An island of adventures, volcanos, and beaches. That’s what our Lanzarote trip was all about. It’s much more than you’ve thought, and I will tell you all about it! It was a bit difficult to choose a destination on our holiday, because of the restrictions and the fact that we wanted to go somewhere warm, so we decided to stay in Europe. We celebrated the end of 2021 and the beginning of 2022 on this beautiful island.
The best way to explore the island is by car. That way, you will get to explore its beauty throughout. It’s relatively affordable to rent a car in Lanzarote (around 50€ a day). The roads are in excellent condition, and it’s easy to drive in there. One exception is the Papagayo beach road, a dirt road with many bumps and holes. We had the car for four days, and it was enough to see most of the places and attractions. The only site you can’t enter by yourself is the Timanfaya National Park. You can drive around it, but otherwise, you will need to book a tour to enter.
Adventure in Lanzarote
Jameos del Agua
Jameos del Agua is a unique site located in the island’s northern part. It is next to an other popular site, Cueva de los Verders. They are both volcanic caves caused by the eruptions of the Corona volcano. We visited Jameos del Agua, and it costs 10€ per person to enter. Note that if you plan to visit many places, you can choose a package deal to save you money. There are two parts of Jameos del Agua; the first is the natural pond inside the cave. The other one is a manufactured pond. I would recommend going early in the morning or later in the afternoon, since the waiting can take some time, especially in Cueva de Los Verdes.
Timanfaya National Park
Timanfaya National Park represents the birthplace of Lanzarote. You can see the genuine volcanic parts, craters, and ancient rock formations. You have to pay to enter the park and pay for a bus tour or a walking tour. We took the bus tour, which took approximately 45 minutes. The walking tour will take around 4 hours. The bad part of the bus tour is that you won’t get to leave the bus, and it’s not the best view from inside. If you take the bus tour, be there early because the line can take up to an hour to enter. You can buy the tickets on-site or in advance, and they cost 12€ per person for an adult. Also, visit Charco Verde, the Green Lagoon located about 20 minutes away from the National Park. It is part of the ecological reserve, and the coastal area is absolutely breathtaking!
Arrecife
Arrecife is the capital of Lanzarote. We didn’t spend much time there, because it was New Year’s day and most places were closed. But we did walk around a bit and the marina. You can visit the Bolas Bridge and San Gabriel Castle, located by the marina. Walk around the San Ginés Lagoon on the way to the castle, and you will get to see beautiful views. You can also visit San Ginés Church, about 5 minutes walk from the marina. The church is beautiful from the outside, and it dates back to 1630.
Playa Blanca
Playa Blanca is a lovely area in the southern part of Lanzarote. It’s a resort town surrounded by three beautiful beaches Playa Blanca (where the town gest is named), Playa Dorada, and Playa Flamingo. There is a lovely promenade alongside the coast, which takes you to these beautiful beaches. You can catch amazing sunsets on this side of the island and get a glimpse of Fuerteventura, the neighboring island. These beaches are perfect for swimming, water activities, or just for relaxing and sipping margaritas!
Papagayo beach
Papagayo Beach is probably the most visited beach on the island. It is beautiful but also packed. There are other beaches nearby, but you have to walk to reach those beaches. On the southwest side of Papagayo beach, there is a nudist beach. We didn’t know this before entering. Also, on that part, the waves can get quite big and rough, so it is a bit more difficult to swim. Papagayo beach is also famous because it is swimmable, compared to the other beaches. I recommend taking your time in this part because the views are stunning!
Small towns
Do also explore the inner parts of the island. There are cute little villages where tour buses won’t reach. You will see locals and get to enjoy a calm atmosphere. Visit Haría, Yaiza and Teguise for example.
Haría is quite lovely and charming town. The municipality of Haría is known as the Valle de las Mil Palmeras or a Valley of 1000 palms trees. There are plenty of things to see around Haría, including viewpoints such as Los Helechos, Mirador de Haría, and Mirador del Bosquecillo. Also, it is not far from Jameos del Agua and Cueva de los Verdes. There is also Cesar Manrique House Museum nearby. He is the man behind many of the Lanzarote attractions.
Teguise is the largest municipality of Lanzarote. You can stroll around the Old Town, visit Jardín de Cactus (Cactus Garden), get information about the history of the museums, or relax by the Playa De Famara. About 10 minutes from the center of Teguise, there is a fantastic place called Antigua Rofera, the Stratified City. It is a natural volcanic rock formation, and it is one of the best places to see in Lanzarote.
Yaiza is a town further down south from Teguise. Yaiza is the area for winemaking. That’s right, Lanzarote produces their wines! The volcanic land gives the wines a distinct taste, and the white wines are particularly delicious with full of flavor. You can have a wine tasting at the local wineries and ask for a tour. It is also possible to purchase the wine bottles to go.
Lanzarote is a fantastic destination for nature lovers. The landscape is so unique. It’s hard to explain how such a rough landscape can make the island extremely beautiful. Even in the rockiest volcanic surroundings, there can be a flower growing when it seems like there would be no life. Lanzarote is a volcanic island, and even some of the beaches are made of volcanic sand. It is genuinely a wonderful island to explore.
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