Lanzarote, mi isla bonita!!

Lanzarote is one of the islands of Macaronesia and with the seven other islands forms the Canary Islands situated close to Africa in the open Atlantic ocean.

Lanzarote is a volcanic and arid island, with a peculiar nature: there aren’t big trees and you won’t find tropical vegetation, even if the island itself is considered to be a tropical island.

Driving through it you can see vulcans that sometimes look of different colours and shapes. Because of its particularity it is so easy to find peace and relax.

As well it offers different trails and tracks to explore and discover the little hidden places this island has to offer.

Famara

In the north west of the island there is a place called Caleta de Famara, this is a little village of fisherman with a 4 km beach. The beach is incredible and here is possible to try out different water sports: surf, kite surf, stan up paddle board; and also hand gliding and paragliding and so on. The tourism in Famara is not invasive, also because the place is more oriented to peace, quietness and nature, and the majority of people you would see around are sporty or nature lovers.

Close to Famara, there is Soo, a little village born over 100 years ago from a group of african merchants. Soo is situated in the valley of one of the oldest vulcan on the island. In some of my free time I spent few days in Soo in Villas Lanzarote Natura, that I booked through internet and reached on my own. On the website is possible to see the different houses, all new and fully equiped. In addition you can see and understand that one of them has incredible views on Famara’s beach and this one is the one I chose to stay. Jesus is the owner of the business and is a young guy from Madrid, that has been living on the island for almost 9/10 years if I don’t remember bad; he’s really helpful, always available if you have any problems and also if you have any question about places to see and things to know. 

He also helped me out in order to get information about surf schools and surf rent shops, because I wanted to learn and try surf and he is a surfer and knows a bit. Next time when I go back, I surely know the people to talk to.

The thing that I liked most is for sure the relaxing atmosphere of this place and the fact that is not too far from other important places, like la Geria, Costa Teguise, Mala and also La Isla Graziosa.

Things you don’t need to miss in Lanzarote are many if you really want to understand the charme of this island. 

Starting from the landscape, it is definitely worth driving through la Geria and Timanfaya National Park. This corner of the island is all rusty-red peaks and craters. In Timanfaya you could take a bus tour, starting from Il Diablo , a circular restaurant built on top of the volcano called Islote de Hilario through the different volcanos of the area and learn about explosions that had affected the island and changed the environment and see the most famous volcano of Lanzarote, La Montaña del Fuego (Fire Mountain), you could witness the force of this active volcano by feeling the heat beneath your feet or touching some of the little rocks around, by seeing brushwood turning into flames and a geyser raising up from ground to sky. La Geria, instead is characterized by black lava vineyards, containing Malvasia grapes. This area was covered with lava, slag and ash by an eruption causing a change in cultivation that had to be done using traditional methods, which are labour intensive and not too profitable and unfortunately 30% of the island is going to be desert.

A different environment is when the lava, the rock formations and the landscapes encounter the ocean. 

Los charcones, Yaiza

You can pretty much divided the island in two half, the one that is super wild, strong and sort of human free - from the north east to the south east- from the other half that is basically where all the constructions are, the people live and the tourists go: Costa Teguise, Arrecife, Playa Honda, Puerto del Carmen, Puerto Calero and Playa Blanca.

Playa Mujeres, Costa Papagayo

Sun setting in Marina Rubicon, Playa Blanca

Lanzarote is a unique place and you can understand its diversity and how special it is visiting Cesar Manrique museum house and/or art foundation. Cesar Manrique is very well knows on the island and around the world for his arts and for the love he felt for his island. In the casa/museo and la fundacion a dvd about his history and arts is played and explained very well the work done from the artist to preserve Lanzarote from massive construction and mass tourism in order to keep the island as natural as possible. I feel truly inspired and I admired Cesar Manrique for the lesson he has done with his arts and his thoughts to many people and especially for the beautiful heritage left to us.

El golfo