Lanzarote, perhaps the most unusual of the Canary Islands, lies approximately 95 Km off the west coast of Africa and 1100 Km south west of the Spanish peninsula. This position ensures year round high temperatures, more days of sunshine and fewer days of rain than the other islands. Summer temperatures can be in the 90's although these are always tempered by cooling breezes - ideal for sunbathing and sport during the day and comfortable in the evenings for relaxing over a leisurely meal or drink at one of the many bars and restaurants.

Only about 45Km long and around 18Km at its widest point, the island is famous for its dramatic lunar landscape of almost 300 volcanoes. Views of volcanic mountains, picon covered fields and rocky coastlines are broken up by a large number of beautiful golden sandy beaches and an amazing amount of well attended greenery and agriculture.

The warm, clear waters of the Atlantic rarely fall below 65°F even in Winter and are ideal for scuba diving, snorkeling and fishing. The constant sea breezes also make Lanzarote one of the best places in the world for windsurfing and the island frequently hosts international competitions. On land there are excellent facilities for various other sports including tennis, squash, go-karting,horse riding and golf on the attractive 18 hole course in Costa Teguise, with several more courses planned for the future. A major sporting event is the Ironman Triathlon held every May that attracts hundreds of athletes from around the world - it's exciting to watch if you're not mad enough to want to take part.

If you are interested in exploring the island there is plenty to see, from the extraordinary lava fields of the Timanfaya National Park with the Fire Mountain camel trek, to the tranquil underground cave and the lake at Jameos del Agua. The cliff top views of the tiny island of La Graciosa from Mirador del Rio are as spectacular as the long, unspoilt beaches of Papagayo in the south are magnificent. An insight into the island's history and culture can be gained by visiting Teguise, the original capital of the island, Haria in the fertile valley of 1000 palms, and some of the tiny country villages where life has hardly changed despite the influx of tourism. You may be lucky enough to visit during carnival week or one of the many fiestas that take place in different parts of the island throughout the year when the lanzaroteños, or 'Conejeros' as they are known, party the night away.

Arrecife, the busy capital and commercial centre of the island, has well developed shopping facilities for duty free goods to take home, as has Puerto del Carmen the main tourist resort. The other major places to stay on the island are the quieter, well planned resorts of Costa Teguise and Playa Blanca, originally a tiny fishing village from where you can watch the daily ferry crossings to and from Fuerteventura. A day trip to this neighbouring island makes an enjoyable excursion during your holiday on Lanzarote.

Beaches

Although only a small island, Lanzarote has a large number of golden sandy beaches to offer you, whatever your preference. Puerto del Carmen, Costa Teguise and Playa Blanca all have large open beaches with tourist facilities as well as several smaller less busy coves. To escape the crowds, try the long curving Famara beach in the North West of the island, overlooked by the magnificent Rincon de Famara cliffs; this is a favourite beach for surfers, but do be careful of the powerful undercurrents here. Or if you feel adventurous and don't mind a bumpy ride over rough tracks, the famous Papagayo beaches in the south, beyond Playa Blanca, are a must, as these are reputed to be among the best natural beaches in Spain.

Tias

Tias is only a 10 minute drive inland from Puerto del Carmen and has grown in popularity with both holidaymakers and residents who prefer to be in a quieter location but convenient for the amenities of the main resort. Here you can enjoy the growing selection of shops, bars and restaurants, explore the island countryside or join the bustle of Puerto del Carmen. Car hire is considered essential.

Güime

This small, sleepy village rests on the hills between the capital of Arrecife and the tourist centre of Puerto del Carmen and enjoys breathtaking views across the sea to neighbouring Fuerteventura. You can find a well stocked supermarket in Güime just a few hundred metres from the  quaint local church and village square. If you like to get away from it all, yet still have a wide choice of beaches shops, bars, and restaurants all within a 10 minute drive, Güime is ideally situated. Car hire is considered essential.

Playa Blanca

Playa Blanca lies on the southern tip of Lanzarote, about 40 minutes drive from the airport. Once a tiny fishing village, it is now rapidly becoming a major resort with the development of Lanzarote's second marina. Here you will find some of the best beaches on the island, including the endless sands of the neighbouring Papagayo beaches. There are superb views of the mountains and the islands of Lobos and Fuerteventua across the water. Surrounding it's picturesque fishing port (from where there are regular ferry crossings to Fuerteventura) you have a wide range of reasonably priced seafood restaurants. The resort has been tastefully developed with an emphasis on quality and peacefulness - as you can see from the attractive sea front and colourful lanscaped gardens everywhere.

Costa Teguise

This up and coming resort to the north of Arrecife has been planned and developed to a high standard and is where the Spanish royal family have a holiday home. There are excellent beaches and sporting facilities and this area is particulary good for wind surfing and snorkeling.

It is also very convenient for the 18 hole golf course, and the water park, which are only a 5 minute drive away.

Despite being quieter than Puerto del Carmen, the resort has a good range of shops and restaurants within easy reach of the accommodation.

Puerto del Carmen

This attractive bustling resort, once a small fishing village built around an atmospheric harbour, now has all the facilities and amenities of a thriving holiday resort. However, the old town still retains its traditional charm while providing an abundance of international and local restaurants, bars and night life. The main avenida which runs alongside the beautiful wide sandy beaches and looks towards the large island of Fuerteventura has lovely landscaped gardens of sub tropical plants with many seating areas where you can relax and admire the views. All accommodation here is well situated for the beach, shops and nightlife. Sports enthusiasts are well catered for with wind surfing, scuba diving, horse riding, squash and tennis.

Playa Matagorda

Playa Matagorda is the stretch of beach situated between Pocillos and the Airport. It is the first beach to be seen when approaching Puerto Del Carmen from the airport and is now quite popular due to the completion of the Matagorda Complex. If you walk along this beach towards the airport, you will come to the wide stretches of sand separated by a fence from the airport runway. This beach is relatively unused, although it can be windy and of course very noisy when planes are landing and taking off!

Playa Del Reducto - Arrecife

An area of sand situated next to the Arrecife Grand Hotel can be seen on the right-hand side when approaching Arrecife. Although there are no facilities on this beach it is very popular with the locals, and is somewhere to stop for a swim after a morning's shopping.

Las Cucharas

This is the largest beach in Costa Teguise, backing onto the Las Cucharas complex, and consequently, very close to bar and restaurant facilities. A good, sandy beach with sunbeds and sunshades for hire. This is an especially popular beach for wind surfers and you will find a wind surfing school with equipment for hire. Approximately 250 metres along from the Las Cucharas beach in the other direction, is the small man-made beach situated directly in front of the hotel Teguise Playa known as playa Jablillo.

Playa Bastian - Costa Teguise

A small and very pleasant man-made beach is situated directly in front of the Playa Bastian development. This is generally a very quiete and peaceful area.

Playa Famara

A wide sweeping sandy beach situated in the north of the island. Usually a quiet and relatively unused beach, the undercurrents in the sea along this particular stretch of coastline are very strong so care must be taken with children and non-swimmers. It can be a particularly windy area, very popular with surfers.

Playa Blanca

A small golden beach situated in the south of the island. Originally a fishing village, Playa Blanca is now becoming a popular holiday resort. A pretty promenade is situated on the edge of the beach where some very good restaurants can be found.

Papagayo

At the southernmost point of the island, the beaches of Papagayo are situated approximately five kilometres (across barren land) from Playa Blanca. These stretches of sand are said to be the best beaches on the island. Do take your own refreshments, as there are no facilities here at all.