What to See and Where to Go on the Canary Island of Lanzarote

Lanzarote is another one of the beautiful Canary Islands I managed to visit. It has beautiful nature and even more beautiful volcanic landscape and of course good tapas. And as a cactus fan, I can’t fail to mention that there is a beautiful cactus park, although then cacti are not an exception on any of the Canary Islands.

Where to stay in Lanzarote

Lanzarote isn’t such a big island, but it still makes sense to think carefully about where you stay. The three main tourist bases are Puerto del Carmen, Costa Teguise and Playa Blanca. Each has a different vibe and lends itself to a slightly different type of holiday.

Puerto del Carmen is the liveliest part of the island. Here you’ll find a long promenade full of restaurants, shops and bars, as well as the beautiful Playa Grande beach. It’s the closest to the airport, so you’re at your hotel in 10 minutes. Playa Blanca is to the south, quieter and more elegant. From here you can get to beautiful Playa Papagayo, one of the nicest beaches in the Canaries. Costa Teguise is a bit of a family classic on the east coast, with fine beaches and golf.

I recommend a car to Lanzarote in any case, because the most beautiful places on the island (like Timanfaya or the Jameos del Agua caves) are scattered all over the island. Thanks to the car, you can then choose your accommodation anywhere and not worry about it.

Day trips and experiences in Lanzarote

Lanzarote has several attractions where without a booking you either won’t get in at all or you’ll stand in long queues. Timanfaya and the La Graciosa trip especially are worth sorting out ahead.

• Timanfaya National Park – trip with the geysers – You can’t visit the park on your own, only with an organised tour. Capacity is limited and it tends to sell out in season.
• Grand Tour – Timanfaya, Jameos del Agua and Cueva de los Verdes – A full-day trip covering the island’s main attractions in one go. Handy if you don’t have a car or don’t want to deal with individual tickets.
• La Graciosa – catamaran trip with lunch – Boats to La Graciosa leave from the port of Órzola. The catamaran has a limited number of spots and fills up fast in summer.
• Submarine Safari – A real submarine, not a glass-bottom boat. Capacity is small, it only runs a few times a day and tends to be sold out even weeks ahead.

What to see in Lanzarote

Lanzarote is famous for its volcanic landscape, beautiful beaches and art that combines nature and culture. There’s a lot to see here.

Timanfaya National Park

A protected volcanic landscape park of 50 km², created by eruptions between 1730 and 1736 and later in 1824. Lots of lava, volcanic cones and colourful rocks.

The park’s main attraction is the Ruta de los Volcanes, a bus tour that is the only way to get into the park at all. The bus travels between the volcanoes for about 14 kilometres and stops at several points with views. Along the way, the tour is guided with information about the geology and history of the park.

At the main visitor base, Islote de Hilario, guides show geothermal phenomena such as hot steam escaping from the ground and geysers or pieces of wood that quickly ignite when placed in holes in the ground. There is a parking lot right at the base where you can drive. The last tours start around 5 pm.

Jameos del Agua

The volcanic complex near the village of Punta Mujeres is one of the most important and interesting places in Lanzarote. It is part of a volcanic tunnel formed by the eruption of the Monte Corona volcano some 4,000 years ago. What you can see here:

• Cave lagoon with albino crabs – a natural lagoon with crystal clear water that is home to a rare species of small albino crabs.
• Auditorium in a volcanic cave – an underground auditorium carved into the cave, with great acoustics. Concerts, lectures and cultural events are held here. If you get a chance to attend a concert here, I recommend it, it’s a completely different experience.
• Museum of Volcanology – introduces the geology of Lanzarote, the formation of volcanic tunnels and the natural features of the area.

Jardín de Cactus

A beautiful garden project designed by the famous architect César Manrique (as well as Jameos del Agua and other places in Lanzarote). The cactus park is in the Guatiza area in the northeast of the island, opened in 1991.

More than 1,000 different cactus species from all over the world grow in the garden. From small and prickly to huge cacti that grow several metres high. The garden is spread over several terraces and volcanic rocks, offering a beautiful view of the exotic vegetation.

In spring and summer lots of cacti are in bloom and the garden is colourful. The garden is also on high ground, so there are beautiful views of the surrounding Lanzarote countryside, volcanic mountains and traditional white villages.

The island of La Graciosa

The small island north of Lanzarote is part of the Archipiélago Chinijo Natural Park, a protected area with a relatively unspoilt landscape. One of the smallest inhabited Canary Islands, it is quiet and authentic. A popular beach is Playa de las Conchas, overlooking the cliffs of Montaña Clara.

From Lanzarote you can see the Mirador del Río, this view is also very nice at sunset.

La Graciosa can be reached by ferry from the port of Órzola, the trip takes about 25 minutes and offers beautiful views of the cliffs of Lanzarote.

Market in Teguise

One of Lanzarote’s oldest and most famous markets is held every Sunday morning in the historic town of Teguise, the former capital of the island. Here you will find local ceramics, woven textiles, jewellery and leather goods. And, of course, local food, from fruit and vegetables and cheese to honey and Canarian wine.

La Geria Vineyard

Vineyards that were created right in the volcanic landscape in an area that was created by the eruptions of the Timanfaya volcano in the 18th century. The volcanic soil, being rich in minerals, provides a unique terroir that gives the wines their distinct minerality and specific character. The volcanic substrate also helps retain moisture, which is useful on an otherwise relatively dry island.

It produces mainly white Malvasía Volcánica wines, but also Listán Blanco and Listán Negro red wines.

In the area you can visit the Bodega La Geria winery, Bodegas Rubicón or one of the oldest wineries in Lanzarote, Bodega El Grifo, which offers tours and tastings.

El Golfo and the green lake Charco de los Clicos

El Golfo is a fishing village on the south-west coast of Lanzarote, with the green Charco de los Clicos lake in a lava crater by the sea. The green water in the pond is the result of microorganisms and minerals in the local volcanic soil. The lake is surrounded by black lava rocks and the whole place is quite photogenic.

Parking is near the viewpoint of Charco de los Clicos.

Castillo de Santa Bárbara

The Castillo de Santa Bárbara stands atop the extinct Guanapay volcano above the city of Teguise (the island’s former capital) and was built as a key defensive point against Berber and pirate raids in the 15th-16th centuries. Today, it is mainly interesting for its combination of crude military architecture and strategic location with 360° views of the north of Lanzarote. The castle can be reached by car and is quite windy.

The best beaches in Lanzarote

Lanzarote is known for its diverse beaches – from quiet coves with white sand to wild beaches ideal for surfers.

• Playa de Papagayo – a beach with white sand and turquoise sea, often described as the most beautiful in Lanzarote. The beach is protected by cliffs and access to it is through the Monumento Natural de Los Ajaches reserve, where there is a small entrance fee.
• Playa de Famara – on the northwest coast of the island, near the town of Caleta de Famara. The beach has golden sand and is surrounded by dramatic cliffs. It’s easy to get here by car from Teguise or Haría, with parking right by the beach.
• Playa Blanca – right in Playa Blanca, the sea is calm and there is a promenade full of restaurants along the beach.

What to taste in Lanzarote

In Lanzarote, be sure to taste lapas. These are limpets that are grilled on a pan right in their shells and drizzled with herbal mojo verde sauce. They have a specific taste of the sea and a chewier consistency. A great starter is the local queso de cabra. Goat’s cheese from the island is eaten either fresh or lightly fried (a la plancha) with fig or cactus jam.

For traditional country dishes, give caldo de millo a chance. It’s a thick, rich soup made with corn kernels, chickpeas and pork. To drink is the vino de Malvasía Volcánica. The grapes grow in pits in the black volcanic ash of the La Geria region, giving the wine a unique mineral note. For dessert, look for bienmesabe, a sweet paste of almonds, honey and egg yolks that is often served with a scoop of ice cream.

Where is Lanzarote

Lanzarote lies north of the island of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands archipelago, which is west of Africa. It is less than 130 kilometres as the crow flies from Morocco, so Africa is really close.

The nearest Canary Islands – Fuerteventura in the south – are about 11 kilometres away, while Gran Canaria is about 150 kilometres to the west. The capital Arrecife is on the east coast, where there is also an airport.

How to get to Lanzarote

You’ll land at Arrecife Airport (ACE), the island’s only airport. Another option is to fly to one of the neighbouring Canary Islands and hop over from there. Flights between the islands take about half an hour. From Fuerteventura the quickest way across is actually the ferry.