As the winter weather settles in and the news remains disconcerting, the very thought of a week in the sunshine might seem more attractive than ever. But because of the demands on our pockets, far flung destinations may well lose out to locations that are nearer to home in the search for winter sunlight.
For UK travelers, there is nowhere closer than the Canary Islands offering year round sunshine and a relaxing holiday vibe. And of the seven islands in the Canaries, it is Lanzarote that has the lowest rainfall of them all.
In fact, its climate is similar to the desert, which usually becomes obvious when visitors land and see the proliferation of palm trees. The volcanic land masses that form most of the geography of Lanzarote consist of bare slopes, testament to the aridity which only supports limited flora and fauna.
In spite of this, the main holiday resorts that tourists stay in are definitely not barren, with green planting and exotic plants flourishing all over the place. So much so, that many Lanzarote holiday villas are little oases of green, with beautiful gardens for guests to savor.
Away from the resorts, the many villages and towns dotted around the island are also attractively planted, as horticulture is a popular past-time in more rural areas. This relationship with nature and agriculture forms the basis of several of the leading attractions on the island, developed by César Manrique, artist and architect.
This artist´s design aesthetic has also affected the development of towns such as Puerto del Carmen, where tourist construction has been carefully limited. Instead low rise buildings are favored, with plenty of planting around the edges of hotels and complexes to soften their impact.
Self-catering holidays are very popular amongst the island´s many visitors, not least because there is so much to see and do that many people spend very little time indoors so their Lanzarote apartments , are little more than a resting place. The wonderful beaches, fascinating tourist attractions and natural beauty of the island do their best to lure tourists away from the pool.
Other visitors come to the island to participate in sports and outdoor activities, of which cycling and running are amongst the most frequently chosen. Which is not to say that visitors who want to be more sedate don´t equally enjoy the chance to live outdoors.
And the relaxed atmosphere that pervades Lanzarote makes it a popular destination for repeat visits, as many tourists come back year after year. As even though the island is on the small side, there is usually something new to discover or a favorite old place to visit.

















