As the temperatures begin to drop and the news continues to cast gloomy shadows, many may well be considering a timely escape to the sun as an attractive break. But as economic pressures make long haul travel seem too dear, destinations closer to home are worth considering instead.
The very nearest place for British travelers to visit has to be the Canary Islands, because of their year round bright and sunny conditions and vacation atmosphere. And the driest of the seven islands is considered to be Lanzarote, the easternmost of the islands.
The desert climate of the island is instantaneously visible as soon as visitors arrive, as the most abundant tree is the Canarian palm. On top of that, the island’s volcanic landscape is bare much of the year, as it is much too dried up to support much in the way of flowers.
In spite of this, the main holiday resorts that tourists stay in are far from barren, with verdant planting and exotic blossoms thriving all over the place. In fact, the vast majority of holiday villas in Lanzarote have pleasant gardens, with palms and bougainvillea flourishing round their swimming pools.
Away from the resorts, the many villages and towns dotted around the island are also attractively planted, as horticulture is a popular past-time in more rural areas. This relationship with nature and agriculture forms the basis of several of the leading attractions on the island, developed by César Manrique, artist and architect.
Manrique´s influence also extends into tourist towns like Puerto del Carmen, which have been saved from too much development and urban sprawl. In place of high rise blocks, the buildings are all two or three storeys, even the hotels and complexes which are also surrounded by gardens.
Self-catering holidays are very popular amongst the island´s many visitors, not least because there is so much to see and do that many people spend very little time indoors so their Lanzarote apartments tend to act merely as a base. With a wide choice of glorious beaches, totally unique tourist attractions and raw volcanic landscapes there are many things to tempt visitors away from the resorts.
Lanzarote’s dry and clement weather also makes it an ideal location for sports training and practice, amongst which running and cycling are probably most popular. Whilst those who favor a more sedate pace also enjoy the benefits of spending so much time outdoors.
These factors all contribute to the relaxed vibe that Lanzarote has and accounts for the reason why many tourists come back again and again. Because whilst Lanzarote may be small, it is packed with new things to discover and favorite places to visit a second time.