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One of Europe’s favourite holiday islands called Lanzarote is situated in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. And was for many years thesesmall group of islands were touted by scholars to be the magical city of Atlantis that was lost in the past sands of time.  Today the Canaries are second only to Catalonia as the most visited region in Spain.  Welcoming millions of holidaymakers every year .

Yet these seven Spanish owned islands are by no means all birds of a feather, and both the cultural aspects and the character of each of the islands is quite independent of the others.  With the eastern islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura coming under the jurisdiction of Las Palmas on Gran Canaria.  Whilst the islands of El Hierro, La Gomera and La Palma are governed from the island of Tenerife.

Intrepid Victorian travellers were visiting Lanzarote as early as the 19th century .  But modern tourism only started to take off during the 1970´s.  As General Franco began to loosen his stranglehold on Spain in order to attract much needed foreign currency to his ailing economy.

It’s amazing how the calming effect of time can change fortunes and today the island welcomes the millions of annual holidaymakers that arrive from all over the world and give the local economy a massive boost, what’s even more surprising is the number of Spanish visitor to the island too.  Many of which prefer the slightly cooler climate that can be found on the islands compared to the blistering heat that I often found on the mainland in the height of the summer months.

It used to be one of the only ways to book a holiday was via a travel agent, but as the world has “shrunk” with the arrival of the internet generation and cross border commerce is readily available even to the end consumer and increasing number of travellers are deciding to go the independent route.  The upshot of this is that there has been a surge in demand for holiday accommodation and villas in Lanzarote. With self catering accommodation in the main resorts representing a high percentage of the total number of tourist beds now available on the island.

The most luxurious private accommodation and villas in Puerto del Carmen can be found in areas such as Risco Prieto.  Which sits right at the top of the Old Town, overlooking the popular harbour area which is in the process of redevelopment (Lanzarote style) into a luxurious marina.

Whilst anyone searching for villas in Playa Blanca should focus on the Montana Roja and Rubicon Marina areas.  As this is where the largest crop of good quality rental properties are located within the resort.

Not all Lanzarote’s visitors are lured here by the beaches however and rural tourism is increasing in popularity as visitors seek to experience the culture and natural out of resort lifestyle the island is so famous for.  Many visitors who tour the island are amazed to find out how unspoiled it is .  This ultimately prompts many to return time and time again to experience the real Lanzarote in countryside fincas and rural apartments.