In spring 2022, I went on an incredible trip with some friends to Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. As winter sets in this January, I find myself thinking more and more about how fortunate I was to have had the chance to explore such a lovely place. The volcanic landscape is awe-inspiring, and the size of the island makes it perfect for spontaneous day trips.
I confess that before experiencing the absolute wonder that is this volcanic island relic, I didn’t think much of the Canary Islands. I knew they were a popular holiday destination (for Brits, in particular), and not much else. And so I set myself up for one of the many wonderful aspects of travel: to go with the flow, and be pleasantly surprised.
Where is Lanzarote?
Lanzarote is one of the eight Canary Islands. The largest is Tenerife. Size-wise, Lanzarote falls right in the middle of the pack and sits about 80 miles (125 km) off the north coast of Africa.
Why Lanzarote is a great place to visit
Although Lanzarote is flooded by tourists in the summer season, we got to experience a quiet island stirring to life by visiting in late March.
Known for year-round warm weather, stunning beaches, and an unforgettable Mars-like landscape, the island also wowed me with its amazing food, hiking, and well-maintained roads.
How to get to Lanzarote
The quickest way to travel to Lanzarote is by plane. There is only one airport on the island; all flights arrive at César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport (ACE). It is also simply called “Lanzarote Airport,” as well as “Arrecife Airport” due to its proximity to the island’s capital, Arrecife.
Getting around Lanzarote
After flying into Lanzarote Airport, our little group picked up our rented car from the lot just outside the airport. While taking buses to your destination city is possible, I highly recommend renting a car. (1) As I mentioned, the roads are quite well maintained. Driving around gives you the feeling of traveling on another planet.
A brief history of Lanzarote
As with many islands, the indigenous people were there long before the European settlers who laid claim to it.
In the case of Lanzarote, the indigenous people are known as the “Majo.” They are believed to have crossed over from North Africa, but very little is known about them today. The colonization of their land combined with devastating natural disasters resulted in what is today a thriving tourist destination.
Labeled a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the island is constantly balancing the need for sustainable tourism operations with fast-moving business opportunities. (2)
What to do in Lanzarote
As I mentioned, I went into Lanzarote with very little background information on the archipelago. I came away with a deep appreciation for all of the travel experiences the island offers, and thoroughly enjoyed the supplementary research for this article.
Below, I’ve rounded up a list of what to do in Lanzarote. It is based on my personal experience and a few other tidbits that caught my eye and made me think, “I gotta get back there, someday!”
Timanfaya National Park / Parque Nacional de Timanfaya
Located in southwest Lanzarote, Timanfaya National Park’s rocky landscape was initially formed by massive volcanic eruptions in the 1730s. In fact, “Timanfaya” means “fire mountain.” (3) Although the volcano is not active today, the most recent eruptions were just 300 years ago, which gives the terrain a starkly beautiful look.
Although many tourists opt to take the scenic bus route throughout the park, it is also possible to hike throughout the area, which I highly recommend if you are physically able.
In my case, I was fortunate enough to explore Mancha Blanca on a self-guided day hike with some of our group.
Mirador del Río
This beautiful outlook spot was constructed by César Manrique (more on him below) between 1971 and 1973. Built into the Famara cliffside, this tourist hotbed is nonetheless a stop worth adding to a vacation in Lanzarote. We visited towards the end of our trip, when we were feeling a little tired and just wanted to stare at natural – and maybe take some cute group pics.
The view from the Mirador is spectacular. In addition to the surrounding island, you can see across the Bocayna Strait to the island of La Graciosa. If you’re interested, there is a ferry available that will take you to La Graciosa for the day to explore, rent bikes, or just hang out on the beach.
As you can see why from the above photo, I would take care not to wear hats or dresses as it gets incredibly windy up there! Additionally, it’s worth noting that this is not a site that takes long to visit, maybe 20-30 minutes. Also, there is a small entry fee to access the Mirador.
Additionally, if you would like to walk up to the Mirador, it appears to be possible via a 6-mile (10-kilometer) round-trip hike from Haría.
Charco de Los Clicos
Unexpected and bright colors abound on Lanzarote. In El Golfo, you can find a bright green lagoon, Charco de Los Clicos. As it’s located at the western edge of the island, this also makes it a great place to stop and enjoy a fresh-caught fish dinner alongside a stunning sunset. (When I went, it was slightly unfortunate that it was a chilly and rainy afternoon, so no dinner with a side of sunset for me. Maybe next time!)
Other spots that I didn’t get to but would wholeheartedly return to visit
Below is a continuation of Lanzarote places to visit that I did not personally get the opportunity to see during my trip. However, they are well-reviewed places that our group seriously considered visiting before opting elsewhere due to time constraints. You can’t visit everything on one trip, after all!
César Manrique Foundation
Here’s a trivia question for you: Who is the famous artist from Lanzarote?
The answer, of course, is César Manrique. Below is a brief overview of this passionate Spanish artist and his important contributions to the conservation and preservation of Lanzarote.
César Manrique was a Spanish painter and sculptor whose work reflects his passion for Lanzarote’s natural beauty, coupled with his passion for creating art inspired by the sustainable nature of the original inhabitants’ architectural designs.
His first major project was the Mirador del Río. His work is often easily recognized by those who know to look for his signature blend of appreciation for natural geological formations and indigenous cultural tradition.
Today, his studio home and garden in Tahíche (10 minutes north of Arrecife) are now open to the public for daily visits. For opening hours and the most up-to-date information on entry costs, check out the official César Manrique Foundation website.
Cueva de los Verdes
Cueva de los Verdes is a maze of underground caverns and caves molded by lava and extending eight miles (13 kilometers).
Located in the north of Spain, this is a popular tourist destination that takes around 45-60 minutes to visit. As such, it’s highly recommended to arrive first thing in the morning to beat the lines. Doing so will also allow you to enjoy the naturally-formed caverns the way they should be: in serenity.
La Geria
This is a protected natural valley in Lanzarote that contributes to the island’s wine culture. The fertility of the valley traces back to the infamous 1730s volcanic eruptions. Although devastating at the time, today it allows the production of some of the best wine in the Canary Islands. If you’re a wine aficionado, look for vineyards in Yaiza, Tinajo, Tias, and San Bartolomé.
The most common wines out of Lanzarote are La Geria, El Grifo, Asomada, Stratus et Mozaga. (4) Additionally, production tends toward dry whites, although reds, sweet whites, and rosés are available, too.
The Cactus Garden
Yet another artistic brainchild of César Manrique, this unique garden featuring over 4,500 cactus species was the great artist’s final work before his passing.
My understanding is that this is an exceptional and intimate experience that artists (or artistic types) will particularly enjoy. The Garden aims to submerse visitors in various sensory experiences: In addition to exquisitely designed gardens, there is also a restaurant that crafts unique meals designed to pair with local Lanzarote wines.
Tickets are around 10 euros and can be booked up to three months in advance.
Popular beaches in Lanzarote
There is no shortage of stunning beaches in Lanzarote. And honestly, unless your sole objective is to lie on a beach for the duration of your visit, I wouldn’t research this part too much. Lanzarote is an island, after all, so the odds that you’ll be able to plant yourself on some sand under the sun (or beside a pool if that’s more your vibe) are pretty high.
Below are a few starting points for research – we stayed near Playa Blanca in one of the many incredible villas available on Booking.com. It was perfect for a group trip. It included parking for our rented car and had an in-ground pool. Perfect for photoshoots!
That said, we actually spent more time playing in the giant blow-up floaty animals and watching my friend’s partner and his friend race each other from one end to the other. (This was fairly ridiculous as they are both grown men and the pool is not very large, but highly entertaining.)
- Playa Blanca
- Playa Papagayo (note that there is a small cash entrance fee and, if you are driving into the park, the road is extremely rough)
- Playa Mujeres
- Playa Risco
Budgeting note: Unless you’re traveling in a group of four or more people, I would highly recommend packing all the sunscreen you’ll need to bring with you. Sunscreen, and moisturizing lotion in general are all quite expensive on the island.
Sporty activities to do in Lanzarote
Lanzarote is an outdoor lover’s dream. Whether you’re into organized outdoor group outings, or seeking respite via some meditative solo time, there’s something for everyone.
We drove past countless groups cycling around the island, and not just leisurely! More often than not, these were organized groups blending fitness and island exploration.
Additionally, I can personally recommend hiking on the island, and I would love to return to try a horseback riding excursion with Lanzarote a Caballo. (I only found their seriously FOMO-inducing Instagram account after the trip 😭.)
Finally, for any water-sport aficionados out there, I hear there are great surfing, kitesurfing, and diving opportunities! Personally,
Fun fact: Lanzarote is home to one of the most challenging Ironman competitions in the world!
Where to eat in Lanzarote
Seafood and tapas are the name of the game in Lanzarote!
I love organically finding places that look promising, but the analytical side of me can’t help but pull out my phone to cross-reference. So, the typical process I use to decide where to eat when traveling is a very fluid blend of gut instinct and Google review research.
Of course, the review process can be gamed, so that’s why I always say start and end with a feeling: If it looks good, checks out online, and you’re feeling the pull, I say give the spot a whirl. That’s exactly what we did with the second place on this shortlist, and I still think about that meal to this day – it was that good.
Important callout for my budget travelers: While I was in Lanzarote, we cooked a fair bit at our gorgeous villa! It kept costs down and gave us a couple of really lovely nights all together, unwinding under the sun.
Izaro Taberna
If you’re looking for a classic Spanish tapas spot, this little spot near Playa Blanca is incredible. It was the final group dinner before leaving on our trip, but it could easily be a vacation kick-off dinner. Also, I can confirm that the cocktails are next-level delicious.
Restaurante Amanecer
During one of our daily road trips to explore the island, we found ourselves in the tiny town of Arrieta for lunch. And, we ended up having a quintessential travel moment. The restaurant we wanted to eat at was unexpectedly closed, so we had to change plans.
As anyone who has traveled with a group knows, making decisions is tricky enough without putting pressure to find a new solution spontaneously. Add hunger into the mix and we were all a little apprehensive about diving into the first place we saw. In this case, the first place was Restaurante Amanecer because it was right next to our first choice.
Fortunately, the restaurant pulled through for us. We ended up having a table with a gorgeous view of the ocean, which was just outside our window. (Seriously, if you opened the door and stepped outside, you’d have been in the water.) And, the food was phenomenal.
Travel to Lanzarote – FAQ
Read on for a roundup of commonly asked questions about traveling to Lanzarote! Don’t see your question covered? Leave me a comment and I’ll reply!
How far is Lanzarote from Spain?
Lanzarote is a short plane ride away from Spain. Depending on which city you’re flying from, the flight time does differ, though. If you leave from Barcelona, the flight is 3.5 hours. From Madrid, the trip will take 2 hours and 35 minutes.
How to get to Lanzarote?
Both Volotea and Vueling are reliable and low-cost airlines that regularly fly to Lanzarote. They also fly to several of the other Canary Islands.
What is the best month to visit Lanzarote?
Lanzarote is an excellent place to visit year-round due to its mild-to-hot temperatures and excellent microclimate.
What language is spoken in Lanzarote?
Spanish is the official language of Lanzarote. However, Lanzarote locals speak Canarian Spanish.
What currency is in Lanzarote?
Lanzarote is part of the Canary Islands, which are part of Spain, which uses euros. So, the currency used by Lanzarote is the euro.
Footnotes:
Thanks for the info! Heading there next week for the first time. Excited to explore the island!
You’re so welcome! Have a great time!