All at sea in Lanzarote

Lanzarote has long played an important role in nautical history - the Canary Islands were once the gateway to the New World and the launching pad for Christopher Columbus' famous voyage of exploration.

Today, Lanzarote is home to two of the best new marinas in the Canary Islands as well as four natural ports. Making it an ideal spot for tourists who are keen to test out their sea legs and choose from the array of boat trips and excursions on offer.

Puerto Calero – Lanzarote's leading sports marina – is home to two of the most popular excursions on the island. Here, visitors can enjoy a trip onboard Catlanza's million dollar Catamaran – which transports guests in style southwards along the volcanic coastline to the most beautiful beaches on the island at Papagayo.

The crew drop anchor just off shore and start cooking up lunch, while the more active enjoy a spot of snorkeling or jet skiing. Others opt to just sit back, relax and soak up the sun whilst enjoying the free on board bar service. The cost of a four hour sailing is €65 per adult and €39 per child, which includes all transport to and from the Marina, as well as all food and drink and use of the jet skis and snorkeling equipment.

Alternatively, Puerto Calero can also offer tourists the opportunity to explore the undersea world around the island in Lanzarote's very own yellow submarine. This 3.5 million dollar sub has been especially adapted for undersea exploration – and features 22 large portals as well as on board TV screens. The hour-long dive to the floor of the Atlantic Ocean provides a unique insight into the marine wildlife that inhabits these waters – which includes manta rays, sharks and dolphins.

The trip costs €48 for adults and €28 for kids, which again includes all transportation to and from the marina.

Since 2003 Puerto Calero´s status as Lanzarote's leading seafaring spot has come under sustained challenge from the opening of the new Marina Rubicon in the popular resort of Playa Blanca. This sports marina offers catamaran and submarine trips – as well as offering visitors the chance to learn to sail, an activity that has proved very popular with families.

Back north along the coast, the older, more established harbour of Puerto del Carmen is also home to a veritable fleet of boat based excursions. The best known of which is the Blue Delfin – which takes guests on a voyage of exploration to the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura and the uninhabited islet of Los Lobos. This day long trip is pretty good value too – costing €48 for adults and €24 for kids. With all transportation, food and drink included.

Nick Ball, editor of www.lanzaroteguidebook.com