Take flights to Lanzarote and revel in the sunshine and dramatic landscape of this Canary Island. No longer nicknamed Lanzagrotty, it's a great all-round destination. Accommodation options range from all-inclusive to villas and five-star hotels, it’s small enough to explore every nook and cranny, the cuisine is melt-in-the-mouth delicious and the locals are welcoming. It's also got some surreal lunar - or Martian - landscapes, thanks to volcanic activity over the centuries. The Timanfaya National Park is a must-visit, home to the Montañas del Fuego (Fire Mountains) that are still cooking. It even has a restaurant - El Diablo - that uses geothermal heat to cook Canarian dishes. If you want to get closer to the volcanic action, book ahead for the Ruta de Tremesana. It’s an easy, three-hour hike through the lava fields, but hugely popular. Book as soon as you can to ensure you get a place.
You don’t fancy lazing on coarse, black-sand beaches? No problem, book cheap flights to Lanzarote and rest assured that there are several beautiful sandy beaches such as Playa Blanca (White Beach), Papagayo, Famara, Orzola, Puerto del Carmen and Las Cucharas. One of the newest areas in Playa Blanca is Marina Rubicon, which is fast becoming Lanzarote’s most popular harbour. The Atlantic Ocean, which surrounds the island, teem with dolphins and whales so pack a rain jacket on your Lanzarote flight to avoid splashes if you're going on a tour. You won't need this on dry land of course, or at the Whales and Dolphins Museum in Puerto Calero. It's an interesting, family-friendly museum. The Agricola Museum in Tiagua is another great spot, telling the stories of Lanzarote’s farmers and settlers. Taking return flights to Lanzarote this year might just be the start of many trips back to this fascinating island.
