Family Concerns

The island born artist and architect Cesar Manrique did much to shape the development of tourism in Lanzarote. Controlling the evolution of the island as Lanzarote package holidays really began to take off.

Visitors to what is considered to be the best of the Canary Islands would be well advised to visit the whole of the island to truly understand the stunning scenery that Lanzarote offers.

The best way to get around the island is by car and Lanzarote car hire is relatively inexpensive .

Indeed, outside of the three, well contained main resorts the island is still very much as nature intended. Thanks largely to the efforts of Manrique. Who in conjunction with close family friend Pepin Ramirez influenced the evolution of the island back in the 1960´s and 70´s – just as package tourism really started to take off.

Together, this influential pair succefully outlawed advertising hoardings on the island and forced through building controls – that not only restricted the quantity of development but also imposed controls over its quality too. Effectively outlawing construction of any of the hotels in Lanzarote, or any other edifice to be higher than a Canarian palm tree.

A regulation that is still in force today – with the notable exception of the Grand Hotel in Arrecife which was built before Cesar had a chance to shape his empire.

But Manrique wasn´t just a conservationist alone. As he also created a series of unique and highly imaginative tourist attractions that embodied his main concept of fusing art with nature. Amongst which are some truly incredible creation such as the Jameos del Agua – an underground and gardens fashioiened from a volcanic tube. And his own home built into five volcanic bubbles inTahcighe. Which is today home to the Cesar Manrique Foundation.

As well as Manriques man made works Lanzarote also boasts an abundance of breathtaking natural beauty spots. The most famous of which is the Tiamnafaya Volcano Park – which was the epicentre of the worlds longest ever volcanic eruption. Lasting six years from 1730 that covered around one quarter of the island in lava. Ironically, today the Volcano Park is the islands most popular tourists attraction – drawing in over 900,000 visitors every year.

The north of the island provides a real contrast – in the form of the verdant and palm packed valley of 1000 Palms, which is as green as the Volcano Park is arid. And which is one of the most atmospheric spots on the whole island.

These varied attractions combine to make Lanzarote the ideal destination for anyone seeking that elusive mixture of sunbathing and sightseeing. So explaining the ongoing popularity of holidays in Lanzarote.

And anyone searching for holiday accommodation in Lanzarote is spoilt for choices as there is an extensive range of hotels, holiday villas and apartments available making this one of the most popular Canary Islands holidays destinations.