Lanzarote. A different island
Lanzarote is a volcanic island of the Canary Archipelago located on the Atlantic Ocean whose capital city is Arrecife. It has a population of 143.000 people being the third most populated island, and it was declared Biosphere Reserve by Unesco in 1993 in order to keep the conservation and sustainable development because of its awesome nature and the beauty of the landscapes.
The island has natural sceneries for the practice of all kinds of outdoor activities such as surf, windsurf, golf, diving, sailing, biking or hiking. Taking advantage of the soft temperatures and the white-sand beaches, the visitor lives a relaxing and healthy experience.
The focus of attraction for visitors is the natural Timanfaya National Park, a large area affected by volcanic eruptions between 1730 and 1736 and a last one in 1824. The territory was buried beneath lakes of lava and craters changing the island’s morphology, nowadays it still reaches temperatures up to 610ºC at a depth of 13 meters.
The artist César Manrique created amazing places where the art and the architecture melt with the environment; in fact, he designed a big part of the island letting the cultural and natural heritage intact.
We show you the main points of interest:
Arrecife
This beautiful place is the current capital city of Lanzarote since 1852. It owns a very peculiar aesthetic because it is surrounded by white houses of the fishermen and because of the good conservation of the old town, which has two emblematic fortresses that protected the city from the pirate attacks. Make sure you visit the Castle of Saint Gabriel located on a tiny island called Islet of the English. It was originally a wooden fortress which was burned by pirates and replaced in the 16th century by a stone castle in order to protect the city and the harbor.
You must see Charco de San Ginés, a saltwater lagoon, and the streets of the city to go for a walk and do some shopping. Don’t forget to visit the bay arriving to the beautiful white sand beach El Reducto.
Costa Teguise
The old capital city of Lanzarote is Costa Teguise. It is a touristic destination for people of all ages, adults and children, and it is located on the eastern side of the island.
In Teguise takes place the most popular street market of Lanzarote which is celebrated every Sunday morning. Besides it presents a great sports offer in the Playa de las Cucharas area. You can find windsurfing and diving schools in front of the beach and a lot of sports events.
If you travel with kids and you wish to spend a relaxing day, the best option is going to Playa Bastián, safer and protected. You can also visit the Costa Teguise Aquapark that is opened all the year because of the soft weather.
We recommend you the visit to Pueblo Marinero, a complex designed by César Manrique which preserves the typical canary architecture and has a restaurants’ area with pubs and shops.
This is the main touristic area of Lanzarote and it is 12 km away from Arrecife city. It offers gorgeous beaches along 6 km of coast and has an ideal seafront promenade for biking. There is also a restaurants’ area with cafeteria, terraces and the possibility of do some shopping.
As a complementary offer you can choose a relaxing holiday enjoying the spa and wellness centers, doing some sport or visiting children’s playgrounds with your kids. The choice is yours.
Beaches
If there is one thing in an island that attracts the visitors is the beauty of the beaches and the coasts. In Lanzarote the visitor meets transparent waters and white sand which contrast with the volcanic landscape.
On the southern side you can visit Playa Blanca located in a pleasant and quiet area where you can rest on the Papagayo beaches, Playa Dorada and Playa Flamingo.
On the northern side there is the amazing Playa de Famara and others such as Arrieta, El Caletón Blanco and Órzola.
Lanzarote is a paradise with many more places to discover. Try to get a map of the island and find the most special places.