Although Lanzarote may not be everyone's ideal holiday location, apart from the obvious attractions of sun, sea and some of the best beaches in the world, there is much more to experience and enjoy on this uniquely fascinating island. The climate is generally sub-tropical. Visitors may encounter the odd weeks when it is cooler, cloudier and breezier than expected but I have never gone home without a good tan. In any case, wind is an almost constant feature here. For an island which has almost no annual rainfall and no natural sources of precious water, Lanzarote is remarkably well cultivated, due to some ingenious methods developed over centuries to counter the arid conditions by making best use of the natural volcanic resources.
Desalination plants provide domestic water needs.
To a large extent development on the island has been well controlled and is almost entirely low rise. The roads are good and away from the few centres of urban sprawl, lead to pretty, well kept villages of white houses with brightly painted shutters and often colourful gardens in which geraniums, palm trees and cacti regularly feature. Car hire is reasonably priced and plentiful and the local bus services are also very good. Alternatively, a variety of excursions can usually be booked direct from resort receptions, including jeep safaris and camel rides for the more adventurous. In my opinion, the best way to explore Lanzarote is to hire a car.