Lanzarote is the island which geographically has the least distance to the Moroccan border. A few years ago I spent there one week and liked it a lot. The mountainous area of the island was really impressing. My best friend and I enjoyed one day in the Timanfaya National Park. It was a pleasure to get lunch in the restaurant El Diablo where the barbecue was heated by the volcano. We also took the chance for a camel ride through the park which was a real adventure.

Another day we went on a round trip by bus and saw a few more places of interest. We took some pictures of ourselves in front of the lagoon El Golfo, went to the salt evaporation pond Salinas de Janubio, had a fantastic forecast from the viewpoint Mirador del Río and inspected the lava tube Jameos del Agua.

Mirador del Río and Jameos del Agua belong to the works of art of César Manrique, an artist and architect who had great influence on the visual appearance of the island. He was the one who avoided the construction of high-rise buildings there.

Unfortunately we could not realize a boat trip to the Papagayo beaches due to weather turbulences. However, it was wonderful to relax on the beach in front of our hotel in Puerto del Carmen where we also enjoyed night life and got in touch with many nice people from all over the world, especially the English tourists in discos and pubs.

We stayed in Arrecife in a beautiful hotel very close to the town, where you can get souvenirs and really nice food.

Allthough our hotel was “All-Inclusive” we enjoyed going out for meal, which was not too expensive in the restaurants.
In some of the hotels nearby it was possible to go to bars and have a great night dancing and drinking.

But as we love adventures, we rented a car which was also very cheap and the gas prices were not as high as back home.

Lanzarote is a relatively small Island and so we were able to go by car all around it as there is only one main road around the whole isle.
Most of it was inactive vulcanos and dry land which was quite boring.

What we enjoyed most was the Cactus Park “Jardin de Cactus” and Jameos del Agua which was one of the island´s artist´s work.

Cèsar Manrique made an artificial pool and a museum all about vulcanos inside magma caves.

Once a week this area was opened as a club and we could enjoy drinks in a very unique area. I would really recommend this sight.

The Island´s vegetation is very dry and rough. It´s significance is distinct in the vulcanos of which some are still active.
It is possible to visit the vulcano that is still active in the “Parque Nacional de Timanfaya”.

Staying in one place on that island is almost a waste of time. You should get a car and see all of the island!

In the north of the island is the mountain Penas del Cache, there are no sandy beaches. In the south of the island is another mountain Los Ajaches. The sandy and long beaches are in the south or southwest.

At the Blaya Blanca in the south there are hotels, restaurants and bars.

Puerto del Carmen is even in the south and there are hotels, restaurants and some nightlife. Costa Teguise in the southwest is quiet and ideal for families.

In the backland of the isle there are still some old typical villages. I like to visit them. The climate of the island is soft-gloved all over the year, sometimes windy. If the wind comes from the Sahara it can be very hot in summer.

The artist Cesar Manrique born on this island, now his house is a museum after his death. Wonderful to see his art. In his art you see the bond between the island and the vulcano. The beauty of the island, the climate and the sun make your holiday a unforgottable adventure.

One of them and probably the most popular is César Manrique.
The artist and architect was born on April 24th, 1919 in Arrecife, wich is a small town in east of Lanzarote. He grew up in San Ginés lagoon and attended to University of La Laguna. In 1945 he changed and went to a Art School in Madrid.

When he died on 25th September of 1992, an area of great architecture and art died with him. But his brilliant Masterpieces will last for the posterity.

Some sources even claim that its name descended from Lanzelot, the famous knight of the company at table.

It actually owes his name to the genoese merchant and seafarer Lanceloto Malocetto. The facts have been proofed historically.

Lava-Landscape of the fire-mountains of Lanzarote

Most of the charming landscape on Lanzarote has been conserved because the builidings do never count a lot of storeys. An interesting contrast to the black lava-rocks are the white houses and the palms and cactuses.

Who spends a holiday on the isle of Lanzarot,e for example in Puerto del Carmen, has the well developed infrastructure at his disposal and can easily explore the island by his own.

Around the beatiful viewout point “Mirador del Rio” in the north of the isle there is much to discover:
The valley of the thousand palms, the cactus park or the cave system “Los Jameos Del Agua“.

“Los Jameos de Agua” represent a natural phenomenon of a very special type:
After the big volcanic eruptions the lava has cooled off fastly and flow in channels down to the sea, partly through the underground. Long corridors and caves, which found a different use, like for example for agriculture cultivation or even concert halls or domicils. The artist and architect Cesar Manrique established himself domestically in such a tunnel, where today we find a museum, which it is worth to visit.

Lanzarote is situated only 130 kilometers from the coast of Africa and 1.000 kilometers from the Spanish mainland. , and it is the one of the Canary islands group most located on the north-east in the Atlantic Ocean.

There are ideal possibilities for individual holiday makers on Lanzarote to explore the island or to learn about its history.

For any budget you can find accomodations on this wonderful island. For example a country house in exclusive surroundings would be a good alternative to stay in Lanzarote and to get to know the life of the locals.

The most remarkable sights are protected and sponsored by the patronage of the islands government.

Some of greatest attractions were created by the world-famous architect and artist César Manrique, they form a single symbiosis between art on high standard, tradition and the volcanic landscape of Lanzarote.

Long time the economic base of the island has been fishing and agriculture. More and more tourism gained on economical importance and developed an excellent infrastructure and exemplary tourist services for a balance between nature and tourism.

For example in Arrieta, El Golfo or Orzola good fish restaurants can be found, as well as in the old downtown of Puerto del Carmen in Playa Blanca.

Staying power is one of the characteristics of Lanzarote. Than in the 18th century, the Timanfaya volcano spewed ash and lava for six years and a third of the fertile ground was buried under, which along the time formed the nowadays so bizarre landscape of the island.

Instead of pausing in despair, the indigenous people got creative and invented the dry cultivation of the fields, what has given a new face to the winegrowing area La Geria.

Another important celebration on the Canary Islands is the carnival, which is celebrated for weeks with salsa music and effortful outfits.

In honor of the patron saints, church parades and traditional celebrations are held, which end with lively get-together, music and good meal .

The architect and artist César Manrique which left pieces of evidence of his work everywhere like the residential building which houses the Fundaciòn César Manrique today was extremely formative for the island and its conception. Another masterpiece by the artist is the unusual volcano restaurant El Diabolo.

For most Germans the isle is part of the attainable aim to escape from the cold, grey winter.

In only four hours of flight from the center of Europe you can reach the islands of the never-ending spring – the Canary Islands.

An Eldorado for surfers and those who like long sand beaches is called Fuerteventura, while lovers of a lively night-life shall book their holidays in Gran Canaria or Tenerife.

The ones among you who want to discover a bizarre and charming landscape shall visit Lanzarote.

Lanzarote is situated 1000 kilometers from the Spanish mainland and owes her worldwide good reputation beside the climate and nature to the star architect and artist César Manrique.

As architect and artist it has protected her natural beauty and particularly its volcanic composition. He combined art, architecture, tradition and nature, this is one example why tourism and environmental protection do not have to be a contrast.

This beautiful little piece of earth has to offer a lot more than only tourist attractions, if you explore the isle you can get to know its charm.

With 795 km ² Lanzarote is the fourth biggest Canary Island after Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura. Lanzarote is less green the the more western Canary islands because of its drought.

The Isle of Lanzarote impresses the visitors with its contrast of rude rocks and cliffs and the deep blue colour of the Atlantic Ocean.

The countryside of Lanzarote radiates quiet and inspiration while in the main tourist resorts rules the eventful life. For example in the capital Arrecife and in the touristic stronghold Playa del Carmen the visitor can enjoy a lively nightlife and lots of shopping possibilities and restaurants.

The famous artist Cesar Manrique is mainly responsible that tourism has not influenced too much on the landscape of Lanzarote. One can almost admire everywhere his creation, which is combining nature and tradition with art and architecture.