ONE WEEK IN LANZAROTE
WHERE?
WHEN?
January 2022.
TIPS
Island from south to north by car = 1h10
Check Sunrise and Sunset time when you are there! I always try to at least see the sunset from a different place each day.
Car rental: Go with CICAR, the local one. Full insurance included and 2 drivers.
Flight:
On the way there, seat on the right to see Lanzarote and La Graciosa, seat on the left to see Fuerteventura
On the way back, seat on the left to see Lanzarote and La Graciosa and say goodbye
Important: book the tickets voucher before online to save money and gain time at each site: https://www.cactlanzarote.com/en/tipo_entrada/tickets/
There is a lot of wind in general so think about a light jacket to protect yourself. Depending on the time of year it can be cold especially in the evening and in the morning, so pack accordingly
What to bring back:
Wine
Mojos (sauces)
Gofio (typical Canarian food with the appearance of flour and made from toasted and ground cereals)
Aloe Vera products (all kinds!)
Small cactus or cactus seeds
Restaurants:
I always recommend using the app HappyCow to find veggie/vegan/veggie options restaurants
Haria: La Puerta Verde, really nice staff, good food, veggie options!
Arrecife: there are 2 options in HappyCow but they were closed on that day, so we went to
Famara
La Mar Cafe, maybe my favorite one. Good food (delicious veggie burger and cheesecake), big sunny terrace
Beach Food Las Bajas, super nice staff, lots of veggie options, great for breakfast or a break
Grill La Posada, sunny terrace, lots of options, a vegetarian paellaPlaya de Papagayo: Be Papagayo, what a view!
El Golfo, Restaurant Costa Azul has a nice view and nice staff. We just took a coffee
Playa Blanca: IF you have to go to Playa Blanca (don´t), Treat cafe has a lot of veggie options and a good menu for Brunch
Teguise: I could not go but there were so many veggie restaurants/options! Check it out
Touristic but great views:
In the Jardín de cactus, there is a restaurant
In the Timanfaya National Park, where you can park and take the bus (indoor only)
In Jameos del agua (the tables are “in” the lava tubes)
What to eat/drink (vegetarian):
Papas arrugadas with mojos
Local cheese
Pimientos del padrón
Local wine
Coffee: Letche Letche
Gofio
Sunset spots:
Mirador del Rio. No need to go to the official spot with the ticket entry to see a breathtaking sunset. Do not miss it!
Charco Verde. The colors are insane.
El Golfo, seating in a cafe by the ocean, or on the lava rocks
Mirador de El Risco de Famara y if you are adventurous, until Cueva de las cabras.
Top of Caldera Blanca.
Famara: we do not see the sun going down but the lights on a clear day ara magical
EXPLORE
Charco Verde (5min walk from El Golfo): beautiful! Best to see it from the top
Timanfaya National Park: impressive views BUT the tour (45min) is in a bus with tinted windows! So you don’t fully appreciate the beauty of the place, even if the view from the parking (see below) is beautiful. You have to pay to enter but it is included in the pass.
Teguise: cute village if you pass by. Super small BUT maybe the best concentration of good options for food! Lots of veggie restaurants/options
Stratified city: nice stop to walk around if you pass by.
Haria: One cute street (Pl. León y Castillo, from the church to Plaza de la Constitución) you can stop if you pass by.
Bodega de la Geria: super nice! So beautiful landscapes with the vineyards on the volcanic roads. Many “bodegas” on the way to test wines.
Palmera inclinada: cute spot if you pass by (it’s in the wine area). Park on the right a few meters before leaving the road, you cannot go by car really far and then a 5min walk)
Jardín de cactus: actually super nice! So many species.
Cueva de los Verdes: nice discovery, a huge underwater / lava tube and beautiful colors (but no green! “Verdes” comes from the name of the people who were hiding in the caves!) . Opening hours: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm (last guided tour).
Jameos del Agua: we went because it’s a 2min drive from Cueva de los Verdes and in the pass, there is one nice shot but it is all super fake and touristic
Las Salinas de Janubio: Go to see them from the mirador. Nice view of the Salinas, the ocean, and the volcanoes around.
El Golfo Village. Lots of restaurants with a great view of the sea. Cute houses, nice atmosphere
Arrecife: Castillo de San Gabriel, Drawbridge, Parroquía de San Ginés, Charco de San Ginés
Punta Mujeres: the natural pools + a cute house just in front
BEACH TIME:
Famara is by far my favorite one
Charco Verde! A beautiful black sand beach just in the front
Playa del Papagayo, cute (rainy day on the pics)
Playa del Pozo, huge and beautiful
It was a rainy day!
The “piscinas naturales” in Punta Mujeres are nice
(Did not have time to go but I had Caletón Blanco on my list too)
I recommend avoiding Puerto del Carmen or Playa Blanca. So touristy, no charm.
HIKING:
So so so many hikes! I always recommend the app AllTrails. I recommend:
Pico Redondo. Park here.
Around “El Golfo” and “Playa Papagayo” you will find nice sea-side walks
SURFING:
Caleta de Famara is one of the best spots to surf in the Canaries (when there is no wind!). The beach is HUGE (and the views insane), so there is a place for everyone. Many surf schools and surf camps in the Village. Calima Surf School was super nice, we rented the boards with them but you can go anywhere, at the same prices in the whole village!
More advanced spots:
Punta Usaje
Tinajo (huge)
Caleta del Mojón Blanco
DIVING:
Most of the clubs are in Puerto del Carmen or Playa Blanca.
In Puerto del Carmen I would recommend Atlantis Diving and Oceanos del Fuego
If you can go to La Graciosa for 1-2 days, highly recommended going with La Graciosa Divers. It's the biggest marine reserve in Europe!