Lanzarote travel guide - what to do and what to see

LANZAROTE

Lanzarote is one of the Canary Islands located in the ocean near West Africa. It is known for its volcanic landscape and an artist and environmentalist Cesar Manrique. Similarly, as to Barcelona, where Gaudi's work is everywhere, here on Lanzarote you will see many works of Cesar Manrique. Lanzarote is the fourth largest island and third most populated after Tenerife and Gran Canaria. Escape to Lanzarote to seek sunshine, beautiful coasts, breathtaking lava fields, palm-filled valleys and cactus gardens.

Things to do and see

1. César Manrique Foundation
The spectacular house build around the volcano is a place with art collection of Cesar Manrique. It perfectly showcase his vision to blend natural landscape with architecture. On the upper floor you will find large rooms with windows, whereas the lower ground consist of five lava bubble rooms connected by small tunnel halls. 

2. César Manrique House Museum
Well preserved Cesar's home and studio located in a village Haria, where he lived until his death in 1992. In here you will sneak peak to his personal life, his travel collection, books he read as well as his work studio.


3. The Cactus Garden
An area of the largest cactus plantation on the island, this cactus garden was a work of Cesar Manrique. In fact, many of the sites in Lanzarote is Cesar's work. Jardín de Cactus has around 4,500 specimens of 450 different species, of 13 different families of cactus from the five continents.  A great place to admire the different types of cactuses, volcanic views at the background as well as have a coffee break.

4. Jameos del Agua James del Agua is a place where mankind work and nature came together, a harmony that Cesar Manrique was able to play with the volcanic landscape and turn it to a dream. His signature colours are white, blue, green and black. It is an experiential cave with concert hall, restaurant, coffee shop and a crystal clear pool.


5. Cueva De Los Verdes Cueva De Los Verdes is a long lava tunnel and a tourist attraction nearby Jameos del Aqua. The cave lies within the Monumento Natural del Malpaís de La Corona, a protected area of the Canary Islands.   6. Mirador del Río
Located 400 meters high at north of the island, this viewing point is another Cesar's work blending nature with architecture. It is camouflaged on the rock in a way in which only a genius of Manrique’s magnitude could conceive. The Mirador takes over El Río, the narrow stretch of the sea separating Lanzarote from La Graciosa. 
7. Orzola cliffs
Orzola cliffs are located just nearby the Orzola village at the northern tip of Lanzarote and it is a getaway to get cruises to the neighbouring island of La Graciosa and other islets. The beaches around here are predominantly stoned, but driving through the area, you will be able to stop to many sandy spots. 
8. Mirador de Guinate
Driving north from Haria village, you may stop by Mirador de Guinate. A beautiful high view point to admire the ocean and the nearby La Graciosa island. It is an alternative place for a view point to Mirador del Río and what is the best is that is is empty of tourist and you don't have to pay entrance fee. 

9. Tequise market
Tequise market is a flea market located in a historical village of Tequise. It spreads around the whole main square and you can find anything from food, clothes, handmade things to souvenirs. Tequise market are happening only on each Sunday from morning to about early afternoon. So make sure to get here early to soak up the local atmosphere.

10. Museo Lagomar
Museo Lagomar is a modern house complex incorporated with lava and now it serves as an art gallery, restaurant and bar. The house is located on a hill in Nazaret village.

11. Casa Museo del Campesino
This new build complex serves an ethnographic museum showcasing how people in Lanzarote work and what are they producing. You may shop local products through traditional market or stop by for a meal at a restaurant. The beautiful white and green complex is free to visit!

12. Lanzarote Vineyards
Do you know that Lanzarote has a large area for wine production? Driving towards La Geria, you will pass a totally different scenery, hundreds of vineyards spreading across the nearby national park. Visit wine shops, wine museums or wine tasting sessions. Explore the different grape growing methods on Lanzarote and maybe get a wine a souvenir with you back. 

13. Timanfaya National Park Timanfaya National Park is located in the south-west part of an island and it covers roughly about 51 square kilometres. The large area is entirely made up of volcanic soil and at the main touristic center of the park, you may visit El Diablo restaurant overlooking the black volcanic landscape as well as taste food made on an active volcano. This restaurant was also created by Cesar Manrique.  In order to get to the park, you will have to either book a travel coach or hire a car. No public transport gets here and make sure to visit the place in the morning or after 3pm, otherwise you will have to queue to get in (yes, even cars will have to queue). The entrance fee to a park covers also a bus ride around the park. Unfortunately you won't be able to walk or drive through the park yourself, so you will see the park only from a bus window. 

14. El Golfo
El Golfo is a small seaside village famous for this green lagoon, so called Charco de Los Clicos. Other than this spectacular natural phenomenon, you can admire the beautiful hard waves hitting the cliffs. Stop by for a coffee or lunch break and enjoy the sea views.

15. Los Hervideros
Not too far from El Golfo, you may stop by Los Hervideros. It is an area stretching around the west coastline of an island and a great place to admire the shaped cliffs and underwater caved produced by the solidification of lava and erosion.
16. Museo Atlántico At the south tip of an island, you may stop by Museo Atlantico. An artificial underwater art museum with many sculptures. This museum is about 12m deep and require you to know how to dive. Alternatively, you may get lessons prior going down to the museum. Sculptures are made by Jason deCaires Taylor and it is the only underwater museum in Europe.  

17. Graciosa island
Graciosca island is located 2km north from Lanzarote. The island is part of the Chinijo Archipelago and Chinijo Archipelago Natural Park. Make a day trip on this island to admire the view from other side as well as to enjoy sandy beaches, that may lack on Lanzarote. There is a ferry leaving from Orzola village approximately every 30 minutes. 18. Haria village Haria village is a small picturesque and enchanting village where you may find Cesar Manrique's home and museum. It is a definitely worth the stroll around here.

19. Arecife
Arecife is a port city located at the south of the island and it is considered as the administrative/capital town for Lanzarote. Here you may do some shopping, visit its sandy beaches or visit a castle. A day trip here is enough I would recommend.

Best beaches in Lanzarote

The nature of Lanzarote is beautiful. Not only because of its volcanic landscape, cactus gardens, palm trees, but also for its coasts and beaches. The beaches may not be miles long sandy beaches, as elsewhere, but the surrounding makes it beautiful. I think other Canary Islands may be better for beach holidays if you are looking purely for beach chilling and calm water. In Lanzarote, you will come across both sandy, rocky or black sand beaches due to the volcanic activities in here. Below is a list of some of the beautiful beaches you may see in here, perfect for either chilling or even surfing or other water activities.

1. Papagayo Beach
2. Playa Blanca
3. Puerto del Carmen
4. Costa Tequise
5. Famara beach
6. Caleton Blanco
7. Playa de las Conchas

Costa Tequise

Orzola

El Golfo

Famara beach

Where to stay?

What I have noticed about staying in Lanzarote is that this island is very family friendly. You will see many families with young children coming over for a vacation. Hence why there are also hotels and resorts marked as "Adults only" to accommodate those who are seeking for more quite recreational place. Either that, you will find many hotels predominantly around the coastline. During my one week long stay in Lanzarote, I have changed accommodation three times. Nevertheless, the island is small and you can easily get around from one end to another one in about 40 minutes, changing locations helped me to more explore each area of the island, as well as it kept me excited to check in to new places. If you are looking for full resorts, definitely check hotels via my link to get some discount. Book hotels and resorts to get a full recreational vacation as well as the benefits of having a pool or a bar. Because the ocean may be cold (depending on when are you travelling there), so having the option to tan and chill by the pool is always a great idea.

The other option to hotels and resorts is obviously Airbnb or even if you dare, hire a van and camp around the island. Book Airbnb for more local experiences, if you would like to live in the middle of the island and be surrounded by nature. If you have checked my Instagram feed or stories, you may have seen that we have stayed in a little dome in the middle of the hill for couple days and it was y best highlight of the trip.


                                                

How to get around

Lanzarote island is not that big and easily well connected by roads. The roads are pretty new and well preserved. In my previous post, I have shared with you all you need to know to hire and plan a road trip on Lanzarote. From where to hire, how much it costs to benefits of making a road trip across the island.  I strongly suggest hiring a car, because the island is small and the car will allow you to travel to places that buses or coach tours may not go. Other alternative solutions are to use local buses, taxis or book tours. Besides this, I would recommend to buy a discounted package of tickets for attractions. The offer is for 3 to 6 sites to visit. You will not only save a bit of the full priced tickets, but you will also be able to skip the queue to the attractions. In addition, the tickets will be valid usually one week from the day of a purchase, so you are not obligated to visit all the sites in one day. Not to forget to mention, that you don't need to get the tickets online, as they can be purchased at any site on a day.                        

As seen on Instagram

Lanzarote Travel Vlog

Travel basics

Time: Same as in the UK 

Flight time: 4h from the UK 

Currency: Euro 

Main language: Spanish 

International dialling code: 0034

Warmest month: August (25 C on average) 

Coldest month: January (17 C on average) 

Tip: Purchase a discounted ticket bundle for attractions
Clothing: Pack a scarf, cardigan or a light jacket as it may get windy and cold at evenings or at certain parts of the island