LANZAROTE Vacation/Holiday Rentals & Sales

Lanzarote

There is much more to this island than the beautiful sandy beaches with white sand blown in from the Sahara, and the year round sunshine. Watersports are in plentiful supply – windsurfing and scuba diving being the most popular.

The small island is 37 miles (60km) long and 12 miles (20 km) wide, and although it is the fourth largest island in the Canaries, it is extremely beautiful, with its rocky coastlines and rugged landscapes caused by years of volcanic activity. All this makes Lanzarote the perfect year-round destination.

The Timanfaya national park is now a place for tourists to gasp at, but the eruptions in the 18th century that produced the ‘Mountains of Fire’ were a disaster for many of the islanders. As a result of the eruptions, many parts of Lanzarote appear to be from another world, often described as 'lunar' or 'Martian', so much so that parts of 'Planet of the Apes' were shot here.

Outside of the tourist resort areas, most people make their living from agriculture and fishing which, in an area with very little rainfall, is an achievement in itself. The farmers have however discovered that the porous lava granules in which the crops are grown, store moisture of the evening dew and release it slowly during the day.

The main tourist areas in Lanzarote are Costa Teguise, Playa Blanca, Puerto del Carmen and Arrecife.