Lanzarote Holidays

Lanzarote’s a long shot off being the biggest of the Canary Islands. But that hasn’t stopped it throwing its weight around. Good-time seaside resorts are parallel parked along its south coast, while Timanfaya National Park hogs the limelight in the north. It’s also the closest of the lot to Africa, which means it bakes in the sun all year round – just like its vitamin D-worshipping visitors.

Considering its teeny size, Lanzarote does well on the beach front. Most are golden, but you get the odd burnt-toast-coloured belt, too. Plus, places like Playa Blanca and Playa de los Pocillos have got their hands on Blue Flags. The latter’s backed by a prom that runs all the way to Puerto del Carmen, so you can easily head out for a night on the tiles.

Volcanic eruptions in the 18th century spewed lava all over the island’s countryside. This means you’ve got some extra-terrestrial landscapes to gawk at. You can watch spurting geysers, check out the Mars-like lava fields and see fish grilled over a volcano vent. There are loads of manmade marvels, as well, courtesy of artist Cesar Manrique. He’s the one behind the famous Mirador del Rio viewpoint, and you can thank him for the sugar cube buildings, too.

As far as holidays to Spain go, Lanzarote’s got its fair share of resorts. Puerto del Carmen brings the theme park, mall and nightlife, while Costa Teguise is stocked with a waterpark and an aquarium. They’ve also got piles of bars and restaurants – from tapas bars to fast food joints. If you’d prefer something sleepier, there are still plenty of fishing villages to go around.