“With its 300-plus volcanoes, Blue Flag beaches and well-rounded resorts, it’s no wonder this island is hot property where holidays are concerned.”
If you had to describe the Canaries’ most easterly isle in one word, it’d have to be dramatic. You can’t go far without clocking a soaring cliff or volcanic peak. That said, it’s the beaches that draw people in, and there are about 30 kilometres’ worth of them – not to mention off-the-beaten-track spots that never made the official list.
Puerto del Carmen is home to a six-kilometre stretch that melts into ultra-calm seas. The resort itself is pretty lively, thanks to a two-mile party strip lined with shops, bars and clubs. On the flip side, you can skip the neon altogether and head for the old town’s tapas bars.
For something more low-key, Costa Teguise is a good bet. It’s really popular with windsurfers, but is also home to the island’s only waterpark, an 18-hole golf course and a clutch of shops. Three beaches are thrown in – the white-sand stretch at Los Charcos is the biggest and best.
To get a taste of traditional Lanzarote, try Playa Blanca, which means ‘white beach’. Waterside restaurants line the prom here, and the harbour is all quaint, old-world buildings. On the subject of which, you’ll be hearing a lot about a certain Cesar Manrique. The architect lobbied for strict planning rules to protect his home turf, and did a sterling job.
