This guest post has been written by Nick Ball, editor of Lanzarote Guidebook, the free tourist guide to Lanzarote.

Lanzarote is the most easterly of the Canary Islands.  The seven specks of Spain which are located off the coast of Morocco in the Atlantic Ocean.  The archipelago has long had something of a reputation as a package tourist destination.  Not unjustifiably so –  as this is the second most visited region in Spain after Catalonia.

Yet the Canaries are not all birds of a feather.  As whilst the bigger islands such as Tenerife have long since been buried beneath a sea of hotels and apartment complexes little Lanzarote has managed to remain relatively unspoiled.

High rise buildings were banned during the 1970´s – along with advertising hoardings.  Whilst the three main tourist resorts of Playa Blanca, Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise are all well contained.  Leaving the bulk of the island much as nature intended.

This is just as well – as Lanzarote boasts some of the most surreal scenery in the world.  The island was rocked by a series of huge volcanic eruptions during the 1730´s and again in 1824.  Which remodelled the south of Lanzarote, wiping out villages, destroying farmland and carpeting hundreds of kilometres of land in lava.  Creating a twisted new terrain in its wake that is often likened to the surface of the moon – and which is now Lanzarote´s most popular tourist attraction.

Elsewhere on the island these arid, volcanic vistas give way to more verdant scenery.  Especially in the north of the island in and around the aptly named Valley of 1000 Palms.  Here locals used to follow a tradition of planting a Canarian palm tree for every new born child.  Creating a breathtaking sight reminiscent of an African oasis – as the crowns of countless giant palms sway gently in the breeze.

This concert hall is designed by Santiago Calatrava, which is known for such landmarks as the City of Arts (Valencia), the Montjuic Communications Tower (Barcelona) and BCE Place (Toronto). The auditorium is located on the waterfront in the port area of Santa Cruz, Tenerife and connects the city to the ocean, creates a significant urban landmark. The concert hall features the architect’s signature wing effect – a single wing that seems to enfold the building without covering it entirely. 

The complex contains of 6,741 m² auditorium and administrative building with a public plaza and parking below. The auditorium includes two concert venues. The main hall seats 1,800 with features a stage area 14 m deep and a proscenium 15 m high.  There is also a chamber music hall with seating for 400. The architect’ superb site: click here

On this majestic Spanish Island is located Hotel Jardin Tropical Tenerife. Stands directly on the seafront, the hotel offers its guests one truly exclusive and exotic atmosphere. As its name suggests, the hotel is surrounded by amazing tropical gardens of total area – 12 000 sq. m. Here you will find the 16,000 plants with 1,700 different bio geographical species – an excellent opportunity to relax and one holiday in a Heaven. 

The architecture of hotel is work of the famous architect Melvin Villarroel. The hotel’s design is unique – inspired by a Moorish design, with archways, whitewashed walls and decorative chimneys… This is the perfect example of harmony between nature and construction. All of 390 rooms are recently refurbished, decorated in pleasant warm tones and natural materials. All offers views of the ocean and the gardens.

The Jardin Tropical Hotel has 5 first classes restaurants and bars, outdoor swimming pool, Wellness Centre & Spa with latest treatments, such as: baths with algae, Jacuzzi, sauna, tropical showers, hamman. The hotel’s activities including: golf, diving and tennis. Watching a breathtaking sunset or enjoying with hotel’s facilities – this is the vacation which will restores the energy lost by your body during the year.

 
Guide price based on 7 nights (2 adults and 2 children) – from £2151 low season to £3511 high season.

This brilliant “All Inclusive” hotel complex is situated on the seafront at the heart of Tenerife. Designed like a Mexican hacienda is one of the most popular hotels in the Canaries. The complex consists of two adjoining hotels, connected to a central entertainment plaza. They occupy together a total surface area of 22,000sq.m.

The Bahia Principe Tenerife has 480 rooms, 220 of which are luxury suites definite to the hotel as 4 stars superior. The rooms are delightful designed with excellent sea views from its private sun terraces.

Away from the busy resorts it is perfect place if you want a fun holiday. There is … everything. Facilities at the hotel including: fitness room, jacuzzi, sauna, a superb swimming pool areas, sun terraces, 3 restaurants, 2 bars, hairdresser, tennis court, squash, car rental, internet connection, gift shop, laundry and money exchange. Also the hotel is situated only few minutes away from of the golf courses.

Santa Cruz is a charming city on the island of Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. The city is the capital of the island and a melting pot of diverse cultures that give it a cosmopolitan character. Santa Cruz is also a local hub for the island’s motorway network and popular with its wide commercial offerings. The city is very attractive, due to the spectacular architecture and the wide range of shops.

One of the pleasing landmark in the city is Plaza Espana, a flower-decked plaza near the harbor. The Plaza Espana is a hub of the city’s life. It’s a wonderful square with spectacular landscape design all over a water field. This water basin is an enormous wading pool with some kind of drawing on its surface.

It’s extremely clean and visitors can cool themselves during the hot summer days. Plaza Espana is an adventure. While resting there and  enjoying the surroundings it’s gonna be you chance for meeting people from all ages. The square rises the Monumento de los Caidos, commemorating the dead of the Spanish Civil War. A variety of historical structures circle this huge water reservoir. Four pavilions, containing tourist information, retail, a cafe and access to below ground parking are nestled in the Plaza’s crust. Different in shape they all share a love to natural forms without imitating them.

I present you a fantastic structure located in Spain, the Espacio de las Artes at Santa Cruz, Tenerife. The building has urban beauty and generates a triangular plaza. Along the facade, over 1,200 openings in 720 different shapes filter the natural light to the inside, while generating an amazing view during night.

The structure features a public library, a contemporary art museum, the Photography Centre of the Tenerife Island, a store, a cafe/restaurant and several public use spaces for the community.

During the grand opening,  this building will change the image of Tenerife, and along with the Calatrava auditorium will turn the city into a cultural focus.

Photographs by Iwan Baan:

Puerto de la Cruz is the second largest tourist city on the island with accommodation for around 30,000 tourists. In contrast with the modern resorts of the south, El Puerto has had a great tradition as a place of relaxation since the end of the last century when the spa, which today is the Hotel Casino Tauro, was built. The accommodation offered in Puerto de la Cruz is also different from most of the other places in the islands since hotels predominate over apartments. The Old Town is very pretty in parts and it is one of the few resorts where the locals still work, eat and drink. One of the greatest attractions of el Puerto is without doubt the Lago Martianez. This series of seawater pools conceived by the Canary artist Cesar Manrique forms an extraordinary spot for bathing and resting in the sun.
Besides the Lago, Puerto de la Cruz has small beaches of volcanic sand, the best ones being Playa Jardin and Martianez. On the outskirts of the city the botanical gardens and the Loro Park are a must for the nature lover. The Loro parque is home to the worlds most important Parrot collection with over 300 species, an amazing Sea-Lion show, Dolphin Show, Parrot Show, Aquarium with Shark tunnel, Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Tigers, Jaguars, Flamingos, Alligators, Tortoises and Orchid House.

The climate of the island makes it an ideal destination for many sporting activities but in particular it is ideally suited for Golf and Golfing Holidays. The most recognisable name in Tenerife Golf is the Golf del Sur complex. This area comprises of Hotels, Apartments and Villas, Bars and Restaurants surrounding a championship golf course, all this is less than 10mins from the airport.

If you’re looking for pretty, man-made beaches with low surf; clean, attractive beach side promenades; restaurants galore; and all the useless tourist souvenirs you could want, Tenerife is the place.