Lanzarote Attractions
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Lanzarote is the most easterly of the Canaries, separated from Africa by 115km/71mi of sea. Off its northern tip are the three small islands of Graciosa, Montaña Clara and Alegranza.
Arrecife, Spain
Lanzarote's capital and port, on the east coast, owes its name (arrecife = "reef") to the many small ridges of rock off the coast. Arrecife is not only important as the base of the Canarian deep-sea fisheries: it also has several canning factories and is the center of the island's commercial life. So far it has remained largely untouched by tourism.
Castillo de San José (International Museum of Contemporary Art)
The Castillo de San José, at the north end of Arrecife, was built in 1779 on the orders of King Charles III; it is now occupied by the Museo Internacional de Arte Contemporáneo.
Castillo de San Gabriel
On a tiny offshore island is the Castillo de San Gabriel (1590), which now houses a small historical museum.
Parque Nacional de Timanfaya
Established in 1974, the Timanfaya National Park is well-known for its volcanic activity and reptile population. Visitors can drive along the 'Volcano Route' to catch a glimpse of the natural phenomena.
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Islotes del Norte de Lanzarote (Riscos)
The north of Lanzarote and the offshore islets of Alegranza, Graciosa, Montaña Clara, Roque del Este and Roque del Oeste form a nature reserve whose greatest attraction is the Famara cliffs, up to 600m/2,000ft high, the nesting-place of large numbers of seabirds, as well as ospreys and a species of falcon which is found only here.
Dunas de Corralejo (Isla de Lobos)
The trade winds have created in northern Lanzarote and the offshore island of Lobos a landscape of dunes in which euphorbias, gorse and lilies flourish. The Atlantic lizard (Lacerta atlantica) or lagarto de haria is found only on Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. The osprey is occasionally seen.
La Geria
On the plateau of La Geria visitors can see the methods of dry-farming used on the island, involving the addition of volcanic lapilli and pumice to the soil to hold moisture.
El Golfo
El Golfo, on the west coast, is a semicircular crater now filled by a small lake.
Teguise, Spain
Teguise, once the chief town of Lanzarote, has some interesting old buildings.
Caves
Other great tourist attractions are the Cueva de los Verdes, a 6,100m/6,700yd long cave system, and the Jameos del Agua, a cave with an attractive garden laid out by the local artist and architect César Manrique.
Haria, Spain
A beautiful landscape greets visitors to the town of Haria. Nestled in a rich green valley, the town is a contrast from the stark beauty so typical of Lanzarote.Visitors should not miss the Mirador del Rio, and its excellent views of the northern islands.
Janubio
Janubio is a large lake from which large amounts of salt are obtained through evaporation.
