Travel west from the coast of Africa (the Iberian Penninsula to be exact) ' about 125 kilometers west ' and if you started in the right spot, you might just find yourself on the Island of Lanzarote. This island is the northeastern most of the Canary Islands, and is the fourth largest of the islands of the chain, which is owned by Spain.

How To Get There

You can get to the Island of Lanzarote through the Arrecife International Airport, which saw over five and a half million passengers in a single year (2006) alone. Aside from agriculture, the tourism industry is almost the only industry on the island, and is a booming one, having been primary in the island for about 40 years.

Lanzarote Weather

If you are planning a holiday to Lanzarote Island, no need to worry overmuch about a jacket. Night time in the winter can drop as low as 14 degrees centigrade, but it rarely dips so low, and almost never below that, making it a nice, warm climate, especially in the summertime when temperatures can rise as high as 32 degrees centigrade (though rarely higher than that). The cooling trade winds of the North Atlantic create this temperate climate, keeping it from rising as high as the nearby Sahara, and keeping the climate pleasant and beautiful.

Island Landscape

Relatively recent eruptions (in the 18th and 19th Centuries), have left parts of the Lanzarote landscape looking alien or lunar, and the lack of erosion because of the low precipitation rate means that these incredible landscapes look much like they did just after the eruptions. The area is magnificent, with a unique landscape that has attacted many film makers. (Planet of Apes was shot on the Island).

Attractions & Surroundings

Except for the Grand Hotel in Arrecife, local regulations on development mean that there are no high rise buildings on the island, and there are no billboards, either. Lanzarote is gorgeous, beautiful and unspoilt, though it is undoubtedly populated. Pay a visit to the island to see attractions like Jameos del Agua, a cave complex with a natural concert hall, a restaurant and museum, and an underground lagoon. There are man-made attractions as well, both historical and modern. You can pay a visit to the Wine Museum of Lanzarote, or check out the Castillo de San Gabriel in Arrecife, which is a 16th Century fortress overlooking the Arricife Harbor. It doesn't matter what your tastes or interests are, Lanzarote has something pleasing for everyone.