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.

Lanzarote is the fourth largest of the Canary Islands and is located in the north-east of Fuerteventura. The island has a dramatic landscape: no trees, no bushes, less water. What’s interesting about Lanzarote is its volcanic origin, its volcanic lakes and caves.

I’ seen a lot during the fourteen days and all the time I seemed to be on the moon and sometimes was surprised to see the ocean next to me. But nevertheless the meagre island has vegetation: Cactuses! Cactuses in all shapes you can imagine! Some of them were in full bloom!

Once I made a tour through the famous winegrowing area La Geria. There were deep semi-circular cones made of black volcanic ash with lush green grape-vines in it. I tasted the wine at the vineyard and it was really good, so I bought some bottles for my next relaxing evening in the hotel.

From the Timanfaya National Park, which is the mountainous area of the island, I drove straight up to the north to see the “Mirador del Rio”. In the hotel they told me, that this is a must, a highlight, I should see it. And they were right! The immensity of the Atlantic Ocean is impressive, I could also see the island La Graciosa in the distance.

Back to the south I visited “La Cueva de los Verdes” near the volcano Monte de la Corona. The area has created a spectacular system of underground grotto. Its volcanic gallery is the longest in the world, about 6 km long!

A must is also the “Jardin de Cactus”, a cactus garden which shelters about 10,000 types of cactus.

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!

The new free video game ‘Timanfaya – Verschollen in den Feuerbergen’ enables you to visit Lanzarote once again.

The story about the missing daughter of a bussinessman on Lanzarote brings the players around many of the most beautiful places around the island and gives a lot of detailed informtion about Lanzarote. The game was made with real photos of the island combined with handmade 2D-animations.

The game was made by a single person and is now available for free download on

http://www.timanfaya-game.de/downloads.php

Voices and screentext in german.

Lanzarote also offers a golf course for visitors and locals, it is situated at the Costa Teguise in the south. Tennis courts form part of most of the big hotel complexes, however, courts and courses for all holiday-makers are also available in holiday centres.

Who would like to discover the island by walking, can join guided groups or take his own initiative. In any case adequate shoes and sufficient water reserves should be part of the basic equipment. On a guided walk in the national park of Timanfaya one learns about the history of origins of the island and the volcanic activities.

Night life in Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise is very eventful and you can find quite a lot of bars, pubs and restaurants in which you can let die away the day.

Holiday-makers have the choice between charming little restaurants at the port promenade and numerous discos and bars in Puerto del Carmen in the south of the capital Arrecife. The shopping centre Atlanticò is particularly popular for teenagers.

In Arrecife starts evey evening a hustle and bustle round the pubs and little bars in the streets around the lagoon Charco de of San Ginés. Not before midnight anyone goes for the first discotheques, before everybody gets in mood at the Playa del Reducto.