Lanzarote

Why go

Go for beaches plus world-class water sports and adventure activities. Don’t miss the volcanoes or the breathtaking sea view at the Mirador del Río on the northernmost tip of the main island.

When to go

Lanzarote’s pleasant climate is a major attraction, with daytime temperatures rarely straying beyond 22-25˚C. The freshest, most pleasant weather comes in March to June and September to October, when the sea is at its warmest. July and August are the hottest, driest months, and July to November bring the best conditions for water sports. Winter (December to February) can be a little chilly for swimming but is a good time for cycling and hiking.

Best for

Sightseeing , Restaurants , Art , Nightlife , Beaches , Budget

How to get there

Lanzarote’s international airport, 5km west of the capital, Arrecife, is served by scheduled flights from Gatwick and Luton with GB Airways, Thomsonfly and Monarch.

Shopping

The island’s widely scattered winery shops, gallery boutiques and craft markets are great places to pick up local produce, lace, ceramics and souvenirs inspired by the work of César Manrique. Elsewhere, shopping is rather limited; the best places to try are the resort town of Puerto del Carmen and the swish Marina Rubicón near Playa Blanca.

Alternative Perspectives

Those tired old ‘Lanza-grotty’ jibes are thoroughly out of date – Lanzarote was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1993, has been upgrading its coastal resorts to include swish new marinas and luxury hotels, and was recently given the thumbs-up by Greenpeace for its responsible tourism credentials.

Must see

Don’t miss the Timanfaya Volcanoes, El Golfo’s rustic seafood restaurants, the charming villages of Yaiza and Teguise and the inspirational artistic works of César Manrique, among them the quirky wind sculptures that decorate roundabouts all over the island.

Family activities

Playa Blanca is the most family-friendly of the resorts, with shallow, safe beaches and plenty of easy-going restaurants and ice cream shops. Timanfaya, the small zoos at Parque Natural de Recreo Las Pardelas (Orzola, Haría District, +34 928 84 25 45) and Parque Tropical (Guinate, Haría District, +34 928 83 55 00), El Rancho Texas (near Puerto del Carmen, +34 928 84 12 86) theme park and the water park, Aquapark (Avenida Teguise, Costa Teguise, +34 928 59 21 28) near Costa Teguise are all less than an hour away.

Sports activities

Golf , Diving , Windsurfing , Surfing , Mountain Biking , Hiking , Sailing

Local customs

Tipping. Restaurant and bar bills normally include tax but not service; you should round up by five to ten per cent.