The year is coming to an end in no time, and with New Year's resolutions I always think of a place to go on vacation. Sometimes it is fulfilled and sometimes it is not, but the truth is that I have been desire to discover the island of Lanzarote, especially to be able to enjoy a little sun without having to wait for the summer to arrive. But this island is more, much more than a group of great beaches.
If I have decided to visit Lanzarote, we will have to look for fun excursions, so as not to miss its main attractions. As a volcanic island, a visit to the Timanfaya National Park It is a must, but surely you can find many other things to see and do. Of course, you also have to review the main beaches, since these natural spaces are their greatest attraction for tourism. Ready to organize your trip to Lanzarote?
Curiosities of Lanzarote
If there is something we like when visiting a place, it is impregnate us with their customs and discover those curiosities that make their culture something special. This island is the oldest of the Canary Islands, 180 million years old, in front of La Gomera, which is the youngest. If you hear about the haze, they refer to the dust that comes from the Sahara desert, which also brings intense heat and sometimes even locust plagues. You will also hear mention of the guagua, which refers to the bus, and which has become one of its most mythical words, although its origin is not very well known.
Natural spaces
The nature of Lanzarote is understood by its volcanic origin. It is a fairly arid terrain, but in the same way it has great beauty, with steep coasts and very peculiar areas. This has meant that this island has been used as the setting for some films, such as Journey to the Center of the Earth in 1976 or A million years ago in 1966.
El Timanfaya National Park It is one of the best attractions. It is also known as the Mountains of Fire, a zone of volcanic eruptions that buried a quarter of the island between the 14th and XNUMXth centuries. This is where the Route of the Volcanoes takes place, with a XNUMX-kilometer stretch that can be walked or bicycled. In this park you can notice the so-called geothermal anomalies, which are unusual temperature changes on the surface due to changes in the subsoil. Another of the typical things that can be done in this park is a fun ride on the back of a camel. The visit usually lasts about two hours.
The Jameos del Agua They are also very interesting, along with the Cueva de los Verdes. These jameos are openings to the exterior of the interior volcanic caves. In the so-called Jameos del Agua you can go down a volcanic stone staircase to reach a natural lake with crystal clear waters. As for the Cueva de los Verdes, it will involve a trip to the bowels of the earth, a tunnel formed by the Corona Volcano, one of the largest on the planet. Throughout the cave there are 16 jameos, openings to different caves. This visit usually lasts one hour, and the caves are located in the municipality of Haría, in the north of the island. The conditioned section is one kilometer long.
Other activities
On this island there are also other activities to do, in addition to admiring its natural areas. The Lanzarote Aquarium It is a must for those who love the marine world, as it is the largest of the Canary Islands. It has 33 aquariums with hundreds of marine species. There are also countless water parks, such as the Aquapark in Teguise or Aqualava in Playa Blanca.
This arid land has also lent itself to the cultivation of vines since ancient times, which is why it has a famous wine production. The El Grifo Wine Museum It is located in San Bartolomé, and is very close to the Museo Monumento al Campesino, so you can visit both at the same time. It is located in an old winery built on volcanic lava in the XNUMXth century. Inside it you can see old tools and discover the wine culture of the island.
Other things that can be done are varied sports activities. On the beaches there are a multitude of sports, from surfing to paddle surfing or kite surfing, which are new modalities. However, as today we are going to go a bit beyond the beaches, we will think about other interesting sports. There are companies that organize horseback riding through volcanic routes, and also camels, if you want to be more original. There are even many hiking trails to discover even the smallest corners.