Lanzarote is a weird but wonderful little island, and although you might perceive it solely as a destination for Brits looking for a cheap package holiday and a fry-up in the sunshine, I’m telling you now: there is so, so much more to be discovered. The weather is consistently warm, and the nature is stunning, so when it comes to discovering the best things to do in Lanzarote, the list is extensive.
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The first thing that really surprised me about Lanzarote was how dry the island is. It’s so dry, in fact, that they don’t even have a natural source of fresh water here; instead, desalinisation plants process eliminate salt from seawater. And when you fly in to Arrecife’s little airport, the land is clearly dry as a bone- volcanic slopes rise and fall in the centre of the island, with spirals of terracotta, purple and black patterns like bruises on the surface. It looks almost like a surrealist clay experiment. Up close, lizards scuttle between patches of shade, parrots flap in the palm trees, and camels pad across sand dunes.
And unlike several of the neighbouring Canary Islands like Tenerife, there are no high-rise hotels or apartment blocks to be found (except for a single cheeky hotel in Arrecife which somehow slipped through a corrupt crack in the planning permission laws.) Residential buildings are white, with blue or green door and window frames, and tiny gardens consist of cacti and succulents amongst black volcanic stone pebbles.
My grandad moved to the little town of Puerto del Carmen, partly for the sunshine and partly for the community of retired English immigrants that were also living there; and it may be a quiet island, but it’s also full of magic.
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The best things to do in Lanzarote
Stand on top of a volcano at Timanfaya
Standing within Timanfaya National Park feels like the closest I’ll ever get to standing on the moon. The ethereal landscape is like nowhere I’ve ever been before, with fiery volcanic slopes a brilliant russet against the turquoise sea in the distance. Timanfaya is the only active volcano left in Lanzarote, and the only way to visit is by driving in to the park, either in your own vehicle or as part of a tour. Having visited the national park both ways, I’d actually recommend using a tour; queues to enter the park can be seriously lengthy, but buses just sail on past the traffic to the front of the line.
Head underground at Jameos del Agua
The Jameos del Agua is another one of Lanzarote’s most visited destinations, and it’s easy to see why. The complex of natural underground tunnels were formed thousands of years ago when the Monte Corona volcano erupted, causing lava to flow underground. Air escaped upwards, and these tunnel-like caves were the result. The caves are surreal spaces, with underground lakes and green plants home to endemic species and strategically lit to highlight their weirdly wonderful beauty.
In the 60s and 70s, the architect César Manrique had a huge influence on the aesthetic of the island; he felt that any structure that was built in Lanzarote should compliment, or even blend in with, the landscape. One of his many projects was the Jameos del Agua; he turned the caves into a space for art and culture, and created a pool, restaurant and bar, and a small auditorium, within the cave space. It’s a retro beauty, I’ll tell you that for free.
Open daily from 10am to 6pm, plus 7pm-12.30am on Fridays.
Go for a swim at one of Lanzarote’s best beaches
Undoubtedly, one of the best things to do in Lanzarote is to hit the beach. How could you not? And when it comes to the best beaches in Lanzarote, that depends on what kind of beach experience you’re after.
For easy family days with more of a resort-town vibe, head to Puerto del Carmen or Costa Teguise. The beaches are safe, with shallow water and there are also plenty of restaurants, bars and of course, public bathrooms very nearby, as well as a few brilliant ways to experience the water even if simply swimming in isn’t for you. In Arrecife, the island’s capital (this is where cruise ships arrive and airplanes land, FYI), Playa del Reducto is right in the city centre.
If you want to see more of Lanzarote’s underwater world, whack a snorkel on and get swimming, or go one step further and check out this underwater sea-trek experience in Costa Teguise for something not quite the norm. Or if you’re up for being even more of a daredevil, the island is home to several dive centres. Here’s a popular dive experience for complete beginners.
If you’re up for a bit of a wilder beach in Lanzarote, head to Papagayo, which is renowned for being one of the island’s most beautiful beaches. The sandy cove is surrounded by volcanic slopes and is fairly sheltered from the wind and waves, meaning that the water remains fairly calm. Famara is a wild and wide beach on the north coast of the island, with dramatic cliffs as a backdrop and a view of the island of La Graciosa across the water.
A Guide to Arrecife, Lanzarote’s Capital
Get gone with the wind
Being a fairly flat kind of an island (there may be plenty of volcanic hills here, but they don’t actually rise that high into the sky), Lanzarote can get rather windy. Which makes it the perfect location to try wind-based sports. In fact, La Farmara is a really popular spot for windsurfing; it’s location on the north coast means it’s very exposed to the elements.
Surfing, kite surfing and wind surfing are all hugely popular in Lanzarote, so this is a really great location to give them a go, whether you’re a pro or a beginner. I tried surfing on the neighbouring Canary Island of Gran Canaria, but here are beginner surf lessons in Lanzarote if you fancy a go.
Taste some wine in La Geria
I love a wine tasting session, particularly when it involves a visit to a vineyard to fully immerse myself in the wine-making experience. (It’s also a great way to make yourself feel a bit more cultured, whilst really you’re just, well, consuming wine.) And unlike traditional vineyards like those in St Émilion, France or Lodi, California, vineyards in Lanzarote have a whole different set up. The barren, windswept slopes of this island don’t make it an easy place to grow much at all, unless you know the right techniques; here, vines grow at ground level and are sheltered from the wind in dipped circles surrounded by low walls of volcanic stone. And the ashy soil is actually very nutrient-dense, and also acts as an insulator to keep the ground temperature fairly consistent. Conditions on Lanzarote, it turns out, are perfect for growing wine. The only place I’ve seen a similar technique so far is on another very dry, volcanic island: Santorini, in Greece.
This tour of El Grifo Bodega is one of the most popular currently listed on Get Your Guide, and it includes a visit to the onsite wine museum as well as a guided tour of the winery and six wine tastings served with local cheeses. The winery is the oldest one on the island- it dates back to 1775- so they really do know what they’re talking about here. I visited the winery as part of a tour of the island which included several other stops, and this was a great way to see the island without a car, although I think this hiking and wine tasting tour is another brilliant option.
Go for a Lanzarote road trip
Some of the best days I’ve had in Lanzarote are when we’ve hired a car and gone for a road trip; the island is fairly small, very easy to navigate, and the roads don’t tend to be crazy with traffic. It also means you can explore the island at your own pace, and include several stops in a day. This is particularly great when it comes to visiting more remote stops or isolated viewpoints, of which Lanzarote has several.
And although prices have crept up a little recently, car hire in the Canary Islands is generally very affordable, especially compared to other parts of western Europe.
Compare car hire prices in Lanzarote.
Check out the view at Mirador del Río
The Mirador del Río is another of César Manrique’s retro architectural marvels, although instead of an underground geological extravaganza, this one is perched high up on the cliffs overlooking the teeny tiny island of La Graciosa. In fact, I’d say it has a bit of a Tracy Island-esque vibe about it. The drive to the Mirador is stunning, the views are nothing short of spectacular, and inside you can grab a bite to eat and a drink.
This is the perfect spot to add to a Lanzarote road trip itinerary, as you won’t need masses of time to visit.
Open 10am-5pm daily. Double check times and location here.
See a green lagoon on a black sand beach at El Golfo
The little fishing village of El Golfo is one of the island’s more traditional settlements, and this is another destination that I’d recommend adding to a road trip itinerary of Lanzarote. The peaceful village, filled with whitewashed houses and pretty fishing boats, is home to a black sand beach and surrounded by the bizarre terrain of Los Volcanes Natural Park, which was formed from a volcanic eruption centuries ago.
Red cliffs against black sand remind me of Santorini’s famous red sand beach, and if you follow the path away from the village you’ll reach the Charco de los Clicos, a bright green lagoon which has the appearance of a neon green puddle of flubber against the red and black earth. The lagoon is actually green thanks to the algae that lives within its waters, although despite it being all natural it’s definitely not advised to go for a dip here.
Check the location of El Golfo.
Swim with sea lions
Rancho Texas is a small but incredibly popular park near Puerto del Carmen, which is split into two main parts: the animal park, and the water park. It’s a great option for a family day out, which includes fun educational experiences, interaction with animals- and then of course, the pools and water slides. I actually visited as we were gifted the experience of swimming with sea lions. Swimming with the sea lions at Rancho Texas happens at certain times every day, and you can book park tickets in advance and then book onto the sea lion swimming experience.
Try Lanzarote’s local dishes
Stay away from the English breakfasts, pals. They’re not the same when you’re not in England, anyway. One of life’s greatest and most important enjoyments, in my humble opinion, is eating and drinking, so if wine tasting in Lanzarote wasn’t enough for you, don’t worry: there’s plenty more to try here.
Papas arrugadas (or wrinkled potatoes, in English), can be found on just about every tapas menu in Lanzarote, and although they might seem like nothing more than a boiled potato, it’s what they’re served with that make them a must-try. These wrinkly little potatoes are served with either mojo rojo, or mojo verde– red sauce, or green sauce, which is a little bit spicy, and a little bit garlicky, and a lot delicious.
It goes without saying that any fresh fish or seafood dishes are delicious, whether grilled, baked or fried; this is an island after all.
And don’t miss out on the most popular way of drinking coffee in the Canary Islands: with condensed milk, and sometimes a shot of alcohol. True story. Order a leche leche for espresso, warm milk and condensed milk, or a barraquito for the same thing, with the addition of Licor 43 liqueur.
I love this island, which is full of surprises and super-welcoming to visitors. Lanzarote is like nowhere else I’ve ever been; a unique destination full of things to do and natural wonders to explore.
More from the Canary Islands:
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