Lanzarote is the fourth largest of these islands and home to three main holiday destinations, the fastest growing of which is Playa Blanca which is located right at the southern tip of the island.  Just across the Bocaina Straits from near neighbour Fuerteventura.

Until the 1980´s Playa Blanca (or white beach in Spanish) really was the sort of quaint little fishing village that travel brochure writers love to eulogise.  But over the last decade it has rapidly expanded and is now the fastest growing resort on Lanzarote. 

Its rise in popularity can largely be attributed to climate – as Playa Blanca tends to enjoy the best weather in Lanzarote.  Especially during the winter months when more northerly resorts such as Costa Teguise can be shrouded in cloud and a good few degrees cooler.  Despite only being 40km or so away.

Playa Blanca´s other important natural attribute are the resorts great beaches – a major plus point for most holidaymakers.  As within the town itself tourists can enjoy three superb stretches of sand at Playa Flamingo, Playa Dorada and Playa Blanca (the small central beach from which the resort takes its name).

The real jewel in the crow though are the bays and coves of nearby Papagayo – widely regarded as one of the best beach spots in the whole of the Canaries.  Where visitors can enjoy totally unspoiled sands and great views across to Fuerteventura.

There’s a wide assortment of accommodation options for tourists too.  With a good selection of hotels in Playa Blanca available – most of which enjoy a frontline position and immediate access to the seafront promenade that unites the resort.

Those how prefer self catering accommodation will find there are also hundreds of apartments and villas in Playa Blanca available for rent.  At very reasonable rates too – especially by comparison with other Spanish holiday island destinations such as the Balearics.

Playa Blanca is also just a short drive away from Lanzarote´s hottest tourist attraction, the Timanfaya National Park – or Montañas del Fuego.  Home to hundreds of now dormant volcanoes and fields of twisted lava.  All created by huge eruptions in the 18th century.  And an absolute must see for any visitor to the island.

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Lanzarote is home to three main tourist resorts.  But Puerto del Carmen is the spot where modern holidays first really took off on Lanzarote.  Transforming a small fishing village formerly called La Tiñosa into the islands number one holiday destination.

Much of Puerto del Carmen’s success can be attributed to the fact the resort enjoys a great microclimate.  As it is relatively well sheltered from the Trade Winds that buffet the island during the Spring months.  Whilst also boasting some excellent (albeit man made) beaches.  Such as the main section of sand – Playa Cucharas.  And other smaller spots such as Playa Chica.

Over the last year local tourist authorities have also been pouring investment money into Puerto del Carmen.  With around €16 million spent to date on a new marina in the Old Town harbour area and the pedestrianisation of the main seafront promenade – the Avenida de las Playas.  Moves which are designed to help maintain the resorts competiveness in the face of growing competition from newer destinations around the world.

A well as great beaches visitors will also find some excellent accommodation choices.  There are two main hotels in Puerto del Carmen – in the form of the San Antonio and the Los Fariones.  Which both enjoy enviable sea front locations.  Whilst there’s also plenty of private villas in Puerto del Carmen available for rent.  Especially in and around the Old Town harbour area.

This is also the spot where tourists can jump onto a boat for an excursion along the shoreline or across to the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura.  And the harbour area is also an ideal place come nightfall – as it is home to the largest selection of good quality restaurants.

A wide array of water sports such as jet skiing and diving are available at the smaller breach of Playa Chica.  Whilst a new golf course – only the second on the island – has recently opened on the outskirts of town.

There’s never been a better time to visit Puerto del Carmen as this winter flights to Lanzarote are available with low cost carriers such as Ryanair from as littlie as £9.99 return.
 

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The roots of Carnival can be found in the invasion of the islands by the Spanish conquistadors back in the early 1400´s.  They imported Carnival from the Iberian Peninsula.  Where it was already well established as a means of letting off steam before the sacrifices of Lent.  And where it also acted as a sort of social safety valve – allowing people of all classes to meet on an equal footing behind the safe cover of masks and costumes.

Today, Carnival still retains a very strong anti-authoritarian streak.  Which is most visibly reflected in the colourful costumes of many of the revellers.  Some of which are designed solely to poke fun at local politicians or satirise perceived social injustices.  In the most public way possible.  Many hardcore revellers will spend months planning their costumes and there are even shops which are solely dedicated to the creation of outré outfits for the Carnival season.

Hedonism is the other defining characteristic of Carnival.  As revellers eschew social conventions in favour of self-indulgence.  Resulting in some fairly drunken scenes as Carnival reaches its climax. 

The central focus of Carnival is always the main procession – which is populated by imaginatively themed floats and the massed ranks of batacuda drum bands.  Whose synchronised syncopation is the heartbeat of Carnival. Creating a cacophony of noise as they wend their way through the throng.  Many of these rhythm sections practice their moves all year long before finally unveiling them at Carnival.

The main focus of the action is the island capital of Arrecife.  Where Carnival kicks off on February 17th and runs through until the climax on the 25th.  Before upping sticks and moving on to the islands main tourist resort of Puerto del Carmen.  Where the whole affair is repeated again from February 26th onwards.

The colour and spectacle of Carnival is such that many tourists now time their holidays especially to coincide with this annual event.  Booking hotels and villas in Lanzarote months in advance once the dates are released. And Carnival is surprisingly inclusive – enabling tourists and locals alike to really let their hair down together.

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 In Lanzarote, the main celebrations revolve around Midnight Mass and Three King’s Day, both big events in the Roman Catholic calendar.

 Historically though, the run up to Christmas was rather more involved, with some festivities kicking off as early as November 1^st. Namely the Rancho de Animas, a form of remembrance of the deceased which would begin on All Soul’s Day, 1^st November, and would often run through until 2^nd February. In particular, between the 16^th and 24^th of December, the Rancho would see locals taking to the streets to sing songs and take part in candlelit masses in the early hours of the morning.

 These traditions arrived in the Canaries with the conquistadors, who brought the practices of the Catholic Church with them when they settled here. Over the centuries, the Rancho de Animas in Lanzarote developed its own style and customs, including specific clothing and music. Participants would wear a costume of scarves, a waistcoat, a sash, leggings and white espadrilles. Before each Rancho the effigy of Saint Andres or Saint Sebastian would be carried by the leading figure of the group. As they strolled they would play music on tambourines, swords, triangles, little bells, a timple (a Canarian miniature guitar) and guitars.

 The Rancho consists of four specific pieces of music and dance: El Corrido, El Salto, Las Desechas and Las Pascuas. El Salto is in fact a dance, meant to represent the shepherds’ adoration of the holy infant, which had the unique feature in Lanzarote of the dancers never turning their backs towards the figure of Christ.

 In recent years, folklore groups in Arrecife and Teguise have formed to keep such traditions alive, although the Rancho is now confined to 24^th December only. In the past, every major town would have celebrated the nativity in this way, with groups of six or seven singers strolling the streets, singing a fixed repertoire of songs, in villages such as Haria and Femes.

 Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve is still attended by many local people, in the larger churches of Arrecife, Teguise, San Bartolomé and Tías. Along with a large family dinner on Christmas Eve, this is the main way in which Spanish families celebrate Christmas.

 But it doesn’t all end there, as the main day for present-giving has always been Epiphany or Three Kings. This falls on the evening of January 5^th and signifies the day on which the Magi or Three Kings reached Bethlehem to proffer their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. In Spain and the Canary Islands, Three Kings is a public holiday and many children still receive their presents on this day. Although increasingly parents split the gift-giving between Christmas Day and January 5^th, due in no small part to the fact that so many northern European children live in Spanish communities it was becoming a divisive issue amongst local children.  A cavalcade of the Three Kings on camels can be seen in the main resort of Puerto del Carmen every January 5^th, whilst in Haria, the Three Magi make a procession through the town’s streets to the church, where gifts are given to local children in attendance.

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For the next months in Spain there is a large list of places to visit and things to do in a holiday in Spain. The Canary Islands and Costa del Sol are taken by thousands of north European holiday makers as a break from their own colder climate during the winter.

The Canaries are an ideal place due to its warm winter and its delightful beaches. If you choose a holiday in the Canary Islands, there comes a recommendation of attractions you should visit, like the Timanfaya National Park, Jameos Del Agua or its fantastic  February Carnival. For your stay, check availability of holiday apartments in Canaries during the next months and enjoy a winter holiday in Spain.

On the Costa del Sol there is a wide offer of holiday attractions too, from the sunny beaches to the high mountains surrounding the Malaga province and the great amount of golf courses along the coast. It is definitely a place frequently visited by English travelers and in many occasions, second home for many pensioners.

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