Lanzarote Travel Guide

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This Lanzarote Travel Guide is for the traveler or holiday maker planning to stay in a resort town in Lanzarote and explore various places on the island. The beautiful Spanish island of Lanzarote is located off the coast of West Africa and is a part of the Canary Islands. Known for its iconic landscape, Lanzarote is an exciting tourist location that will bring one in a lifetime experience enriched with history, culture and sandy beaches.

Here are the places you must visit on the island. Renting a car is the ideal mode of transportation if you want to comfortably commute, however, there are bus tour companies that make touring distant places and parks conceivable. Local buses serve between towns and fares are affordable.

 

Resort Towns in Lanzarote

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1| Puerto del Carmen

Puerto del Carmen is Lanzarote’s most popular and busiest resort. It is loved by foreigners and considered as the party hub of the island.

Avenida Playas Street: There are plenty of bars, cafes, restaurants and night clubs located in this famous main street, Avenida Playas. The resort town covers 3 miles of the coast of North Atlantic Ocean and boasts of three sandy beaches. The island of Lanzarote is just 300 km from Morocco, west Africa.

Beaches in Puerto del Carmen: The busiest beach in Puerto del Carmen is Playa Grande (Playa Blanca), Playa de Los Pocillos is the second busiest and thereafter Playa de Matagorda. There are plenty of activities on the beaches which include diving, jet skiing, banana rides, and para-craft rides. More information on Puerto del Carmen beaches is found here.

The Harbor: The area around the harbor is the old part of Puerto del Carmen, it holds boats and submarines that stand as underwater attractions.

Rancho Texas Lanzarote Park: Many people visit Rancho Texas Lanzarote Park to see different species of animals such as lizards, dolphins, sea lions, colorful birds, tigers, and crocodiles, just to mention a few. For a full list of animals at the park and entrance information, click here.

To know more about Puerto del Carmen, visit their website.

2| Playa Blanca

Playa Blanca, once a fishing village, is located at the southern tip of Lanzarote. It is the second most popular resort town after Puerto del Carmen. The resort town stretches from Las Coloradas to Faro Park.

Marina Rubicon: At Marina Rubicon, you will find very nice and fancy restaurants, designer boutiques and luxury yachts on the marina.

Beaches: Three known beaches in Playa Blanca are White Beach, Playa Dorada and Playa Flamingo.

Papagayo Beach: This is one of the most popular beaches in Lanzarote and is located in the south, 10 km from Playa Blanca. Papagayo is famous for its beautiful white sand and it’s still emerald green water. It is located at Calle La Hoya, 4, 35570 Las Breñas, Las Palmas.

Montana Roja: This is a volcanic crater that hosts a beautiful view. It is located in Playa Blanca. There are signs showing where to go in order to reach the top. To get to Montana Roja, turn west off LZ2 into the northern outskirts of Playa Blanca. At the third roundabout, turn right at Jardines Del Sol. Eventually, there is a sign directing you to the volcano and the crater.

3| Costa Teguise

Costa Teguise is located in central Lanzarote and is the third busiest resort town on the island; you will find shops, restaurants, and bars in Costa Teguise. The cheapest way to get to Costa Teguise from Puerto del Carmen is by bus number 3; it also stops in Arrecife.

Playa Las Cucharas: Playa de las Cucharas is the famous beach and has different activities including diving, boat rides, surfing etc. Las Cucharas shopping center is at the center of the resort.

Lagomar Museum: The building was influenced by Cesar Manrique, a man who was responsible for the majority of architecture in Lanzarote. It was originally built for Omar Sharif by a man named Jesus Soto. The building and its gardens are open to the public. It is 12 km from Costa Tequise.

4| Arrecife

Arrecife is the capital of Lanzarote and the commercial and administrative area of the island. In the 15th century it was a fishing harbor; now it is a lively modern hub full of holidaymakers, shops and restaurants.

Places to see are: El Charco de San Gines Lagoon; La Casa de Los Arroyo (a historical monument); Castle of San Jose (a museum of modern art); Castle of San Gabriel (Archaeological Museum); Casa de la Cultura Agustin de la Hoz; and Iglesia de San Gines.

Other Towns & Villages

5| Yaiza: You will pass through Yaiza Village as you are going to Timanfaya National Park. The village has won awards for being the smartest village in the whole of Spain. Tour buses from the resort towns around Lanzarote will stop by this village for a quick tour of the village. To view the village from a distance, go up the steps across the main road, opposite the shop where buses park.

6| Teguise

7| Puerto Calero

8| La Santa

9| Punta Mujeres

10| Orzola

11| Haria

12| Tias

13| Arrieta

14| Caleta de Famara

15| Playa Quemada

For more information on resort towns in Lanzarote click here and here.

 

Places to See & Activities in Lanzarote

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1| Timanfaya National Park

Lanzarote is an island with so many different geological aspects, including a volcanic landscape with a multitude of colors and lava formations that are sure to mesmerize you. It has become to be known as a volcanic island.

Many people believe that this beautiful island looks very similar to the landscape of Mars. This land has been preserved and is virtually untouched. If you would like to visit Timanfaya National Park, it opens at 9:00 am and closes at 5:45 pm. More information on what you can do besides hiking the park and where you should visit within Timanfaya National Park will be found here. The park is locally known as Parque Nacional de Timanfaya.

Parque Natural Los Volcanes: The first volcanic eruption in Lanzarote occurred 20 million years ago. In 1730, Andres Lorenzo Curbelo, a village priest, recorded these eruptions and their occurrences and activities for six years. Later, Timanfaya Village was buried as a result of heavy volcanic eruptions.

Temperature: The underground temperature is very hot; when dry grass is placed in a whole on the ground, fire erupts. Similarly, when a pot of water is placed on top of the whole, it boils. The restaurant in the national park grills chicken with the natural heat produced from the ground. As you approach Timanfaya you will see the fire-devil sign that humorously warns you of the heat.

2| Cueva de Los Verdes (Green Caves)

Cueva de Los Verdes is a massive tunnel that was formed by the Corona Volcano. This tunnel was formed about 4,000 years again when this volcano erupted and has been protecting the people of the island ever since. The only way to see these caves is through a guided tour. The Cueva de Los Verdes is open daily from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm. For more information click here.

3| Water Activities

Water activities on the island include surfing, water rafting, parasailing, jet skiing, and banana boat rides. These services are offered almost at every beach. For information on diving click here and here.

4| Horse Riding

Horse riding is very popular in Lanzarote. For more information click here.

5| Riding a Camel

When you enter the national park you will find a Camel Station. Here you are allowed to ride a camel for a small fee.

6| Grapes and Wine

Because of it’s dry climate it is almost impossible to have plants in Lanzarote. Farmers, however, skillfully grow grapes that they use to produce some of the best wine in Spain. As you come out of Timanfaya National Park you will find a farmer’s shop in Yaiza, Bodega La Geria, that sells very well-known and popular wine in this part of Spain.

 

Shopping

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Shopping in Puerto Calero Marina: This marina has a beautiful view and is famous for the sailing that occurs there; it is also known for its shops and restaurants. The address is Puerto Calero, 35571 Yaiza, Lanzarote, Spain. More information here .

Shopping in Puerto del Carmen: Go to the main street in town called Avenida de las Playas. There is also a popular shopping mall, Biosfera Plaza Shopping Center, located at Avenida Juan Carlos I, 15, 35510 Puerto del Carmen, Las Palmas, Spain.

Shopping in Playa Honda: Playa Honda has one of the largest shopping centers in Lanzarote. It’s near Arrecife town and Lanzarote Airport. Deiland Mall is the place to shop. The address is: Calle Chimidas, 20, 35509 Playa Honda, Las Palmas, Spain. For more information visit their website.

Shopping in Playa Blanca: Playa Blanca has shops and restaurants in Avenue de Papagayo and along the promenade. Grupo FT Mall is another good place to shop. The address is: Grupo FT Mall, Estonia, 1, 35570 Playa Blanca, Las Palmas, Spain.

Shopping in Teguise: Teguise Market is loved by tourists. Teguise is a well-known town near Costa Teguise resort town. If you want local goods, this is the place to go. The address is: 35530 Teguise, Las Palmas, Spain. For more information visit the Teguise Tourism Website.

Shopping in Costa Teguise: In Costa Teguise, you can shop at Playa de las Cucharas. There is a shopping arcade called Las Cucharas Commercial Center.

 

Traditional Food

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1| Papas Arrugadas (wrinkled potatoes) served with Mojo (a sauce with garlic, olive oil, vinegar, herbs, and spices).

2| Dorads (sea bream fish).

3| Gofio (made from toasted corn and maize flour).

 

Restaurants Serving Traditional Food

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1| La Carmencita del Puerto
Address: Avenida de Las Playas, 35510 Puerto Del Carmen

2| La Cocina de Colacho
Address: Calle La Destiladera | Castillo de Aguila, 35580 Playa Blanca

3| Casa Rafa Resutrante de Mar
Address: Calle Avda. Maritima El Golfo, 35570 El Golfo, Lanzarote, Spain

4| La Tabla
Address: Las market as center | Nr. Post Office, Costa Teguise, Lanzarote, Spain

5| Alma Tapas
Address: Avenida Marinero 26, 35560 La Santa, Lanzarote, Spain

6| El Diablo
Address: Timanfaya National Park, Teguise

 

Related content: Ultimate Marbella Travel Guide: 39 Things to do

 

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Transportation

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Buses: Guaguas Buses are the most economical and reliable buses on the island of Lanzarote. You can commune very easily between the towns, villages and tourist places with these buses. Click here for bus timetables.

Taxis: Taxis are everywhere in the towns and airports

Airport: Lanzarote Airport (ACE) in Arrecife. Their website is here.

 

Other Useful Information

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Currency / Money: Euro

Electricity: Spain has 220 volts and 50 Hertz power. United States power is at 110-120 volts and 60 Hertz; you need a step down to connect to your plug before charging your gadgets. Type F plugs are used in Spain, make sure you buy an adapter for this type of plug.

Religion: Mainly Catholic

Language: Spanish

Weather in Lanzarote

Tourist Information: For more information on Lanzarote Island visit their tourism websites here.