The small Canary Island of Lanzarote can be enjoyed as a holiday destination whatever the time of the year. As it is located off the west coast of Africa – and basks in sunshine even in winter.

Modern day tourists first started to visit Lanzarote in the early 1970´s. Although intrepid Victorian travellers had been finding their way around the Canaries over 100 years before. On Lanzarote this tourist boom exploded in a small fishing village called La Tiñosa, soon to be renamed as the more marketable Puerto del Carmen. Which is now firmly established as the largest tourist destination on the island.

During the 1970´s the number of visitors arriving on flights to Lanzarote from countries such as the UK and Germany expanded rapidly. As at the time the island was regarded as a novel and fashionable new destination. So much so that by the early 1980´s just a decade later over 2 million tourists a year were touching down at Arrecife airport, Lanzarote´s sole international terminal.

At that time package holidays were all the rage – with tourists booking holidays through travel agents in the High Street. Today most of those stores no longer exist – as travellers now organise their own holidays direct online. Booking their own flights and accommodation, such as Lanzarote villas and apartments direct with the owners. Lanzarote hotels also remain popular, accounting for around 50% of all tourist beds on the island. And with over 200 establishments for visitors to choose from there is certainly plenty of choice.

During the summer months temperatures on the island regularly climb into the high 30´s – epically if the island is experiencing a calima, which is a cloud of desert sand and dust swept in from the nearby Sahara. This has the effect of raising the temperatures considerably – sometimes driving the mercury into the 40´s.

As a rule though the island is in fact much cooler than the Spanish mainland during the summer and as a result Lanzarote welcomes thousands of guests from Spain. As well as from established markets such as the UK and Germany.

Despite the islands distance from the Iberian peninsula Lanzarote is very much part of Spain too. With the same language, cuisine and customs. So anyone who has spent a holiday on the mainland will find the island very familiar.

Other Canary Islands such as Fuerteventura and Gran Canria are just a short hop away by ferry or plane so it is in fact possible to visit a number of different locations from your base on Lanzarote.