Tourist guide: what to do and see in Lanzarote

The Canary Islands has a very distinct culture and traditions, and for those interested in learning more, the Museo Etnográfico Tanit in the town of San Bartolomé is a fantastic way to get up to speed on much of it. Occupying the basement of a onetime aristocratic manse (you can still see the original cisterns), its rooms are organised as a progression through time, from the development of the earliest Lanzarote settlements atop wind-whipped volcanic rock. It's the perfect spot to get a comprehensive feel for the island's history as well as culture, as well as early Guanche influence, displaying traditional furniture, tools, clothing, and crafts. The permanent collection is complemented by temporary exhibitions as well as conferences. The museum is open Monday through Friday 10 am to 2 pm.

Lanzarote's arid regions have proved fertile ground for the cultivation of aloe vera, the spiky green plant touted for its medicinal properties as far back as the time of Alexander the Great, Aristotle, and even ancient Egypt, but rediscovered by science only in the 20th century. This museum in the town of Haría is a full-featured centre of interpretation which covers everything from the cultivation to harvesting to processing to the science and history surrounding aloe vera. Open Monday through Saturday 9 am to 5 pm.

The town of San Bartolomé is worth visiting in part because it's home to this 19th-century upper-class manse. The Casa de la Guerra was built by local military commander Francisco Guerra Clavijo y Perdomo, on a hilltop overlooking the port of Arrecife as well as Mina and Guaticea mountains. It's a typical traditional Canarian affair of whitewashed adobe, with a red-tile roof, central courtyard, outdoor breezeway, basement with a cistern, and various period-furnished rooms open to visitors and also containing panels describing the history of the town. Open Tuesday through Sunday 9 am to 2 pm.

Another of this island's old defensive fortresses, the 18th-century Castillo de San José, like others of its ilk, was turned into a museum, in this case the Museo Internacional de Arte Contemporáneo (MIAC), established in 1976 by - you guessed it - artist/architect César Manrique. The draughty old spaces were modernised and adapted with an eye toward emphasising both art and nature - and it's a fascinating experience from an architectural and design standpoint as well as artistically. The collection stars the likes of Francis Bacon, Eduardo Chillida, Antoni Tápies, Julio Le Park, and Antonio López, to name just several. It's open daily 11 am to 6 pm, and you can also grab a bite at an extraordinary on-premises restaurant with lovely ocean views.

In 1698, Captain Gaspar Rodríguez Carrasco donated a portion of his land holdings for the building of a church and Dominican monastery - whose whitewashed façade bears the Rodríguez family crest. Inside, a pair of naves are unified by four rounded arches and ceilings in the neo-Moorish style known as Mudéjar, and also feature a polychrome, gold leaf altarpiece in Baroque style. Santo Domingo no longer functions as a church, however, but as an exposition of international contemporary artists. It's open daily except Monday and Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm.

This large golden sand beach extends from the fishing village of Caleta de Famara, to the foot of the Risco (natural cliff that makes up the northern part of the island). Given its waves, it is ideal for beginners in surfing. In the town there are countless academies and equipment rental shops. It has also been considered one of the best beaches to watch the sunset. In fact, we recommend a walk along it when the low tide coincides with the sunset. An unforgettable show. And finally, a visit to the small fishing village from which the beach starts should not be missing from the itinerary. Its narrow streets of sand and its varied offer of restaurants; makes it a perfect place to disconnect, as well as to taste fresh fish and shellfish from the area.

One of the most curious corners of Lanzarote, which should be visited on a day when the sun is too hot, is the Cactus Garden, which was the last intervention of the artist César Manrique It was established on the island in 1991. As if it were a Roman amphitheatre, this cactarium is located in an old picon quarry or volcanic sand used to cover crops and to conserve water. The Cactus Garden is open. formed by more than seven thousand specimens of cacti of more than a thousand different species, not only autochthonous to the Canary Islands, but also from other places, which extend through a garden of five thousand square meter. The entrance to the park costs just over five euros and you can visit it from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and even take a break in its cafeteria, from which you can contemplate the exoticism of its desert landscape.

Travelers who are not looking for the typical tourist destination, competing for the first line of the beach and going to the same beach bars as other tourists, should consider an excursion to the wild Graciosa Island. It is a small semi-virgin island where only bicycles can circulate on tracks, and it is not even accessible. It is paved, since its charm lies precisely in its natural habitat. Several boats leave from Órzola, in Lanzarote, throughout the day to this island of paradisiacal beaches, volcanic complexes and turquoise waters. In addition, it stands out as a fishing bank, its main source of income, and also as an exceptional setting for scuba diving. The strategic location of La Graciosa means that its crystalline waters offer an unusual variety of fish to observe.

On Lanzarote's west coast near the town of Yaiza, the Charco Verde, aka Charco de los Clicos(the latter name originating from the small crustaceans that live here) is a volcanic crater filled with emerald green water connected via underground caves and tunnels to the ocean. The landscape out here is some of the island's most admired thanks to the dramatic contrasts between the green lagoon, the black volcanic rock, and the blue sea. You can't swim here, but it's worth a visit not just for the view but also the chance to pick up some olivine, the semiprecious green stone typical of Lanzarote.

Spain's golf great Severiano Ballesteros once called the Costa Teguise Golf Course the Canary Islands' best and most challenging. Conceived by British designer John Harris in 1978, it's lined with 3,500 palm trees, and challenges include Lanzarote's picón (volcanic sand), strong winds, and a multitude of dogleg holes. The club also offers private hourlong golf lessons (or five hours spread over a week). Facilities include padel courts and a café-restaurant with views over the volcano and sea.

Besides sun and sea, another great natural resource of Lanzarote is wind, and therefore it's no surprise that the windmill has become a symbol of the island. But these differ from Spain's most famous windmills, the whitewashed icons of La Mancha, in that they have three and not two storeys, as well as masonry construction with conical wood-and-tile roofs. Very few are still in operation, but one of them can be found in San Bartolomé; it's been used since 1870 for grinding traditional gofio (a particular kind of local flour). 

Designated a Canary Islands historic-artistic landmark since the 1960s, the San Bartolomé city hall's Casa Ajei dates from the 18th century, when it was built by a clan of soldiers, the Ferrers. The manse has an interior courtyard with a well, surrounded by a wooden railing and the rooms of the house. The fabled village of Ajei from which the house takes its name, is buried beneath volcanic sands. The Ferrer family descendants lived here into the early 20th century, and especially of late, it has become both a symbol of San Bartolomé and a venue for interesting artistic exhibitions. Its visiting hours are from Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The archipelago of the Canary Islands over its many centuries as part of Spain spent many of those centuries the subject of raids by pirates and slavers - French, English, Dutch, Portuguese, North African. This spurred the building of a number of defensive installations - which on Lanzarote is this Castillo de San Gabriel, built toward the end of the 16th century on an islet just off Arrecife. It was put to the test in 1586, when Barbary Coast pirates set it to the torch, and its current incarnation dates from its 18th-century rebuilding. It saw action in the Spanish-American War of 1898, when the cannons we see here today were installed. The fort is accessed via a bridge, the Puente de las Bolas (Bridge of Balls), and inside you'll find the Arrecife history Museum.

The Lanzarote Aquarium is the largest in the Canary Islands, it has more than a million liters of water, distributed in 33 aquariums where hundreds of marine species can be observed. From typical Canarian species such as moray eels, breams, breams or fulas, to tropical species with beautiful and striking colors and diverse morphology, clown fish and anemones, fire dragons, puffer fish, or hermit crabs, are part of this space. . The visitor can also enjoy a variety of sharks in its underwater tunnel and central tank of 500,000 liters of water. Ready for adventure?

The Marina Lanzarote project is anchored in the heart of the city of Arrecife, with the aim of finally opening the capital of the island to the sea. It has a large promenade in front of the commercial premises and the marina, which connects directly with the city's maritime avenue to the south, and with the new cruise terminal to the north, acting at the same time as a large gateway for cruise passengers to the island and being, both for locals and travelers, a unique space for leisure. Its more than 14,000 square meters and more than 400 parking spaces make it very accessible and contribute to completing the restaurant and shopping offer in Arrecife.

The Marina Puerto Calero, in Lanzarote, is considered one of the most exclusive and prestigious destinations in the world of sailing. With a charismatic and close family atmosphere, it is often the venue for celebrations of international events. The facilities have a dry dock service and its Paseo Marítimo offers a varied gastronomic offer, as well as attractive boutiques with top-level brands and other excursion management services or those related to health and well-being.

La Geria constitutes an extensive surface in the central zone of Lanzarote, occupied in its part by recent lavas from the eruption of 1730-36, among which some volcanic cones of different heights stand out. The most characteristic uses of this space are vine plantations that take advantage of the possibilities of lapilli as a moisture retainer for their development. In other words, the ashes are in charge of treasuring each drop of dew, so valuable in a land without springs. It is a traditional practice deeply rooted in the culture of Lanzarote. In the vicinity of La Geria, there are several wineries where you can taste the local wine, enjoying the peculiar volcanic landscape of the vineyard.

Gofio is a roasted cornmeal, also called millo, that was traditionally stone-ground thanks to windmills, and then refined by hand. For the Guanches, the aboriginal inhabitants of the islands, gofio was and still is today one of the main sources of energy in their diet. It is an important part of the history and culture of Lanzarote. Currently, in places like La Molina de José María Gil, which has been standing since 1870, you can see how they used to make gofio and learn more about the culture of the island. Do you dare to surprise your palate?

In the west of the island of Lanzarote and on the edge of the ocean is El Golfo. Surrounded by the spectacular lava flows from the eruptions of 1730-1736, it is a charming enclave of Lanzarote-style fishing houses, with narrow streets that lead to the eternal image of boats stranded on a black sand beach. Visiting it is worth it not only for the beauty of the place, but for its tranquility, its exquisite cuisine based on fresh fish from the area and its proximity to natural landscapes such as the Los Clicos pond or the Timanfaya National Park. In addition, the evening light from one of its terraces will put the finishing touch to a few days of calm.

Fishing is part of the essence of Lanzarote and has always been an important engine for the development of economic, social and cultural activity on the island. The role of establishments such as the Fishermen's Association of La Tiñosa, which is also part of the Saborea Lanzarote promotion project, has been key to the preservation of the coastline and both environmental and fishing values, as well as for the development of the life and commercial and cultural activity. Visiting this restaurant is, without a doubt, the ideal opportunity to enjoy a wide variety of fresh fish every day and spectacular views of the sea.

Cheese with figs, with fine herbs, smoked, fresh or cured, reddish with paprika, spread with olive oil and gofio... The world of cheese is almost infinite in Lanzarote. If you have been offered this native product at breakfast at your hotel or have tried it in a restaurant, surely you are already considering the idea of taking this delicacy home with you. To do this, there is nothing better than going to local producers, such as Quesería El Faro, which has its own goat farm from which they extract and prepare this authentic delicacy. The cheese factory is located on the road from Teguise to Mozaga and has been making its famous cheeses, which have been awarded and have been exported throughout Europe for more than forty years. Their specialty is goat cheese, of which they offer up to ten varieties.

In the south we find a coastline of paradisiacal beaches that, under the protection of the Los Ajaches Natural Monument, are located on completely virgin land. These beaches are isolated from each other by small mountains that delimit them, turning them into coves with abundant fine golden sand. The clarity of its waters allows us to appreciate a very intense color palette. This natural park has seven beaches: Papagayo (which has a beach bar), Puerto Muelas, Caleta del Congrio, Playa de la Acera, Playa del Pozo, Playa Mujeres, Calentón de San Marcial. Of course, it is advisable to bring water and food if you want to spend the whole day. Also tube and diving mask, because of the tranquility of its waters, it is a perfect place for snorkeling.

In the northwest of the island we find the “Calentó Blanco” beach, some inlets with crystal clear waters, which penetrate between the vestiges of the lava flows from the Corona volcano, creating a spectacular setting. This beach is covered with fine white sand, which produces a surprising visual effect on the water, and which contrasts like a work of art with the black lava flows. Given the tranquility of its waters, it is a perfect beach to enjoy with the family, with little girls and boys, or lying in the sun. In addition, the calm that is breathed is typical of the volcanic landscape, which with its abstract forms and One of the purest and wildest images of Lanzarote > PHOTO A magical interaction with the ocean of irresistible funds In the northwest of the island we find the beach of “Calentó Blanco”, some inlets of crystalline waters, which penetrate between the vestiges of the lava flows of the Corona volcano, creating a spectacular setting. This beach is covered with fine white sand, which produces a surprising visual effect on the water, and which contrasts like a work of art with the black lava flows. Given the tranquility of its waters, it is a perfect beach to enjoy with the family, with little girls and boys, or lying in the sun. In addition, the calm that is breathed is typical of the volcanic landscape, which with its abstract and disordered forms, isolates the beaches from the little civilization that is present in the environment. In addition, Caletón Blanco has parking lots and easy access.

Playa Blanca is a center with a wide variety of tourist services in a pleasant and quiet area, in the south of the island. In addition, in Playa Blanca there are wonderful beaches with crystalline waters and natural beauty that have good services for your enjoyment, ideal for families. In the center of the tourist area of Playa Blanca we find the beach that gives its name to the town. This beach has been awarded the blue flag, the environment where it is located is a visual reminder of how the town began to rise on these coasts, preserving the architecture and brushstrokes of the construction of Lanzarote. Its promenade, which has a complete range of shops, restaurants and bars, is another great attraction.

In the southeast of the island of Lanzarote we find the tourist area of Costa Teguise, with a very calm environment and a warm climate cooled by the Atlantic breeze. This town has an infrastructure created for the enjoyment of all types of tourism, it is an urban space adapted to the environment and that has been developed preserving the characteristic touch of local artist César Manrique. Costa Teguise has wonderful beaches designed for the use and enjoyment of the local population and tourists. Among them, the beaches of El Jablillo, Las Cucharas (the beach with the most waves where lovers of sports such as windsurfing have a great time) or Playa Bastián stand out.

In the center-south of the island you will find Puerto del Carmen, located just ten minutes from the airport. It has marvelous beaches with crystalline waters and burning sand, including: - Los Pocillos, ideal for families. It has a play area for children and restaurant and leisure areas, as well as lifeguard services, hammocks, umbrellas and bathrooms. - Big beach. With 1,190m in length, it has a promenade with bars, beach bars, restaurants, discos and shops to enjoy. In it you can do countless leisure and sports activities. - Playa Chica, surrounded by lava flows that go into the sea and delimited by stones that give it the appearance of a cove. This kind of sandy cove is one of the main diving spots on the island. It has diving academies where you can rent material and appreciate this wonderful seabed. This beach also has a small pier with a range of restaurants and activities.

With more than half a kilometer of fine golden sand, it is the best beach in the capital of the island and ideal for boys and girls due to its calm waters, surrounded by natural reefs. Distinguished with the Blue Flag award, El Reducto has all the necessary services: showers, changing rooms, toilets, beach bars, nearby bus and taxi stops, as well as a wide range of accommodation. Its renovated promenade also includes cafeterias, restaurants, an attractive theme park ideal for strolling and leisure, with bar service, skating rink, bicycle lane, natural grass...

The coastal towns of the municipality of Haría are home to a wide variety of beaches and natural pools, ideal for cooling off during your visit. One of them is the town of Arrieta, where the beach of La Garita stretches along half a kilometer of peaceful family beach. In this coastal enclave you will also find an architectural stamp that stands out for its aesthetics: it is called La Juanita, the Casa China or the Chalet de Arrieta. Exotic, glazed and with an oriental pagoda roof that seems to be taken from a children's story. It was owned by Juan de León Perdomo, an Indian from Haría who built it in 1916 as a spa for his sick daughter.

The Corona Volcano, at 609 meters high, is the highest point in the north of the island. This volcano is characterized by its large crater and its volcanic tube of about 6km with its mouth in the sea. The crater can be accessed in a pleasant walk enjoying the landscape, flora and fauna of the area. Undoubtedly, a must for lovers of hiking.

The crater of the Cuervo volcano is located between the Timanfaya National Park and the protected area of La Geria. The excursion and hiking in this area is a trip back in time and a highly recommended activity, even with girls and boys. The place is very important, since, according to the island's vulcanological history, the first volcano to open was the one known today as La Caldera de los Cuervos, and it was in this area that the eruptions of Timanfaya began, in the year 1730 and that continued for 6 years. Please, do not take volcanic stones, they are part of a unique landscape on the planet.

With this Market, the aim is to promote sustainable development, economic and social development that is compatible with the protection and improvement of the environment, by directly promoting agriculture and livestock in the area, while maintaining and conserving the landscape, according to the surrounding tradition. The market is located in a house in Uga, with a great agricultural and livestock tradition, which has the typical organization of rural buildings of the time in which a series of rooms are organized around a central patio. Without a doubt, a special and unique experience.

In the magical volcanic landscape of Lanzarote, of ocher and black colors, there is a place called Mancha Blanca, in the municipality of Tinajo, which keeps a lot of charm. If you come on a Sunday, you cannot miss the local agricultural and craft market, a place where you can savor and enjoy the best craft products. Every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., next to the hermitage of the Virgen de los Dolores, you can enjoy this wonderful traditional market.

This market values ​​artisan and local products. What is attractive is that in the same space, residents of the town and tourists share a very enriching experience, being able to acquire, mainly, products from the primary sector: grains, local cheeses, fruit, vegetables, dried fish, tollos, pejines, vegetables, pastries, as well as handicrafts (traditional Canarian handicrafts and artistic and contemporary handicrafts). It is a way of promoting zero kilometer and sustainable consumption.

The Villa de Teguise has been noble and stately throughout its rich past. It was the old capital of Lanzarote from the first half of the 15th century to the second half of the 19th century (year 1852), when it lost practically all the plots of power to the detriment of the new capital, Arrecife. In fact, it was the first most important civil and urban settlement in the Canary Islands. Declared an architectural-historical-artistic complex, it is one of the oldest villas and one that has written one of the most famous pages in the history of Lanzarote.

The Timple House Museum is a space dedicated to the music and traditional culture of the Canary Islands, with the timple as its main protagonist, a small stringed instrument that is one of the most deeply rooted sound symbols in the entire archipelago. The Villa de Teguise, through its artisans, played a fundamental role for the timple to spread throughout the rest of the islands, becoming not only a spokesperson for island identity, but also an element of contact with other cultures and developments. aesthetics that combine tradition with modernity. Visiting this space gives any tourist an authentic look at the roots of Canarian culture. You can't miss it!.

The El Grifo winery, in addition to being the oldest in the Canary Islands, is among the ten oldest in Spain, producing wines uninterruptedly since 1775. The Wine Museum is located in its facilities, located in the original winery. The visit is a unique experience, almost a journey through time, where we can see the winery, winery, cooperage workshop, space for destemmers, transfer pumps and stills, all elements from the 19th and early 20th centuries. The following three spaces are part of the Museum: the Small Cactus Garden; the Fruit Orchard or the Palm Tree; and the “chabocos” of Moscatel, holes in the lava layer, where the old vines are hidden, some of them from the 19th century.

Come and enjoy the competition Karts for the most experienced, the Senior Karts for drivers from 16 years old, the Junior Karts for teenagers from 10 - 16 years old, the Karts for children from 5 - 10 years old and we even offer Two-seat karts for the little ones who can drive in the company of their parents. At Lanzarote Karting you will have monitors present at all times, both on the track and in the pits, ensuring compliance with the rules and the safety of the track so that you do not have any incidents. In addition, the quality of the asphalt is of the highest quality, very adherent, smooth and without bumps so that you can enjoy with the best guarantees.

If you want strong emotions and know something different, you have to know this place. It is a living game in which you must use your brain, together with your group, to escape from a room. In this way, you will have to find out a mystery through different riddles and thus be able to solve it and leave in less than one room. Put your wits to the test.

An unforgettable experience that if you are in Lanzarote you cannot miss. Take the Sub Fun Tres submarine and go down for up to 30 minutes to the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. Accompanied by a guide you will be able to discover the Ocean and enjoy its beauty.

At Sonidos Líquidos you can discover a musical and food and wine experience in a unique environment in the world. Large bands of national and international renown take to the stage of La Geria from where they will be able to glimpse the impressive landscape of Lanzarote's vineyards, surrounded by volcanoes.

If you are in Lanzarote you cannot miss this traveling festival with different stages distributed throughout the city and aimed at all audiences. You can enjoy different musical styles. A whole musical experience.

This place is an oasis where Golf and love for the island of Lanzarote come together in a perfect symbiosis, since the typical Lanzarote construction was respected in doing so. Located in Puerto del Carmen, this golf course has beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean and Fuerteventura. Likewise, it is surrounded by volcanic landscapes, white villages and wild nature, a wonderful enclave.

Open Mall is a shopping center in Lanzarote that has everything you can imagine to spend a fantastic day. Whether with your partner, friends or children, you can make endless plans. And it is a place where the little ones have different playgrounds and you can while you visit a large number of stores of the best brands or have a drink in a restaurant with great quality in terms of its gastronomic offer.

In this shopping center you can find everything you need, a wide gastronomic offer with restaurants of all kinds, pharmacies, eco-activities and even more than 30 shops. And all outdoors so that you can enjoy the magnificent climate of Lanzarote. And all with free parking.

The Festival of Volcanic Kitchens is a magnificent gastronomic event with Chefs of international prestige, together with the most outstanding of the island who share knowledge with the public. there You will be able to find workshops and presentations given by well-known professionals, some of them with a Michelin Star. Restaurants, wineries, cheese factories, craft breweries, producers and other companies in the sector will offer both their products and their culinary creations that they have prepared expressly for this occasion.

Lanzarote has large natural spaces where you can glimpse wonderful landscapes if you decide to go hiking. From the mountains, to the volcanoes or the sea will be for your delight. In addition, you will be able to enjoy the heat that its land gives off under your feet, a unique sensation. The practice of hiking can be exercised throughout the year since the weather always accompanies.

If you go to Lanzarote you cannot miss the opportunity to see its fauna under the sea. It's time to grab a snorkel and some goggles to enjoy the more than 50 dives available on the island. If you decide to dive under its waters, you will feel the sensation of flying into the sea, contemplating its volcanic marine landscapes, its fauna and its colors. Do not forget that Lanzarote has the best diving centers in the entire Canary Islands.

Lanzarote is the ideal place for surf lovers. Its continuous winds offer you magnificent navigation conditions, and to enjoy its waves. Both experts and beginners will be able to enjoy fun days of surfing.

Another of the attractive plans that you can do in Lanzarote is to take a catamaran. You will enjoy a magnificent experience aboard one of Catlanza's catamarans. In addition, on board you will always be accompanied by a team of professionals and you will be able to taste exquisite food and drinks.

Lanzarote's subtropical climate allows you to enjoy the sea all year round. In Lanzarote, guided kayak trips are organized through different places on the island where you can visit caves, cliffs, islets, virgin beaches, are some of the places to visit.

If you want strong emotions and know something different, you have to know this place. It is a living game in which you must use your brain, together with your group, to escape from a room. In this way, you will have to find out a mystery through different riddles and thus be able to solve it and leave in less than one room. Put your wits to the test.