Lanzarote is the most easterly of the Canary Islands that is located just 125 kms of the coast of Africa.
Like all the other Canary islands Lanzarote is also volcanic in character. In fact its crater filled landscape island has often been described as being ‘lunar-like’ or ‘Martian’ in appearance. The dry climate of the island has perfectly preserved the lava fields that were created here after a series of long explosions that rocked the island from 1730 to 1736. Since these explosions were one of the longest recorded explosions in history, the island is also referred to as the ‘Fire Island’. While this rugged volcanic landscape dominates the southern part of Lanzarote, the northern part of the island is oddly verdant covered as it is with lush, green valleys.
Lanzarote is a favorite with holiday makers who flock here to enjoy its year round temperate climate, where temperatures rarely dip below 22ºC (72ºF). To cater to all these tourists, are a number of resorts have developed all over the island with the most popular ones being Costa Teguise, Matagorda, Puerto del Carmen, and Playa Blanca. However tourists on Lanzarote don’t just head out to the island for its resorts and amiable weather, they also go to take in its many fascinating attractions. The UN in fact declared the entire island as a Biosphere in 1993 due to presence of various enchanting spots most of which have been created by nature.
1. Relax on the splendid Lanzarote Beaches
Lanzarote has a wide array of contrasting beaches which range from the white sand beaches of Orzola in the north and Papagayo in the south to the golden sands of the resort town of Puerto Del Carmen and the black sand beach at Playa Quemada. Many of Lanzarote’s beaches like Playa Chica, Famara , La Santa and Las Cucharas are also hubs of water based recreational activities like diving, wind surfing, jet skiing, parasailing and body boarding.
2. Take a Tour of Timanfaya National Park
The Timanfaya National Park is a man-made park which contains the famed Montañas del Fuego (Fire Mountains) which were created when more than 100 volcanoes erupted on the island in the mid 18th century. The last of these explosions took place in 1824 and in 1968 the entire area with its perfectly conserved lava fields was declared as a national park. However you cannot just walk around the volcanoes that are located within this national park but have to tour them aboard a coach or on the back of a camel. The guided coach tour of the volcanoes is included in your admission fee of eight Euros which you pay to get access to the park. The park also has within its environs more than 180 species of rare plants and a restaurant called ‘El Diablo’ where you can enjoy local cuisine which is cooked for you using the geothermal heat that emanates from the geysers of the lava field.
3. Take an Excursion to La Cueva de los Verdes
This network of underground caves is located near the Monte de la Corona in the northern part of Lanzarote. This strange formation was also formed by intense volcanic activity which took place nearly five thousand years ago on the island when massive lava flows streamed into the sea and hardened in places which were inflated by gases. These underground caves stretch for over four miles though only those that extend over a mile are accessible to visitors. The caves are suitably illuminated to highlight their unique features.
4. Visit the Jameos del Agua
The Jameos del Agua is a part of the seven km long volcanic tunnel known that contains the Cueve dos los Verdes. This volcanic tunnel which was formed by the flowing of molten lava into the sea developed openings which were caused when the surface of the tunnel collapsed due to pressure build up of the volcanic gases. These openings were discovered in 1968 by Jesus Soto and Luis Morales who christened these open air caves as ‘Jameos’ and proceeded to turn them into an attraction by building a bar, a tropical garden, an azure pool and an six hundred seat auditorium within these openings.
5. Visit The Jardin de Cactus
This unusual attraction represents an amalgamation of art and nature created as it was by Lanzarote’s native son, the celebrated artist Cesar Manrique. This cactus garden which was created in the midst of an old quarry shaped like an amphitheater was the artist’s last work. The garden consists of more than 10,000 different kinds of cacti which were sourced from the Canary Islands, America and Madagascar. It also features sculptures and a restored windmill and is considered to be one of the main attractions of Lanzarote.
Photo of Jameos del Agua, Canary Island, by Doug88888
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