Trifter

On visiting the four main Canary Islands I can undoubtedly declare Lanzarote as my favourite. The volcanic islands located just 60 miles from the coast of Africa are a popular location for so many tourists with their breezy warm climates, the Canaries are an ideal vacation for any time of year.

On my latest visit to the Canary Islands I opted for the main one I hadn’t yet seen, Lanzarote. I was located in the popular resort of Puerto Del Carmen which was explained to me before hand by my local travel agent as a lively yet chilled out resort. As part of a couple this location ticked all the boxes we desired and our two weeks in Lanzarote was spent just the way we had hoped, a mixture of relaxation, sight seeing and of course the odd night on the sauce. Puerto Del Carmen has everything on its door step, the lovely long beach, Playa Grande, numerous restaurants and bars, excursion offices and a small shopping centre.

My previous trips to the Canary islands were enjoyable but I found Tenerife’s black beaches a disappointment due to its sheer volcanic essence, Fuerteventura, which means windy island, a tad too windy along with being under developed and Gran Canaria, which was a pleasant holiday although I tended to see much more of its night life than anything else. Lanzarote was the one Canary Island I wanted to take more of an interest in as on arriving I felt a bond with it’s surroundings and it became apparent to me this island would be much more balanced in terms of climate and backdrop.

From taking part in a couple of the excursion deals I found out about the history of Lanzarote and from this knowledge and sight seeing I started to appreciate and love the island. There is so much more character about Lanzarote than its neighbouring Islands. The architecture for one is done with the imperative design constraint that buildings are painted pure white with green door and window shutters. This was started many years ago when the first buildings were erected on the Island and Landscape Architects ensure this pattern remains throughout which is a really nice yet effective touch in keeping the historic character of the island along with maintaining its striking beauty. It was while on a local excursion to the National Park of Timanfaya I learnt about this design pattern and also the story of the Priest in the small village of Yaiza. 

Timanfaya is known as Montanas del Fuego, which is translated as Mountains of Fire and is the result of two violent volcanic eruptions that happened in the years 1730 and 1824, the latter forming several new ‘fire mountains’. The Priest from Yaiza, Andres Lorenzon Curbelo refused to move from his home during these explosions and actually left an eye witness account of what happened during the birth of Timanfaya. The Priest who held a cross up toward the on coming lava flow some how survived, along with the whole village of Yaiza. A fluke or an act of god is still a debate that goes on in the charming little village to this day. Timanfaya really is worth a trip and provides the unique opportunity to take a camel ride around the ‘Fire Mountains’.

The National Park is just one of many places to see on this beautiful island. Lanzarote may be the ideal holiday location but it is its neighbouring island Fuerteventura that boasts the best beach. In Corralejo which is north Fuerteventura there are The Dunes which is an absolutely beautiful part of the world. If you make your way down to the south of Lanzarote to Costa Blanca then a quick ferry ride over to Corralejo really is worth it to see the white sands and clear blue sea along with some monster waves.

Other than this one diversion from Lanzarote I really didn’t want for anything else, everything the Island offers is superb from the vineyard in La Gera to Puerto Calero’s harbour which is a very scenic and lively little resort. Added to this the perfect climate the Canaries offer it really does make a great holiday for so many different kinds of clientele.