MY FAVOURITE CANARY ISLAND

The Canary Islands must be one of my favourite parts of the world, not least for their all year-round promise of sunshine. I have lived in Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Tenerife and I’ve visited Gran Canaria and La Gomera. It is hard to choose a favourite as I love all the islands. One thing is for sure, they all have something to offer everyone whether you are travelling as a single, couple, family or as a group of friends. Each of the islands has a very diverse offering of accommodation types including basic self-catering for those on a budget to 5-star luxury spa hotels. There is also a great selection of villas for those seeking a more relaxed home from home with the privacy of your own pool. In the following blog I will give you a little insight into Lanzarote and some of the must-see highlights for any holiday. I will then follow on with blogs on the other islands as well. The Canary Islands are well known for their climate and they are one of the most popular destinations that are easy to reach for some winter sunshine. They are volcanic islands and one of the characteristics in certain parts of the islands is the black sand. LANZAROTE Lanzarote is an island of unique landscapes which earned the island UNESCO recognition. Lanzarote has three main resorts which are popular with travellers from the UK. Puerto Del Carmen, Costa Teguise and Playa Blanca. One of the key things you will notice about Lanzarote is that there are few buildings over two stories high. The famous artist Cesar Manrique didn’t want this beautiful island spoilt by high rise, towering hotels and so ensured that any tourist complexes would not exceed two stories. All the complexes are also painted white with blue or green window and door frames. There are many places to visit in Lanzarote and most of the highlights can be seen on a day tour of the island known as the Grand Tour. This will include a visit to the famous Timanfaya National Park which is the lava fields between Puerto Del Carmen and Playa Blanca. This eery stretch of landscape is quite phenomenal. The unique landscape here has been the backdrop of many movies. Timanfaya is still an active volcano and you can board a bus which will take you around the fields and there is a detailed explanation of what happened during the eruptions. Even if you have hired a car and made your own way there, your entrance to the National Park will include the bus tour around the lava fields, this is the only way to explore. There is a restaurant at the top and they cook all the meat using the heat of the volcano. PUERTO DEL CARMEN Puerto Del Carmen is a short transfer from the airport and is the livelier resort and has a great number of restaurants, bars and nightclubs. You can enjoy a quiet meal or party into the wee small hours. The old town harbour is my favourite area and has a selection of fantastic tapas bars and authentic Spanish restaurants where you can enjoy many local dishes including Papas Arugadas (meaning wrinkly potatoes) which are potatoes cooked in their skins served with moja, a typical Canarian sauce and fresh fish and seafood. There is a large selection of accommodations here from basic self-catering apartments to luxury 5-star hotels. Everything is located around the long strip of the Avenida De Playas. There is an area within a short transfer of the airport known as Matagorda and Los Pocillios (meaning puddles due to the large puddles on the flat beach when the tide goes out). This area is ideal for families and there are some great hotels here including Seaside Los Jameos Playa which is one of my favourites. There is a long flat promenade which will take you all the way into the centre of Puerto Del Carmen and is an easy walk or a taxi is quite cheap. I would suggest getting a taxi there and walk back as the one-way system makes it easier to get a taxi in. COSTA TEGUISE Costa Teguise is only a short transfer from the airport and is more suited to families and couples. It at times can be a little windy. There is a lovely sandy beach known as Playa De Las Cucharas (Beach of the Spoons). There is also a vast selection of restaurants serving local dishes and international cuisine. There is something to suit all tastes. There is a fantastic water park in Costa Teguise great fun for everyone. This is more of a purpose-built resort. PLAYA BLANCA Playa Blanca on the southernmost tip of the island with views stretching to the neighbouring Fuerteventura. This used to be the quietest of the resorts however over recent years there has been a lot of development there. The resort is centred around a beautiful white sandy beach. There are many shops, bars and restaurants along the sea front. The standard of accommodation is excellent in this resort and there are many 4- and 5-star properties. There are also some self-catering bungalows, villas and apartments. There is a stylish marina nearby known as Marina Rubicon and you can enjoy a beautiful meal with views of the marina and its’ luxury yachts. There are designer shops here at a fraction of the price you would pay at home. The beaches of Papagayo can be reached by hire car or if you take a catamaran or boat trip along the coast of Lanzarote they will anchor here as it really is spectacular. Just one word of warning as the whilst the beaches are a sight to behold, this is a naturist beach. The car hire companies will also not cover for any damage to the under carriage of the car as it is a dirt track. I have to say when I lived in Lanzarote I lived in Puerto Del Carmen and enjoyed the night life but now when I go on holiday, I go to Playa Blanca. You can get a ferry across to Fuerteventura from Playa Blanca, you will arrive in Corralejo and can easily spend a day here exploring the harbour and shops. You could even have a twin centre holiday.