Posted on September 22, 2009 - by admin

Explore The Canary Island Of Lanzarote

Great weather all year round.  Over ninety beaches.  High standards of accommodation.  Picturesque and historic towns and villages. The small Canary island of Lanzarote has lots to offer anyone seeking a break that combines sightseeing with sunbathing. And the island can be enjoyed all year round – as the temperature here rarely falls below 20 Celsius.

The Spanish owned Canary Islands are located in the Atlantic Ocean on a similar line of latitude to parts of Florida and the Bahamas.  Around 80 miles off the coast of West Africa.  A sun drenched situation that creates a year round tourist destination.

The islands are particularly popular with British tourists – as this is the closest winter sun destination to the UK at just four hours flying time.  As well as with Spanish natives from the mainland – who often escape the searing heat of the Iberian Peninsula for the cooler climes of the Canaries during high summer.

Lanzarote is the most easterly of these seven islands – and despite welcoming around 1.5 million foreign visitors every year still manages to maintain much of its original charm and character intact.  Thanks to laws that ban high rise constructions and advertising hoardings.

The island is small – measuring just 58km by 38km – but still offers loads for visitors to do.  From the other-worldly volcanic vistas of the Timanfaya National Park through to the incredible creations of the local artist and architect César Manrique.  Whose influence on the island is inescapable.

Tourism is concentrated in the three main resorts of Costa Teguise, Puerto del Carmen and Playa Blanca.  Which are all arrayed along Lanzarote´s calm south east shoreline.  Ensuring safe bathing and a degree of protection from the Trade Winds that buffet the North West coast of the island from April through to August.

Playa Blanca in the south of the island is home to the largest selection of hotels and villas in Lanzarote.  As this is the most recent of the main resorts to have been developed.  Evolving from its former shell as a quaint fishing village during the 1980´s and 90´s.

Rural tourism has also started to grow in popularity.  As more and more visitors return to sample the delights of the peaceful countryside that they formerly encountered whilst touring the island.  As a result the number of rural hotels and fincas has also increased over the last decade to cater to this growing demand.