Lanzarote


Lanzarote

  • About Lanzarote

    Lanzarote is at the most northern of the Canary Islands, or the Canaries Archipelago. Its famed for its all year warm climate and its volcanoes and geysers. This magnificent island with a spectacular lunar landscape is the fourth largest island in the Canaries. Lying only 60 miles from the Sahara Desert you can understand why temperatures soar. The island is 60km North to South and 25km West to East. In total Lanzarote has 213km of coast of which 16.5km are beaches and the rest rocky coastline.

    The island was once green but in the 1730s volcanic eruptions and the spread of lava changed things for ever. The dramatic terrain of Lanzarote includes mountain ranges - Famara at the northern end and Ajaches in the south. Arrecife Airport receives around 5.5 million passengers per year.

  • Attractions

    Timanfaya National Park

    You can visit by bus or camel or by organised trek for the full lunar experience as this is the best area to see the volcanic origins of the island.

    Jardin de Cactus

    The last work of Cesar Manrique. More than 10,000 cacti lie in the setting of a converted quarry turned amphitheatre.

    Castle Of Santa Barbara

    The mountain of Guanapay features this delightful castle built in the 16th Century as a watchtower. It houses a museum dedicated to the history of the islanders.

    Caves de los Verdes - In the 18th Century these amazing caves originating from lava flow served as a refuge for the natives when the island was attacked by slavers or pirates. In 1964 they were transformed to include an indoor lighting system.

  • Weather

    Lanzarotes climate ranges from mild to hot. Temperatures in the summer are between 30C and 35C during the day and about 20C at night. Its winter daytime temperature is between 20C and 25C and the night-time temperature is between 13Cand 16C.

    Lanzarote is warm most of the year but often windy.

  • History

    The native population, the Guanches, were rumoured to have been descended from Norse invaders. Normans from France in 1402 invaded the island leading to Spanish rule.

    First Moroccans and then the British and Dutch claimed the island. In the modern period tourism was developed in the early sixties under the dictator Franco. The island is now an autonomous region with its own Parliament.

  • Key Facts

    • Time difference - GMT
    • Currency - Euro
    • Language - Spanish
    • Area - 845 km²
    • Population - 150,000.