Lanzarote – Winter Sun

The weather warnings keep coming, Britain’s Wildest Weather of 2017 has been on the TV and you are questioning ‘Why am I here?’… trust me, you are not the only one! Increasingly, Christmas in the UK represents overspending and miserable weather, so it is no surprise that over 3.5 million Brits leave each year for a warmer climate.

If like me, you have overspent all year round, jetting off to the Seychelles or Barbados feels like a dream, but there are many places much closer to home that can provide you with beaches and sunshine. Last year we spoke about Ibiza, this year we ventured to Lanzarote.

Winter in Lanzarote (December to March) sees an average low of 21 degrees Celsius. Now, don’t be fooled (like I was), as Lanzarote is only 78 miles from the cost of Africa, and the Sahara and a very tiny island surround by a lot of water, the reports of cloud and rain are often wrong. This is because the hot air being reflected up from the rock burns it off before it arrives and although the nights get cooler, 21 degrees often feels like 28 degrees (or more) and you will need sunblock.

Lanzarote is a true tropical paradise in every sense of the word. The weather makes it convenient for locals and visitors alike to enjoy the outdoors throughout the year. From surfing, scuba diving, to simply just trekking- Lanzarote has so much to offer for every kind of traveller all year round.

There is also the bonus of it being 4 hours away with many ‘budget’ airlines including EasyJet and Jet2 flying 2/3 times a week from the United Kingdom. Lanzarote has two sides to the island. The west was devastated by volcanic activity thousands of years ago, and to this day looks like a lunar landscape. Miles and miles of volcanic fields lie in the Timanfaya National Park, where you can take a bus tour around the volcanic landscape. The volcanic history of the island also means that you get a combination of golden and dark grey beaches on the island, something unique to Lanzarote within the Canaries.

The east side and to the north of the island tend to be a little greener. These areas are less populated by tourists but still offer some great attractions such as Mirador del Rio (the lookout over the island of Graciosa), Jameos del Agua and The Green Caves.

Lanzarote is largely unspoilt, thanks to Cesar Manrique. All the buildings on the island have to remain white and there are no advertisements or billboards lining the road like you might see on mainland Spain.

Lanzarote isn’t just about the weather and the natural beauty of the island. It’s a great place to go and relax to get away from the stress of the “rat-race”. Many of the tourist resorts offer an excellent choice of restaurants, bars and nightlife and Puerto del Carmen and Arrecife offer a great shopping experience for those that aren’t able to leave their shopping desires at home.

All in all, Lanzarote makes for a great holiday destination, which is why so many people go back year after year.

So if you decide to go along. Here are my top 10 places not to miss:

1. Mirador del Rio
Mirador del Rio is a popular viewpoint located at 498 meters above sea level on the north of Lanzarote. Visitors may enjoy the most spectacular views of Lanzarote.

2. Lanzarote Beaches
Lanzarote beaches are excellent. Top beaches in Lanzarote include; Playa Blanca, Punta del Papagayo, Quemada, Puerto del Carmen, Arrecife, Costa Teguise, Charco del Palo, Playa de la Canteria, Graciosa Island, Famara and La Santa beaches.

3. Timanfaya National Park
Timanfaya National Park includes several volcanic lava fields and an ochre colored lunar landscape. It is one of the most beautiful places in Lanzarote. UNESCO declared the Timanfaya National Park a world biosphere Reserve in 1983.

4. Rancho Texas Park
Rancho Texas Park is a theme park worthy of its Indian village, Medicine man cave, gold mine and Lilliput farm.

5. Cueva de los Verdes
Cueva de los Verdes, also known as “Green Caves” is a vast volcanic landscape located in the Haria town of Lanzarote.

6. La Graciosa Island
La Graciosa Island is a nice excursion destination that hosts attractive beaches and white sand dunes.

7. Camel Safaris
Camel Safaris along the Volcano Park and craters of the Timanfaya National Park is a great attraction for the visitors.

8. Museum of Contemporary Art
A visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art in Puerto Naos is also a great cultural attraction in Lanzarote.

9. Cactus Garden
The Cactus Garden on the outskirts of Guatiza is a popular tourist attraction on the north of the island. There are more than 1,000 species of cactus are on show.

10. Aqua Park
Aqua park in Costa Teguise is a great attraction, especially for the kids.

Lanzarote also hosts lots of cultural activities that give the visitors a chance to experience the culture and see local folklore at first hand. As for the festivals; the Classical Music Festival in February and the Visual Music Festival in October are the among the best festivals in Lanzarote. The island of Lanzarote is located in the Atlantic Ocean and offers a variety of beaches, volcanic landscape and attractions to its visitors.

We visited Lanzarote 12th – 16th November with a reported temperature of 21 degrees. We flew with EasyJet for £109 return and stayed at Oasis Lanz Beachmate (half board) which is currently being refurbished, but beautiful all the same.