If you’re looking for a budget-friendly holiday, with some great sunshine. Whether for the whole family, or in a couple, you simply must look into Lanzarote. You’re almost guaranteed to have great weather – as long as you don’t go in December. Plus, there’s so much for the whole family to enjoy. From great walks, and stunning beaches, to trips on a REAL submarine and not forgetting the awesome Lanzarote water park!
Of course, this does depend a little on where you decide to stay on your holiday in Lanzarote. However, somewhere around Costa Teguise, Arrecife, Playa Blanca, or Puerto Del Carmen would have you situated perfectly for most things.
Timanfaya National Park
The first thing you need to do while on the island of Lanzarote is to book a trip to Timanfaya National Park. It was one of the best things we ever did, and would highly recommend you do the trip. It’s probably one of the most expensive trips to do (around ￡40). However, to see the volcanoes up close, even a live volcano (where they do a neat little trick) is an amazing experience and worth the money.
There are bus tours, walking tours, day trips and half day trips so the choice is yours!
The Green Lake
Another thing you have to do while in Lanzarote is to go and see the green lake, or the green lagoon as it’s also known. The lake changes colour depending on the time of day and light outside. On very sunny days it will look bright green, but whenever you go it looks amazing. Something quite un-worldly in a beautiful way.
The green lagoon is also very close to the sea (just out of view in the bottom of the below picture). The ground around it is also very warm due to the active volcano beneath. All of this together makes it an experience you won’t ever forget!
Los Hervideros
If you can, do a trip that takes you here at the same time as you do the green lakes (above), as it is very close by and worth a quick stop off. Los Hervideros is one of Lanzarote’s most visited natural attractions so it can get quite busy in peak season.
It’s well worth a visit as you get to see the true brute force of nature as it crashes huge waves against the most jagged rocks you’ll ever see. There are even blow holes where you’ll get to witness the incredible waves force themselves through the tiniest of holes. The sound of this is just amazing and if you time it right, you could get an awesome photo!
Papagayo Beach
As sandy beaches are hard to come by in Lanzarote, it’s not hard to see why Papagayo Beach is so popular. It’s white sandy beach and crystal clear blue warm waters will make you feel as though you’re in paradise. The perfect place for the whole family to enjoy, and even take up snorkelling in the still waters. The bottom is clear to see, so if there are any fish around, you’re bound to see them.
However, make sure you take food and water with you as there are no shops, or amenities anywhere around here.
Sands Beach Villas – Tide Pool Lagoon
Even if you aren’t staying at the Sands Beach Villas, it’s easily accessible from the pier and well worth a visit. It’s generally a quiet area with not too many people. Plus, there are always loungers laid out for you to use – FREE. Great if you’re on a tight budget.
Of course, the water is salty as it gets filled up from the sea at each high tide. There are fish that swim in it and can often be seen jumping high out of the water. You can even do some water sports while you’re visiting if you get yourself booked in early enough.
Meliá Salinas Hotel
While in Costa Teguise, make sure you visit the Meliá Salinas hotel. It’s a normal enough looking hotel from the outside but don’t let that fool you. As soon as you walk through the front doors you will be wowed by the jungle that greets you. Yes, the entire inside of the hotel has been made into a beautiful jungle oasis. Complete with full sized trees and palms, and even waterfalls and a river running through it.
It’s completely free to visit and they don’t mind you taking photos and wondering around – even if you aren’t staying there.
Sunday Markets In Teguise
During the week Costa Teguise is a quiet, sleepy town. However, it comes alive on Sundays when the market comes to town. There are stalls as far as the eyes can see filled with local produce. From food and clothes, to handmade treasures – and even the odd fake bag or watch!
This market is the largest on the island so it attracts people from all across Lanzarote – meaning it can get pretty busy, especially in peak season.
Lanzarote Water Park – Aqua Park
The largest water park on the island Aqua Park can be found in Coast Teguise and is a great place to go to let off some steam and have some fun. It opens April 30th – or around this time most years so if you are there when it’s open, you should definitely go. If you can, book ahead of time to make sure you won’t be disappointed. It’s around 10 euros per person and worth every penny!
To give you a better idea of what you can expect at the lanzarote water park, here is a map of the park…
Lanzarote Aquarium
Costa Teguise is the home to the only aquarium in Lanzarote and worth a visit if you’re in the area. It doesn’t look much from the outside but it opens up in to an underwater world inside.
It has over one million litres of water, distributed throughout 33 aquariums, and hundreds of marine species to view. From the typical canarian species found around the island – gilthead seabreams, the golden or Fulas, reptiles like turtles. To the more tropical species like clown fishes, blowfishes or hermit crabs.
You can even go diving with sharks for 30 minutes, and walk through tunnels submerged in the main tank. It’s approx 15 euros per adult, and 10 euros per child so it isn’t an expensive trip. The Meliá Salinas hotel is only a few minutes walk up the road so would be perfect to do both.
Jardín De Cactus
Due to the lack of greenery in Lanzarote, coming across a garden full of vibrant colour and plant life seems a little odd and out of place. However the Jardín de Cactus that was created by César Manrique is alive with cactus plants from around the world. He wanted to create a heaven of life and colour and now has around 4,500 specimens of 450 different species, from five different continents.
Submarine Safaris Lanzarote
Not far from Arrecife is a real life Submarine that you can go for a ride in! It’s around ￡50 per person and so worth every penny. They take you out of the harbour of Puerto Calero where you can see all kinds of fish, stingrays and other fab marine life.
They even send a diver out of the boat to feed the fish and entice them to come closer to the submarine. Definitely something to make sure you do if you visit the island. Perhaps a ride on a real submarine could be on your bucket list?
What would you want to see and do in Lanzarote? Go for a ride in a submarine, visit the Lanzarote water park, see an active volcano, or simply relax on a sandy beach?
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