As with all the Canary Islands, Lanzarote is a volcanic island and this makes for some extremely interesting scenery. Lanzarote’s volcanic activity has provided many of the islands tourist attractions. Timanfaya national park was created when over 100 volcanoes destroyed an area of more than fifty square kilometres. Demonstrations of how hot the area is just a few metres below the surface (between 400°C and 600°C!) are available at the park; dry grasses are thrown into a deep hole in the ground and immediately catch fire and water poured into a bore hole erupts as steam within seconds. Camel rides and coach tours are available across the unique landscape which has been described as appearing ‘lunar’ or ‘Martian’, so much so in fact that it was used as a setting for the movie ‘The Planet of the Apes’.

Another of Lanzarote’s volcanic attractions The ‘Cueva de los Verdes’ (Or, ‘The Green Caves’) are part of the Atlantida underground cave system formed approximately three thousand years ago and once provided sanctuary for residents from pirates that inhabited the island. The caves are artificially lit for the public to view and are part of the longest volcanic tunnel in the world, stretching roughly four and a half miles.

In spite of being a volcanic island, Lanzarote has some beautiful sandy beaches such as Playa Grande and Papagayo. For those on Lanzarote holidays looking to enjoy some water sports, Playa Chica next to the old town of Puerto Del Carmen is host to a great variety of activities including diving, snorkeling, jet-skiing and paragliding. On the west side of the island, Famara and La Santa beaches both provide excellent conditions for surfing and body boarding with Famara in particular being world famous for its surf.

For those Lanzarote holidays makers looking to shop, there are a few excellent shopping districts in Arrecife, Puerto del Carmen and Playa Honda. There is also a large market in Teguise every Sunday morning where you will find many stalls selling jewellery, paintings, wood carvings, local wines and the expected counterfeit watches and handbags. Along with the rest of the Canary Islands, Lanzarote has a duty free tax status. This means that cigarettes, perfumes and alcohol are available much cheaper than in the rest of the EU.

While not as lively as some of its neighboring islands, Lanzarote still has an active nightlife. Puerto Del Carmen is the busiest area at night with lots of bars and clubs and live music while Teguise and Playa Blanca also have several bars, clubs and restaurants.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/lanzarote-a-short-holiday-guide-172802.html

About the Author:

Harry Lawrance is an experienced writer based in the UK

The Canary islands history dates back all the way to ancient Greece, it was even thought that the island of Atlantis was one of these gorgeous islands. Later forgotten and rediscovered in the 14th century when it was considered to be the end of the world, and still later used as a stopping point for ships traveling to the new world. Canary Islands sailing will bring you glimpses of these historic moments. A Canary Islands yacht charter will let you see the entire exotic flavor of these beautiful islands. You’ll be able to enjoy the hundreds of different volcanoes that dot these islands, the rich forests and jagged cliffs.

The seven islands are spaced out so that each is only a day’s sail away. Most canary islands sailing professionals that start from the north head over to Lanzarote, or Fuerteventura and then on to The Gran Canaria, following the Tenerife, then La Gomera, El Hierro and La Palma.

Sailing can be done during the whole year with mild temperatures that vary between 20 C and 27C. Canary Islands sailing is made more enjoyable with the trade winds that make for good sailing conditions. Although there are nice trade winds there are also some funnel effects that can cause winds to accelerate into gales. In some areas there are also swells that reach large heights, and make sailing quite a challenge. Although Canary Islands sailing can be quite beautiful and even inspiring, it is not a job for an inexperienced sailor. If you don’t have a lot of experience in sailing, you should probably hire a captain to sail with you on your sailing trip.

There are not very many safe areas to anchor in, between the different marinas and this makes the area difficult to maneuver in. When you visit a Canary Islands yacht charter service be sure to be honest about your experience, that way they will know what kind of vessel to recommend and will help you decide on whether or not to take a captain or not.

Recently the facilities for yachts and Canary Islands yacht charter services have improved greatly and more yachts are found within the islands. Some are even based there permanently.

Another recent change is the increased number of sailing yachts form Europe which spend the winter months in the Canary Islands. Most Canary Islands yacht charter services are located in Las Palmas where the yacht harbor is administered by the port authority.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/the-wonders-of-canary-islands-sailing-256866.html

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If you are interested in finding out more information on the different Canary Islands sailing options you should give our site a try. Here, you’ll find expert advice regarding sailing and more, like Canary Islands yacht charter options.

The islands have also appeared earlier in Greek and Roman times and were written about in texts and affectionately named the “happy islands” and “fortunate islands”. It is no surprise that the fantasy city of Atlantis has also been theorized to lie amongst the sub-tropical islands making up the archipelago. Suffering some tumultuous times in the past few centuries, the Canaries now enjoy the protection of Spain while remaining an autonomous community with a thriving tourist industry.

Nowadays the Canaries are best known for being a popular tourist destination especially for Europeans. In fact, tourism makes up 32% of the economy which is hardly a revelation considering the islands’ mild sunny climate that it enjoys all year round, with temperatures rarely falling below 18C in winter or above 24C in summer. The climate is regulated by the warm Gulf Stream and Trade Winds making any time of year good for a visit.

The seven islands that make up the archipelago offer visitors a range of activities, scenery and lifestyles that can live up to any vacationer’s desire. The lively islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria at the centre of the island chain host some wild resorts teeming with beach activities and night life. Many people choose to stay here for the social scene but the islands also offer plenty of options for taking a break from the partying to enjoy some of the island’s natural beauty.

If nature rather than nightlife is what appeals to you, there are plenty of other islands to explore. La Palma is considered the most beautiful and untouched of the islands and has its own microclimate. Visitors to the island seek its lush, green rainforest-like atmosphere but often don’t realize that this foliage is a result of the higher levels of rainfall it receives! Designated a national reserve in 1974 and subsequently recognised as a globally protected site by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) Lansarote’s Timanfay Park should not be missed by those seeking fantastic volcanic island landscapes including black sand beaches and fields of petrified lava.

The island Fuerteventura boasts the longest beaches of the Canaries and is most popular for family holidays or couples seeking a tranquil holiday away from it all. Cheap flights to Fuerteventura and the other islands are easy to find in advance or on the fly.

Whether you are looking for all night raves and foam parties or a quiet holiday in gorgeous surroundings, the Canary Islands can deliver. Choices amongst the seven islands abound and the close proximity to the UK and plentiful flights available make the islands an ideal destination for a short getaway or a longer visit.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/want-a-hot-summer-head-to-the-cool-canaries-216366.html

About the Author:

Andrew Regan is an online, freelance author from Scotland. He is a keen rugby player and enjoys travelling.

Tenerife and Tourism

The island of Tenerife is completely dependent on tourism. Tenerife has been a favorite destination for UK visitors for some time. Known as a Paradise Island, Tenerife is sunny year-round, which makes it the perfect destination for relaxing in the sun anytime of the year. Their goal is to keep it that way.

Going green and protecting the environment is one way that Tenerife can protect its status as a hot holiday spot. The island is vulnerable because it is so dependent on tourism. Changing climates could easily put them out of business and entirely change the nature of the island. Rising temperature alone could make relaxing on the beach an unbearable past-time.

Traveling to and around Tenerife

A ferry boat is available to take holidaymakers to the island of Tenerife from the mainland. The ferry goes to either Santa Cruz de Tenerife or Los Cristanos. Nearly half a million visitors come to the island of Tenerife via cruise ships. Of course, flights to Tenerife are also still available.

The main method of transportation on the island of Tenerife is buses. An elaborate fleet of newer buses provide transportation for one location to another on the island. There are some cars on the island that are available. There are also plans for a light rail network to connect the capital with the south side of the island. The idea is to reduce the amount of carbon emissions in the air caused by ground travel.

Tenerife Goes Green

Tenerife is doing a lot to protect its beautiful and natural environment. They’ve made a commitment to individuals and companies to go beyond the basics and protect the environment of the island with aggressive tactics.

Some of the things they are currently doing:

* The island uses water purification and its natural reserves from underground.
* They use recycling as a means to cut back on using natural resources.
* They use desalination.
* They are cutting back on carbon emissions.
* They use an elaborate bus network to minimize traffic on the island.
* It is home to tropical pilot whales, which is a huge attraction for holiday-makers. They protect their habitat.
* Half of the island is listed as either a national park or nature reserves.
* The island has been using renewable energy since the plan was devised back in 1990.

In addition to protecting the island’s natural surroundings, Tenerife is dedicated to preserving its heritage and culture.

Tenerife as a Role Model for Protecting the Environment

While we all have seen some of the effects of global warming, Tenerife has taken action to protect the environment and retain the beauty and reputation of the island. The steps they’ve taken to reduce emissions and balance carbon in the air is admirable. Their actions serve as a role model for how the world needs to react to her changing environment.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/nature-articles/tenerife-takes-action-to-protect-the-environment-305988.html

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Yourtenerife.net offers potential visitors news and information about Tenerife, and includes reviews for hotels in Tenerife

For first time visitors the guide includes a map of Tenerife, airport and airfare information plus a choice of companies specialising in Tenerife who offer cheap flights to Tenerife