Dreary weather makes it easy to let one’s mind wander to a sunny beach where happiness comes in a warm, wet shade of turquoise blue water and worries are swept away by gentle Trade Winds.

On the lovely Spanish island of Lanzarote, this daydream is a reality complete with softly swaying palm trees and sun-kissed sands. Located off the northwest coast of Africa, Lanzarote is the easternmost of the Canary Islands and, like its counterparts, is volcanic in origin. Its climate is comfortably dry with temperatures averaging 23°C and an annual rainfall of just 140mm (5.5 inches), making it an ideal travel destination for anytime of the year.

Spectacular, unspoilt scenery serves as Lanzarote’s greatest asset and its natural wonders have been carefully protected by the island’s inhabitants, most notably by the local artist, César Manrique.

In the 1960s, Manrique recognised the tourist potential of Lanzarote and lobbied successfully towards preserving the island’s nature. Today, he should be thanked for his efforts, which have resulted in the conspicuous lack of high-rise hotels and advertising billboards as well as in the affordability of the island, which remains relatively undiscovered for much of the world.

Lack of overdevelopment allows visitors to enjoy Lanzarote’s wonders as nature intended them. The best known of the spectacular sights is the mountainous area called Timanfaya National Park. Created between 1730 and 1736 when more than 100 volcanoes rose up and devastated this part of the island, the Montañas del Fuego (Fire Mountains) present a fascinating lunar-like landscape, which provides a sense of what it might be like to walk on the surface of the moon.

Lanzarote is also home to the longest volcanic tunnel in the world – the Atlantida Tunnel – measuring over 7 km (over 4 miles) in length. It is within this tunnel system that the breathtaking Jameos del Agua can be found. A jameo is a volcanic cave with a collapsed roof. The natural jameos of “Jameos del Agua” were developed under the guidance of César Manrique into a spectacular entertainment venue, containing a bar, restaurant, swimming pool, and concert hall, which opened to the public in 1966 and remains a popular venue today.

In addition to the volcanic splendors of the island, Lanzarote is home to some of the world’s most beautiful white beaches, notably Playa Blanca and Papagayo. The Trade Winds encourage the adventurous traveller to partake in surfing, windsurfing, and parasailing, while those looking for relaxation can soak in the sun and explore other more leisurely water activities, such as snorkelling, scuba diving, and canoeing.

The Valley of 1000 Palms and the Cactus Garden highlight the island’s extensive flora and fauna. The former provides a real surprise to the otherwise volcanic backdrop of Lanzarote, displaying the local tradition for which two palms are planted for every newborn baby boy and one for every girl. Equally spectacular is the Cactus Garden, which hosts over 10,000 plants and is widely regarded as one of the finest collections in the world.

Encouraging tourism to the island while preserving its natural beauty as much as possible was a mission of César Manrique that remains important to this day. This delicate balancing act is what draws many to Lanzarote and keeps them coming back year after year. This post was written by Nadine Hallak, Travel Expert at leading flights deals website Cheapflights.co.uk where you can find great prices on flights to Lanzarote.

Photo Credits: patipoludniak | Robert~EOS~60D | der_peter | LisArt