Travel Tips 101: A Guide to Explore Lanzarote’s Stunning Beaches, Wildlife and Scenery

Lanzarote, the fourth largest island of the Canary Islands archipelago, is a beachlover’s paradise. Located 125km off the northwest coast of Africa, Lanzarote’s subtropical climate is perfect for the beach with long, hot summers and warm winters. The island also contains a number of world class beaches with glittering sands and perfect blue waters. Apart from the beaches, Lanzarote also contains a number of natural attractions and exciting activities to enjoy.

This article will give a brief introduction to the island of Lanzarote as well as information about its sights and attractions.

Lanzarote

Lanzarote is a small island with a population of only 139,000 people. Around three quarters of the people living on Lanzarote are Spanish making Spanish the most widely spoken language on the island.

Much like the other Canary Islands, Lanzarote has a volcanic origin. It is believed that the island was formed more than 15 million years ago following a volcanic eruption in the area. This eruption also led to hundreds of volcanoes being formed on Lanzarote, more than 300 of which have survived to the present day. Fortunately, all of the volcanoes on the island have been classified as dormant meaning the chances of an eruption occurring is close to zero.

Beaches

Lanzarote contains dozens of world class beaches that are perfect for enjoying a beach holiday. Since the island is rather small, all of Lanzarote’s beaches are easily accessible by car. Arranging a car rental in Lanzarote is the easiest way to reach Lanzarote’s many beaches.

Three of the best beaches in Lanzarote are Famara, Papagayo, and Las Conchas.

Famara

Famara, located on the northwestern coast of Lanzarote, is one of the quietest beaches on the island. Away from many of the resorts, bars, and restaurants, Famara is the perfect place to find a solitary stretch of sand for some private sunbathing.

Adventure activities like surfing, hang gliding, and kiteboarding are also on offer in Famara. A smattering of bars and restaurants can be found in the nearby town of La Caleta de Famara, too.

Famara is better suited for day trips.

Papagayo

Papagayo, located on the southern part of the island, is widely believed to the most beautiful beach on Lanzarote.

Papagayo’s beach is made up of sparkling white sands that are perfect for sunbathing. The waters surrounding the beach are also remarkably clear making Papagayo a great spot for snorkelling. A number of excellent bars and restaurants can also be found on the beach itself.

Papagayo is also surrounded by hotels and resorts making it a great location to spend a few days enjoying the beach.

Las Conchas

Las Conchas, a quiet beach located on the small island of ‘La Grociosa’ found towards the north of Lanzarote, is one of Lanzarote’s best kept secrets. Reaching the island is easy with regular boats running between the small northern port town of Orzola and La Crociosa.

Las Conchas itself is stunning with fine, golden sands and clear blue waters. There are also some restaurants and bars on the beach and a diving centre that runs regular diving trips into the surrounding waters.

Las Conchas is better suited for day trips.

Natural Attractions

Timanfaya National Park is one of the most impressive places in Lanzarote. Formed in the 1730s following a volcanic eruption, Timanfaya is stunning to behold. Its unique combination of volcanic landscapes, varied flora, and wide variety of fauna is unlike any other place on Earth. Guided walks and trips through the National Park are run daily from the visitors centre located towards the north of the park.

Other standout natural attractions in Lanzarote include Mirador del Rio, a raised lookout towards the north of the island with stunning views over the island, and Green’s Cave, a massive underground cave featuring dozens of caverns and tunnels formed hundreds of years ago by an underground lava river.

Museums

Lanzarote’s capital, Arrecife, contains a number of museums telling the history of the island and its people. Here, visitors can learn more about Lanzarote’s rich and storied past.

Other standout museums include the ‘whales and dolphins museum’ in Puerto Calera, a museum that teaches about the dolphins and whales that live in the waters surrounding Lanzarote, and the Agricola Museum, a museum that shows what life used to be like for Lanzarote’s first settles.

Cuisine

The local cuisine of Lanzarote is heavily influenced by Spanish cuisine. Standout dishes include mojo, a special Canarian sauce that comes in a variety of different flavours, and papas arrugadas, potatoes that are cooked in salt water and peeled dry. Spanish favourites like Paella are usually served at local restaurants, too.

Unfortunately, local Canarian cuisine can be difficult to find inside the restaurants located in resorts and hotels. These restaurants prefer to focus on food from other parts of the world.

If you wish to sample the local cuisine, two recommended restaurants are ‘La Era’ in the town of Yaiza and the restaurant in the ‘Castillo de San Jose’ museum in Arrecife.

In conclusion, explore Lanzarote for the perfect beach holiday. The island is home to dozens of world class beaches, the sun shines on most days, and temperatures are warm all year round. The island’s many natural attractions and museums are also interesting and exciting to see.  Make sure to follow the advice given in this article to make the most of your future trips to Lanzarote.

Special guest post provided to Jen is on a Journey.