THE ISLAND
Dear guest,
We hope that these recommendations will make you enjoy your stay on this beautiful island and fall in love with it, its corners, it's gastronomy, tranquility and the warmth of its people.
Beyond the sun and the beaches, this island has, in its volcanic origin, the strength and ability to transmit its energy to those who, coming from green and fertile lands, find the true Lanzarote among the lava of its volcanoes. Strongly preserved by its great patron, the multifaceted artist César Manrique, until the very day of his death. His work accompanies practically all the points of tourist interest (7 Tourist Centres scattered throughout the island), giving lustre and exalting the nature of the island where he was born and without any pretension other than to create a beautiful frame to what nature forged with its fire.
If you are willing to visit any of the cultural touristic centers, we recommend you to buy the package-voucher in order to save some money. Buying individual tickets at the entrance to each of the touristic centers, will be more expensive as a whole. In case your visit to Lanzarote is more of sports oriented activities, there is a wide variety of companies that offer hiking, snorkeling or scuba diving, water sports, sea routes by boat or submarine, bike rental, karting. . . that will help you complete a fantastic holiday.
Below, we detail three routes to drive around the island - South, North and La Geria - which will not take more than half a day each. Depending on how much time you want to spend at each of your stops, we recommend that you divide your stay to cover all three of them and make stops to eat at typical locations.
Timanfaya National Park
Southern Route
We recommend that you go to the town of Tinajo and, from there, towards the Timanfaya National Park, and let the lava that covers the landscape overwhelm you.
Visit the Timanfaya National Park, declared a National Park in 1974, with 25 volcanoes and whose last eruption ended in 1824, where you can see and feel the force of nature that created and subsequently modified this island after its last great eruption in 1730. In these Mountains of Fire you will feel and be filled with the energy of the island, unlike anything you have seen before, the fire that bursts under your feet, and the different colors of the lava that cover Lanzarote.
Papagayo Beach
Leaving Timanfaya, towards Yaiza, you will find the "Camel Pit" on your right, where you can climb and walk in these animals among the lava of the Park. These dromedaries, now dedicated to tourist walks, were years ago indispensable tools for field work, transporting goods and people in this arid but fertile volcanic land.
In Yaiza you will find a beautiful Canarian village with its white houses, the Casa de la Cultura Benito Pérez Armas, its Town Hall, the Church of Los Remedios and in front of it, a peculiar Canarian bar called "Bar Stop", which dates back to the 19th century. Its wide assortment of Canarian tapas served without any luxury and in a small space, make the delights of visitors and neighbors of Yaiza. The "Fish Sancocho", "Garbanza" or "Old Clothing" are some of its specialties.
Then head to Playa Blanca, where you can turn left towards the Papagayo Beaches, one of the most popular beaches in Lanzarote for its white sand and beauty. Located within the Natural Park of Los Ajaches.
Green Lake, El Golfo
If you want to eat well, in the center of the village of Playa Blanca, you have at the foot of the beach a restaurant called Brisa Marina, excellently managed by Juan "El Majorero. " We recommend that you enjoy its exceptional local produce, cuisine and attention. Any dish included in your menu is exquisite and of the highest quality, try the "gambas de La Santa", a "Cherne a la sal", or a "Vieja a la plancha", you will love.
A 10 minute walk to Marina Rubicón, you will find Playa Dorada, an ideal beach to take a swim in its crystal clear waters. The harbour offers a wide variety of restaurants and some interesting shops. Every Wednesday and Saturday morning there is a very interesting market, which combines the tradition of its cheeses, wines and local produce with an endless number of souvenirs.
Salinas del Janubio
Back towards Yaiza, you will find the detour to the fishing village of El Golfo. Passing through Las Salinas de Janubio (here you will find a very good restaurant, El Mirador de Las Salinas) and Los Hervideros, where the lava fell into the sea crystallizing and forming a beautiful coastline worth seeing.
Continuing along this road, among black lava, you will reach El Golfo. As soon as you arrive, on your left, you will find the Bar Siroco and a car park where you can leave your vehicle and walking two minutes, you will be able to enjoy the spectacular views of the volcano called "El Charco de los Clicos" and its famous Lago Verde. This volcano on the coastline, which the bravery of the Atlantic caused to sink in its half, is a beautiful image of this land. You can recreate your view with the reddish material of the volcano, the green of the lagoon, the black of its beach and the blue of the sea.
Janubio Beach
I recommend that you go into the village and try the local cuisine in the restaurants Casa Torano or El Bogavante. This small seaside village has a wonderful sunset to enjoy in the best company.
On the way back to Arrecife, passing Yaiza, you can detour to Playa Quemada. This fishing village is another haven of tranquility with its wonderful views and bathed by the Atlantic Ocean. Here you can taste the local cuisine at the Sal Marina Restaurant, and with a little luck find a unique product from the sea bottom of Lanzarote, its "Clacas. "
The Jameos del Agua
Northern Route
On the way to the north of the island you can enjoy the visit to the Cactus Garden in the town of Guatiza, and the Jameos del Agua and La Cueva de Los Verdes leaving behind the town of Arrieta and on the way to Órzola. In these three Tourist Centres you will be able to continue to enjoy Manrique's work and his vision on how to combine the preservation of nature and sustainable tourism. I recommend that you organise your visits well since, in some of the centres such as the Cueva de los Verdes, the queues can be as long as 30 minutes.
The Cueva de los Verdes and Los Jameos del Agua are part of the same "jameo" or volcanic tube of La Corona Volcano and will die miles inland.
Casa Azul, Arrieta
In the fishing village of Arrieta you will find the Restaurant El Amanecer, where you can enjoy local products at a very good price. Here it is worth waiting for the table and order it on the terrace. Don't hurry, have a wine and relax, but it is a must to stop to enjoy the best fish and seafood, with a family treatment, where the quality of the product takes precedence over luxury.
Afterwards you can take a refreshing swim in the natural swimming pool next to the colonial-style Blue House that you will find next to the jetty, or in the jetty itself, where the boys of the village bathe by jumping from it into the sea, a two minute walk from the restaurant.
The town of Punta Mujeres is another charming and quiet fishing village next to Arrieta, where there is another natural swimming pool next to the road. Here you can enjoy a refreshing swim in crystal clear waters.
Caleton Blanco
Continuing along the LZ-1 road, which connects the towns of Punta Mujeres and Órzola, and almost reaching Órzola, you will find the Caletón Blanco, a fantastic area of natural swimming pools where, when the tide goes down, an incomparable recreational and bathing area with turquoise waters, which I recommend you to visit for its tremendous beauty.
It is not indicated on the road, so you will have to be careful and not skip the entrance on the right. Going down the dirt road, you will find ample parking.
La Graciosa
At the northern end of the island, you will find the Mirador del Rio, from there you can enjoy magnificent views of the island of La Graciosa. This work by Manrique was so adapted to the orography of the landscape that they say that, sitting on La Graciosa Island with his friend Alberto Vázquez Figueroa, they spent the afternoons trying to locate unsuccessfully until sunset, when the sun's rays made the glass surface reflect.
The charming northern village of Haría with its "Valley of the Thousand Palms" and beautiful old town are worthy of a stop and enjoyment. In the center of the village, next to the church, you can taste the local cuisine in the surroundings. On Saturday mornings they celebrate their market full of tradition and good products of the land.
The Geria
The Geria
This spectacular site has 5,255 hectares and more than 1900 are dedicated to viticulture. Created after the eruptions of 1730, when more than 15 meters of volcanic ash buried villages and crops, they are a reflection of the efforts of the farmers rabbits, the name by which the people of Lanzarote are known, to obtain the most precious fruit of the vines. . . their wines.
Wines that touch the excellence in their whites and sweet of the Malvasía Volcánica, Diego (Vijariego) and Moscatel varieties mainly, the reds of the Listán Negra varieties enjoy more and more popularity, being sometimes mixed with noble varieties such as Syrah or Cabernet Sauvignon to give them an extra contribution of quality.
Stratvs winery
You can enjoy La Geria stopping in its cellars, which water the road that links the towns of Masdache and Uga with good wine.
Special visit and must stop is the Stratvs winery and the El Grifo winery in Masdache, the oldest winery in the Canary Islands and the third oldest in Spain. Founded in 1775 and during its long history has been the recipient of important awards, giving its wines a national and international prestige.
The winery has among its facilities a magnificent museum dedicated entirely to the world of wine and where you can find unique pieces. The Bodega de La Geria, the Bodega Rubicón, Bodega Los Bermejos (in La Florida, San Bartolomé) and the Bodega Vega de Yuco (in Masdache) are other worth seeing for their wines and for their centuries-old buildings in some cases.
Outside this wonderful spot of La Geria you can also find other very interesting wineries such as the Bodega Guiguán in the town of Tinajo or the Bodega Malpaís de Maguez - La Grieta in the town of Punta Mujeres in the north of the island.
The Villa de Teguise
Other points of interest. . .
In the town of Nazareth is the Lagomar House Museum (former home of Omar Sharif). This spectacular building between the walls of the mountain in which Cesar Manrique collaborated and designed the architect Jesús Soto for the famous actor Omar Sharif, who starred among other films the unforgettable Dr. Zibago. Sharif was a lover of the island who had the audacity to bet the house on a bridge game and lose it, after which he never set foot on the island of his love again, something you will understand after visiting Lagomar.
Now converted into a Museum on the one hand and a Restaurant and Bar on the other, don't miss the occasion and enjoy a mojito or any other cocktail there. Enjoy there its sunset, the spell of its sights and illumination.The Campesino Monument in the town of San Bartolomé is César Manrique's public recognition of the efforts of the men and women of the Lanzarote countryside who faced the most adverse conditions to give life to the territory.
Famara Beach
Don't miss visiting
The town of Famara is a paradise for surfers, but be careful on this beach if you decide to take a dip, as the Atlantic waves hit hard all along the west coast of the island. Do not miss the opportunity to eat at the Restaurant El Risco, while enjoying the excellent cuisine and the spectacular views of the Risco de Famara and the island of La Graciosa.
San Jose Castle
Arrecife, the capital
The island's capital, Arrecife, offers the Charco de San Ginés the favourite meeting point for its inhabitants. It is a closed bay of fishermen nourished with bars of tapas, drinks and some magnificent restaurant like La Puntilla. La Miñoca, La Raspa, Cala Leon, Divina Italia. . . are other places where you can enjoy local products, tapas and international food.
The Marina Lanzarote Harbour (by the cruising decks), offers you a beautiful area for walking, leisure and dining with references in gastronomy such as the Restaurant Lilium.
On foot from the Gran Hotel you can enjoy the fantastic Playa del Reducto or stroll along the newly renovated avenue with shops, restaurants and fantastic terraces where you can cool off.
Photo Gallery
Pictures taken by @sooolanooo
