Lanzarote is one of the Canary Islands which is a part of Spain. Arrecife is the island’s capital and main centre for nightlife and trade. Lanzarote is famous for its spectacular volcanic landscape in the west and low-lying, arid regions elsewhere. Lanzarote is a popular tourist destination, especially with package holiday tourists. There’s much to see on the island including stunning beaches, national park and some excellent towns and villages. There is plenty of accommodation options on the island from villas to self-catering apartments, hotels and hostels. Much like Santorini in Greece, Lanzarote’s volcanic landscape has defined the nature and culture of the island. In this guide we’ll go through the best things to see and do on Lanzarote!
Finding the right Accommodation
Lanzarote has a highly developed tourism economy and all over the island you’ll find hotels and hostels, which can become overcrowded during peak seasons. Wimdu offers a great alternative to hotel accommodation such as seafront villas to spacious holiday apartments. Whether you’re travelling in a group, with that someone special or a family getaway Wimdu has you covered. Check out our downtown holiday apartments where the best bars and restaurants are a stone throw away. If you would prefer something more relaxing then why not look at some of our beautiful villas, some with panoramic coastal views and private pools where you can soak up that Spanish sun! Take a look at our map to see what accommodation is on offer.
Fun Facts!
- Lanzarote is 180 million years old – the oldest of the Canary Islands!
- Sometimes the landscape on Lanzarote is blurred – that’s dust from the Sahara desert!
- The Canary Islands has many names – one is Chinijo!
- The Canary Islands name comes from the Latin Insula Canaria meaning ‘Island of Dogs’!
What to do and see in Lanzarote
There’s much to see on the island of Lanzarote and it’s not all about the beaches and nightlife! The Timanfaya National Park incorporates some of the amazing landscape that has resulted from the volcanic eruption on Lanzarote in the 1730s. The park covers a quarter of the island’s surface and includes such sights as the Montanas Del Fuego (Mountains of Fire) which includes a restaurant and has some amazing views over the mountain. At the restaurant the meat is cooked over the heat coming up from the ground! A national park visitors centre features information on the island’s volcanic history and there are two guides tours of the park available each day where you can learn more about the science behind the island!
Visiting the Fundacion Cesar Manrique will give you a good idea of the cultural history of the island. The Fundacion used to be the home of Cesar Manrique who had a massive cultural impact on the island. Manrique was an artist, architect and environmentalist who’s influence on the island can still be felt today. Inside the artist’s home you can find an interesting collection of his sketches, drawings and architectural plans. The house features an interesting design including intriguing underground entertainment areas!
Lanzarote Beaches
Lanzarote is famous for its excellent beaches and all around the island you’ll find excellent coves, beautiful sandy beaches and clear blue stretches of water – amazing! Check out our seafront villas, where you can wake up with views of Lanzarote’s beautiful beaches. Visitors to Lanzarote enjoy the various water-sports on offer including snorkeling, diving, windsurfing and canoeing. There’s also a water park on Lanzarote as well as submarine trips available from Puerto del Carmen. Lazing on a beach and catching some rays is the perfect way to spend a day on Lanzarote!
Local Cuisine
Local cuisine is very popular amongst tourists and locals. On menus all over Lanzarote you’ll find the word ‘mojo’ which means sauce – ‘mojo picon’ means hot sauce whereas mojo verde means green pepper and coriander sauce. papas arrugás, wrinkly potatoes cooked in salt, are often served with mojos. English food is also common on Lanzarote to cater for the large amount of English tourists that visit the island every year. Restaurants are plentiful and inexpensive, but if you don’t feel like eating out you can always cook with some fresh produce in your self-catering apartment or villa.
Getting Around
Arrecife has its own airport which has connections with many European destinations. The airport is located to the west of the town and it takes approximately 20 minutes to get into the town from the airport. Buses and taxis are available to get into Arrecife and other parts of the island. Buses run every half an hour. It is also possible to travel to Lanzarote by ferry and there are ferries available from Portimao via Madeira. The journey takes 46 hours. Getting around the island of Lanzarote is fairly straightforward – the best way to get around is via car and you’ll find many car hire outlets on the island. It’s the best way to explore the island’s more remote areas! Buses are by far the most popular mode of transport for locals and tourists alike. Lanzarote is a small island and it takes a total of 40 minutes to cross from one side to the other, no matter where you are on the island your accommodation will always be in reach. Motorised scooters are popular for getting around although some precaution should be taken in July when frequent strong winds often make riding difficult. It is possible to travel around the Canary Islands with relative ease from Lanzarote and ferries operate between Lanzarote and nearby islands such as Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura.