Puerto del Carmen Travel Guide

Puerto del Carmen is the main resort on the popular holiday island of Lanzarote.  Once known to the locals as La Tiñosa this former fishing village has been transformed over the last fifty years to become one of the most popular holiday hot spots in the Canary Islands.  Welcoming hundreds of thousands of tourist guests every year.

Puerto del Carmen is located on Lanzarote´s south east coast close to Arrecife airport.  And back in the early 1970´s this is the place where the island’s first visitors would stay, as it was home to the sole hotel in Lanzarote at that time.  The Los Fariones, which is still located right by the beach today.

Over the years this trickle of tourists became a flood as word about Lanzarote´s great climate and weird volcanic scenery got out.  And by the 1980´s the town had expanded enormously – encompassing a 6km coastal strip of apartments, villas and hotels known as the Avenida de Las Playas.  Visitor numbers over the next twenty years left the resort looking a little run down.  But this trend has now been reversed by the injection of a €16 million budget which has helped to improve the infrastructure here enormously.

There is now a new seafront promenade lined with attractive tress and palms whilst a marina is planned for the harbour area.  Making Puerto del Carmen an attractive proposition for a holiday on Lanzarote once again.

There are hundreds of apartments and villas in Puerto del Carmen for visitors to stay in with prices for two bedroom properties with pools starting at about €550 per week.  Whilst those who prefer to let someone else take care of the catering on their holidays will also find a decent selection of hotels.  As the days when the Los Fariones was the only choice in town are now long gone.

Indeed Puerto del Carmen ha grown to such an extent that it now encompasses the neighbouring resorts of Los Pocilloas and Matagorda too.

The resort offers plenty to see and do.  There are loads of restaurants, bars and clubs here.  Along with excellent beaches such as the Blue Flag winner Playa Chica.  Kids will love Rancho Texas, a Wild West themed park with a decent zoo attached.  Whilst the Old Town harbour area provides a great environment for meals out under the stars.

Many visitors to Puerto del Carmen choose to rent a vehicle so they can also get out and explore.  And there are lots of Lanzarote car hire offices here offering competitive rates and good quality vehicles.

César Manrique – Lanzarote´s Favourite Son

Many holidaymakers to the island of Lanzarote are often pleasantly surprised by the range of attractions that this small volcanic outcrop has. Apart from unspoiled landscapes and charming rural villages, there are also seven centres of art and culture that are worth a visit.

These sites are the result of one man’s vision for the development of the island, the late artist César Manrique. A multi-disciplined designer, his talents covered architecture, painting, sculpture, landscape design and much more. Born on Lanzarote in 1919, he was to have one of the most profound influences on the way the island is, even today.

His highly individual output includes the one of the most amazing houses to be found anywhere in the world. The Taro de Tahiche is his former home, created out of five linked volcanic bubbles underground. Such is the impact this construction has had that much of the property in Lanzarote that has been built since has borrowed ideas from his original design.

Not least, many of the properties available to rent for holidays have incorporated such elements. For instance, several of the villas in Puerto del Carmen have lagoon style swimming pools or internal gardens formed with volcanic stone.

Aside from his home, Manrique’s influence can be seen at each of the seven tourist attractions, which focus on one or more aspects of the island’s history. The Monumento al Campesino for example is a farm museum that pays tribute to the endeavours of locals to survive in such a harsh environment.

The volcano park at Timanfaya similarly illustrates the hardships that former residents endured. Built on the site of the longest running eruptions between 1730-36, the park is now the most popular of Lanzarote’s centres. Here, visitors can see just how hot the earth remains just below the surface, with food cooked on a giant barbecue that hovers over a fissure in the ground.

And despite the fact that Manrique’s creations all date back to the 1970’s and 80’s they are immaculately presented and still have the capacity to charm and surprise visitors. So much so, that many holidaymakers can’t resist coming back to the island for a second or third visit.

This may also have something to do with the incredible climate the island enjoys and the fact that Lanzarote flights are only four hours long from all the major UK airports.

Lanzarote´s Leading Resorts

The popular holiday island of Lanzarote is home to three main resorts.  With each boasting its own unique character, identity and attractions.  As well as a variety of accommodation options.

Lanzarote is one of the seven Spanish owned Canary Islands – which lie just off the Atlantic coast of West Africa.  After Tenerife and Gran Canaria Lanzarote is the third most popular of the islands with holidaymakers – welcoming around 1.4 million tourists every year.  The bulk of whom enjoy a stay in one of the three main resorts of Costa Teguise, Playa Blanca or Puerto del Carmen.

Puerto del Carmen was in fact the first resort to be developed on the island and is still the most popular today.  Before the advent of tourism this was just a small fishing village called La Tiñosa, with little in the way of beaches, roads or amenities.  But as tourism took off in Spain during the late 1960´s La Tiñosa evolved into Puerto del Carmen – with beaches created by importing sand from the nearby Sahara desert.

Today Puerto del Carmen extends for around 8km and is nominally spit into two separate areas – the Old Town in and around the harbour are and the New Town which runs parallel with the main beach of Playa Grande.  There are two main hotels in Puerto del Carmen for visitors to choose from – the Los Fariones and the San Antonio.  As well as a good selection of apartment complexes.

Costa Teguise was developed after Puerto del Carmen in the 1980´s – originally designed as an upmarket resort with high quality accommodation.  Such as the five star Gran Melia Salinas – still widely regarded as the best hotels in Lanzarote today.

Costa Teguise remains an attractive resort but suffers by comparison with its rivals as the weather in this part of the island isn’t as favourable.  And during the winter months Costa Teguise can be shrouded in cloud whilst Puerto del Carmen and Playa Blanca are basking in sunshine.

Playa Blanca is the newest resort on the island – developed during the 1990´s.  And is home to some great beaches whilst also enjoying the best weather the island has to offer.  The high quality of the hotels and villas in Playa Blanca has helped to rapidly establish the resort as the second most popular on the island.  Aided further by the fact that Playa Blanca is also in close proximity to Lanzarote´s leading tourist attraction – the Fire Mountains of Timanfaya.

Discover Lanzarote In 2010

Despite the recession and the weakness of Sterling against the Euro Lanzarote continues to prove a hot favourite with tourists from the UK.  Testifying to the island’s enduring appeal as a holiday destination.

In part this can be attributed to factors such as climate.  As Lanzarote, along with the rest of the Canaries, is the closest winter sun destination to mainland Europe.  With flights to Lanzarote from the UK taking just four hours.  Whilst other more exotic destinations such as the Caribbean or the Far East have much longer journey times.

Lanzarote is also home to an abundance of beautiful beaches – over 90 in total.  With some, such as Papagayo in the south and Famara in the north, regarded as amongst the best in the Canaries.

Holidays in Lanzarote feature in the brochures of all of the major travel companies, such as Thomson and Thomas Cook.  Whilst flights to the island have never been cheaper – thanks to the arrival on the route of low cost operators such as Ryanair and easyJet.  Which is also helping to encourage independent travellers to discover the island.

The majority of tourists will find themselves staying in one of the three main holiday resorts of Playa Blanca, Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise.  Which is where the bulk of the best accommodation in Lanzarote can also be found. 

All inclusive packages account for around 20% of all holidays booked on the island.  And are particularly popular with British guests.  But many tourists also prefer to book their own self catering accommodation direct.  Liaising online with the owners of apartments and villas in Lanzarote.

One of the islands other main attractions is that it provides so much for visitors to do and see – despite measuring just 40km by 60km.  Such as the many creations of a famous local artist César Manrique.  Who developed unique sights such as the Jameos del Agua, Mirador del Rio and Cactus Garden.

The undisputed star attraction though is the Timanfaya National Park – home to hundreds of now dormant volcanoes and fields of twisted lava, which cover around 200km square of Lanzarote’s total and surface area.

The incredible scenery here was created by eruptions centuries ago.  Creating one of the most unusual and dramatic landscapes in the world.  Which is said to resemble the surface of the moon and which has been used as location by numerous film makers.  Most recently Pedro Almodovar, who shot broken Embrace, starring Penelope Cruz, around the island.

Surfs Up On Lanzarote

Lanzarote hosts the closing leg in the European surf season when the Islas Canarias Surf Pro Championship arrives on the island on November 1st. As in previous years, the six starred World Qualifying Series (WQS) event is a vital stage for those surfers hoping to qualify for the ASP World Tour.

The tournament takes place at San Juan, the stretch of coastline just beyond Caleta de Famara on the wild north west coast of Lanzarote. This is where the surf is sufficiently challenging to provide an ideal testing ground for the participants.   Providing a fantastic spectacle for the many thousands of tourists spending their holidays in Lanzarote next month.

Amongst those appearing this year is the latest prodigy from the United States, Clay Marzo. He has already won accolades from the nine times winner of the ASP World Championship, Kelly Slater, who reckons that Marzo ‘knows more about surfing than I do’. It will be Marzo’s first outing at a European event and should attract plenty of interest from fellow participants as well as spectators.

Also taking part and holding the number two and number seven WQS rankings respectively are Jadson André from Brazil and Joan Duru of France. These two surf enthusiasts will be hoping to scoop the 145,000 dollar prize as well as gaining qualification for the ASP World Tour, which holds tournaments each year in Brazil, Hawaii and South Africa amongst other places.

Local participants include a number of Canarian surfers, such as Francisco Saénz, Leny Perdomo and Jonathan Gonzalez. They will be joining international competitors from the US, Brazil, Hawaii and Australia, such as Nic Muscroft (AUS), the three Gudauskas brothers, Patrick, Dean and Tanner (US) and Heitor Alvés (BRZ).

The women’s rankings are dominated by French surfers, led by Justine Dupont and six of her fellow countrywomen in the top ten slots. Amongst the senior World Tour exponents, the women’s rankings are mostly filled by Australian and Hawaiian women, with Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) currently leading the field.

The surfing heats start at 10.00 and last until 17.00 every day and the event extends from November 1st until Saturday 7th. On the closing night there will be party in the evening, featuring live music. This is usually popular with local youngsters as well as participants in the surf event and last year was attended by 7,000 people.

During the week, a variety of activities will accompany the sporting action, with workshops demonstrating surfing skills, beach football tournaments and skateboarding. There is also a strong emphasis on protecting the local environment with participants and spectators urged to leave the beach in a pristine state.  Famara isn´t well serviced by public bus – but car hire in Lanzarote is very affordable, making it easy to take in this fantastitc event.

Lanzarote´s Best Rural Retreats

Lanzarote is one of the seven Spanish owned Canary Islands.  Which collectively are the second most popular holiday destination in Spain – after Catalonia. 

Yet despite the weight of package holidaymakers the island still boasts a thriving rural tourist sector.  With a growing number of visitors seeking to book rural hotels and villas in Lanzarote in order to connect with the authentic heart and soul of the island.

Lanzarote is very much a rural island in the sun.  Before the advent of tourism the local economy was almost totally dependent on fishing and agriculture.  And the remnants of this rural past are still in evidence across Lanzarote today. Especially in smaller villages such as Haria and Maguez in the north. This is also where visitors will find the best selection of Lanzarote rural holiday villas and hotels on the island. 

One of the newest rural ventures on the island is the Finca de Arrieta – Lanzarote´s first eco retreat.  Which is located close to the beach at Playa De Garita in Arrieta.  An idyllic and unspoilt location that is in complete contrast to the large resorts further along the south east coastline.

Finca de Arrieta is a former farm that runs solely on wind and solar power.  Guests can even enjoy picking their own organic fruit and vegtables from the farm’s garden or enjoy a ride on Mollie -  the resident donkey.

This rural retreat is just one of a growing band of similar establishments catering to this growth in demand for a more authentic holiday experience. And elsewhere on the island rural holidaymakers can check in to some fanatic country house hotels such as the Casero de Mozaga, Finca de Salinas and Casona de Yaiza.

The Casona de Yaiza is located in the one time holiday home of wealthy local farmer and landowner.  Dating back to around 1825 and located on the outskirts of the pretty village of the same name. Today’s owners are serious art lovers – and their passion for classic motifs  echoes through the bedrooms and public spaces of this elegant hotel.

There´s an excellent restaurant on site too – which is located in the building’s former wine press area.  Serving traditional Canarian cuisine with modern Mediterranean influences.  As well as plenty of other luxurious amenities such as a heated pool, Jacuzzi, solarium, well tended gardens and grounds, car and bicycle rental and even horse riding.  With room rates starting from €100 per night.

Lanzarote Winter Holidays

There´s one part of Europe where summer never really ends.  As the Spanish owned Canary Islands enjoy great weather all year round.  Basking in temperatures in the 20´s even during the darkest days of December.

As a result these seven islands have become enormously popular as a winter sun destination.  Attracting close to ten million tourists every year.  Drawn not only by the great weather but also by fantastic beaches, breathtaking scenery and high standards of tourist accommodation.

Lanzarote is the most easterly link in the chain and is hugely popular with tourists from the UK, Germany and Eire.  Who collectively accounted for around one million arrivals last year alone.  With the bulk staying in one of the main tourist resorts of Playa Blanca, Puerto del Carmen or Costa Teguise.

Weather
Tourists can expect to enjoy plenty of days on the beach during the winter months.  Along with very little rainfall and plenty of daylight hours.  As the sun here doesn’t set until around 6pm at the earliest.  But come nightfall the temperatures can drop very quickly – as the island has something of a desert climate.  With the Sahara just some 90 miles away.

Places To Stay
The south of the island is the best bet for sun seekers during the winter months.  As even on a small island such as Lanzarote there´s a pronounced microclimate.  With the north of the island often cloudy and cool at that time of the year.

Many visitors opt for a self catering holiday.  Booking their own Lanzarote villas and apartments direct online.  Along with their own flights.  As a result villas in Playa Blanca, the fast growing resort located right at the southern tip of Lanzarote, have grown enormously in popularity over recent years.

Getting To Lanzarote
Flights to Lanzarote should be cheaper than ever before this winter.  As two of the leading low cost flight operators in the UK – easyJet and Ryanair are now competing on this route.  With Ryanair introducing 15 new services from airports across the UK from October onwards.

Exploring Lanzarote
In the unlikely event of bad weather Lanzarote offers plenty for visitors to do and see.  From the majestic volcanoes and lava fields of the Timanfaya National Park, through the creations of the local artist César Manrique, to the many historic towns and villages peppered about the island.

Car hire and petrol are very good value on Lanzarote making it simple to get out and explore the islands many diverse attractions.

Top 5 Attractions in Lanzarote

First time visitors are often surprised to find that the small island of Lanzarote offers a large amount of visitor attractions and things to do. As the fourth largest of the Canary Islands is best known as a beach holiday destination.

But for those who can tear themselves away from the sun lounger Lanzarote boasts a host of natural wonders, some unique man made attractions and a number of picturesque and historic towns and villages. All of which are well worth exploring. Car hire in Lanzarote is affordable too – making touring the island easy.

Timanfaya National Park

Lanzarote was famously subjected to an enormous series of volcanic eruptions during the 18th and 19th centuries. Which covered much of the south of the island in lava and created around 300 new volcanic peaks. At the time these events obviously caused massive devastation. But today the Timnafaya National Park attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors very year and is by some distance the most popular tourist attraction on Lanzarote.

César Manrique Foundation

The island born artist César Manrique created his own home and the most unusual property in Lanzarote over five bubbles in the surrounding lava flow. Partly to illustrate that it was possible to create tourist attractions by working with Lanzarote´s volcanic terrain, rather than against it. Today his house is home to the César Manrique Foundation – who work to uphold Manrique´s efforts to preserve the island from over development. And operates as a fascinating house museum and art gallery.

Teguise

Teguise was the capital of Lanzarote until passing this mantle on to Arrecife in 1852. As the first Spanish settlement in the Canaries it remains a great repository of historic buildings and architecture. With some edifices dating back as far as 1455. On Sundays the quiet cobbled street come alive as Teguise plays host to the Lanzarote´s largest weekly market.

Mirador del Rio

Manrique transformed this former gun emplacement into a restaurant and lookout point in the 1970´s. Creating a breathtaking vantage point that very much resembles the lair of one of the baddies in a James Bond film. The Mirador is perched around 450 metres above sea level on the Famara massif rang of cliffs and gives visitors a great view down to the small island of La Graciosa below.

Cactus Garden

Explore one of the largest collections of cacti in the world. The Cactus Garden was created under the direction of the ubiquitous Manrique and features over 10,000 plants and 1400 species of cacti.

Top 5 Attractions in Lanzarote

First time visitors are often surprised to find that the small island of Lanzarote offers a large amount of visitor attractions and things to do.  As the fourth largest of the Canary Islands is best known as a beach holiday destination.

But for those who can tear themselves away from the sun lounger Lanzarote boasts a host of natural wonders, some unique man made attractions and a number of picturesque and historic towns and villages.  All of which are well worth exploring.  Car hire in Lanzarote is affordable too – making touring the island easy.

Timanfaya National Park
Lanzarote was famously subjected to an enormous series of volcanic eruptions during the 18th and 19th centuries.  Which covered much of the south of the island in lava and created around 300 new volcanic peaks.

At the time these events obviously caused massive devastation.  But today the Timnafaya National Park attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors very year and is by some distance the most popular tourist attraction on Lanzarote.

César Manrique Foundation
The island born artist César Manrique created his own home and the most unusal property in Lanzarote over five bubbles in the surrounding lava flow.  Partly to illustrate that it was possible to create tourist attractions by working with Lanzarote´s volcanic terrain, rather than against it.

Today his house is home to the César Manrique Foundation – who work to uphold Manrique´s efforts to preserve the island from over development.  And operates as a fascinating house museum and art gallery.

Teguise
Teguise was the capital of Lanzarote until passing this mantle on to Arrecife in 1852.  As the first Spanish settlement in the Canaries it remains a great repository of historic buildings and architecture.  With some edifices dating back as far as 1455.

On Sundays the quiet cobbled street come alive as Teguise plays host to the Lanzarote´s largest weekly market.

Mirador del Rio
Manrique transformed this former gun emplacement into a restaurant and lookout point in the 1970´s.  Creating a breathtaking vantage point that very much resembles the lair of one of the baddies in a James Bond film.

The Mirador is perched around 450 metres above sea level on the Famara massif rang of cliffs and gives visitors a great view down to the small island of La Graciosa below.

Cactus Garden
Explore one of the largest collections of cacti in the world.  The Cactus Garden was created under the direction of the ubiquitous Manrique and features over 10,000 plants and 1400 species of cacti.

Holidays in Playa Blanca

Playa Blanca is the fastest growing resort on the popular holiday island of Lanzarote.  Offering visitors great weather all year round, wonderful beaches and high standards of accommodation.

Playa Blanca is located right at the southern tip of Lanzarote – just 8km across the Bocaina Straits from the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura.  And has developed rapidly from a small fishing village into the second busiest resort on the island.

The town is named after the small white beach – Playa Blanca – that still lies at it’s heart.  And is essentially a set of thee coves set within one much larger sheltered bay, all of which is united by a delightful seafront promenade.

Beach lovers adore Playa Blanca as there are three excellent stretches of sand within the resort; Playa Dorada, Playa Flamingo and Playa Blanca itself.  Whilst just fifteen minutes walk from the town centre lies the breathtaking coves and bays of Papagayo (or Parrot in Spanish).  Which are widely regarded to be amongst the best beaches in the whole of the Canaries.  All still totally natural and unspoiled.

There are plenty of accomodation options for visitors.  Some of the best four star hotels in Lanzarote such as the Timanfaya Palace and the Hesperia Playa Dorada line the shoreline.  Offering guests great views and a frontline position.  Whilst there’s also a large choice of apartments and villas in Playa Blanca available for rent for those who prefer self catering accommodation.

Prices for a standard two bedroom villa with private pool start at around €450 per week.  Whilst four star hotel accommodation prices begin at €70 per night – which is the cost per room, not per person.  The resort is located around thirty minutes from Lanzarote’s sole international airport at Arrecife – which is serviced by all of the main leading low cost flight operators.  Whilst all of the main British travel companies also offer holidays in and around the resort.

Playa Blanca makes an ideal base for anyone who wants to visit Lanzarote´s leading tourist attraction – the Timanfaya Volcano Park.  As this is just fifteen minutes drive away.  And it’s also possible to enjoy a spot of island hopping by taking the ferry service that runs regularly throughout the day from the harbour area to Fuerteventura.

The luxurious Rubicon Marina was created in 2003.  Providing berths for luxury yachts as well as a great backdrop for anyone eating out or shopping in the upmarket environs of the marina.

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