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SPAIN & PORTUGAL CANARY ISLANDS DESTINATIONS renched in sunshine and visitors who might have been the island’s conservation was Dwarmth all year round, the expecting more greenery. But the artist, architect and visionary Canary Islands are a firm favourite they’re soon won over by the Lanzarote’s volcanic César Manrique, whose legacy with holidaymakers desperate unique scenery of solidified lava landscapes come as is found all over the island, not for some beach time. But move and hundreds of volcanic peaks. a shock to first-time just in his public works of art, away from the well-known resorts Whitewashed villages of low- but also in some of its most and there are some fascinating rise houses echo the island’s visitors expecting unusual attractions. landscapes to discover. Moorish past, and strict planning more greenery Along the island’s south- Two of the most popular regulations have severely limited western coast – close to one of islands, Lanzarote and Gran the number of high-rise buildings. Lanzarote’s most popular beach Canaria, are full of surprises and There’s a distinct feeling of resorts, Playa Blanca – is the offer clients experiences that are otherworldliness, and it instantly small hamlet of El Golfo. Pretty a world away from a standard draws you in. Just a drive past enough on its own, the hamlet beach holiday. the island’s vineyards – where the has two natural phenomena Fire vines grow in stone semicircles on its doorstep. Take the path ◗ LANZAROTE: TO dug into the black soil – is from El Golfo to Lago Verde, a THE MOON AND BACK enough to convince clients that crater lagoon whose deep-green Lanzarote’s dark, dramatic they’ve arrived somewhere out of waters look as if they’ve come volcanic landscapes often come the ordinary. from another planet. Just beyond as a slight shock to first-time A major driving force behind Lago Verde is Los Hervideros, islandsThe volcanic lands of the Canary Islands are enough to tempt anyone away from the beach, finds Mary Novakovich Timanfaya National Park PICTURE: SHUTTERSTOCK SHUTTERSTOCK PICTURE: 68 travelweekly.co.uk 27 September 2018 27 September 2018 travelweekly.co.uk 69 SPAIN & PORTUGAL CANARY ISLANDS DESTINATIONS PLACES NOT TO MISS IN LAS PALMAS SAMPLE The largest city in the PRODUCT Canary Islands has an appealing mix of a historic old town, a lively harbour and a Prestige Holidays long beach at Playa ABOVE: Princesa Yaiza Suite Hotel Resort, Lanzarote offers a week’s de Las Canteras. Here bed and breakfast RIGHT: Cueva de los Verdes, Lanzarote are three things that in a Superior should be on any Room at the BELOW: Maspalomas, Gran Canaria must-see list. Princesa Yaiza PICTURES: BOARD TOURIST GRAN SHUTTERSTOCK; CANARIA LANZAROTE; CACT Suite Hotel Resort VEGUETA from £959 per The city’s oldest person, including whose 15-metre cliffs have been earth’s surface, they can visit El Diablo along the cliff path for about an hour. district is the place Ryanair flights carved into jagged caves created by restaurant in the centre of the park, An entertaining alternative is to take to start, made up from Stansted on the full force of the Atlantic’s crashing where natural volcanic heat is used In the 17th century, one of the many boat trips on offer, of narrow streets November 21 and waves. It’s a colourful spectacle, to grill meat and fish. which start at the well-equipped filled with handsome transfers. Prices with a terracotta volcanic peak in There are more subterranean residents hid in the Marina Rubicón. Holidaymakers can 15th-century houses. including car hire the distance and deep-blue waters wonders to explore at the eastern end four-mile-long volcanic have lunch or snacks on board, then Vegueta’s indoor food start at £1,019. sweeping into dark grey lava cliffs. of the island, including the Cueva de tunnels to escape when the boat drops anchor, they can market is an excellent prestigeholidays. But they’re just the warm-up act los Verdes, which, at more than four swim to the beach. introduction to the co.uk for Lanzarote’s star natural attraction. miles, is one of the longest volcanic marauding pirates local cuisine. Volcanic eruptions in the early 18th tunnels in the world. At one point in its ◗ GRAN CANARIA: Tu i features a century created the extraordinary history, it resembled an underground GRAND DESIGNS CASA DE COLÓN week’s half-board lunar-like landscape of Timanfaya village, when 17th-century residents In contrast to Lanzarote’s monochrome This house-turned- at the 5T-rated National Park. This vast sea of hid there to evade marauding pirates. landscapes, Gran Canaria has so much museum devoted to Salobre Hotel solidified lava can be experienced on Nowadays, one of its caves is used as natural diversity that it’s known as a Christopher Columbus Resort & Serenity a coach journey along the Ruta de los a small concert hall – surely one of the a peculiar species of blind crab. mini-continent. Its rocky northern half is a must. Within the from £830, based Volcanes, designed by Manrique, most atmospheric in the world. For clients who want some beach contrasts with its gentler southern former governor’s on two sharing. which is an eerie and mesmerising César Manrique put his stamp time but with a difference, the soft portion, which is where you’ll find one palace is a compelling The price sight. There’s also the option to on Jameos del Agua, a series of sands of Playa de Papagayo offer a of the island’s greatest sights. collection chronicling includes flights explore the outer areas of the park natural caves he transformed into wilder experience than Playa Blanca While Maspalomas on the Columbus’s voyages, from Gatwick on on the back of a camel. an underground restaurant, bar and towards the west. This intimate cove southernmost tip of the island is including a replica November 29 If, at the end of the tour, clients entertainment venue. It’s an astonishing is the southernmost beach along the Gran Canaria’s largest resort, it’s also of the interior of one and transfers. aren’t convinced of the power of the sight, with tables set beside an peninsula, and if clients don’t want to home to the spectacular Dunas de of his ships. tui.co.uk volcano bubbling away beneath the underground saltwater lake filled with drive along the ridge, they can walk Maspalomas. Sprawling across SANTA ANA CATHEDRAL Just around the corner from the Casa de Colón is this magnificent cathedral, which took 400 years to build and, as a result, has an intriguing mix of architectural styles. 70 travelweekly.co.uk 27 September 2018 27 September 2018 travelweekly.co.uk 71 DESTINATIONS CANARY ISLANDS SPAIN & PORTUGAL one and a half square miles, these Where to stay sand dunes really do look as if part of the Sahara desert has wandered over Princesa Yaiza Suite Hotel Resort, from Africa by mistake. It’s even more Playa Blanca, Lanzarote surreal with the ocean forming a vivid In a superb spot right by Dorada beach blue backdrop. in Playa Blanca, the family-friendly There are no footpaths within the Princesa Yaiza offers five-star luxury in dunes, so holidaymakers can explore classic colonial style. Its 385 rooms are on foot or by camel. One of the most spacious and pleasingly understated, pleasant ways to watch the sunset is to and many come with kitchenettes. The walk from Maspalomas Lighthouse into facilities are top notch: several outdoor the dunes and watch the colours of the pools including dedicated children’s sky work their magic on the sands. pools, tennis courts, a spa and direct Just to prove that Lanzarote access to Dorada beach, as well as a doesn’t have a monopoly on volcanic choice of eight restaurants. A Superior landscapes, Gran Canaria is home to Room starts at £169 a night including the Caldera de Bandama. This massive breakfast, based on two sharing. contemporary rooms have balconies, ABOVE: crater is more than half a mile in princesayaiza.com and the design cleverly incorporates a Gran Canaria diameter and filled with palms, orange series of swimming pools on different Salobre Golf trees, fig trees and eucalyptus. Not Resort Gran Canaria Salobre Golf Resort levels, including a romantic infinity surprisingly, it’s a popular hiking spot, In the hills about six miles northwest pool. The spa’s outdoor pool also has and just next to it is the oldest golf of Maspalomas, this classy golf resort superb views. Double rooms start at course in Spain. From the viewpoint almost blends into the surrounding £184, including breakfast. of Mirador de Bandama, you can terracotta hills. All of its 313 salobregolfresort.com catch sweeping views of the island’s mountainous heart, stretching as far as Las Palmas. 72 travelweekly.co.uk 27 September 2018.

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