Lanzarote overview
The most easterly and the fourth largest of the Canary Islands, Lanzarote is 37 miles long and 12 miles wide. The island is similar to other Canary Islands in that it is volcanic in origin, but different to the other islands in that much of its landscape is lunar in appearance due to the volcanic activity that occurred during the 18th and 19th centuries. Arrecife is the principle port and latter-day capital and the island's main tourist area is Puerto del Carmen, a busy resort with a long beach, Playa Grande.
Despite the volcanic nature of the island, Lanzarote boasts a handful of beautiful white beaches such as those found at Playa Blanca and Punta del Papagayo. The majority of beaches, however, are covered with black volcanic sand like the beach at Playa Quemada.
The Montanas del Fuego (Fire Mountains) were created in the early 1730s when more than one hundred volcanoes erupted devastating this area of the island. In 1968 this area of Lanzarote was declared a national park, Parque Nacional de Timanfaya, and is a must see for any visitor to the island because of its amazing lunar-type terrain and rare plant species. To add additional flavour to your trip to Timanfaya, there is even a restaurant that serves typical Canarian cuisine using geothermal heat so you can enjoy a steak that has been cooked over a crater!
Lanzarote is famed for its water-sports and the ideal weather conditions, coasts of clear waters and fine sands make it a popular destination for wind-surfers, surfers and sailors, and the plethora of underwater caves, reefs, shipwrecks and fish such as barracuda and angel shark, make it a popular holiday destination for diving, snorkeling and big game fishing.
Lanzarote along with the rest of the Canary Islands enjoys an equivalent to duty free status and goods can be purchased in supermarkets, with discounts available on cameras, videos etc in electrical shops. T-shirts and interesting handcrafted items such as a timple, a small ukulele-like instrument used by the local musicians can be picked up at the large market in Teguise each Sunday morning.
Lanzarote's most famous inhabitant was Cesar Manrique; painter, sculptor, architect, ecologist and preserver of natural landscapes and urban planner. Manrique felt that he had to transform the island before the increasing number of visitors overwhelmed it and with his great intuition and artistic ability his legacy lives on to be enjoyed by tourists and locals alike. You can visit his amazing home at Tahiche in the north of the island as well as seeing many examples of his work on the Island's roundabouts!
Map
Climate
Lanzarote enjoys a dry warm year-round climate with sunnier, hotter weather on the southern side of the island. There are cooling winds from the northwest in the spring and the famous warm Sirocco winds from Morocco in the autumn.
Did you know?
The eruption that began on the southern part of Lanzarote on the 01 September 1730 is among the greatest volcanic cataclysms in recorded history not only on account of the amount of molten rock nor the huge number of craters, but because the eruption did not fully cease until April 1736.
Lanzarote hotels
Seaside Los Jameos Playa
Set in landscaped gardens amidst palm trees, this low rise development boasts spacious guest rooms
Gran Castillo
A short walk from Playa Blanca and located near the stunning beaches of Papagayo on the southern tip of Lanzarote
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Gran Melia Salinas
This prestigious hotel provides elegance and impeccable service and boasts luxurious guest rooms
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Gran Melia Volcan Lanzarote
Just a short walk from the picturesque town of Playa Blanca, this top quality hotel is located on the southern tip of Lanzarote
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H10 Timanfaya Palace
H10 Timanfaya Palace has a Spanish-Arabic design that blends perfectly with its surroundings
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Hesperia Lanzarote
Hesperia Lanzarote will appeal to discerning guests searching for a discreet and relatively unexplored resort area
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Los Fariones
An extremely popular hotel with guests returning year after year
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Princesa Yaiza
Located directly on the beach, Princesa Yaiza enjoys spectacular ocean views across to Fuerteventura
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Vik Hotel San Antonio
Located at the edge of Puerto del Carmen with easy access to all the restaurants, cafes and shops
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Villas Heredad Kamezi
Located on the southern tip of Lanzarote just 10km from the Timanfaya National Park, the delightful Heredad Kamezi Villas enjoy a pleasant oceanfront location
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Map
Climate
Lanzarote enjoys a dry warm year-round climate with sunnier, hotter weather on the southern side of the island. There are cooling winds from the northwest in the spring and the famous warm Sirocco winds from Morocco in the autumn.
Did you know?
The eruption that began on the southern part of Lanzarote on the 01 September 1730 is among the greatest volcanic cataclysms in recorded history not only on account of the amount of molten rock nor the huge number of craters, but because the eruption did not fully cease until April 1736.
Lanzarote sightseeing
Timanfaya National Park
Timanfaya National Park includes the Fire Mountains, the now dormant volcanoes that devastated Lanzarote. A day's sightseeing can easily include the following: A short camel ride from Yaiza for amazing panoramic views, a stop at Salinas de Janubio where salt is extracted from an old crater, the boiling springs at Los Hervideros, plus the unusual farm-scapes at La Geria, and the vineyards of Mozaga.
Haria, Orzola and the North
Haria, a picturesque village acts as the gateway to the northern tip of the island. From the road there are memorable views of sea cliffs and the delightful fishing village of Orzola is excellent for fish lunches and boat trips to La Graciosa.
Teguise
The ancient capital of Lanzarote is a well-kept, old-fashioned town with wide cobbled streets and patrician houses grouped around the Iglesia de San Miguel. There's a lively market on Sundays with local handicrafts and folk dancing. Santa Barbara castle, just outside the town, houses Museo del Emigrant Canario which charts the history of Canarian emigrants to South America (closed Sundays). The contrast between the old town of Teguise and the exclusive new Costa Teguise is striking, the latter attracting jet set clientele to its delightful series of small sandy beaches.
Jeeps, treks, and deep sea fishing adventures
Explore the island's volcanic landscapes by jeep or with a guide in an organised trekking group, or sail form Puerto del Carmen or Puerto Calero for a deep sea, or shark-fishing experience.
Fuerteventura
From Playa Blanca it's only a 20 minute boat ride to Corralejo, at the northern tip of Fuerteventura. Enjoy a visit to the tiny island of Lobos, named after the once abundant monk seals, or the Nature Reserve famed for its glorious Sahara-like sand dunes. Inland you can visit the rugged peaks or extinct volcanoes and the pretty village of Betancuria famous for its Church of Santa Maria with glided alters decorated beams and sacred relics.
Map
Climate
Lanzarote enjoys a dry warm year-round climate with sunnier, hotter weather on the southern side of the island. There are cooling winds from the northwest in the spring and the famous warm Sirocco winds from Morocco in the autumn.
Did you know?
The eruption that began on the southern part of Lanzarote on the 01 September 1730 is among the greatest volcanic cataclysms in recorded history not only on account of the amount of molten rock nor the huge number of craters, but because the eruption did not fully cease until April 1736.
Lanzarote cuisine
International cuisine is readily available, although Tapas bars are found all over the island. Much of the food is similar to that of Southern Spain although as you would imagine, fish is predominant.
Local dishes such as pescado a la sal, fish baked in salt, along with fresh tuna, calamari and octopus can be enjoyed with papas arrugadas, wrinkly potatoes boiled in seawater and served with mojo, a traditional Canarian sauce made with garlic and herbs.
Map
Climate
Lanzarote enjoys a dry warm year-round climate with sunnier, hotter weather on the southern side of the island. There are cooling winds from the northwest in the spring and the famous warm Sirocco winds from Morocco in the autumn.
Did you know?
The eruption that began on the southern part of Lanzarote on the 01 September 1730 is among the greatest volcanic cataclysms in recorded history not only on account of the amount of molten rock nor the huge number of craters, but because the eruption did not fully cease until April 1736.
Lanzarote offers
Seaside Los Jameos Playa
Set in landscaped gardens amidst palm trees, this low rise development boasts spacious guest rooms
9 offers
Gran Castillo
A short walk from Playa Blanca and located near the stunning beaches of Papagayo on the southern tip of Lanzarote
6 offers
-
-
Gran Melia Salinas
This prestigious hotel provides elegance and impeccable service and boasts luxurious guest rooms
6 offers
-
Gran Melia Volcan Lanzarote
Just a short walk from the picturesque town of Playa Blanca, this top quality hotel is located on the southern tip of Lanzarote
5 offers
-
-
H10 Timanfaya Palace
H10 Timanfaya Palace has a Spanish-Arabic design that blends perfectly with its surroundings
4 offers
-
Hesperia Lanzarote
Hesperia Lanzarote will appeal to discerning guests searching for a discreet and relatively unexplored resort area
3 offers
-
-
Los Fariones
An extremely popular hotel with guests returning year after year
6 offers
-
Princesa Yaiza
Located directly on the beach, Princesa Yaiza enjoys spectacular ocean views across to Fuerteventura
11 offers
-
-
Vik Hotel San Antonio
Located at the edge of Puerto del Carmen with easy access to all the restaurants, cafes and shops
6 offers
-
-
Map
Climate
Lanzarote enjoys a dry warm year-round climate with sunnier, hotter weather on the southern side of the island. There are cooling winds from the northwest in the spring and the famous warm Sirocco winds from Morocco in the autumn.
Did you know?
The eruption that began on the southern part of Lanzarote on the 01 September 1730 is among the greatest volcanic cataclysms in recorded history not only on account of the amount of molten rock nor the huge number of craters, but because the eruption did not fully cease until April 1736.