There´s so much more to Lanzarote than just beaches alone. As this small Canary Island is surprisingly big on visitor attractions. Whilst also boasting unique volcanic scenery and some high quality accommodation. Making the island an ideal holiday destination for anyone who likes to combine sunbathing with sightseeing.
Lanzarote measures just 58km by 38km – making the island manageably small and easy to tour. Car hire and petrol are reasonably priced too – so there’s no excuse for not getting away from the pool at your hotel or villa in Lanzarote and exploring this fascinating island.
The best known visitor attraction is undoubtedly the Timanfya National Park. Which attracts around one million visitors every year. And little wonder – as the scenery here is extraordinary. Resembling another planet such as Mars or The Moon. Thanks to the mile after mile of lava flow and hundreds of spent peaks. All created by a series of eruptions that rocked the island during the 18th and 19th centuries. Visitors will be pleased to know that these volcanoes are now dormant – and the Timanfaya National Park is open to the public seven days a week.
Elsewhere on the island an eminent artist, Cesar Manrique, has had a hand in fusing these volcanic vistas with his own artistic creativity. Resulting in some weird and wonderful visitor attractions. Such as the Mirador del Rio – originally designed as a restaurant with a birds eye view across to the small island of La Graciosa.
The Mirador (or lookout point in Spanish) originally started life as a naval gun battery. Designed to protect Lanzarote from attack by American warships during Spain’s ill fated war with the US in the 1890´s. And enjoys a commanding position some 480 metres up atop the Famara massif. A big range of cliffs that dominate the north of the island. Today, the restaurant is no more – although visitors can still enjoy a drink and a snack whilst drinking in the breathtaking views.
It’s a short drive from the Mirador to the Jardin del Cactus. Another memorable Manrique creation which is landmarked by a giant metal sculpture of a cacti. The Jardin is home to over 1,000 of these spiny species and is sensitively located in the heart of what was once Lanzarote´s cactus country. Where local farmers used to harvest the cochineal beetle – before processing it into a red dye that was once used the colour the coats of English soldiers.
Visitors can get more in-depth Lanzarote tourist information and a free Guidebook to the island by visiting the Lanzarote Guidebook website.
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