Travel Well
Surf & turf
Breaks that deliver on land and sea are sure to quench your thirst for adventure. As evidence for the mind-body benefits of green and blue spaces mounts, WH suggests booking with both in mind
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Lanzarote
What: A sporty getaway with sunshine on tap
Where: Barceló Lanzarote Active Resort in Costa Teguise
How much: Rooms from £141, including breakfast; barcelo.com
Who: Priyankaa Joshi, health and fitness writer
Lanzarote… isn’t it all package holidays and boozed-up Brits abroad?
Forget ‘Lanzagrotty’, there’s so much more to this Canary Island than its 90s nickname. Think: dramatic volcanic landscapes, golden sandy beaches and a glittering sea that looks like it’s been run through an Instagram filter. Timanfaya National Park is home to the jaw-dropping Montañas del Fuego, picturesque whitewashed villages dotted along the rugged coastline and tasting tours aplenty in La Geria wine region. Opportunities for cycling and hiking abound, with wellmarked trails that run across the island. More of a water baby? Famara beach is a surfer’s paradise, while the couldbe-the-Caribbean waters of Playa del Jablillo are ideal for snorkelling and diving. Best of all, there are non-stop UK flights and, unlike some sought-after Spanish destinations, food, travel and accommodation remain affordable.
Okay, I’m listening. So why the sporty rep?
With year-round sunshine and world-class facilities, Lanzarote is a paradise for pro and amateur athletes alike, who flock to the island for training. Those in the know check into the Barceló Lanzarote Active Resort, a fourstar hotel that’s convenient for both the airport and the island’s buzzy capital, Arrecife. Fresh from a refurb, the hotel boasts a 10-lane Olympic pool, a cycling centre and a (frankly, massive) gym stocked with weights, cardio machines and an outdoor CrossFit box, as well as more daily fitness classes than you can shake a flip-flop at. (A sunrise yoga session overlooking the north Atlantic left me more chilled than a frozen margarita.) Want to work out from the privacy of your own hotel room? Opt for a sports room, which includes a dedicated workout area, hot tub and sauna. Oh, and when you’ve had quite enough for one day, hit up the wellness centre for a hard-earned volcanic stone massage or flop on to a sunlounger and grab some rays by one of the seven (seven!) pools.
Sounds... healthy. Will I be living on green juice all week?
While you can nourish your body with fresh fruit, grilled fish (the cherne is dreamy) and salads that will smash your five-a-day, this isn’t a boot camp or ‘detox’ retreat – and there are plenty of opportuniti
