Lanzarote is one of the northeastern-most Canary Islands and covers an area of 845.9 sq km.
It is situated amidst the Atlantic Ocean, less than 130 km off the coast of Africa.
The closest islands are Fuerteventura and the small neighboring islands Isla de Lobos, Isla Graciosa, Montana Clara and Alegranza.
Arrecife, the capital of Lanzarote, is located at 28 degrees and 57 minutes north latitude and 13 degrees and 32 minutes west longitude.
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Lanzarote is the nearest to Europe from all the major Canary Islands.
When to Visit Lanzarote?
Like all the other islands of the archipelago, Lanzarote is known as year-round tourist destination.
The weather is suitable for swimming and sunbathing all year round.
The cool and cloudy days are rare.
What Clothes Should I Wear?
Thin summer clothes all year around, plus an anorak or a light jacket during the winter months.
You should wear also swimwear, sunglasses and sunscreen in your luggage necessarily, even during the winter months.
Weather
Lanzarote has a refreshing tropical climate.
The weather is lovely all year round, reminding warm and sunny spring.
In January and February the average daily temperatures are between 20 and 22°C and to about 27°C in August and September.
The weather conditions vary depending on whether you are in the south or north of the island.
The interior of Lanzarote is very hot during the summer months.
As a whole however, the weather in Lanzarote is constantly dry with little rain in winter and prolonged drought during the summer months.
Since the climate conditions have a desert character, winter nights can be quite cool with temperatures around 13 – 14°C.
5 Best Beaches in Lanzarote
The coasts of Lanzarote are mostly rocky, but you can find some really lovely beaches.
In this respect only Fuerteventura can be compared to Lanzarote.
Rugged coastal black volcanic rocks suddenly turn into tempting coves, whose tropical beauty is just waiting to be evaluated.
1. Playa de Orzola
In the northeastern part of the island and south of Orzola is located Playa de Orzola (Orzola Beach).
Here you will find white sandy beach and transparent water.
Underwater coastal reefs and volcanic rocks break the large waves far from shore.
The place is very attractive destination and is easily accessible by car.
You could park your car just to the beach itself.
South of Playa de Orzola there are several beautiful white beaches, which are more distant from the city, but are much more relaxed and peaceful.
2. Costa Teguise
On the eastern central part of the island is located Costa Teguise.
The small resort town is not far from the capital Arrecife and can boast quite attractive coastline with golden sandy beaches, atypical for the Canary Islands.
Calm and transparent sea water is a magnet for tourists.
Coconut palms and other tropical plants along the shore enhance the feeling of exotic.
3. El Papagayo
One of the most popular beaches in Lanzarote is known as El Papagayo.
This paradise is located in the southern part of the island.
It offers emerald sea water and fine golden sand.
The small cove is protected by steep yellow, beige and brown rocks.
Next to this charming cove you will discover other pretty good beaches, though not so sheltered and protected.
4. Playa Blanca
Also in the southern-most parts of Lanzarote, only a few kilometers northwest of Playa de Papagayo, is located the resort town of Playa Blanca, which is considered one of the most attractive places on the island.
Beautiful beaches with white and gentle sand attract visitors throughout the year.
Calm waters, offering pleasant coolness, are great opportunity for lovers of lazy afternoons on the shore.
5. Playa de Famara
Playa de Famara is located in a large bay on the north coast of Lanzarote.
This is a wide sandy beach, different from the charming beaches, nestled among the rocks on the east coast.
The waves here are big and the weather is often quite windy.
The sand is dark yellow and although the place is not the best for swimming, it attracts a lot of surfers.
Waves, refreshing breeze and steep slopes, rising 600 meters above sea level, attract numerous visitors to unwind at the beach.
Nature
Because of its unique lunar landscape, Lanzarote is a popular tourist destination.
People from all over the world come here to see the hundreds of craters that form the scenery of this volcanic island.
Many people call it “the pearl of the Canaries”, but one thing is certain – places like Lanzarote are extremely rare, at least on our planet.
The interior is almost completely devoid of vegetation.
Here you can see only some dry and prickly bushes that somehow survive in the middle of this volcanic desert.
Here are rare even the date palms.
The landscape is colored in shades of black, red and brown.
Unlike the other Canary Islands, Lanzarote is not so mountainous.
The highest point is Penas del Chache and rises to a height of 671 meters in the Famara Mountain, in the Northwest of Lanzarote.
Despite the lack of high mountains, the landscape of Lanzarote is unexpectedly varied and if you travel across the island probably will not get bored even one second.
Between low volcanic craters there are extensive rocky plains that are home to small rodents, reptiles, insects and birds.
Population
Lanzarote has a population of just over 141,000 inhabitants.
Like its southern neighbor Fuerteventura, Lanzarote has doubled its population since the 90s of the 20th century.
Much of the local population consists of foreigners who come here because of the pleasant climate.
Spanish is official language, but English and German are widely spoken.
Official religion is Christianity, especially Roman Catholicism.
The most densely populated are the coastal areas, particularly the eastern and southern parts of the island.
On the east coast of Lanzarote is the capital Arrecife, which is the largest city as well.
Arrecife and its urban area have together a population of around 55,000 inhabitants.
Economy
The official currency of Lanzarote is the Euro.
Local economy is well developed and almost entirely dependent on tourism.
Warm climate, spectacular scenery and lovely beaches attract many tourists from Europe and North America, especially during the cold winter months.
Agriculture is second in importance.
Rich in nutrients volcanic soil and sunny weather, combined with regular irrigation, are responsible for the wide variety of vegetables and fruits that thrive here.
If you have ever seen this desert island, you will probably wonder about how many kinds of vegetables and fruits are widely grown in Lanzarote.
Tomatoes, peppers, red and white potatoes, garlic, onions, citrus fruits, dates, grapes and many others are just small part of the great variety of local products.
Livestock is also quite well developed.
Goats are the most popular, since they are fairly resistant to dry and hot weather conditions.
From their milk is produced famous local cheese.
Fishing is also very important economic sector.
The coastal nutrient-rich waters are full of different types of fish.
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