Lanzarote is located in the easternmost part of Canary Islands. It is only 125 kms from Africa. It is the fourth biggest island among the cluster of islands in Atlantic Ocean. An estimated 139,000 people live in Lanzarote island, as of 2010.
Lanzarote is known for its temperate weather all year round. Tourists can expect a lot of sunshine and a few days of rainfall. There are numerous attractions in the island. There are also plenty of transportation options available to get to the desired destination. You can ride a bus, hire a taxi, join organized tours or rent a car. To avoid the crowds, it is best to tour the attractions before 11 am or after 4 pm. Thursdays and Sundays are also less packed than the other days. It is best to schedule your tour around these times.
The top 5 tourist attraction sites in Lanzarote include the following:
1. Timanfaya Volcano Park. This is the top tourist attraction in Lanzarote. In 2010 alone, it drew at least 900,000 tourists. The national park at Timanfaya features a number of dormant volcanoes. The visitors are toured via the route created by local artist and architect Cesar Manrique. The travel route will take you to the most scenic and awe-inspiring places in this well-known Volcano Park. Tourists ride on coaches which take them to several destinations within the park.
What makes Timanfaya a top tourist draw is its unique landscape. The land is virtually filled with cooled lava reminiscent of a lunar landscape. The colorful lava scapes are formed by the world’s longest volcanic eruption from 1730 to 1736.
Visitors are not allowed to walk to the park to prevent erosion and to preserve the lava fields that dominate the park. Instead, they ride in coaches that follow a specific route which could take them to steep roads and amazing panoramic views.
2. Jameos del Agua. This is another popular tourist site in the place. In 2006, it drew 700,000 tourists. It is actually collapsed lava tube formed 3,000 years ago when the volcano Montaña La Corona erupted. The tube is about 6km long. The local artist and architect Cesar Manrique is responsible for the transformation of this place. Manrique turned the tube into an underground grotto filled with bars and restaurants, gardens, lagoons featuring the only albino crab in the world, an auditorium and a breath-taking swimming pool. The place serves delicious dinner and features folk dances every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.
3. Mirador del Rio. This used to be a lookout point on top of a cliff where the guards looked for ships that secretly docked in the island. Today, it is transformed into a cultural destination by Manrique. The Mirador offers a great panoramic view of the island. The strait of Rio and the island of La Graciosa are visible from this vantage point.
4. Cactus Garden (Jardin de Cactus). This is the fourth most popular destination. This place features cactus of all varieties. It is considered as one of the best cactus collection in the world. There are more than 1,000 cacti, of all shapes, colors and sizes, found in this garden. The cactus theme is also evident even in the design of the place including the door handles and the gates. This is also the work of Cesar Manrique.
5. Cesar Manrique Foundation. The man behind the popular tourist draws is an attraction in itself. His home in Tahiche is a must-see place. What makes the place unique is that it is built into five underground volcanic bubbles. It looks similar to Jameo del Agua but only on a smaller scale.