Lanzarote Travel Guide
Lanzarote is a Spanish island, part of the Canary Islands, positioned approximately 125 km off the coast of Africa and 1,000 km from the Iberian Peninsula. Covering 845.9 km2, it stands as the fourth largest of the islands. Lanzarote is the easternmost island of the Canary Islands and has a volcanic origin. It was born through fiery eruptions and has solidified lava streams as well as extravagant rock formations and believed to have emerged about 15 million years ago as a product of the Canary hotspot. However, not all that much is known about the Island's early history, because most archaeological evidence has either been buried under lava or carried away by early raiders.
The coherence and beauty of the island's cultural and tourist helped the island to being declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1993. In addition to being a World Biosphere Reserve, Lanzarote also boasts a Marine Reserve, a National Park and 12 natural protected areas.
With an average all year round temperature of 24 degrees C, 3000 hours of annual sunshine, rainfall at less than 150 mm per annum, an array of beautiful beaches and a unique volcanic landscape it is not surprising that Lanzarote has become such a popular holiday destination. Lanzarote is a beautiful island, with gorgeous beaches and pristine warm waters that can be enjoyed all year round thanks to the subtropical weather found here.
Things to see and do
Timanfaya National Park
Timanfaya National Park is a parkland is entirely made up of volcanic soil that has barely changed since its eruption in the 1730s and covers a quarter of the island's surface. The Timanfaya National Park is an impressive, barren habitat, 50km of volcanic landscape and craters, with a great variety of geological phenomena as well as a large biological mix of some 180 various plant species. The national park is one of the core areas of the biosphere reserve, which resulted in the whole of Lanzarote being declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, and for many, the highlight of their visit to Lanzarote.
Atlantida Tunnel
Amongst the many stunning Volcanic features of Lanzarote is the world's longest known volcanic submarine volcanic tube, the Atlantida Tunnel, formed some 20,000 years ago when the Monte Corona volcano erupted on the island of Lanzarote. which is over 7 km long and includes the La Cueva de los Verdes and Jameos del Agua.
Watersports
There are water activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving, surfing, and windsurfing, parasailing and canoeing in abundance. There is also a water park (with bus service from Puerto del Carmen), a Zoo Park (Guinate Park), an aquarium-type park and a wild-west themed animal park (Rancho Texas). You can also take submarine trips from Ports in Puerto del Carmen and Puerto Calero. One of the island's most enjoyable things to do is relax, lie at the beautiful beaches during the day and enjoy a nice meal in the evening. There is an array of shops ranging from digital hardware shops to bazaars but be wary, you can get a good bargain if you can haggle a little with the shopkeepers. Don't worry; these guys are well used to people asking for a better deal than what they are offering.
Try Scuba Diving from Costa Teguise, Playa Blanca or Puerto del Carmen. Lanzarote offers some of the best diving in Europe.
