Jan 26 2012
Winter Getaways In Amazing Lanzarote
As the temperatures begin to drop and the news continues to cast gloomy shadows, many may well be considering a timely escape to the sun as an attractive break. But as economic pressures make long haul travel seem too dear, destinations closer to home are worth considering instead.
For residents of the UK, the Canary Islands are probably the nearest places where year-round sunshine is available. Inside the archipelago of seven islands, Lanzarote is the most easterly and is particularly named the island having the driest environment.
Exactly how arid the climate is is visible by travelers as they arrive, with Canarian palms some of the most abundant trees on Lanzarote. And the volcanic landscape in the distance shows precisely how little plant life has the ability to survive for much of the year, as the naked mountain sides attest.
But this doesn’t stop the main tourist resorts from looking tropical and verdant, as the climate helps many exotic blooms and flowers to thrive. So much so, that many holiday villas in Lanzarote are little oases of green, with gorgeous gardens for guests to enjoy.
And even outside the resorts, in the more rural towns and villages, there is an abundance of planting, demonstrating a local love of horticulture as well as a strong agricultural past. Which is something that has been encapsulated in some of the works by local architect and artist César Manrique.
Manrique´s influence also extends into tourist towns like Puerto del Carmen, which have been saved from too much development and urban sprawl. In place of high rise blocks, the buildings are all two or three storeys, even the hotels and complexes which are also surrounded by gardens.
Self-catering holidays are very popular amongst the island´s many visitors, not least because there is so much to see and do that many people spend very little time indoors so their Lanzarote apartments form an ideal base for getting out and about. And with such an array of great beaches, unique tourist attractions and beautiful landscapes, there is plenty to lure tourists away from the sun beds.
Other visitors come to the island to participate in sports and outdoor activities, of which cycling and running are amongst the most frequently chosen. Which is not to say that visitors who want to be more sedate don´t equally enjoy the chance to live outdoors.
And the relaxed atmosphere that pervades Lanzarote makes it a popular destination for repeat visits, as many tourists come back year after year. As even though the island is on the small side, there is usually something new to discover or a favorite old place to visit.