Travel

A Guide to the Island of Lanzarote

The island of Lanzarote is one of the seven islands of the Canary Island archipelago. This volcanic island is known for its natural park and its beaches, where visitors will be able to practice water sports.

Visit the Timanfaya National Park

The Timanfaya National Park is one of the island's main attractions. This natural park is known for its reddish sands and its geothermic activity. Local park guides can demonstrate the area's geothermal activity by pouring water into a hole and creating a sort of geyser that erupts from the hole. Visitors will be able to explore the park on camel back. There is a restaurant at the top of a mountain in the park which was designed by the local architect Cesar Manrique. The restaurant is known for its grilled fish and meat, which are grilled directly above a hole that leads deep into the ground. The restaurant's glass structure has views towards the rest of the island.

Explore the beaches

This island has many sandy beaches and several black, volcanic beaches. The Playa del Papagayo is one of the island's most famous beaches, a semicircular beach with crystal clear waters. Nearby are the Playa de las Coloradas and the Playa Mujeres, and a short walk away visitors will find several bays, including the Caleta del Congrio. There are several beach towns and resorts on the island, ranging from the Puerto del Carmen beaches to the larger beach of Playa Blanca. This area, located on the southern coast, is where visitors will find less crowded, sandy beaches, including the Flamingo beach.

Spend an afternoon in the traditional towns

There are many cultural attractions on this island, which is located off the coast of Morocco. The largest city is Arrecife, where several ancient castles and fortresses have been converted into museums. The Castle of San Gabriel is located in the city center. The ancient fortress has been transformed into a history museum. The Santa Barbara castle is now a Pirate Museum, dedicated to the nautical history of the island, and the Castle of San Jośe is the city's Art Museum. The Church of San Ginés is one of the city's symbols.

The town of Yaiza has a traditional church, built using volcanic rock and painted white. This town is one of the region's most visited towns. Tinajo municipality is located on the northern coast of the island, and one of its main landmarks is the Chapel of Our Lady of the Volcanoes, the Patroness of this island. The Tinajo coast is a popular post for those who want to practice surf.

Tour the Jameos del Agua complex

The island is known for its many natural attractions. There are several caves that can be visited, including the Cueva de los Verdes, a set of natural caves. The Jameos del Agua complex was designed by the architect César Manrique, who integrated the natural caves into his design. The complex has an auditorium, a swimming pool with a pool bar and a restaurant. The Jameo Grande was formed after a lava tunnel collapsed, and is now part of the swimming pool area. Next to this jameo there is a cave that is used for concerts, and is known for its acoustics.

Another natural landmark is the Jardín del Cactus, a cactus garden designed by Manrique. The garden is located next to the Teguise Coast and has more than a thousand species of cacti.

About the Author: Marina is a travel enthusiast and avid language learner who is currently living in Madrid, Spain. Her favourite cities so far are Amsterdam, Mexico City and München, and she wants to learn Portuguese.

Photos by Son of Groucho via Flickr Creative Commons

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