subject: Lanzarote -Perfect outdoor sports holiday base [print this page] Lanzarote -Perfect outdoor sports holiday base
The Canary Islands were the original package holiday dream. Long lazy days by the pool getting that all over tan. This was the badge of the British affluent society. Wash all the sun down with long cool drinks, (alcoholic of course). Eat out every night and generally make pigs of themselves at BBQs lovingly and (lashingly) laid on by the tour reps.
The dream has now turned into a nightmare. Obesity, heart disease, cancer , arthritis. Most if not all of these conditions are exacerbated or caused by our over indulgences in our increasingly "do less" society.
Now people are getting the message. Gyms are booming , healthy foods are on the menu. Joggers are everywhere and .....outdoor sports are becoming increasingly popular. God`s fresh air is the aphrodisiac we all need to love ourselves.
What better place is there for outdoor pursuits than Lanzarote? Although smal,l the island is surprisingly unoccupied mainly because the 5 million visitors per year are crammed into three main resorts while the rest of the island is virtually deserted. Once out of ther main resorts it is a real pleasure to drive on Lanzarote (at least in daylight). There is hardly any traffic at all.This is great if you fancy a bit of mountain biking. What better sight is there in the early morning sun than a great British butt peddalling merrily off into the distance? Lanzarote has quiet country roads and lots of off road experiences too. If you are a bit unfit then try out an electro bike. A neat little motor kicks in when you have had enougfh and you can whiz round with ease. Hire then from the bike guy in Punta Limones commercial centre, Playa Blanca. Too hot to cycle? How about a nice bit of scuba? Sounds good to me. In Lanzarote`s warm waters (circa 21 F) Scuba diving is great fun. The waters around Lanzarote are like crystal because of its distance out in the Atlantic and the absence of a coastal shelf. The waters immediately around Lanzarote are very deep indeed. Ok so Scuba isnt for you. What about a bit of hiking then? The cabildo (thats local council to you and me mortals) has in its wisdom produced walking routes to cover most of the island. Twenty four in all and im sure there will be more to come.
Lanzarote is the lowest of the Canaries so not likely to suffer any vertigo here . You can however trek up a volcano or two.This is great for two reasons. One; the views from the top.Two; its all downhill after that!!. Montana Roja near Playa Blanca is a good one for beginners . Thirty minutes or so gentle stroll to the top and fantastic views across to Fuerteventura . Caldera Blanca is a bit tougher . This is near Soo on the way to Haria. This is the widest Caldera on the island and a good round trip back to Soo and the nearest watering hole.
How about something a bit more adventurous? Ok le`ts pop up to Famara in the North West of the island. Here you can get in some surfing or kite boarding on the biggest and windiest beach on Lanzarote. Tim at Surf School Lanzarote will show you the ropes for a small fee and even pick you up and drop you off to save your little leggies!! Beginners and real surf dudes can be found at Famara a bit of a hippy enclave. Watch out on the beach for naturists!! NO NO NO I dont mean watch out in THAT sense! I mean watch you dont fall over them!! Now hows a bout a bit of real extreme stuff? Where are you going??? You dont need to go anywhere. Famara has these massive cliffs called El Risco (well named if you ask me) that rise up 600 metres from the beach. Jeeez i`m not walking up there for the view , I`ll get a postcard thank you very much!!
It`s ok , we are not walking. We are hang gliding!! Dead easy ..just run like the clappers with this contraption on your back and whoosh ..off you go right off the cliff and up into the warm Lanzarote thermals that rise here. Piece of cake!! What do you mean "You don`t like cake , get back here now !!"
