For sports fans needing to avoid the peak temperatures of the high summer, Lanzarote offers a selection of autumn sports events.

For runners, triathletes, and cyclists, summer temperatures in excess of 30 degrees Celsius are not perfect conditions, but neither are the cool, wet and rainy days of a typical British autumn. The island of Lanzarote offers the opportunity of better weather conditions, with autumn rain very rare and average daytime temperatures of between 22 and 24 degrees Celsius throughout September, October and November. Hotels with sports facilities or the specialist Club La Santa are all popular and there are various organised competitive events for athletes to test their fitness.

On 25th September, the traditional swim crossing of El Rio is an annual event where over 400 swimmers cross the waters from the Bajo el Risco (no danger implied!) beach on the mainland to the harbour at Caleta del Sebo on the island of La Graciosa. The distance from the start to the landing point is 2600 metres, so obviously swimmers must be reasonably capable. Competitors are transported to the start beach by ferry from the mainland harbour of Orzola, around the headland, but spectators usually gather at the finish line as the Bajo el Risco beach is quite difficult to get to.

There is full emergency and medical support on standby and any swimmers that take more than an hour longer than the winner to complete the course will be picked up and taken ashore by boat. The event is very well organised, with lifeguards in canoes keeping watch and there will even be a helicopter on standby. Swimmers are not allowed to wear wetsuits or flippers but must wear colourful, numbered caps for safety - this also adds to the spectacle. The entry fee is 10 Euros and there are all kinds of age group prizes for men and women, with paella for all participants!