Guide to Lanzarote, Spain

Guide to Lanzarote

Travel guides to Spain	Guide to Lanzarote
What to do and see in Lanzarote

Lanzarote is the most northeastern of all the Canary Islands. It covers 800 m2 and has 126,000 inhabitants. It is located 1000 kms from the Spanish mainland and 100 kms from the African Coast.

It has very few mountains, the highest point on the island is the dormant volcano Timanfaya, which is 700 mts above sea level.

Lanzarote has a very good climate with an average annual temperature of 20ºC which rises to 24ºC in summer and drops to just 17ºC in winter.

Contrary to the idea of a holiday island full of hotels and with a busy night life Lanzarote is very rich in agriculture. It has urban areas, rural areas, museums, monuments, scenery that looks as if it could be the moon... Rural and urban planning, its ecosystem and capacity to adapt and transform its natural areas in monuments all contributed to UNESCO declaring the island a Natural Biosphere Reserve.

Lanzarote has developed very special agriculture adapted to its soil which consists of volcanic sand. Pig rearing and the salt industry together with the fishing industry are some of its successes. Its plan Lanzarote in the Biosphere is trying to put a stop to the massive growth of hotels and tourist facilities which damage the island's natural landscape.

Lanzarote is well connected to the Spanish mainland and the rest of the world through its international airport which is located 5 kms from Arrecife, in the area called San Bartolomé. It has a good road network which means you can get around easily by car or bus.

History of Lanzarote

The island was once inhabited by Aborigines also known as 'guanches' from the 1st to 2nd centuries B.C. until 1312 when a Genoese called Lanceloto Molocella, occupied it and gave the island his name. In 1402 the Spanish started their conquest of the Canary Islands and Lanzarote was quickly and with very little violence incorporated into the Spanish Kingdom. The conquest of all the Canary Islands was quite slow and the Spanish took almost 100 years before gaining control of all of them.

Arrecife the capital of Lanzarote

Arrecife, the capital, is the administrative and commercial centre of Lanzarote. It is a busy port city with a lot going on. There is a modern area with modern buildings and a beach with a pretty promenade lined with palm trees. The city has 30,000 inhabitants. The calle Leon y Castillo or the calle Real is the financial and commercial centre of the city. The area around the Charco de San Ginés is where the city originated when it grew around San Ginés church and it is a tranquil area to stroll around. The city's nightlife is centred around the calle José Antonio and the surrounding streets.

San José Castle: This is the oldest building on the island, located in San José on top of a hill in the Puerto de Naos area (Tel: 928 81 23 21). It was built in 1590 by the Italian engineer Leonardo Torriani. The castle consists of a wall with towers and the Puente de Bolas. It was restored and adapted by the Canarian architect César Manrique who converted it into an International Museum for Contemporary Art. It now houses a collection of 20th century art with works by Chillida, Picaso, and Miró; there is a very good restaurant here too.

San Gabriel Castle (Tel.: 928 80 28 84): This is on a small island joined to the city by a strip of land. King Carlos III ordered the castle to be built to the north of the port so that the city would have another defensive base (1778-79). It has now been converted into an Archeological museum which is also a historic monument.
San Ginés Church: This was built in the 17th century by a bishop, Don Manuel Verdugo and Alviturria, from Las Palmas. The bell tower dates back to the 19th century.
The Culture House: This is a mansion built by the nobility in the 19th century.
Arroyo House: This house is now a Cultural Scientific Centre.

Cuisine from Lanzarote is very similar to the rest of the Canary Islands. In Lanzarote they salt the fish and leave them out in the sun to dry. Wine from the area called La Geria has an excellent reputation.

Restaurants in Lanzarote:

Guide to restaurants in Arrecife: the restaurant in San José Castle (c/ Castillo de San José, 35500 Arrecife, Tel: 928 81 23 21): Good Canarian cuisine, sea views; Restaurante Colón (c/ Cactus, Tel: 928 30 56 49): Good creative cuisine, sea views; Restaurante Aguaviva (c/ Mástil, 31, 35500 Arrecife, Tel: 928 82 15 05): This is the best in the city, excellent; Restaurante Altamar (c/ Parque Las Islas Canarias, 35500 Arrecife, Tel: 928 800 000): Mediterranean and international cuisine.
The best restaurants on the island: Restaurante La Cañada (c/ César Manrique , 3 in Puerto del Carmen, Tel: 928 51 21 08). Classic international cuisine; Restaurante Aguaviva (c/ Mástil, 31, in Playa Honda in San Bartolomé, Tel: 928 82 15 05): Creative cuis¡ne; Restaurante Puerto Viejo (c/ Timple, 7, 35510 Puerto del Carmen, Tel: 928 511 917): Opposite the port. Creative recipes, grilled fish and meat; Restaurante El Faro (c/ Alegranza, 3, 35510 Puerto del Carmen, Tel: 928 514 790): Traditional Canarian cuisine, excellent fresh fish, sea views; Restaurante Papagayo Beach (Avenida de las Playas, 29, 35510 Puerto del Carmen, Tel: 928 510 384): Mediterranean cuisine, good fresh fish; Restaurante Casa Pedro (Avenida Playa Blanca, 7, 35570 Yaiza, Tel: 928 517 965): Canarian cuisine, fish and seafood; Restaurante El Sombrerito (Avenida Libertad, 61, Tías, Tel: 928 524 001): Typical Canarian cuisine, the grilled meat dishes are especially good; Restaurante Acatife (c/ San Miguel, 4, Teguise, Tel.: 928 845 037); Typical Canarian Cuisine; Restaurante La Era (c/ El Barranco, 3, Yaiza, Tel: 928 830 016): Typical Canarian cuisine; Restaurante Portobello (Playa de las Cucharas, Costa Teguise, Tel: 928 806 865): Seafood and typical Canarian dishes.

Sports on Lanzarote

Lanzarote is an ideal place to do many different types of sport because of its mild climate and excellent facilities. Watersports are particularly popular here and there are sailing, surfing and diving schools dotted around the island. There is a golf school too. You can also go on organized diving trips.

Fishing: A good place to do this is on Blanca beach, Puerto del Carmen, Puerto Calero, Caleta del Sebo (on La Graciosa island).
Windsurfing: You can do this in Costa Teguise, Playa de Blanca and along the Tías and La Santa coastline.
Diving: There are diving schools in many of the marinas around Lanzarote's coastline.
Surfing: On La Santa and Tinajo beach. However, the beaches in the northern part of the island are only recommended for professional surfers because of their heavy swell.

Hand Gliding: The wind in Lanzarote is ideal for this sport and there are several places where you can do this on the island.
Golf: There is one golf course on Lanzarote Costa Teguise Golf (Avenida del Golf, Costa Teguise, Tel: 928 59 05 12): It is an 18 hole course at the foot of a volcano surrounded by moonlike scenery.

Things to buy in Lanzarote

In Lanzarote you can buy: watches, alcohol, electronic goods, tobacco, tablecloths, wine from La Geria, speciality cheeses, clothes and shoes.
Around the island's coastline in places like Costa Teguise and Playa del Carmen, you can get pretty swimsuits and beach towels, surfing clothes and all type of sporting equipment but especially sailing and camping gear.

Arts and Crafts: Lanzarote has a long history of clayworks and you can buy all types of things made of clay from large vases to small ornaments as well as wickerwork and different types of handmade textiles. 'Timples' which are a type of string instrument dating back to the Spanish conquest can be found in Teguise. Things made out of woven palm leaves are also typical.

Travelling to Lanzarote? The following links may also be useful

Guides to other Canary Islands

Other useful links