Lanzarote Travel guide: Hot Holidays on the Island of Fire

The small, Spanish owned island of Lanzarote, in the Canaries, has long been a big favorite with tourists. Attracting around 1.5 million visitors every year, with the majority of these guests arriving on flights from the UK, Germany and Eire. Drawn by the islands great year round climate, beautiful beaches and unique volcanic scenery.

Thanks to its location just eighty miles off the coast of West Africa Lanzarote enjoys a wonderful temperate climate all year round.  Even during the months of December and January it is still possible to enjoy a beach holiday here whilst basking in temperatures of 20 Celsius plus.  And with flights to Lanzarote taking just four hours from all major UK airports the island is one of Europe´s only genuine winter sun destinations.

During the 18th century Lanzarote was subjected to a series of cataclysmic volcanic eruptions.  Which actually enlarged the surface area of the island by around one quarter – whilst also destroying large swathes of farmland.  Burying fields and villages in a sea of molten lava.

Today the islands volcanoes, which are concentrated at The Timanfaya National Park, are Lanzarote´s leading tourist attraction.  Boasting a terrain that really is out of this world – comprised of spent volcanic peaks and twisted lava shapes that are often likened to the surface of the moon.

Elsewhere on the island the effects of the eruptions have been merged with the creative instincts of an island born artist called Cesar Manrique.  In order to create a series of unique visitor attractions for tourists.  His best known work is undoubtedly the Jameos del Agua – a 6km long collapsed volcanic tube.  Which the artist converted into an underground nightclub and concert venue, complete with tropical gardens, pools and lagoons.

Manrique also fashioned his own home and studio from five bubbles in the lava flow in Tahiche, in the centre of the island.  Creating a breathtaking property that remains one of the most popular tourist attractions on the island to this day.

His objective was to illustrate that Lanzarote´s interests would be best served by working in harmony with nature – not against it.  As elsewhere in Spain package tourism had already been responsible for the destruction of large swathes of the southern Costas.

Manrique´s efforts though resulted in a ban on high rise buildings and a restrained approach to the development of tourism. Leaving Lanzarote largely unspoiled – despite its popularity as a holiday destination. And thanks to his efforts Lanzarote was declared a UNESCO protected biosphere in 1994.