Lanzarote’s increasingly lauded wine region, known for its volcanic malvasia grape, is best savoured with local experts Wine Tours Lanzarote, who visit independent wineries as well as La Geria’s big-name bodegas. For the lunar-like Parque Nacional de Timanfaya, sidestep the crowds by hiking the coastal Ruta del Litoral path, or hop over into the Parque Natural de los Volcanes.

If you’re looking for somewhere great to eat in Haria, I’d suggest lunch at La Puerta Verde. We had an amazing meal of steak and salad, all cooked and seasoned to perfection. It was one of the best meals we ate in Lanzarote! See views of the Valley of a Thousand Palms

As Lanzarote’s oldest resort, Puerto del Carmen has a large proportion of Aparthotel complexes as well as 3 and 4 star Hotels. There are currently no 5 star hotels, though there are some smaller luxury boutique hotels. Fariones Hotel, the oldest in Puerto del Carmen, is in the process of upgrading to five stars and another 5 star Hotel is planned for Matagorda. Before our trip to Lanzarote, I’d researched the island’s best beaches in as much detail as I could. Papagayo was one I knew I simply had to see with my own eyes. Located on the southwestern tip of the island, it’s a short drive from the popular resort areas of Playa Blanca and Marina Rubicon. Papagayo Beach is one of the best beaches in Lanzarote After visiting the market, we went for lunch at the trendy Cantina Restaurant. Specialising in tapas style sharing plates, the food here was absolutely delicious! We loved the tuna carpaccio in particular, as well as the mushroom croquettes with truffle. The prices were a little higher than a standard tapas bar, but the quality was excellent. Explore Lanzarote’s natural white beaches

The Canary Islands are popular with those looking for winter sun, with average temperatures over 20 degrees at this time of year. This trip was what we’d describe as a “working holiday”. We weren’t invited or hosted, we booked and paid for the trip, and planned everything meticulously to cover as much as we could in a week. Jameos del Agua is a popular place to visit in Lanzarote There’s a name you’ll be hearing a lot of as you explore Lanzarote: César Manrique. He’s the architectural genius behind much of the island’s merging of nature and tourism. He saw the beauty of his island and wanted to preserve it for future generations.In the far south, Fuencaliente’s bare, volcano-studded landscape produces distinctive malvasia vines; visit wineries such as Bodegas Teneguía, and drive to the wonderfully scenic salt flats, beach and lighthouse on the island’s southernmost tip.