lanzarote

Lanzarote is different, not only compared to the other islands, but to everything else on this planet. This extraordinary landscape seems to be of another world, and the inhabitants of the islands use to say that God forgot of Lanzarote on the Seventh Day of the Creation.

Lanzarote is of volcanic origin, as are the other islands of the archipelago, but here volcanoes have been active even in the 18th and 19th century. Great parts of its surface are covered with ashes and lava, making you feel that you were on the moon.

Lanzarote's inhabitants made a great effort to cultivate this land, and today you find large plantations of fruits and vegetables. Most surprising is perhaps the region of Geria, with vineyards between volcanic craters.

Not to forget are the works of great Canarian architect and artist Cesar Manrique, adding more attractions to this unique island.

Places of interest in Lanzarote

Arrecife

Formerly having been just the port of Teguise it grown to be the island's actual capital. Above its port, there are two great fortresses, San Gabriel and San Jose, in the past defending the town against the frequent attacks of pirates.

Another fortress, the Castillo de San Gabriel of 15th century, is located at a small island in front of the port and connected with Arrecife by a draw-bridge.

The town's Museum of Contemporary Art, inside another castle, the Castillo de San Juan (called as well Castillo del Hambre), showing several outstanding works of Cesar Manrique, is among Arrecife's major attractions.

Teguise

The former capital carries the name of the last Guanche-king's daughter. It is one of the oldest settlements on the archipelago, but little is left of its original monumental abundance, as it once was destroyed by pirates.

Anyhow, Teguise conserved much of its ambience of a manorial town, with nice houses and its dominating castle, Castillo de Santa Barbara. A highly demanded souvenir are the "Timples", traditional instruments similar to guitars, which are manufactured here.

Playa Blanca

An excellent beach with tropical ambience and outstanding installations for relaxing holidays.

Las Coloradas

Small bays and turquoise sea, great for sports fishing.

Punta del Papagayo

Beautiful landscape and finest sand of golden colour.

Playa Quemada

A very beautiful part of the coast with opulent vegetation; small apartment-houses with gardens.

Puerto del Carmen

A thermal spa in tropical surroundings, with a wide beach.

Playa Grande

Another very nice beach

Playa de los Pocillos

Impressive volcanic landscape and a small settlement in typical style.

La Isleta

This small island with tropical vegetation and great possibilities for any kind of water-sports is particularly recommandable for diving and fishing.

La Isla Graciosa

Paradisiacal lonely beaches, ideal for those who prefer to avoid mass-tourism.

Coast of Teguise

The most "authentic" part of Lanzarote. The part of coast close to the island's capital, with its unusual landscape of volcanic origins, offers great beaches such as San Jose, Reducto and Guacimeta. Here you find some of Lanzarote's best hotels and holiday apartments.

The National Park of Timanfaya

This National Park, with an extension of 200 km2, seems to confront us with an apocalyptical vision: this land was born of hundreds of fire-spitting volcanos.

Timanfaya is easy to get to by car, it seems that all ways on Lanzarote are leading there. Through the park itself you either move by bus (each quarter of an hour, between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. in summer and 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. in winter, respectively), or you choose the by far more adventurous alternative and rent a ... camel!

In or on your preferred form of transport you will traverse a sea of petrified lava and volcanic ashes. Some of the craters of the volcano Montana de Fuego ("Mountain of Fire") are still active, and just centimetres from the surface the temperature gets as high as some 400ºC. If you pour water on a crater, it will vaporize in a fraction of a second, and if you put small branches there, they will start to burn immediately. . In some of the Restaurants in Timanfaya you even can have your steak grilled on a volcanic crater. After such kind of a lunch you are certainly even more receptive for the miracles nature has done here.

The last great volcanic out-break on Lanzarote was, by the way, in 1732, when large parts of the island were destroyed. In 1824 some smaller craters broke out again.

This island which has been destroyed so many times by the elemental forces of its volcanoes and reborn again, shows some of the most incredible landscapes you may find on this planet, opulent vegetation next to bizarre forms of petrified lava. As the island is not very large, you can explore most of it in a day's excursion by car.

Tahiche

Wide extensions of black ashes at the foot of a uniquely bizarre mountain. The picturesque white houses of the village make an outstanding contrast to that. Close to Taiche are located the Casas Honda, volcanic caves that have been habited by the Guanches, the original inhabitants of the islands

Guatiza

Here you find an enormous sea of cactuses. They were planted here as of a species of insects living in them was won a red pigment highly valuated in the past.

La Cueva de los Verdes

This is an incredible system of caves, of 7 kilometres length, which connects the volcano Corona with the sea. Inside those caves you will experience optical delusions (due to reflections) of the most surprising kind.

In the past the island's inhabitants used to hide up from the pirates here, and for invaders the Cueva de los Verdes frequently was a deadly trap.

Of particular interest for biologists will be a species of animal that exists exclusively here: the Langostino Blanco, a lobster of white colour which is perfectly adapted to the conditions of life in those caves.

Los Jameos del Agua

This is a very special part of Cueva de los Verdes. Canarian artist Cesar Manrique created here a complex that combines the miracles of nature with miracles of architecture: here you will find swimming-pools, restaurants and even a ballroom.

El Mirador del Rio

Here you will find a bizarre rock of 600 meters height, face to face to the island Graciosa, with an outstanding viewpoint.

Valle de Haria

This is a beautiful valley offering surprising canyons of volcanic origins, palm-forests with an extension of 150 km2, and a very picturesque small village.

La Geria

In this spectacular landscape with thousands of small volcanic craters you can see some of the world's most unusual vineyards: in small pits filled with volcanic ashes and surrounded by stonewalls are growing the grapes of Canary Islands' most famous wine, Malvasia.

Los Hervideros

Picturesque forms of petrified lava.

El Golfo

A volcanic crater flooded by the sea, emerald green water contrasting with black sand.

Discover the Canary Islands

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