Lanzarote Holidays

Things to do: Cultural

During February and March Lanzarote celebrates Carnival, like the rest of the Canaries. There are parades on different dates in various towns and villages, with the largest in Arrecife. Although not on the same scale as the parades in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the party here is celebrated with gusto and is a lot of fun.

Another major festival in Lanzarote is Dia de San Gines which is held during a week in August which celebrates the island's patron saint all across Lanzarote. A week of celebrations culminates with an exciting party in the streets around Iglesia de San Gines in Arrecife and offers you a unique insight into a traditional celebration in Lanzarote.

A popular attraction in Lanzarote is the old fort of Castillo de San Jose in Arrecife which promises an educational and thought provoking visit. Converted into the Museo Internacional de Arte Contemporaneo, it boasts the most important collection of modern art in the Canaries. The town's other fort, the Castillo de San Gabriel, is home to a popular archaeological museum which we would also recommend you visit.

Things to do: Adventurous

With amazing volcanic underwater landscape and an abundance of marine life, Lanzarote is a perfect place to go scuba diving. You will find diving centres in all the larger beach resorts and will be able to enjoy shore, boat and night dives for all levels of experience.

Lanzarote is also a haven for wind surfers, with fantastic surfing spots located all over the island with warm waters and perfect winds. The most popular is Costa Teguise which is home to many world class competitions so even if you’re not participating, you can enjoy spectating this exciting watersport.

You will find many guided hiking tours throughout Lanzarote which will take you round the mountains, volcanic caves and scenic national park helping you discover the beauty of the island by foot. Lanzarote is also perfect for bikers and horseriders with many routes alongside beautiful countryside and beautiful scenery.

Get your camel driving license and take a ride on the back of a camel across the desert at the Timafaya National Park for a unique and exciting experience, which is ideal for children and adults alike.

Things to do: Families

Lanzarote has many different theme parks for families to enjoy. The Lanzarote Aquarium, at Costa Teguise, is the largest aquarium in the Canary Islands, with a huge collection of marine life, a fantastic family outing.

The Guinate Tropical Park is located in the north of Lanzarote and sites on 11 acres of land. The park is an amazing visit offering waterfalls, exotic birds, fish, reptiles and animals from all over the world.

The Rancho Texas Park is located just outside Puerto del Carmen and is a Western Theme Park feauting a nature park, an Indian Village and themed restaurants. The nature park is full of a wide variety of animals and birds including crocodiles, tutles, iguanas, armadillos, prairie-dogs and birds of pray.

Things to do: For couples

An amazing day can be spent in the north of Lanzarote in the Atlantida Tunnel cave system, which we highly recommend. Due to the eruptions of the Corona Volcano, a tunnel was naturally formed, which is almost four miles long which extends from the base of the volcano, down the side of the island to the coastline and even a mile under the sea floor.

Elsewhere in the same cave system is Jameos del Agua, a natural concert hall famed for its amazing acoustics, a subterranean lagoon, a restaurant and a museum. The artist Cesar Manrique helped to create this beautiful spectacle, which hosts regular music events. Manrique was instrumental in shaping many of the island's best attractions, including the fascinating Cactus Garden on the road between Guatiza and Mala.

The Museo El Grifo is the wine museum of Lanzarote, housed in the cellars of the El Grifo wineries. Wine makers found the black lava-soil perfect for grape growing and the south of the island is dotted with curious little vineyards cut out of the earth; if you are travelling through La Geria be sure to stop and taste some of the local malvasia wine.

Things to do: Nightlife

The busiest nightlife in Lanzarote can be found in the buzzing resort of Puerto del Carmen, with plenty of discos and bars at the Centro Atlantico and around the Old Town. In Playa Blanca the Centro Comercial Punto Limones near the port is the centre of the nightlife. In Costa Teguise you a selection of popular Irish bars with music and there is a great choice of restaurants.

All the main resorts have bars and restaurants, including eateries that welcome families with children, so wherever you are staying you should be able to find a pleasant and entertaining way to spend the evening.

Things to do: Eating and drinking

Typically Canarian, you will find Tapas bars serving the local dish of wrinkled potatoes and spicy sauce and serving tasty stews and fresh fish dishes. In the busier beach resorts you will be able to choose from local and international cuisine from a wide variety of restaurants suiting all tastes and budgets.

Things to do: Shopping

Shopaholics’ won’t be disappointed in Lanzarote as you will find several shopping centres, stores, boutiques and markets selling a variety of products including perfumes, clothes, jewellery, electrical goods, food, local produce and souvenirs.

The main shopping areas are in the main resorts of Puerto del Carmen, Costa Teguise and Playa Blanca, in the capital of the island, Arrecife and in Playa Honda. The shopping centre in Playa Honda is the largest in Lanzarote, so if you want to shop till you drop, we recommend going there.

Lanzarote Landscape

Lanzarote's arid, almost moon-like landscape is a result of the island's dramatic volcanic past; the last big eruption in 1730 was among the most powerful volcanic blasts in recorded history and transformed the southern part of the island. The Timananfaya National Park covers about a quarter of Lanzarote and encompasses the most breathtaking of this volcanic landscape including the Montanas del Fuego, the Mountains of Fire.

On the northernmost tip of the island is the Mirador del Rio, a lookout point that offers panoramic views of the small islands to the north of Lanzarote. Apart from the drama of Lanzarote's volcanic landscape the island is famed for its beautiful beaches that come in a surprising variety of colours from bright white to golden yellow and black sands.

In the south, from Arrecife to Puerto del Carmen, a string of fantastic beaches line the coast including Playa Grande and Playa Chica where you can indulge in a few watersports or relax in the sun. Surfers on Lanzarote holidays should checkout the beach at Famara and the reef at La Santa in the west, while Las Cucharas at the Costa Teguise resort in the north is a favourite for windsurfers.

Papagayo, in the south near the resort of Playa Blanca, is considered by many to be the finest beach in Lanzarote, with its stunning white sands meeting deep-blue Atlantic waters. Little wonder that it is extremely popular with people on holiday in Lanzarote!

Book a Lanzarote Holiday Now!

Lanzarote, the Isla de los Volcanes, is a bewitching island and a highlight of the Canaries. On The Beach has the best holiday deals, and you can use our live online booking system to create a holiday ideally tailored to you needs, so book now for a dream holiday in Lanzarote today!