The Story of LanzAbility

Every cloud has a silver lining.

Despite the rarity of clouds in Lanzarote, the 2019 COVID-19 pandemic swept in like a storm and devastated my business of 13 years. But something far more positive was to come out of it all: the birth of LanzAbility.


But let’s start from the beginning…

Crazy DAVID standing at the view point at the Green Lake in Lanzarote. On the right, the AHL (above) and LanzAbility (below) homepages

My name is Crazy DAVID, and I currently run two businesses: Adventure Holidays Lanzarote (AHL) and LanzAbility. Over 18 years ago I moved from the Highlands of Scotland to the Canary Islands, eventually settling on the beautiful island of Lanzarote.


Through AHL, I have met people from all over the world and from all walks of life. I found that for most of my holiday guests, arranging the right accommodation and planning fun adventure trips around the island was fairly straightforward. However, for people with disabilities, things looked quite different.

For many holiday providers, an adapted holiday means adapted transport and accessible accommodation. However, many of these providers are not even based in Lanzarote, so they don’t always realise that their holiday packages are not as adapted as they think.


Pretending to be a wheelchair user, I, along with my “carer”, started visiting some of these supposedly adapted accommodations to find out if they were indeed suitable. Out of 12 places, only 2 were sufficiently adapted.


But what surprised me even more was how little effort was being made to create what I call adapted experiences for people with disabilities. A holiday of a lifetime is more than just the bus ride to and from the airport and accessible accommodation. It’s about exploring new places, discovering a new sense of self, and creating unique memories.

Photo of an accessible accommodation with a pool, featuring Crazy DAVID in a wheelchair exploring the property

LanzAbility focuses on Ability

You can compare it to becoming a vegetarian. It’s not about simply cutting out the meat and being left with a bland meal. It’s about getting creative and finding new ways of combining different ingredients to create a delicious new dish—without meat, but still enjoyable.


The same goes for an adapted holiday. By focusing on your ability, rather than your disability, you open up countless new opportunities for unique experiences.


That’s when I realised that I wanted to make Lanzarote accessible to everyone, regardless of their (dis)abilities.

See our adapted experiences
A collage of Polaroid pictures showcasing various adapted activities in Lanzarote: adapted paragliding, a viewpoint with a glass floor, a boy feeding goats, and a woman swimming with a dolphin

My mission at LanzAbility

Of course, not all disabilities are the same. I myself have profound hearing loss in my left ear. Some people are wheelchair users. Others are visually impaired or have learning disabilities.


There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach, which is why my mission at LanzAbility is to provide you with an adapted holiday experience that is specifically tailored to your individual needs and desires.

Crazy DAVID shaking hands with a holiday guest in a wheelchair.
A man is holding a baby in his arms while watching a plane take off.

What happened next?

My first step was to contact several property owners to ensure that their accommodation was suitably adapted for people with restricted mobility.


I then put together a team of experienced professionals to provide equipment and services, including certified bilingual caregivers, flight companions, tour guides, etc.

Finally, we put in place a process to assess the requirements of each holidaymaker before they book with us. This helps us to provide solutions that meet their needs and make their holiday an unforgettable experience.


Today, LanzAbility is the only adapted holiday provider in Lanzarote that caters for people with disabilities, creating unique memories for solo travellers, couples and families on this beautiful subtropical island.


Readabout other guests’ holiday experiences with us!

Why Crazy DAVID!

Crazy DAVID is more than just a name – it’s a brand.


My journey here in Lanzarote began with volunteering in the community, helping the local farmers out in their vineyards. It wasn’t long before they started calling me "DAVID El Loco", Spanish for Crazy David. The reason? Because I worked as hard as they did, without receiving a pay cheque—and they just thought I was crazy for doing it.

Three images showing:
- LanzAbility’s team of certified carers, chaperones, a content writer, and a tech expert

- Traditional vineyards in Lanzarote with a woman harvesting grapes
- Crazy DAVID balancing on one leg at the edge of the Famara Cliffs in Lanzarote, with views of La Graciosa in the background

With Adventure Holidays Lanzarote and later LanzAbility, I have embraced the "crazy" label. Whether it’s balancing on the edge of a cliff or pushing the limits on rough terrain—resulting in several vehicle repairs each month—I aim to create unforgettable experiences for my holiday guests.


I will go the extra mile to ensure that everyone enjoys their experience. Every week I am told that I am crazy for doing so much more than any other holiday provider, but I pride myself on underpromising and overdelivering. 


People appreciate that I genuinely care about providing a personal service that not just satisfies them, but knocks their socks off.


Now, meet the LanzAbility team!

What People Say About LanzAbility