Planning a holiday in Lanzarote of The Canary Islands?  Or simply want to find out more about this unique Canary Island?  Then download the new edition of Lanzarote Guidebook – the free, in-depth tourist guide to the Island of Fire.

Lanzarote Guidebook is researched and written by long term island residents.  Which means that it provides readers with the real inside track to the island.  And it is published every quarter.  Ensuring that information is always accurate and up to date.

The new Spring 2009 edition is packed with useful information for visitors.  Along with some fantastic pictures of the island from local photographer James Mitchell.  And can be downloaded fast and for free at www.lanzaroteguidebook.com

Lanzarote Guidebook contains comprehensive information about all of the island’s resorts, towns and places.  Including maps, restaurant and accommodation recommendations and sightseeing tips.  As well as detailed information about where to find the best beaches on the island. An introduction to the works of the island born artist and architect Cesar Manrique.  And a guide to all of the islands many attractions.

In addition Lanzarote Guidebook contains a handy Essentials section.  Providing useful information on details such as bank opening times, hiring a car, driving on the island, duty free allowances, shop opening hours and a list of emergency contact numbers.

This indispensable guide is published in a handy and portable A5 format and is distributed free to tourists on the island via car hire companies, hotels and private villas.

Visitors to the Lanzarote Guidebook website will also find even more in-depth and detailed information about the island online.  Where they can catch up on all of the latest island news, check live weather reports and use in-depth climate information to work out when best to visit. The site even features a Tourist Advice Line, which allows visitors to ask specific questions direct – along with interactive island maps.

Lanzarote Guidebook also features a large selection of over 300 apartments and holiday villas.  Along with links to the leading low cost flight operators to the island.  Enabling visitors to construct their own holiday online.

Nick Ball provided us with this travel news story.

Note

I visited Lanzarote with my family for a number of years ago. Lazarote is a very special island for vacation because of its attractive and special landscape, the focus on matching architecture and because of its very dry and sunny climate, close to the African continent. Find more articles about Lanzarote and the Canary Islands, CLICK HERE.

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photo credit: cle2050

photo credit: yaph

Whilst most other European sunspots have long since put away the sun loungers for another season there’s still one group of islands basking in temperatures of 20C plus.

Although in fairness they’re not really European at all – as the Spanish owned Canary Islands sit just 70 miles off the coast of West Africa on the same line of latitude as parts of Mexico and Florida.

Thanks to their relative proximity to the UK and reasonable four hour flight times the Canaries have become well established as a popular winter sun destination. And the eastern most link in the chain, Lanzarote, offers visitors much more than just sunshine and bucket and spade beach holidays alone. As this tiny volcanic island boasts incredible natural beauty, high quality accommodation and some of the most unique tourist attractions to be found anywhere in the world.

Unlike many other Spanish sunspots Lanzarote remains relatively unspoiled. Despite the fact that island has been operating as a hugely popular holiday destination for British and Irish tourists (attracting over one million visitors from both counties last year alone) for over thirty years.

The three main resorts are well contained, high rise buildings are banned and advertising hoardings are outlawed. Creating a pleasing overall aesthetic harmony that enhances the island’s considerable natural charms.

Much of the credit for this must go to an island born artist and architect called Cesar Manrqiue. Who fought tirelessly against the excesses of over development during the 1970´s – just as package tourism was really starting to take off in Spain.

Manrique was lucky enough to have friends in high places – such as Pepe Ramirez – who sat on the island’s governing council at that time and who was sympathetic to Manrique´s views. Together the pair sought to ensure that Lanzarote wasn’t buried beneath a sea of five star hotels. Whilst also working to create a unique set of tourist attractions that fused art with nature.

The greatest manifestation of this philosophy today can be found at the Jameos del Agua, in the north of the island. Where Manrique transformed a collapsed lava tube into a breathtaking underground grotto – beautifully planted and with a pool containing blind albino crabs as its centrepiece.

So impressed was visiting Hollywood actress Rita Heyworth that she declared the Jameos the 8th wonder of the world. And as news of Manrique´s creations spread so the number if VIP visitors increased – attracted by the novelty of this new destination and the architectural plaudits garnered by Manriques work.

Amongst these visitors was Omar Sharif – fresh from the making of Doctor Zhivago and with money to burn. Sharif commissioned Manrique to create what must still be the most unusual property in Lanzarote – which he had built into the side of a volcano, featuring elaborate secret gardens and pools.

Legend has it that Sharif lost the house in a high stakes game of bridge not long after taking possession. But today his old home – now called LagOmar – is still open to the public – as it now plays host to one of the most upmarket restaurants in Lanzarote.

Thanks to the work of Manrique, Lanzarote was declared a UNESCO protected biosphere in 1993 – and large swathes of the island are now officially designated national parks. Such as the incredible Timanafaya Volcano Park – which was the epicentre of the eruptions that engulfed the island back in the 1730´s for over six years. And which today are the most popular tourist attraction on the island.

See also about other Spanish speaking islands for vacation HERE.

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photo credit: chicadelatele

No longer the lanzagrotty which it has often been referred to in the past this destination has become one of the most attractive amongst the Canary Islands, offering undisturbed volcanic landscapes speckled with white buildings and some of the most prolific diving experiences available within 5 hours of the UK.

Puerto del Carmen for Lanzarote diving offers a plethora of experiences, many of the dive schools dive here frequently to seek out the somewhat mythical seahorses visible beneath the waters surface. Many of the divers visiting Lanzarote come out to complete their PADI Open Water course or their advanced course in anticipation for further dives in the UK or as a preliminary destination before larger destinations such as the Red Sea or the Great Barrier Reef.

The setting for Lanzarote diving is pristine, year-round sunshine and an incredibly relaxed atmosphere, the island being predominantly populated by watersports lovers, everything from windsurfing to diving. The volcanic landscape, historically used by NASA to test their moon buggies brings the years first grape harvest in mid august, starting the rest of the European countries wine seasons.

Recently the island has been propelled into the spotlight as a result of Hollywood film sets utilizing the landscape to create stories of jail breaks as part of the story of Henri “Papillon” Charriäre, who was condemned to life on Devil’s Island, off French Guiana, for a crime he did not commit and staged countless failed escape attempts before finally making it to freedom.

Similarly Penelope Cruz spent time here in June 2008 filming a film relating to the islands premier artists, Cäsar Manrique. Manrique being the reason the island has held its authenticity through the denial of high rise buildings and ensuring each building keeps to the white and green/blue colour scheme.

The blue water and sky offer a clarity against the white buildings which is rarely achieved in holiday destinations, Lanzarote diving allows you to see not only the bold colours above the water but those beneath also. Lanzarote diving in my opinion should be the premier reasoning for visiting the island, the plethora of marine life available is magical, the year-round climate ensures that the Lanzarote diving is always pleasurable whether it’s a last minute booking in February or the summer holiday you have been dreaming of all year long.

To find out more about how you can take part in lanzarote diving or other destinations such as The Red Sea and South Africa visit http://www.activediving.co.uk and quote: ART Author: Emma Parker (23/08/08) That’s all for now on Lanzarote divin.

Author: Emma Parker.