Lanzarote & Gran Canaria

8th Sept…. Our journey started on a Monarch flight from London Gatwick to Lanzarote on the afternoon of the 8th September. It was my first time flying with Monarch and I was impressed by the airline, especially the in-flight meal which was excellent.

We arrived at Arrecife Airport at 1925 and then transferred to our accommodation where we would spend the next 3 nights. The Rubicon Palace is a beautiful 4* property in Playa Blanca with numerous facilities and activities for families.

9th Sept…..After a beautiful buffet breakfast at the hotel, we were picked up and taken to Puerto Calero where we thoroughly enjoyed a Submarine Safari and a visit to the Whale and Dolphin Museum. Both attractions were fantastic and are suitable to most age groups, although the submarine would not suit those with mobility difficulties.

Our next stop was the Timanfaya National park which is a must do activity while in Lanzarote. This volcanic area which was declared a national park in 1968 is an amazing sight and although the last eruptions were in 1824, the site looks as though an erruption has just occurred due to lack of rain and erosion. You can have a camel ride here and eat lunch in the El Diablo restaurant which serves food cooked on a cast iron grill placed over a large hole in the ground.

Our evening was spent with a site visit and dinner at the Princess Yaiza 5* hotel in Playa Blanca. This was another beautiful hotel with lots of facilities for adults and children including a lovely Jazz Bar with entertainment every evening.

10th Sept….. This morning was spent visiting the jameos del agua & Cueva de los verdes caves in the north of the island. These were spectacular sights and are actually tunnels formed from the lava flowing from the volcanos. A very big surprise also awaits anyone visiting the Cueva de los verdes. I can’t tell you what it is or it would spoil the surprise!

After a site visit to the 3* Lanzarote Gardens in Costa Teguise ( a very good choice for families on a lower budget) we had lunch at the Monumento al Campesino (a peasants monument) before spending a couple of hours at Rancho Texas near Puerto del Carmen. This park is a fantastic place for families due to the amount of activities available. There was a parrot show, sea-lion show, birds of prey show and lots of other animals to view. A boating lake and children’s adventure playground were also included in the one admission cost.

Our final evening was spent at the Timanfaya Palace hotel where we had a site visit and enjoyed a beautiful evening meal.

11th Sept……We checked out at 9am and transferred to Arrecife airport for our inter island flight to Gran Canaria with Binter Airlines. *** See Gran Canaria journal 11th September 2010 ***