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Lanzarote - 'Land of a Thousand Volcanoes'. Well, it's more like one hundred to be fair although there are some three hundred distinct craters to be seen on this relatively small island making it one of the more densely populated volcanic areas in the world.
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The last eruption was recorded in 1824 but it pales into insignificance when compared to the eruptions of 1730-1736 which destroyed whole villages and gave Lanzarote its incredible landscape we see today. A visit to Timanfaya National Park is an absolute must and should be followed by a visit to the nearby 'Museo del Visitante' at Mancha Blanca. |
Lanzarote's roads are excellent so, to fully explore the island, car hire is highly recommended. Excellent beaches can be found all over the island. The busiest are at the main tourist resorts of Costa Teguise, Playa Blanca and the biggest and oldest, Puerto del Carmen. Watersports abound, particularly windsurfing and surfing to the north on the stunning white sandy beach at Famara (one of the best in the Canaries). With it's crystal clear waters diving is a favourite on Lanzarote, especially around the resorts of Puerto del Carmen and neighbouring Puerto Calero - home to a magnificient marina.
The influence of the artist Cesar Manrique, a resident in the island for many years (he tragically died here in a car crash in the early 1990s) can be seen everywhere from his one time home, the Manrique Foundation near Costa Teguise which displays many of his artworks, to various public art sculptures scattered around Lanzarote and other attractions such as the Manrique Cactus Garden and the sublime Jameos del Agua - a converted cave.
It's all here in Lanzarote - history, culture and art, a stunning volcanically influenced national park, a choice of bodegas and a celebrated wine region in the interior, an adjacent island, La Graciosa, with deserted beautiful sandy beaches and some informative and revealing museums on the history of immigration and emigration, agriculture and more. Lanzarote has it all, superb resorts, a buzzing art scene (thanks to Manrique) and a choice of pretty villages with great markets.
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