 There are a rising number of visitors who want to explore Lanzarote but have a limited time in which to do so, these visitors are either on a cruise or island hopping around the Canary Islands. I was asked the question recently - what should I see in Lanzarote? This is a difficult question to answer, what indeed should people see to give them a taste of Lanzarote and show them why it is different to the other Canary Islands. I talked to Miguel about this and we couldn’t agree on the which areas would characterise Lanzarote, so here are our suggestions for you, depending upon the amount of time you have, you will need to hire a car! Option 1. South Volcanic
Follow the coast road cut through the lava fields and stop at Los Hervideros to walk around the paths where the waves pound into the coast and up the blow holes – best enjoyed at full tide.
Head out of El Golfo back towards Yaiza and take the road into the Montañas del Fuego – Fire Mountains, the scenery is stunning, you can take a camel trek into the national park or continue a bit further on and take the guided tour around the volcano. In our opinion this is the best tourist attraction on the island, there is the biggest BBQ, geyser and fire demonstrations and the history of the Lanzarote volcanic eruptions.
Finally explore the La Geria region which is on the outskirts of the Timanfaya National Park, here you can see the rows of zocos with vines growing that look like craters on the moon, there are plenty of bodegas to stop at and sample the Lanzarote wines on the road that runs from Uga to San Bartolomé.
Option 2. Mid Manrique
You can see signs of Manrique’s influence all over the island of Lanzarote, there are numerous roundabouts with his wind sculptures on (Arrecife Airport, Tahiche, Arrieta & Montaña Blanca), he campaigned to keep low white painted buildings with doors and windows of blue and green paint which dates back to using the old left over paint from the fishing boats, and he worked to develop the major tourist attractions of the island such as the Jardín de Cactus, Mirador del Río, Jameso del Agua and Cueva de los Verdes.
" My greatest happiness is to recall a happy childhood,five month summer vacations in the Caleta and the Famara beach with its eight kilometers of clean and fine sand framed by cliffs of more than four hundred meters high that reflected on the beach like in a mirror. That image has been engraved in my soul as something of extraordinary beauty that I will never forget in all of my life." The beach is stunning, you can walk for miles and watch the surfers, its so big it could never be crowded! Once you’ve enjoyed the beach you should head into the village and choose a tapas bar / restaurant to chill out and relax in, its like stepping back in time, with a very laid back atmosphere. After exploring Famara head to the old capital of Teguise, here you can wander the cobbled streets with old buildings and see the individual shops, there are lots of art and crafts on offer including a César Manrique gift shop, if you are going on a Sunday, be prepared for the huge market which transforms the town for one day a week. If you have time on your way back, you really should stop at the Casa de Omar Sharif located on the hillside in Nazaret just outside Teguise. Look for the sign LagOmar on your left as you head down the hill, park outside taking in the panoramic view then head through the restaurant entrance to explore this intriguing property, designed by César Manrique in the 1970’s, it was built into an old quarry, incorporating the tunnels and caves into the architecture. You can enjoy a drink on the terrace or a meal in the renown restaurant, whilst reflecting on the wonder of Manrique and his effect on the island of Lanzarote. Option 3. Green North
As you enter into Haría park and have a walk around this pretty town, its known as the “valley of a thousand palms”, the tradition is to plant palms when a child is born, two for a boy and one for a girl! If you are visiting on a Saturday morning there is a market in the plaza. If you fancy stretching your legs for a walk, then find the plaza de constitution and face the Ayuntamiento building, follow that road to the right and keep going, it will become a dirt track and at the top there is a beautiful mirador down to Famara, you can see the sea on both sides of the island from here – its not a strenuous walk and about a 20 minute stroll to the view. There are a choice of restaurants and bars if you need a food or drink break, our favourites are – Meson La Frontera this has a children’s play area and stunning views to Maguez with a wood fired grill and Puerta Verde which is only open Thu – Sat but offers fresh local food with a fusion twist. There is so much to explore in Lanzarote, ideally you need at least two days to see the island, so you can explore the North and South not forgetting the middle! We have a range of articles with suggested driving tours, the resorts and things to do in Lanzarote: Tour taking in Famara, Haría, Mirador del Río and Jardin de Cactus Tour taking in La Santa, La Geria, Timanfaya, El Golfo and Los Hervideros Things to do in Lanzarote - Part One - Haría Market Things to do in Lanzarote - Part Two - Teguise Market Things to do in Lanzarote - Part Three - Aquapark in Costa Teguise Things to do in Lanzarote - Part Four – Golf Things to do in Lanzarote - Part Five - Seven Official Attractions Things to do in Lanzarote - Part Six - Quad Trek The Resort - Puerto del Carmen A quick guide to Lanzarote's non-resort places Have fun exploring and please leave your comments as to what you thought of Lanzarote and any recommendations for others! |
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Drive through Yaiza towards Playa Blanca but turn off at the salt pans ‘
Continue along the coast road to El Golfo, stop and walk either along the beach or the sea volcano to see the green lagoon, this is a dramatic landscape and scenes from the 
César Manrique
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