Sights of Lanzarote

Posted by Jill Bowen on Thu 12th April 2007 at 08:12 PM, Filed in Europe

There’s a lot more to do on Lanzarote than simply soak up the sun, drink and eat.  This list of must see’s can be seen in a single day and is a common itinerary on day trips from Fuerteventura.
(The ferry crossing from Fuerteventura takes about 25 –40 minutes and arrives at the town of Playa Blanca). On a Wednesday or Saturday there is a market at the Marina Rubicon, about a kilometre from the harbour selling the usual range of leather goods, cheap clothing and souvenirs (that can also be bought in all the markets on the Canaries – so don’t make a special journey just for this purpose).

However, an organised day trip will give you time to see most of the major attractions on the island (this will usually include the market)….I will mention a few of the not to be missed sights.

The relatively young Montanas del Fuego (fire mountains) were created between 1730 and 1736, when more than 100 volcanoes, covering more than 50 square kilometres rose up and totally devastated this part of the island. Many villages were destroyed, the last recorded eruptions were in 1824, and because of the low rainfall the area has not changed since this time. It was designated a national park in 1968.

The ‘Martian’ landscape, is totally barren and very eerie. There are several demonstrations showing how hot the area still is (just a few metres below the surface temperatures reach between 400 – 600 degrees C). Dry brush thrown into holes in the ground immediately catches fire, and water poured into a bore hole erupts within a few seconds creates steam rising up like a mini-geyser. There is a restaurant where food is cooked using geothermal heat with a cast iron grill being placed over a large hole in the ground. You are not at liberty to wander anywhere in the park, so take an organised trip, this will show you all the features to be seen in this strange landscape.

You will hear the name Cesar Manrique mentioned frequently throughout your trip to Lanzarote; some of his sculptures will be pointed out to you on your journey. It’s impossible to imagine Lanzarote as it is today without his legacy. He was born in 1919 and died in a tragic car accident in September 1992 next to his foundation. Cesar Manrique was a painter, sculptor, monument preserver, architect, ecologist, a planner of gardens and landscapes. Wherever you go on the island you will see his work. His aim was to transform the island before tourists overwhelmed it and it became disfigured with all they would bring. His foundation has converted itself into the custodian of the works of his genius; it was founded in 1987 as ‘Friends of Lanzarote’, but in 1992 became the actual foundation. You may be taken to the foundation on your trip; it’s built on an unusual terrain over five lava bubbles. These bubbles contain (underground) five distinct rooms, the foundation room, the white room, the red room, the black room and the yellow room. They are each about eight metres across and five metres high and decorated in the colour of their names. You will also see a pool – smaller but of the same design as that of Los Jameos del Aqua. On the upper level you can see examples of his work as well as some Picasso, Miro, Sempere etc. A fascinating place and well worth seeing.

The Cactus Garden (Jarden de Cactus) was the last work of Cesar Manrique, where one can see more than 10,000 cacti set in a converted quarry, which has the form of an amphitheatre. It’s found on the outskirts of Guatiza, this is an area where, for more than a century the cochineal beetle has been cultivated. This insect lives in the cactus and their larvas are used to produce cochineal – the natural, red food colorant. The entrance to the garden can’t be missed from the road – there is an 8 metre high cactus sculpture proclaiming it’s whereabouts! The species within the grounds are from diverse areas including the Canary Islands, America and Madagascar. To one side you will see an old windmill restored by Cesar Manrique in 1973, there is a bar-restaurant – much appreciated on hot days.

Jameos del Agua is another Cesar Manrique ‘must see’. He created an underground complex of lagoon, restaurant, nightclub, tropical garden and swimming pool. The name ‘Jameo’ refers to a volcanic cave with a collapsed roof, there are many of these in Lanzarote, what has been constructed within this one is spectacular. As you enter there is a series of ‘optical illusions’, I won’t tell you what they are…see for yourselves! A wooden staircase leads you down to the large, underground cave that has a small opening to the sky. This provides just enough light to reveal the small lagoon, as you peer into the water you will notice small white specks, these are blind albino white crabs that are usually only found in the depths of the ocean below 3,000 metres. You then climb up a few steps to the natural auditorium with seating for 600 people; regular shows are put on here including folklore music festivals. As you emerge your eyes will blink as they adjust to the bright sunshine into the garden and swimming pool area, with its palm trees and flowers. A magical, eerie creation.

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