Listen to local people talk about their island in our podcasts
Tila Braddock, Lanzarote resident
"When you go out into the countryside you still find it untouched and as it was 100 years ago – the people working with their donkeys and goats. That’s what keeps me here – the people are so warm and friendly"
"When you go out into the countryside you still find it untouched and as it was 100 years ago – the people working with their donkeys and goats. That’s what keeps me here – the people are so warm and friendly"
Antonio Martin Cabreras, manager of the Cactus garden
"When you think of what Manrique did for the island – in creating the Centres of Art, Culture and Tourism - it was such forward thinking for his time. Because of him we began thinking of tourism as a future for the island"
"When you think of what Manrique did for the island – in creating the Centres of Art, Culture and Tourism - it was such forward thinking for his time. Because of him we began thinking of tourism as a future for the island"
Alfredo Diaz, spokesman for the César Manrique foundation
"Manrique’s great gift was that he could read this ancient landscape and translate it into a modern language – this is why there is such a harmonious blend of both the ancient past and the absolutely contemporary here"
"Manrique’s great gift was that he could read this ancient landscape and translate it into a modern language – this is why there is such a harmonious blend of both the ancient past and the absolutely contemporary here"
Gabriel Cubas, timple & guitar teacher
"The first timple was made here, in Lanzarote, by carpenters & boat builders, as you can see from the way its back is curved like the keel of a boat… the music is slow and gentle and people say that it comes from the rhythm of a camel's walk"
"The first timple was made here, in Lanzarote, by carpenters & boat builders, as you can see from the way its back is curved like the keel of a boat… the music is slow and gentle and people say that it comes from the rhythm of a camel's walk"
Roman Mendez, Head chef at Al Campesino
"Really you can say that our gastronomy in Lanzarote is a healthy kind of cooking –the finished result is really delicious – because the basic ingredients are always so fresh... we really believe the old ways of preparing food are the best"
"Really you can say that our gastronomy in Lanzarote is a healthy kind of cooking –the finished result is really delicious – because the basic ingredients are always so fresh... we really believe the old ways of preparing food are the best"
Tito Gonzalez Medina, Cheese maker
"It's a special kind of cheese because it's 100% natural and it's hand-made. We use traditional, old methods… cheese was always an important part of the island's cuisine"
"It's a special kind of cheese because it's 100% natural and it's hand-made. We use traditional, old methods… cheese was always an important part of the island's cuisine"
Nieves Paez, 69 year old resident of La Graciosa
"Tourism is a great help to the island – it creates jobs – though young people still leave to find work. Now tourists come here every day and it brings life to La Graciosa"
"Tourism is a great help to the island – it creates jobs – though young people still leave to find work. Now tourists come here every day and it brings life to La Graciosa"
Francisco Perdomo, wine maker
"I agree with wine experts who say that the dry white Malvasia wines – are the best that can be found in the world – it is a treasure of Lanzarote"
"I agree with wine experts who say that the dry white Malvasia wines – are the best that can be found in the world – it is a treasure of Lanzarote"
Tila Braddock, windsurfing enthusiast
"I'm passionate about windsurfing, sailing; my children are into surfing, and there are so many watersports here in Lanzarote to choose from… All the top champions from all over the world come here to windsurf"
"I'm passionate about windsurfing, sailing; my children are into surfing, and there are so many watersports here in Lanzarote to choose from… All the top champions from all over the world come here to windsurf"
Ina Arndt-Fabian & Anja Brinkmann, cyclists
"It’s a really great landscape and a special area for cycling. It’s not just about doing lots of kilometers - it’s about saying I had a beautiful view and I was on my bike for hours"
"It’s a really great landscape and a special area for cycling. It’s not just about doing lots of kilometers - it’s about saying I had a beautiful view and I was on my bike for hours"
Luis Bohórquez, Surf shop & kite school
"This is a real wild and beautiful place for kite surfing – with a perfect wind which is not too strong or weak. It’s one of the best places for kitesurfing in the Canary islands"
"This is a real wild and beautiful place for kite surfing – with a perfect wind which is not too strong or weak. It’s one of the best places for kitesurfing in the Canary islands"
Jose Luis García Blanco, PADI instructor
"I have dived all over the world for many years but I like Lanzarote because here the sea is clean all year and we have a very good sea life, with different coloured fish"
"I have dived all over the world for many years but I like Lanzarote because here the sea is clean all year and we have a very good sea life, with different coloured fish"
Chris Fields on Mountain biking
"I just love the place – the freedom, the weather, the people, the food. There are just so many things it’s difficult to put it all into one sentence. It’s that it’s just a really good place to live"
"I just love the place – the freedom, the weather, the people, the food. There are just so many things it’s difficult to put it all into one sentence. It’s that it’s just a really good place to live"
Ole Storm Christensen, Windsurf instructor
"Lanzarote is ideal for windsurfing – on this side we have a sheltered lagoon at La Santa and on the other a nice reef with a good break which in summer is perfect for speed and wave sailing"
"Lanzarote is ideal for windsurfing – on this side we have a sheltered lagoon at La Santa and on the other a nice reef with a good break which in summer is perfect for speed and wave sailing"
Tila Braddock, owner of Lanzarote Retreats & windsurfing enthusiast
"You have the choice of surfing on the beach, kitesurfers have started to come here… You even have hang-gliders hang-guilding over to the island of La Graciosa"
"You have the choice of surfing on the beach, kitesurfers have started to come here… You even have hang-gliders hang-guilding over to the island of La Graciosa"
Nicholas Ward, professional triathlete
"It's one of the best places in the world to train for triathlon… We have an 'Ironman' event here each year… it's a really tough event… Cycling is great here. We've got some really quiet roads so it's really easy to go out and do some long bike rides"
"It's one of the best places in the world to train for triathlon… We have an 'Ironman' event here each year… it's a really tough event… Cycling is great here. We've got some really quiet roads so it's really easy to go out and do some long bike rides"
Vicente Hidalgo, Horse riding guide & farm owner
"We have good weather all the time, and the scenery is fantastic, with volcanoes, vineyards… We're surrounded by the sea in the centre of the island so you can ride a long way without any problems with traffic"
"We have good weather all the time, and the scenery is fantastic, with volcanoes, vineyards… We're surrounded by the sea in the centre of the island so you can ride a long way without any problems with traffic"
Tino Garcia
"We have everything here – the sun and good weather – good fish – good friends and good wine – what more could you ask for!"
"We have everything here – the sun and good weather – good fish – good friends and good wine – what more could you ask for!"
Michelle Braddock, owner of Lanzarote Retreats, an eco accommodation
"We set this up as an example of what we enjoyed, living in a rural area on the coast, and living by wind and solar energy, which is a bit of a passion and a hobby. We have 2 windmills, 50 solar panels, and also use our well water"
"We set this up as an example of what we enjoyed, living in a rural area on the coast, and living by wind and solar energy, which is a bit of a passion and a hobby. We have 2 windmills, 50 solar panels, and also use our well water"
Javier Garcia, cave guide
"The cave is a huge lava tube 7km in length… it looks like the volcanic eruptions were yesterday, it's so well preserved…. When the island was invaded by pirates the people of Lanzarote used to hide in caves… it's very important for our history"
"The cave is a huge lava tube 7km in length… it looks like the volcanic eruptions were yesterday, it's so well preserved…. When the island was invaded by pirates the people of Lanzarote used to hide in caves… it's very important for our history"
Jesus Vicente, Manager of the Jameos del Agua
"The extraordinary thing about the Jameo del Agua is that outside you have no idea what is to be found here – this large beautiful space has absolutely no impact on the natural wild beauty of the landscape above"
"The extraordinary thing about the Jameo del Agua is that outside you have no idea what is to be found here – this large beautiful space has absolutely no impact on the natural wild beauty of the landscape above"
Julio Padrón Gonzalez, Manager of Volcano Centre
"From the Timanfaya National Park you have such wonderful views of the sea and the lava fields which flow down to it – it is a really beautiful place"
"From the Timanfaya National Park you have such wonderful views of the sea and the lava fields which flow down to it – it is a really beautiful place"
Maria Luisa Rodriguez de Bethencourt, owner of rural hotel Caserío de Mozaga
"This hotel has been a family house for 200 years… In the restaurant we have products from Lanzarote and we try to show people the real Lanzarote... walks and lonely beaches, and little towns to discover the landscapes"
"This hotel has been a family house for 200 years… In the restaurant we have products from Lanzarote and we try to show people the real Lanzarote... walks and lonely beaches, and little towns to discover the landscapes"
Aquilino Romero, who works on the vineyards
"We have volcanoes – the Montañas de Fuego are almost unique – you’d have to go to Hawaii to see something similar. We have the extraordinary landscape of black lava and green hills and golden beaches"
"We have volcanoes – the Montañas de Fuego are almost unique – you’d have to go to Hawaii to see something similar. We have the extraordinary landscape of black lava and green hills and golden beaches"
Watch local people talk about Lanzarote in our videos and see our photos Read our top 10 things to see and do in Lanzarote 
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