Welcome to Visit-the-World's Lanzarote section ...

Visit Lanzarote

The first thing that strikes you, especially if its your first-time as a traveller to the island of Lanzarote (which is in the Canaries), is the absence of any high-rise buildings!

It is no accident! It is as a result of the enlightened policy put forward by the late Canarian architect, Cesar Manrique, whose former home can be visited. His idea of restricting all development to low-rise has been adopted and made law by the Government of Lanzarote. Therefore, most tourist accommodation on Lanzarote comprises of pleasantly designed two-floor self-catering chalets.

The overall impression is of neat and tidy buildings, with some interesting variations on"typical" and "traditional" themes. They are painted white, with either blue or green painted window frames, as set out by Manrique. The whole effect is pleasing on the eye.

The liveliest resort is Puerto del Carmen, which has an "old town" and a
fine curved sandy beach backed by a very long promenade stretching for about three miles, with an amazing choice of good restaurants.

The smart resort of Costa Teguise, north of the capital, Arrecife, is also
expanding very rapidly and offers a Casino, as well as everything else to suit visitors. This resort has more hotels than Puerto del Carmen.
Timanfaya, or Fire Mountain, whose lava slopes and craters can be
descended by camel, provides a very interesting and unusual excursion.

A nice day out is to catch the Fred Olsen ferry from Playa Blanca, a
smart, quieter resort in the south of the island, for the short crossing to
Corralejo, on the northern tip of the less-developed Fuerteventura, the
Canarian island just to the south of Lanzarote.