Lanzarote tourist figures

The amount of tourists visiting the Canary Island of Lanzarote in the month of September 2009 compared to 2008's figures are down over sixteen per cent. This is not very encouraging news for owners of property for holiday rental in Lanzarote.
Recent economic reports from the UK have all indicated a rise in the economy and a return of confidence in spending. It would seem that there may still be a little way to go until pre recession holiday habits return. Property prices in the UK are on the mend but the pound is still not performing very well against the euro. This factor alone means that Lanzarote tourists have much less spending power across the euro zone.
The British winter has only just begun. Feeling are that as winter in the UK starts to wear on then the idea of a Lanzarote holiday with guaranteed sun will start to become a lot more appealing.
The worst if probably over but there is bound to be a slow start whilst confidence levels return.

Music in Lanzarote

The yearly Lanzarote music festival is all set for the 9th of October. This charity music event will be sending its proceeds to the Tias fire brigade.
In this year line up will be local bands such as Skatoons, Naughty boys, Question, The Tareaways, Rory Gallagher, Skin and Hyde and more.
The event will start at 3pm and entry is free.

Autumn in Lanzarote

The time of year that many Lanzarote residents most look forward to is finally upon us.
Autumn in Lanzarote marks the change from the windier summer weather. Autumn brings light winds, warm water and clear blue skies. As the air mass changes so does the visibility and therefore the type of light. The horizon becomes pin sharp and the light becomes bluer and clearer. Many photographers visit the island for this type of light and guaranteed good weather. Not to mention the breath taking scenery.
The Lanzarote sports people also welcome this time of year. Surfers are happy as the first swells of the winter season start to bring in the bigger waves. The reefs will now have waves after being flat for most of summer. The hang gliding and paragliding pilots love the winters in Lanzarote. Lighter winds and clearer skies bring ideal flying conditions. Whilst the rest of Europe is gripped by cold weather pilots can come to Lanzarote for a welcome break, warm weather and some spectacular flying.

Puerto del Carmen tourism

Most tourists visiting Lanzarote either have their accommodation in Puerto del Carmen or at some point during their trip come and see what the area has to offer.
Puerto del Carmen is Lanzarote's longest established resort. You can see why it was the first place to develop a tourist trade on the island. It is very well located for the airport, has beautiful beaches along its entire length and the weather is perfect all year round.
There is a beach road that runs the length of the town. This road seperates the beach from the shops, apartments etc. There are only a few facilities on the beach side of this main road, which is also known as 'the strip'.
The resort suits all age groups as there is something for everyone to enjoy. As you go along the strip, which stretches from the San Antonio hotel to the north right down to the 'old town' fishing harbour in the south,there are many different sections. Each section will suit someone, whether it be the night clubs and late bars, the sea view restaurants, shops, casino or beaches.

Puerto del Carmen on way system

Puerto del Carmen, in a very controversial move, made the main road that runs to entire length of the town into a one way road. Many locals and tourists were up in arms over this as access was made very difficult. To get to a given shop, restaurant of apartment that was the wrong way along the one system would entail a massive detour along congested back roads. At a time when local businesses needed all the help they could get to entice more customers through their doors this happened.
After a lot of local pressure a decision has been made to return things to how they were. Starting soon the old and troublesome one way system will go back to the two system. Parking will still be tricky in many sections of this road, locally known as 'the strip'. At least access will return to a good level.

New animal species found in Lanzarote

Marine biologist Thomas Llife has discovered several new species of marine life in the famous lava tunnels of Jameos del Agua in Lanzarote. The lava tunnels are famous as being the longest in the world. The famous Lanzarote artist Cesar Manrique designed a beatiful tourist attraction near the coast where the roof of the lava tunnel had fallen in.
Thomas Llife has discovered three new species in total, two types of worm and a crustacean.
One of the crustaceans called 'Remipedes' could be over 200 million years old.

Lanzarote health care

The Lanzarote health care service is drawing a lot of patients from overseas.
A large amount of people are coming from all across Europe, the majority from Germany and the UK.
British patients are coming for the shorter queues and the fact that smokers can still get treatments that are not open to them back home.
Belgian and dutch visitors are coming for dialysis as that their own national health service does not provide.
During summer months a large percentage of the Lanzarote general hospital is taken up overseas patients receiving operations. The majority of these are hip and knee replacements, heart surgery and tumours.

Lanzarote property

The European recession has been tough on the Lanzarote property market. Many estate agents have been forced to close and Zapatero (The Spanish prime minister) is not predicting a rise in the general Spanish economy until April 2010.

Lanzarote has a better climate than mainland Spain, appealing to a different sector of the buying public. Property pundits are predicting a faster recovery to the property market coming as a direct reflection to the recovery of UK property prices. House prices are now at rock bottom and cash rich investors are taking full advantage. A much larger level of activity than normal is now being found in the higher priced end of the market. The higher value properties have taken the biggest drop in price and therefore can represent better investments.

Lanzarote

Lanzarote overview

Lanzarote is the furthest North East of the Canary Islands. It is found about 70 miles west of the Sahara Desert. The island is 60 kilometres long by 20 kilometres wide. Many experts believe that the Canary Islands have the best climate of any European country.

How the island came to be

The whole Canary Island archipelago was formed along a fault in the ocean floor. Lava spilled out raising up the ocean floor until it broke the surface of the ocean. Volcanic eruptions lasted for many years and gradually formed the seven Canary Islands. The most recent eruptions were in the 1850's and lasted five long years. These eruptions took place in the area now called the Timanfaya National Park. Imagine the surface of the moon and you've got it. The eruptions were closely documented by a priest living on the island.

Commerce

Lanzarote's main form of income is via tourism, thanks to the great weather, beaches, landscape and friendly residents. Out of tourism grew other lines of income and business for the island like property, bars, restaurants, golf courses.

Tourism

The island has three main tourist resorts and lots of smaller rural locations. The tourist resorts in order of popularity are Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise. Popular rural tourist areas are places like Yaiza, Arrieta, Punta Mujeres, Famara and La Santa.

Puerto del Carmen was the first and is by far the most developed of all the tourist areas. It is located seven kilometres south of the airport so is a short taxi ride away. There is plenty to do here. The whole stretch of coast it covers has beach. There is a recently built golf course plus loads of bars, restaurants and shops.

Playa Blanca is located on the very southern tip of Lanzarote and as Puerto del Carmen did, it grew out of a small fishing harbour. There are some really beautiful beaches in this area. Some very safe family beaches can be found right in the heart of town like the Playa Flamingo beach. A short car journey outside of town will bring you to the unspoilt golden sands of the Papagayo beaches. The town has plenty of do with lots of sea front bars and restaurants. There is a great pedestrianised shopping area with a good selection of things to buy. There are the most five star hotels in Lanzarote in this area.

Costa Teguise is to be found about ten kilometres north of the airport. It is known as one of the best windsurf destinations in Europe. The area also boasts some lovely sheltered beaches close to the shops, bars and restaurants. Just inland from the main town is a great Aqua park and a golf course.

Welcome to Lanzarote blog

Welcome to my lanzarote blog

Here is the start of my new blog. Day by day this will grow. As time goes by this will become a great resource for finding out my perspective on all things Lanzarote. Its a small island but there is plenty going on. Check back regularly and see how things are progressing.