Welcome to the most unusual Canary Island! This guide is imbued with the surfing spirit and atmosphere of this beautiful place in the Atlantic.
Lanzarote: Island of Volcanoes and Surfing
What is the first thing that catches your eye when you arrive here or look at photos? Of course, there are countless volcanoes. The most famous ones are located in the Timanfaya National Park. But they are everywhere, not just in Mal Pais.
In addition to its volcanoes, Lanzarote is famous for its surf spots and beaches. There are many of them, catering to different levels of surfing, including reefs and beach breaks. According to professionals, surfing in Lanzarote is one of the top three in Europe, along with Portugal and the Basque Country.
In the summer and autumn, there are a lot of tourists here. From all over Europe, extreme sports enthusiasts come to enroll in a surfing school and learn how to catch waves. Do you want to know where to learn?
Famara is the best beach in Lanzarote
We absolutely love this place! We fell in love with it that starry night. And here’s why.
At this point, Lanzarote has the most comfortable surfing spot in all the Canary Islands. It’s even called the Atlantic Hawaii. If you’ve tried surfing in Tenerife, you know that the spots there are reefy and quite dangerous.
In Famara, there is a sandy beach and a beach break where it is great to learn.
Of course, there are also adult spots nearby, but professionals can find them themselves.
Famara has a huge 6 km beach and many good surf schools. A classic system with surf camps, European breakfasts and apartments – hostels, night fun and everything you need for a youth holiday.
You can book a tour in advance, or you can just rent a board for 10 euros per day and surf until you leave. Every morning on the beach starts with a warm-up, and then the students go to catch the waves.
Weather in Famara
Weather is wonderful here: long sunny days, stable climate and water temperature of 20 degrees. Waves come to Lanzarote all year round, but the best time is from November to March. In winter, the height of the waves reaches 4 meters.
Sometimes there is a strong wind, and then the athletes take out their kites. Kitesurfing in Famara is beautiful: smooth wind, big waves and a convenient spot. The large amount of space and the onshore direction make learning here very fast and comfortable. Kitesurfing in Tenerife is significantly more difficult due to the large number of people in a small lagoon.
There is a relatively large selection of accommodation options. You can stay in apartments in the village of Caleta de Famara, live in a school hostel, or rent a villa in nearby Urbanizacion.
Choose according to your budget. Searching in advance reduces the price and increases the number of options.
In the village of Caleta de Famara, part of the road and courtyards is made of sand. It’s very cozy!
On the other side of the surf spot, you can see the famous landmark of Lanzarote, the Risco de Famara cliffs. At the top, there is the El Rio viewpoint, from which you can see the island of La Graciosa. You can walk here from Famara.
The sunsets and sunrises are simply amazing: blue ocean, white beach, purple sky and brown rocks. It is an unforgettable sight!
On the other side of the village, there is a national park with a dozen volcanoes.
Surfing in Lanzarote is beautiful, and the beach and spot of Famara are a gem among the island’s attractions.
Lanzarote Beaches
The island has a variety of bays: some are packed with tourists, while others are completely deserted. To see the most beautiful beaches of the Canary Islands, it is worth renting a car and exploring the area freely using a map.
The main beaches of Lanzarote are located in the areas of Famara, Playa Blanca, Puerto del Carmen, and Costa Teguise.
The beaches of Lanzarote around Playa Blanca
Mostly white sand and no strong waves. There are many tourist apartments and restaurants here.
The main places are Playa Blanca, Playa Dorada, and Flamingo. Here you can take a ferry to Fuerteventura to the beautiful Corralejo area with clear blue water and white sand.
Beaches in Papagayo Bay
These are some of the most beautiful places in Lanzarote. They are located on the southern tip of the island. The stunning nature of the Canary Islands can be seen from the bays of Mujeres, Pozo, Cera, Papagayo, and Congrio. Photos of these wild places in Lanzarote will keep you warm on long winter evenings.
There is little infrastructure and a lot of nudists. Be careful =)
Beaches in Puerto del Carmen
The area of Puerto del Carmen is considered the most touristic, and its beaches are the most crowded attractions. It is worth noting Playa Grande, Playa de los Pocillos and Playa Matagorda. Almost everywhere golden sand, natural pools and small rocks. This area is the closest to airport Lanzarote.
Lanzarote Beaches in Costa Teguise
The beaches of the Costa Teguise area are covered with soft, light sand. The main beach is Las Cucharas, and it is surrounded by los Charcos, the windless El Jabillo, the less crowded Playa Bastian, and Playa Ancla.
This area is the closest to Arrecife. In addition to tourists, many city residents also visit this area.
In short, if you like sun loungers and tourist infrastructure, then choose the southern and eastern resorts on the map. And if you want to visit wild places, then go to the area of Famara and to the north of the island.
Wine, malvasia and cheese
What is this Canary Island famous for? The most important thing you should try in Lanzarote is Malvasia with local goat cheese!
They have learned to grow wine in lava tuff.
On the slopes and in the valleys, winemakers build small castles and plant grapes. It’s an amazing sight! The deserted volcanic island of Lanzarote is rich in its green vineyards and white houses.
Malvasia is a sweet white wine originating from ancient Greece. In the Canary Islands, the European vine has been preserved without any changes or losses.
It is believed that the volcanic soil gives the Malvasia a special taste. You can check this out at any winery in the La Geria area, in the central part of Lanzarote, near the Timanfaya Park.
The most popular wines in Lanzarote are: white Seco Malvasia from El Grifo, dessert Rosado from La Geria, Malvasia Semidulce from Bermejo, and Amalia Rubicon. Now you know what to bring home from the Canary Islands=).
Be sure to add goat’s Canarian cheese to your wine! It’s a true delicacy. In Lanzarote, the cheese is divided into fresh and soft Tierno, hard Semicurado with a 3-month aging period, and hard and savory Curado that matures for 6 months.
In addition to wine and cheese, it is worth eating fish in Lanzarote. There is a large selection of seafood here because Arrecife is the main fishing port of all the Canary Islands.
Timan Phaya National Park
The Lanzarote National Park was established in 1974 on the site of the 18th and 19th century volcanic eruptions of the Fiery Mountains. Today, the devil of César Manrique greets all tourists at the entrance to the lands of Mal País.
The easiest way to get here is by renting a car and driving along LZ-67. You cannot enter the park by car.
After paying 10 euros for the entrance, you park your car in the parking lot and get on the bus. Then, you take a 35-minute circular tour of the Ruta de Los Volcanes through the Timanfaya National Park. The tour is included in the ticket price.
Usually, after the trip, tourists go to the El Diablo restaurant, which was built by César Manrique. The main attraction here is the fish and meat that are fried using geothermal heat from the volcano’s interior.
During your walk to the restaurant, the ranger will show you performances involving dormant volcanoes, such as setting dry grass on fire and turning water into a geyser.
For trekking lovers, Timanfaya Park has two hiking routes: Ruta del Litoral and Ruta de Termesana. Each route must be booked in advance. The hike takes place with an organized group once a day.
Mirador del Rio and Graciosa Island
From this attraction, you can take some of the most beautiful photos of Lanzarote. The viewpoint is located in the northwestern part of the island. It is accessed by an impressive road through the volcanoes.
The creator of Mirador del Rio is César Manrique, the main artist of the island. From the inside of the art object, you can enjoy a wide panorama, and the entrance fee is 5 euros. You can sit in the bar inside and spend several hours enjoying the view of the horizon and the ocean.
From the Mirador del Rio viewpoint, you can see the small island of La Graciosa. It is especially beautiful at sunset.
If you have time, it’s worth taking a boat trip to this island. La Graciosa has no car traffic, and everyone uses bicycles. It’s very cute =)
Cesar Manrique is a Land of Lanzarote’s Man of Interest
It is this artist and architect who is responsible for the modern style of Lanzarote. César Manrique was born in Arrecife and created many interesting works on the island.
By the way, he was very fond of the beach of Famara. The architect studied at the University of La Laguna and Madrid, worked in New York, and then returned to his native land. Here he received many orders from the administration of the Canary Islands and bought a house in Yace.
Over the years, César Manrique has left us several very interesting landmarks:
Chameos del Agua is a concert hall in the grotto of Cueva de los Verdes. In addition to its unique cultural significance, Chameos del Agua also has an important natural mission. The cave’s water is home to unique albino crustaceans that can only be found here.
The house museum of the peasant Cesar Manrique was built in the tradition of Lanzarote architecture.
Taro de Taiche, the place where the architect lived among the lava fields, has become another tourist pilgrimage site.
Other attractions in Lanzarote by César Manrique include the Cactus Garden, the Mirador del Rio viewpoint, the San José Castle, the Devil’s Restaurant in the Fiery Mountains Park, and the Vault.
Cueva de los Verdes
If you like extreme sports and outdoor activities, you should visit this place. Cueva de los Verdes is one of the longest volcanic caves in the world. It was formed due to a volcanic eruption. It is over 6 kilometers long.
Tourists are allowed to enter the cave through the entrance at the Mal País plateau. There is nothing scary in the cave; peaceful music plays and lanterns are hung everywhere. After passing through the various corridors of the Cueva de los Verdes cave, tourists enter the Hameos del Agua concert hall.
The Surfing Mecca: El Quemao Wave
El Quemao is a giant wave that surfers often compare to the Hawaiian Pipeline. It is located in the north of the island, opposite the port of La Santa.
When the south wind blows, the El Quemao wave rises to a height of 3 meters and forms a great tube. It is a very fast wave. Only experienced and professional riders can catch it.
From January to March, a prestigious tournament is held here every year. Surfers come here from all over the world!
If you happen to be here at this time, be sure to come to La Santa. You can take great photos and see the best surfers.
How to get around Lanzarote to see everything
The easiest and best way to explore Lanzarote is to rent a car at the airport. Then, take our guidebook, open the map, and explore the island’s interesting attractions.
From the photos above, you can easily decide what you want to see and not miss.
Is Lanzarote Island a lesser-known attraction in the Canary Islands?
This unique island will give everyone the most extraordinary memories! Volcanoes, surfing, mallow, and endless lava fields!
The Canary Island of Lanzarote is home to Arrecife, Puerto del Carmen, lava fields, the Cueva de los Verdes cave, surfing in Famara, and the master of architecture, César Mariínque.
