted by volcanic activity. Whilst no deaths were recorded villages were destroyed and the area was left baron and sparse. In 1968 the area was declared a national park, now known as Parque Nacional de Timanfaya (The Timanfaya National Park). Manrique stamped his mark on the national park by designing the 'El Diablo' restaurant which sits overlooking the magnificent views out over the park and the Atlantic Ocean. The restaurant is also home to a natural volcanic grill where you can watch the food cooked by the natural heat that lies just a few feet under the ground.
To the north of the island sits Mirador del Rio. This lookup, again one of Manriques creations, sits built into the cliff face overlooking the small island of La Graciosa. There is a small bar / cafe on site along with a gift shop. It's not expensive to get in (around €4.70) and the views really are spectacular.
On the East of the Island are two attractions that have been built around a lava tunnel that stretches as long as 6km with a further 1.6km that goes out to sea. Most of the tunnels have been closed off for research and only around 2km are open to the public.
Close by you will be Jameos del Agua, which is built around a collapsed part of the lava tunnel. This attraction is also home to a species of Blind Albino Crab that is found nowhere else in the world.
The natural attractions on Lanzarote are wonders in themselves, and just by visiting them you can get a sense of what live on the island was like thousands of years ago. If you are going to Lanzarote on your holiday I would highly recommend either taking an excursion to these attractions or hiring a car, even if just for a couple of days.
What people might not realise is that the island of Lanzarote is home to some wonder, natural attractions that stem back thousands of years. It's easy to see how many of the attractions on Lanzarote are definitely influenced by the volcanic activity that took place in the 1700 and 1800's. Add to that a talented artist by the name of Cesar Manrique and you have the perfect blend to create some inspiring visitor attractions.
Lets's start with the Timanfaya National Park - after all this is where the main focus on volcanic activity lies. Between 1730 and 1736, the area to the east of the island was completed devasted by volcanic activity. Whilst no deaths were recorded villages were destroyed and the area was left baron and sparse. In 1968 the area was declared a national park, now known as Parque Nacional de Timanfaya (The Timanfaya National Park). Manrique stamped his mark on the national park by designing the 'El Diablo' restaurant which sits overlooking the magnificent views out over the park and the Atlantic Ocean. The restaurant is also home to a natural volcanic grill where you can watch the food cooked by the natural heat that lies just a few feet under the ground.
To the north of the island sits Mirador del Rio. This lookup, again one of Manriques creations, sits built into the cliff face overlooking the small island of La Graciosa. There is a small bar / cafe on site along with a gift shop. It's not expensive to get in (around €4.70) and the views really are spectacular.
On the East of the Island are two attractions that have been built around a lava tunnel that stretches as long as 6km with a further 1.6km that goes out to sea. Most of the tunnels have been closed off for research and only around 2km are open to the public.
Close by you will be Jameos del Agua, which is built around a collapsed part of the lava tunnel. This attraction is also home to a species of Blind Albino Crab that is found nowhere else in the world.
The natural attractions on Lanzarote are wonders in themselves, and just by visiting them you can get a sense of what live on the island was like thousands of years ago. If you are going to Lanzarote on your holiday I would highly recommend either taking an excursion to these attractions or hiring a car, even if just for a couple of days.
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
An overview of Lanzarote and what it offers holiday makers
Lanzarote sits in the Atlantic Ocean, just off the west coast of Africa. It attracts millions of visitors every year, thanks to its all year round warm climate and a yearly average of 21 degrees celsius.
The landscape on Lanzarote is rocky, barren and - well - volcanic. You won't find many trees or greenery (although we do think that due to a slight climate change the island is slowly becoming a little greener) and there are no high rise buildings on the island apart from the Grand Hotel in Arrecife.
One thing that you will find no shortage of on Lanzarote is Restaurants. There is a vast selection to choose from, all offering different cuisines from typical Canarian food to indian!
There are three main tourist resorts on Lanzarote, not including Arrecife which is the capital of the island. The three main resorts are Playa Blanca, Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise. Each resort is very different in what it offers. Puerto Del Carmen is the largest and most lively resort, which offers nightclubs and bars that open until the early hours. Playa Blanca is a smaller resort built around a fishing port and Costa Teguise is a more modern purpose built resort on the East Coast.
The nightlife on Lanzarote is typically more relaxed than its sister islands within the canaries, which is why it tends to appeal to an older and family orientated audience, however Puerto Del Carmen does break this mold a little bit and tends to be where the younger holiday makers spend their time on the island.
If you are looking for something a little more extreme then Lanzarote won't let you down. From trekking up Volcanoes to diving to the depths of the ocean (both in a submarine and in a wet suite) there really is something for everyone. There are a number of sports that you can take part in on the island, from your usual football and tennis, to cycling and kite surfing.
For the more cultured amongst us there are a number of natural attractions on Lanzarote, the largest being the Timanfaya National Park. This part is situated on the west of the island and is made up of a number of Volcanoes. Within the Timanfaya Park is the El Diablo restaurant where the food is cooked on a natural volcanic grill. There are also regular demonstrations of active guisers. Other natural attractions include the Green Caves and Jameos del Agua, which are based around volcanic lava tunnels.
Many of the attractions on Lanzarote were created by the late Caesar Manrique, an artist who lived on the island. As well as the attractions mentioned above there is also Mirador del Rio and you can also take a trip to Manriques house, built from a Lava Bubble, where you can also sample some of his famous paintings.
The landscape on Lanzarote is rocky, barren and - well - volcanic. You won't find many trees or greenery (although we do think that due to a slight climate change the island is slowly becoming a little greener) and there are no high rise buildings on the island apart from the Grand Hotel in Arrecife.
One thing that you will find no shortage of on Lanzarote is Restaurants. There is a vast selection to choose from, all offering different cuisines from typical Canarian food to indian!
There are three main tourist resorts on Lanzarote, not including Arrecife which is the capital of the island. The three main resorts are Playa Blanca, Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise. Each resort is very different in what it offers. Puerto Del Carmen is the largest and most lively resort, which offers nightclubs and bars that open until the early hours. Playa Blanca is a smaller resort built around a fishing port and Costa Teguise is a more modern purpose built resort on the East Coast.
The nightlife on Lanzarote is typically more relaxed than its sister islands within the canaries, which is why it tends to appeal to an older and family orientated audience, however Puerto Del Carmen does break this mold a little bit and tends to be where the younger holiday makers spend their time on the island.
If you are looking for something a little more extreme then Lanzarote won't let you down. From trekking up Volcanoes to diving to the depths of the ocean (both in a submarine and in a wet suite) there really is something for everyone. There are a number of sports that you can take part in on the island, from your usual football and tennis, to cycling and kite surfing.
For the more cultured amongst us there are a number of natural attractions on Lanzarote, the largest being the Timanfaya National Park. This part is situated on the west of the island and is made up of a number of Volcanoes. Within the Timanfaya Park is the El Diablo restaurant where the food is cooked on a natural volcanic grill. There are also regular demonstrations of active guisers. Other natural attractions include the Green Caves and Jameos del Agua, which are based around volcanic lava tunnels.
Many of the attractions on Lanzarote were created by the late Caesar Manrique, an artist who lived on the island. As well as the attractions mentioned above there is also Mirador del Rio and you can also take a trip to Manriques house, built from a Lava Bubble, where you can also sample some of his famous paintings.
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