Most holidaymakers to the Canary Islands head for Tenerife or Gran Canaria but Lanzarote is well worth considering too.Lanzarote has startling bare volcanic scenery. Though basically flat, it is dotted with small extinct volcanoes which look like sandy-coloured slag heaps.
Though only 36 miles long and 12 wide, it has a good variety of beaches, but the main tourist development is confined to three modern resorts, Puerto del Carmen, Costa Teguise and Playa Blanca.
All three resorts are within easy reach of the airport and Arecife, the small capital. Puerto del Carmen has plenty of bars and restaurants, but the other two are relatively quiet.
Cesar Manrique
High-rise blocks are banned on Lanzarote thanks to the famous architect Cesar Manrique (1919-92) who lived there. So tourist accommodation is in attractive complexes of snow-white villas and apartments built around landscaped pools. Often these have their own restaurants but the most interesting food, particularly baked fish, is served inland in the village bars.
Lanzarote’s Volcanic Scenery
Lanzarote’s volcanic scenery is extraordinary. Much of it is covered in coarse sand or jagged lumps of volcanic clinker, yet farmers manage to grow tomatoes, onions and even vines. Their centuries-old secret is to cover the roots with "picon", granules of absorbent black lava which trap the overnight moisture.
In the Timanfaya Park, camels take visitors for rides to Fire Mountain, the main volcano, and you can also drive through lunar-like expanses of grotesquely-twisted lava. The most recent eruption was as long ago as 1824.
Jameos del Agua Cave
The island’s other main tourist attraction is the huge Jameos del Agua cave.
Inside it the elaborate rock formations and pools have been attractively "landscaped" by Manrique with foliage and lighting. It has a restaurant, dance floor and large auditorium where concerts are staged.
Weather, Food and Crafts on Lanzarote
Even in mid-winter the temperature on Lanzarote reaches the 70s almost every day with at least six hours sunshine. Rain is rare, though the island can be windy.
For eating, a food speciality served everywhere is "paps arrugadas"(potatoes baked in their jackets and served with spicy "mojos" sauce). Goat stew is also popular. Local crafts include basketwork, embroidery and hand-made pottery
So for a holiday in the Canary Islands, Lanzarote is distinctly special. It offers the usual tourist amenities and pleasant weather but has the added attraction of its extraordinary volcanic scenery.
Also well worth considering is Fuerteventura which is famous for its long sandy beaches which are popular places with naturists for nude swimming and sunbathing.
Gillian Thomas - Having left the BBC's Paris news office to return to England and get married over 20 years ago, I have freelanced as a journalist ever ...
