There are three main towns In Lanzarote where the majority of people who visit stay:

Playa Blanca, Puerto Del Carmen and Costa Teguise.

Each is different and offers new and exciting things to do.

Accommodation in Lanzarote

The three primary accommodation types are apartments, villas and hotels. Shopping, restaurants and bars are easily accessible. Most restaurants stay open very late to accommodate those who enjoy their night life.

Playa Blanca is popular with those who take Lanzarote villa holidays but they are also available in the other areas.

Relaxation

Beaches are not in short supply - it is an island after all. Snorkeling, swimming and other water sports are readily available. Many sunbathers enjoy watching others enjoy the surf while they take in the Lanzarote weather and incredible scenery.

Nothing beats the total relaxation of a spa day. Local spas cater to seasonal visitors and provide a good way to relax and get away from it all. Sea water treatment centres are in high demand. Sea water is very soothing and therapeutic with a naturally calming effect.

Cafes, restaurants and bars are good places to catch some shade and relaxation. A cool drink helps keep the body hydrated while you enjoy the surrounding sights and sounds.

Sightseeing

Aside from waking up to the horizon outside the window, away from the beaches other locations are deserving of a tourist’s time. Playa Blanca’s new golf course and marina are two examples of the attractions in the southern part of Lanzarote.

Timanfaya National Park is a must see. Plan to spend at least a few hours and enjoy the restaurant if possible. Please keep in mind that you will be treading the top of a volcano and dress accordingly. It will likely be cooler than the rest of the island and rocky ground requires adequate footwear.

Castillo de las Coloradas gets its name from the colourful rocks on the coastline of Playa Blanca. The ruins of an historic castle that was built to help defend the island and its inhabitants from pirate attacks in the mid 1700s are just to the east of the Playa Blanca area.

One of the primary landmarks in the southern part of Lanzarote is the lighthouse, Faro de Pechiguera. Built in 1986, the lighthouse is of fairly recent construction and not that spectacular in itself.

The walk from Playa Blanca to the lighthouse however is absolutely amazing. The trek takes approximately half an hour, depending on pace and offers views of neighbouring islands Los Lobos and Fuerteventura.

Don’t Forget Sunscreen and Comfortable Shoes

The sun’s rays are well known to cause aesthetically pleasing tans as well as types of skin cancer. Take proper care of your skin while visiting the Canary Islands and take sunscreen. Drink a lot of fluids to prevent dehydration and take comfortable shoes.

Sandals and flip-flops are preferred summer wear for most people on their Lanzarote holidays. Some people even prefer to simply go barefoot.

Take more caution and be a little more practical when visiting all of the natural wonders. Hot sand can blister, slippery rocks may cause falls, and volcanic rock may cut your feet. You don’t have to wear them all the time, but you definitely need proper footwear while out sightseeing and exploring the delight that is Lanzarote.

Visit yourlanzarote.net for more information and social media like twitter for thoughts from those on their trip right now.

American students have been tipped off what to expect if they’re visiting Lanzarote by internet site studentsineurope.com

Lanzarote: Consisting of low-lying arid land, Lanzarote is home to the National Park of Timanfaya, a spectacular volcanic landscape.

To see: There’s tons of stuff to do on the islands, and outdoor sports enthusiasts will especially be at home.  Though activities like fishing, windsurfing and golf are fairly expensive, those on a budget have options like swimming, surfing, tennis, and just basic exploring.  The beaches of Las Palmas are fantastic, and if you’re looking for an adventure you can check out the fascinating biosphere reserve and volcanic landscape on the island of Lanzarote.  Consider doing some island hopping via ferry if you want to discover more than one island – it’s a fairly cheap and quick way to explore different areas.

For a Tenerife blog visit http://www.yourtenerife.net and for a Gran Canaria Blog http://www.yourgrancanaria.net

 

The Canary Islands have found no respite from the worldwide economic downturn, and Canary Island residents who holiday abroad are seeing their own islands in a new light.

 

The Canary Islands have been a popular holidays destination for years now. The islands rely upon tourism for much of their economy and employment opportunities for local people - over thirty percent of its gross domestic product is generated by tourism. In recent years an average of ten million visitors holiday on one or more of the Canary Islands annually.

 

The wavering economy hasn’t stopped tourists from travelling to the Canary Islands, but it looks like there will be a drop this year of between 15 and 20 per cent on 2008, and often who are holidaying in the Canaries are being more careful with their spending money.

 

It also appears that native islanders who reside there year-round are travelling less. This may be the result of fewer tourism Euros being spent within the country. Those who own the businesses which cater to the international visitors have less of their own money to spend on outside travel.

 

Many Canary Islands residents are instead choosing to appreciate anew what international visitors have long been drawn to. They are opting to take “staycations” and visit the attractions in their own backyards.

 

The islands’ biggest draw is typically the great weather. However, outside visitors also appreciate the rich history and the diverse geography of the Canary Islands.

 

Canary Islands residents, on the other hand, don’t need to leave home for good weather. They are instead seeing the islands through the eyes of outsiders.

 

The Canary Islands are an archipelago of seven islands. Gran Canaria and Tenerife are the largest of the islands, and home to both of the Canary Islands’ joint capital cities. Both islands are popular tourist destinations, along with Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.  The four make up the largest and most populated of the archipelago.

 

The weather in Lanzarote for example is good year round, and there are plenty of tourists who head for the island November to March because of the weather in Lanzarote.

 

The smaller Canary Islands of La Gomera, El Hierro and La Palma also draw a significant number of visitors each year. They have fewer clubs and resorts than the larger islands. Instead, they tend to attract tourists who desire smaller crowds and more adventurous vacations.

 

All of the islands are of volcanic origin. Many are home to diverse ecological preserves and boast flora and fauna that cannot be found anywhere else. Ancient structures and preserved ruins can be found on a number of the islands. It is these attractions that are appealing to the Canary Island “staycationer.”

 

While similarities exist between all seven islands, significant differences are abundant too. Many of the islands feature regional cuisine and specialty local wines. Residents from one island can visit another and get a very different cultural experience without spending a lot of money.

 

Local events also draw visitors from one island to another. The various islands are home to golf, water sports, motorbike and other popular tournaments and races. These types of events have grown substantially over the past decade and many draw thousands or more spectators annually.

 

Those who choose to remain on their own islands can still enjoy the culture in their backyards. Camping destinations draw locals for quick, easy getaways. The slow economic market means that good deals can often be found on hotels and for 2010 villa holidays.

 

More details for Lanzarote are available with http://www.yourlanzarote.net

Lanzarote might not be the first place that comes to mind when it comes to surfing, but that’s about to change when the surfing world descends upon the popular European holiday island at the end of October, and is a real bonus attraction for those thinking of taking a late 2009 holiday.

Lanzarote has some great beaches, and was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1993 and has some of the most visually striking landscape anywhere. The whole island can be explored on foot, horseback or bike. Holidaymakers are well advised to do exactly that, as they will not be disappointed.

In particular, if you are lucky enough to holiday on Lanzarote, go see the Jameos del Agua. It is a stunning combination of art and nature, an intricate labyrinth of volcanic tubes where visitors can enjoy music and dance in a spectacular setting.

The beaches are part of the spectacle. Some feature dazzling white sands, while others display dark volcanic sand. All step off into crystal clear waters.

Depending on the beach, the waters are either calm and restful or feature powerful waves that come crashing in with regularity. These waves have attracted surfers. This year the La Santa Surf Pro Lanzarote 2009 will take place between October 25 and November 2. More importantly, this year it has a 6-star Prime status in the ASP WQS Series. Because of this, many more talented and qualified surfers seeking to boost their world points on the surfing circuit will be coming to Lanzarote. This promises to result in quite a show.

The hope is that as well as regular holidaymakers some will visit specifically for the surfing, and like it enough to book 2010 Lanzarote holidays after the event.

Surfing as a culture and a sport goes back hundreds of years. It was a central part of ancient Hawaiian culture. The chief was generally the most skilled surfer in the community with a board made from the best trees. But by the end of the 19th century, with the arrival of missionaries and their negative view of surfing as hedonistic, the culture had almost died out entirely. Thanks to Captain James Cook and his journal, we know that surfing was also quite popular in the South Seas back in the 18th century.

In the 20th century, a dedicated band of surfers refused to give up the ghost and continued to roam the oceans of the world, seeking the ultimate wave. But it wasn’t until mid-century that surfing once again came into its own. It took the California sounds of groups like Jan and Dean, the Surfaris and the Beach Boys to push surfing into the limelight. With songs like ‘Wipeout’ (Surfaris), ‘Surfer Girl,’ ‘Surfing USA,’ ‘Fun,Fun,Fun’ (the Beach Boys) and ‘Surf City’ (Jan and Dean - written by their friend and Beach Boy Brian Wilson), among others, everyone under the age of 30 suddenly loved surfing.

The Beach Boys in particular helped spread the word about surfing through their hits beyond California to Europe and around the world. They competed with The Beatles, Rolling Stones from Britain and from the U.S. The Monkees and Eagles at a revolutionary time for music - despite the fact that The Beach Boys had 4 number 1’s while The Beatles had over 4 times that number their music is played as much today as it ever was, and their album ‘Pet Sounds’ could have been the best album of the 60’s if it hadn’t been for The Beatles ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’  which spent 15 weeks at number one in the U.S. and frequently tops polls of the best albums ever.

The surfing mystique that grew up in California in places like San Diego and Santa Cruz developed with it a language and an image all its own. It didn’t matter if you were from California or lived in a land-locked state in the Midwest. Everyone used terms like gnarly, radical, tubular, hang ten, wipeout, goofy foot and pop-up. And everyone knew what the terms meant. The long-haired blonde surfer dude in boardshorts trudging into the surf with his long board under his arm, ready to wait it out for the perfect wave became iconic.

If you were not actually a surfer, you surely wanted to look like one because that’s who the girls looked at. For at least a brief period of time, ‘four girls for every guy’ was more than just a song lyric. You heard it at concerts. You saw it at the movies. You watched it on TV. Living the surfing life was fun. It was exciting and a dream come true.

The popular image, of course, was not the complete image of the surfing lifestyle. True aficionados of the sport continued to search out the big waves from ocean to ocean. For them the sport was much more than beach parties and posturing. As the sport came more and more into its own as a truly competitive endeavour, a series of year-long meets and a system of ratings grew up around it.

As with other sports, the goal was to play in the bigs. Sponsors became an important element because without them surfers could not afford to travel the world. An entire industry built on surfing equipment and outfitting grew into multi-billion dollar enterprises. Every surf meet that was ASP WQS certified drew the biggest names.

That is why, in October of 2009, Lanzarote, which is always visually spectacular but not always the biggest holiday destination, will find itself drawing a new crowd and the Lanzarote hotels will welcome some first time visitors.

The island has great all year round weather and the weather in Lanzarote end October should be ideal.

Fans of surfing will want to be there to see the pros do their thing. But regardless of the number of professional surfers that do show up in Lanzarote, spectators should see some great surfing at the event on the beaches.

Europe’s Lanzarote is well known for her family friendly vacations, both in the summer and winter.

But now Lanzarote is attracting holidaymakers for a niche holidays market - surfing.

And for the surfer looking to catch great waves in a top beach destination, Lanzarote has just been recognised as being one of the best locations in the world to pursuit the sport - or just for fun.

A leading internet for surfing puts Lanzarote high on their list of the hundred best places in the world, coming shortly after another travel site suggested Lanzarote had one of the top beaches in the world, and hinted that other beaches in Lanzarote were good for watersports.

The recognition among the internet travel sites of Lanzarote being top for their own niche sector will come as no surprise to many Europeans, who helped Lanzarote beat the recession in 2008 with higher visitor numbers, despite publicity suggesting that some of the hotels in Lanzarote might be pulled down, having been built on land where they shouldn’t have been.

Lanzarote is already a favourite dive destination for many divers worldwide - underwater visibility in the waters around Lanzarote is 65 to 100 feet. Marine life includes angel sharks, moray eels, damselfish, groupers and many others. The occasional hammerhead shark is also known to inhabit the waters of Lanzarote.

Diving during the summer months is often more comfortable in a 7mm semidry suit - however a 5mm wetsuit will suffice any time of year. Some divers prefer a dry suit with hood and gloves during the winter months. The water is warmest from June through to around mid October usually.

One of the travel and holiday sites that recommends Lanzarote states that while Lanzarote is just a hundred miles off Africa, it is Spanish, and describe the locals as ‘passionate’.

And of Lanzarote’s 90 beaches they say the best one, which ranks among the best in the world, is on the south of the island, at Caleta del Congrio, with an 87 per cent privacy rating.

They also suggest that those who like wind surfing during their holidays in Lanzarote should head for a different Lanzarote beach - the four mile long Famara Beach. And it is this beach that has helped prompt the windsurfing fraternity to put the island as among the best not just in Europe but globally.

Sandy beaches and water sports aren’t all that await in Lanzarote, and the island is great for family holidays as well.

Puerto Del Carmen for example is a great town for many family activities. The Rancho Texas Theme Park is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Puerto Del Carmen. The first mayor of San Antonio, Texas, was originally from Lanzarote and the park is, in part, a tribute to that connection. Some of the park’s most popular attractions include crocodiles, parrots and a ‘Birds of Prey’ show. Pony and canoe rides and many other activities await anxious tourists and excited children.

But if it is for a watersport activity holiday Puerto Del Carmen is good for that too as it offers sports enthusiasts a wide range of activities. Locally owned diving shops often take tourists on amazing underwater adventures to various places around the island. Diving schools are available for those who wish to learn to dive or snorkel. Windsurfing, swimming, boating, jet skiing and paragliding are also very popular water sports enjoyed by many locals and tourists. Sports enthusiasts also can enjoy golfing, cycling, running, hiking, camping and other local activities, including the Ironman competition.

Costa Teguise is another town that is built around tourism. It is about 6 miles north-east of the capital city Arrecife. The entire resort is built on former lava fields and saltpans. The resort consists of several apartment blocks, bungalows and villas. Primary attractions are the golf course, a marina, commercial shops and entertainment. Many visitors enjoy the water park in the outskirts of the resort, and the Lanzarote weather is certainly conducive to water based activities.

Whatever the reason for a holiday in Lanzarote, the island is a good choice, and quite a few tour operators are offering good deals for holidays in Lanzarote for this year.