If you are planning a holiday to Lanzarote during the course of 2010 you'll be joining a club of over 1.3 million international tourists that did just that during the course of the last year alone. Visitor numbers are a shining testament to the seemingly never ending popularity of this island gem in the Canaries, as it maintains its favourite holiday destination status. Lanzarote is not just for the sun seekers although the islands enviable sunshine record does tend to add to its popularity, but the discerning visitor also has a plethora of interesting cultural events and local fiestas to enjoy. The fiestas alone are well worth a separate holiday break and are a must if you want to soak up the ambience of the true Lanzarote. Even though hundreds of thousands of travellers and amongst them British tourists will be enjoying a holiday break on the island during the course of the upcoming year, with approximately half of these opting to stay in self catering accommodation and apartments there is still ample accommodation to go round. Villas in Lanzarote for example continue to prove especially popular and given the number of visitors that now plan their travel independently of the tourist companies, it has never been easier to plan your vacation around specific events on the island or even specific locations if you fancy indulging on a twin resort holiday break. This is a truly unique way to experience more than just one of the fiestas and festivals taking place throughout the course of the season. If you are new to the Lanzarote experience then you will be pleased to know that Carnaval season kicks off as early as February so if you are not tied down to the school holiday breaks regime you can enjoy an early season getaway at a time that is arguably the most colourful celebration time of islands year round season. The early fiesta has its roots in Roman history and is also associated it is believed to the traditions of Lent, so the festivities have for centuries been seen as an excuse for letting your hair down before the upcoming period of abstinence. The largest of the celebrations are of course reserved for the main event in the islands capital of Arrecife, but to ensure that smaller towns and villages get to enjoy the festivities fiestas are staggered to take place at different times in different parts of the island. Lanzarote has lately also been home to the Iron Man competition, and this hits the island in late May. This event is for a variety of reasons widely regarded as one of the toughest and arduous triathlon events in the world the world. That said despite its gruelling reputation though, over a thousand super fit athletes will descend on the island to do battle with other competitors over a course which comprises of a 3km swim, then a 180km bike ride, and finally all topped off with a challenging full marathon in high temperatures. The top 60 entrants will win a slice of the prize money for there herculean efforts as well as a coveted slot in the grand final which this year takes place in islands of Hawaii. Despite extreme preparations sadly plenty of entrants never even complete the triathlon and make it to the finishing line, but the spirit and competitive camaraderie of the event is in itself a reason to take part. On the flip side of the coin those of us that enjoy the far more relaxed and cultural niceties of life will tend to plan their visit to the islands during the world famous Jazz Canarias festival which takes place in July. The event is not only restricted to the many established musicians of this genre, but is also a platform for the launch of new and exciting musical talent such as the prodigious and outstanding young jazz bassist Esperanza Spalding and the lesser known guitarist Kyle Eastwood, from the talented Eastwood family. If you fancy a combination of both music and movement though then September is an ideal time to visit as during this month Lanzarote proudly hosts the Costa Musica Festival. This popular festival features an heady concoction of dance and music right on the beach at Playa Bastian in the popular resort Costa Teguise and attracts music and dance lovers of all ages.
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