There is a saying in Lanzarote: Visit Lanzarote once, and love it forever. This most northerly of the Canary Islands has built huge loyalty amongst the visitors that go there. Many go back year after year with their children, and their children’s children. We know people who have been regularly visiting Lanzarote for over 40 years.

But what is about Lanzarote that excites such a sense of loyalty? Well, the weather is consistently great, for a start! This is a place where the daytime temperatures rarely drop below 20 Celsius, but where cooling Atlantic breezes still keep the air comfortable, even in the hottest months when temperatures can reach 32 Celsius and higher.

The breathtaking scenery, is so spectacular that Lanzarote has often been used as a photoshooting, and feature film location. The most recent of these was Pedro Almodovars Las Abrozas Rotos (The Broken Embraces) in 2008, starring Penelope Cruz. The first popular film that most people remember being made here was in the late 1960s, when the rural volcanic terrain of Lanzarote was chosen for the film One Million Years BC, starring Raquel Welch. In your memory goes back further than this, you may even remember Moby Dick in 1956! The combination of high volcanic mountain peaks, the dramatic and lonely timelessness of the malpais (vast fields of eroding volcanic rocks and lava that cover large areas of the island), and beautiful views of the surrounding Atlantic Ocean, is truly awe-inspiring.

Family holidays are synonymous with beaches of course, and there is no shortage on Lanzarote, being an island. It is true that some of these are man-made, but they are pretty convincing nonetheless. However, it is the natural beaches of Lanzarote that offer a truly wonderful range of seaside experiences ” there are golden beaches, black beaches, surfing beaches, and beaches with dramatic cliffside and mountain backdrops. There are lagoons formed from the rivers of volcanic lava that once flowed red hot and hissing and spitting into the sea; these lagoons quickly warm under the hot sun, and offer very therapeutic and safe bathing.

Water sports are big on Lanzarote. There are plenty of scuba diving clubs and schools, good for all levels from beginner to expert. Windsurfing is very popular, especially around Costa Teguise, and Caleta de Famara on the North coast of the island offers seasoned surfers the chance to tackle some serious waves. For those who want to be less active, there are plenty of boats trips available, some with opportunities to fish, and others with the chance to swim or snorkel.

Accommodation on Lanzarote can be chosen from apartments, villas with or without private pools, and hotels. There are plenty of specialist websites offering a wide range of Lanzarote accommodation of all types.

Restaurants on Lanzarote offer good variety and a (generally) consistent (good) standard. Most of the main towns and resorts offer a choice of Canarian food(highly recommended!), Spanish/tapas, Italian, Chinese and Indian food, as well as a full English breakfast We recommend that you try at least one of these local specialities: Canarian Potatoes (with mojo sauces), Pimiento de Padron (Padron peppers ” watch out for the hot ones!), gofio, and (to be honest, any) locally caught fish that is for sale.

So thats a very quick taster of Lanzarote, and it really is just a flavour. To do this magical island justice would fill 20 or more articles. However, you can find out more at the All Things Lanzarote website which has lots more information about places and facilities on the island.