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Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote |
Overview: Set beneath a range of steep hills on the south coast of
Lanzarote, Puerto del Carmen is the island's major holiday resort.
Its main feature is a spectacular two-mile (3km) golden beach,
which is backed by a main road, The Strip, where shops, bars and
restaurants of every variety can be found. The Old Town retains
some of its old world charm but for the most part the resort of
Puerto del Carmen is a sprawling holiday complex offering
entertainment for all ages. It is the centre of the Lanzarote's
nightlife and is within easy distance of all the island's key
attractions.
Shopping: Puerto del Carmen is stuffed with shops of all kinds, from
duty-free electrical stores and stalls along The Strip targeted at
holiday makers, to the excellent clothes shops and boutiques in the
Old Town. The Sunday Market in Teguise is worth a visit; as well as
the usual tourist tat visitors will find a variety of locally
produced goods from pottery to tablecloths. It is around €14
each way by taxi.
Restaurants: There are hundreds of restaurants to suit all holiday makers'
tastes and wallets in Puerto del Carmen, the most popular being La
Bottega Della Pasta, Casa Bodeco's, Bodega and Chiquito. Most
restaurants are on The Strip, serving everything from local cuisine
to fast food, as well as Chinese, Mexican and Indian food. There
are many fine restaurants near the harbour in the Old Town. Those
wanting to get out of Puerto del Carmen for the evening can take a
taxi to the old capital, Teguise. It has a lovely atmosphere in the
evening and a few good restaurants.
Nightlife: Puerto del Carmen is the main nightspot on the island and its
population swells most evenings as tourists from other holiday
resorts come to enjoy its bars and clubs. There are loads of good
English, Irish and Scottish bars along The Strip. The Centre
Atlantico has a number of cocktail bars and can be a good spot to
start the evening. The Hippodrome is also here but more serious
clubbers may prefer Caesars. There are also several live music
venues and karaoke bars, while the Star Bar provides great family
entertainment.
Activities: Holiday makers can enjoy all sorts of watersports in Puerto del
Carmen on the beach, from banana boat rides to jet skiing and
sailing. Windsurfing is particularly good due to the strong regular
winds. Deep-sea fishing is also excellent and can be arranged
through a couple of operators. Scuba diving schools take trips to
local wrecks as well as offering lessons. For land-lovers there is
tennis and squash within the resort and golf and horse riding
nearby. Boat trips go from the harbour and from Puerto Calero.
Further afield visitors can explore the dramatic landscape of the
Timanfaya National Park. Most activities can be organised through
the tour operator reps, though it is sometimes cheaper to book
directly.
Negatives: Whilst water is safe for cleaning teeth and washing food, it is
very high in mineral content and can cause bad stomachs. Bottled
water should be used for drinking. There are lots of people trying
to sell tourists everything from trinkets to timeshare apartments;
if you are not interested avoid getting into a conversation.
Nearby Attractions
Arrecife Museum of Contemporary Art
Modern art in an old building works well in Lanzarote’s
capital, Arrecife, where a collection of works by international
artists is on permanent display in the Castle of San Jose, a
fortress built between 1776 and 1779 by King Carlos III of Spain.
Some... see full details | |
The Cactus Garden
Situated between Guatiza and Mala is an unusual sightseeing
attraction that combines art with nature. Artist Cesar Manrique
created a work of art in the form of a cactus plantation in an old
quarry. The site also features a restored windmill.
... see full details | |
Timanfaya National Park
Timanfaya National Park is unique because it is the only
national park in the world to have been developed by local
residents. Also unique is what the park offers, which includes a
volcanic field filled with a variety of geological and geothermic
phenomena. In... see full details | |
La Cueva de los Verdes
In the northern part of Lanzarote, close to the Monte de la
Corona volcano, is a spectacular system of underground grottos
known as La Cueva de los Verdes. This is one of the largest
volcanic galleries in the world, at just over four... see full details | |
Activities
Boat Trips: Boat trips and submarine tours can be organised from Puerto
Calero, just outside Puerto del Carmen. Catamarans sail along the
coast and drop anchor by one of the spectacular white-sand beaches
at the south of the island and offer snorkelling equipment and
lunch. Some boats also offer free jet ski rides. Visitors can also
take the Submarine Safari from Puerto Calero for a thrilling
close-up view of the island’s underwater world.