Of the seven islands that make up the Canary Island chain Lanzarote is the most easterly. And is located just off the West coast of Africa – close to what was once known as the Spanish Sahara – around seventy miles away.

As you would expect from an island located in such close proximity to Africa Lanzarote enjoys a very dry climate – characterised by exceptionally low rainfall. Allied with temperatures that don’t often drop much below 20c – whatever the time of year. Creating the perfect environment for a year round holiday destination.

The UK is Lanzarote´s largest market place and the island is especially popular with British tourists. Who take advantage of cheap flights to Lanzarote to flock to this small speck of Spain in serious numbers. This year alone for example over 800,000 British tourists are expected to enjoy a holiday on the island. Along with around 200,000 visitors from the Irish Republic.

Lanzarote was once thought to be part of the lost continent of Atlantis. Phoenician traders dubbed it the Purple Island – as a lichen called Orchilla was once grown here, which was used as the basis for a purple dyestuff. In the Middle Ages Lanzarote was referred to as one of the Fortunate Islands – thanks to the spring like year round climate.

Today Lanzarote is best known as the Island of Fire though. Thanks to the fact that around one quarter of the land here was submerged by a sea of molten lava, as Lanzarote was subjected to a terrifying six year long volcanic eruption. Which started in 1730. Driving many islanders to flee and seek new lives abroad.

These eruptions actually increased the size of the island by around one quarter. And obviously caused widespread devastation at the time – as some of the most fertile farming land on the island was submerged beneath a sea of molten lava. Forcing many Lanzaroteños to emigrate abroad. Today however the volcanoes that caused this devastation are Lanzarote´s most popular tourist attraction. With the Timanfaya Volcano Park attracting over one million visitors every year.

Thanks to Manrique Lanzarote has a lot more to offer tourists than just water parks and golf courses alone – as is so often the case in other Spanish sunspots. And allied with great year round weather these factors have helped to encourage many visitors to invest in the Lanzarote property market. Enabling them to rent their villa or apartment out to tourists or enjoy it for their own holidays.

For great deals on flights to Lanzarote visit the Canary Islands website, or go here for detailed information about holiday villas in Lanzarote. A holiday on this beautiful Island will see you coming back again and again as there is literally so much to see and do here from the cultural Legacy of Manrique to the outstanding natural beauty, and for those preferring to holiday aU natural their is a good selection of naturist beaches on the island too.

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