Lanzarote is a popular holiday island, located in the Canaries. Which are the seven strong Spanish owned island group situated off the coast of West Africa. On the same line of longitude as parts of Mexico and the Bahamas. Enabling visitors to enjoy great weather whatever the time of the year. This clement climate has helped to establish the Canaries as one of the most visited destinations in Spain. And during the course of 2008 alone over 1.5 million foreign tourists enjoyed holidays in Lanzarote – the fourth largest and most easterly island in the group.
So lets have a look and see why winter holidays in Lanzarote never fails to be so popular and picking one of the many Lanzarote holiday villas that the island has to offer is fast becoming the popular private accommodation choice amongst holiday makers.
Lanzarote is very different from the other islands in the Canaries. As they are all greener and more lush, whilst Lanzarote is dry and barren. Which can be attributed to the fact that Lanzarote experiences very little in the way of rainfall and has a very arid terrain created by volcanic eruptions over 250 years ago.
Today this region of the island occupies about a quarter of Lanzarote´s total land mass. And is a hugely popular visitor attraction, known locally as The Fire Mountains or Timanfaya. Where visitors can view a lunar like landscape that has served as a backdrop for a number of science fiction films and most recently the latest release from Spanish director Pedro Almodovar, Broken Embraces. Which stars Penelope Cruz and which was shot on location around the island.
There are plenty of places to stay on the island. With visitors able to choose from a large selection of Lanzarote villas, hotels and apartments. The bulk of which are located in the main resorts of Playa Blanca, Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise. Whilst rural tourism has also started to grow in popularity over the last few years.
As well as the volcanic region Lanzarote is a real beach lover’s paradise, home to about 90 fine stretches of sand. The best of which can be found outside the main resorts in locations such as Famara and Arrieta. Both of which are still unspoiled coastal villages.
Many tourists visiting Lanzarote for the first time are surprised to encounter so much in the way of things to do and see. As the island boasts an abundance of cultural attractions – with no less than twelve fascinating museums. Such as the Museum of International and Contemporary Art in Arrecife. Along with plenty of picturesque towns and villages, such as Haria and Teguise, the first settlement ever established by the Spanish in the Canaries in the early 1400´s.