The best fitness challenges that Lanzarote has to offer

Challenges and goals are an important part of getting fit, and Lanzarote lends itself to all sorts of achievements. Here are a few fitness challenges that you can try on the island.

There are, of course, several endurance events every year, ranging from the Ironman Race the Ocean Lava competition to specialist events such as the Famara Vertical Trail Run, trail races and charity events.

Each will provide ample targets and objectives, but there are also more simple, visible challenges, such as climbing a mountain or running from one place to another. Here are a few of the best challenges on Lanzarote.

VOLCANO ASCENTS

Lanzarote is the lowest-lying of the Canary islands, whose highest point, Las Peñas del Chache at the top of Famara’s cliff, lies just 672 metres above sea level.

For that reason, climbing volcanoes on the island isn’t really difficult, usually offering a brief, intense bout of exercise.

The main challenge will be to find volcanoes that are scalable – several in and around the National Park area are off limits, and others are only accessible by established routes.

But volcanoes such as the 500 metre Tinasoria, overlooking Mácher; Costa Teguise’s Montaña de Tinaguache and the Montaña Roja near Playa Blanca all offer good exercise.

Volcano addicts may then want to explore the Ajaches around Femés, the peaks of the north around the Volcán de la Corona and, of course, the central ridge of volcanoes that gives Lanzarote its “spine”.

TOUGHEST WALKS

Among the toughest walks on the island are the descent to the Playa del Risco to the Mirador de Ye, down the winding cliffside path known as the Route of the Gracioseros, because it was the regular pathway trodden by La Graciosa’s islanders taking goods to sell at Haría market. The descent itself is tricky but manageable. However, there’s only one way back up again and it’s a slog.

Then there’s the 20-kilometre hike along the Timanfaya coast. There’s not much climbing on the route between Tenesar and El Golfo, but it’s rough lava almost all the way, with no facilities and little shade. You’ll need tough footwear, plenty of water and snacks and you’ll have to watch every step of the way along this wildly beautiful, rugged coastline.

Other challenging routes include the climb from Playa Quemada to Femés up the steep Barranco de la Higuera.

The distance from the northern tip of Lanzarote to its southernmost point is around 70 kilometres (45 miles) and can be walked via the GR-131 Trail, which is split into five stages. It’s a well-marked route.

CYCLING

Club La Santa will launch the first Vuelta De Lanzarote cycling tour of the island later this year, but there is already a long list of cycle challenges that are loved by island cyclists.

They include the Tabayesco Climb up the LZ-10, which was re-opened last year after several years of renovations. It’s the longest uninterrupted climb on the island, in a beautiful northern valley.

SWIMMING POINT-TO-POINT

Summer sees the arrival of several travesias – organised swimming contests that take place all around the island and are usually not much more than a kilometre or two in length.

In autumn, the most famous of these takes places – the Travesía del Río, which offers the chance to swim from Lanzarote to the isle of La Graciosa across the strait known as El Río. It’s a lot of fun.

The 15 km La Bocaina swim from Lanzarote to Fuerteventura is a much tougher challenge, taking from four to seven hours depending on ability. Places are limited for this event.