For a sun-and-sea destination that’s a little bit different, join those-in-the-know in Lanzarote

Volcanoes, beaches and fresh seafood are just a few of the reasons The Club loves the Canary Islands, and this is one of its finest. Ready to fall in love with the Lanzarote? Here are five great reasons to make the island your next short-haul escape

Year-round sunshine
With autumn turning firmly into winter here in the UK, we don’t blame those who are already fed up with the cold. Luckily, Lanzarote is keeping dreams of sunshine, swimming and sunbathing very much alive. As the southeasternmost of the Canary Islands, Lanzarote has a perennially warm climate, with a very pleasant average annual temperature of 21°C. Rainfall is scarce, so you can confidently pack the sunscreen rather than your brolly.

Breath-taking nature
Although it covers no more than 800sq km, Lanzarote offers a range of strikingly diverse landscapes. The legacy of 18th- and 19th-century volcanic eruptions has created lunar-like vistas, made up of caves, lava lakes, craters and golden sand beaches. One of the finest examples is the Timanfaya National Park (pictured above) – which is one of the key reasons the island was declared a Unesco Biosphere Reserve in 1993.

Art and culture
The natural beauty of Lanzarote has inspired many artists over the years. One of the best-known is César Manrique (1919-1992), who returned to the island in 1966 after travelling the world to create bold public artworks and to promote sustainable tourism that sought to safeguard the island’s natural heritage and culture. Explore Lanzarote’s art and culture at one of the island’s many monuments, castles, convents, mansion houses and religious buildings – or by taking in an exhibition at one of the abundance of museums and galleries.

Exceptional food and wine
We have the Guanches (the early aboriginal inhabitants of the Canary Islands) to thank for many of the flavours in Lanzarote’s cuisine – as well as influences from Spain and South America. Juicy, local meats, fresh-from-the-sea fish, succulent veggies and lots of virgin olive oil all have pride of place on Lanzarote’s tables. Sancocho (fish stew), papas arrugadas con mojo (potatoes boiled in their skins with a chilli and garlic sauce), and roscos de alma (a kind of dessert doughnut) are worth seeking out. And don’t miss the wine. Being grown in the volcanic sands gives it a refreshing minerality.

Outdoor activities
Blow away those lockdown cobwebs with some time outdoors. The year-round sun and unique landscape make the island ideal for anyone looking to enjoy activities surrounded by nature. Diving, surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing and golf are all popular – as are boat trips and horse riding. For the ultimate Lanzarote experience, book a guided hike around the volcanoes. At Volcán del Cuervo (Volcano of the Raven), you can see dramatic lava formations as well as rare nesting Barbary falcons.

British Airways flies to Lanzarote in four hours. To start planning your trip, click here

Have an opinion on The Club that you’d like to share? Let us know

This article has been tagged Advertorial, Destination