Sometimes sands from the Sahara are carried by the winds so far out into the Atlantic that the skies over Lanzarote are given an almost unreal, rusty teint. Only rarely does this disrupt the caravan of charter flights that head for Lanzarote all year round, attracted not only by a sub-tropical climate and wide choice of beaches but also by the wealth of sightseeing potential here too.

El Golfo crater is numbered amongst the most well known sights on Lanzarote. El Golfo is actually the name of a nearby fishing village but people come here to look at a massive volcano crater that has partly sunk into the sea and so is filled with a salt water lagoon. The lagoon is a very bright green colour and visitors should not swim in it on account of the high algae content of the water. Anyone wandering around the vicinity of the crater should keep their eyes peeled for olivine. This is a beautiful olive-green stone whose occurrence here is a result of volcanic activity.

Hotels in Lanzarote cater to all visitors. Many are to be found in Arrecife, the capitol of the island. Originally a small fishing village the town began to expand after the Spanish conquest in the sixteenth century. Four castles in the town date from this time with Castillo de San Gabriel located right in the centre of town. The main shopping street is Leon y Castillo and this is a great place to pick up souvenirs.
Lanzarote hotels are noted for their proximity to excellent beaches and those in Playa Blanca, the third largest town on the island, are very close to the islands finest. The Papagayo beaches are ideal for bathing and sunbathing.

04.04.2008