For this trip to Lanzarote, we chose the little town of Güime as our base. Güime is located north-west of Arrecife, in the center of the island and not too far from the main roads. From there, we could easily reach the eastern and western parts of the island on day trips. However, I would recommend staying closer to the beach if possible, so you can enjoy Lanzarote’s warm weather as much as possible. For my next trip to Lanzarote, I will certainly choose the lovely city of Playa Honda as my base. Its location is also central and very close to the airport. This city is home to many shops and the beach is magnificent and very easily accessible.

That being said, I recommend renting a car when you visit Lanzarote. The roads are in excellent condition and it is possible to drive across the island in just over an hour. Some of the must-see places are not accessible by public transport, such as the gorgeous Papagayo beach. In addition, the wine route in the Geria region, and the road to Orzola which goes alongside the lava fields and the sea, are exceptional drives that you can appreciate even more if you have the flexibility to drive at your own pace.

Our itinerary begins with the discovery of the North eastern part of the island and the Cactus garden located in the town of Guatiza. This garden was imagined by the artist César Manrique, and is home to more than 500 different kinds of cactuses as well as a charming café. The garden opens at 10 a.m. and is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere of the island.

Next, continue to Jameos del Agua. It is only 13 minutes further by car. Jameos del Agua is a volcanic tunnel formed during the eruptions of La Corona Volcano. It is of particular interest as it is home to an underground lake populated by small, fluorescent lobsters! Jameos del Agua is also home to a charming restaurant and even a concert hall whose unique  acoustics are provided by the tunnel.

This itinerary continues with a visit to another tunnel, La Cueva de los Verdes. This tunnel, which was also created by the eruptions of La Corona Volcano, is one of the longest in the world! Beginning at the volcano and running all the way to the ocean, it covers a distance of over  6 kilometers. You can access it and visit some of its galleries. To visit the tunnel, you must go on a guided tour which is available only in English and Spanish. Like Jameos del Agua, the Cueva de los Verdes also has an auditorium.

After being underground for a while, it’s time to soak up some sun! Retrace your steps, then head toward the beautiful town of Punta Mujeres. Definitely one of my favorite places during this trip to Lanzarote! Enjoy strolling around the small streets and looking at the beautiful white Canarian houses. When you reach the seaside,  you can take a dip in the natural pools. For lunch, take a break at the restaurant called La Piscina "Pichón". Their papas arrugadas are delicious! Las papas arrugadas are potatoes boiled in (very) salted water and served with a spicy sauce, mojo verde or mojo rojo, which is typical of Lanzarote. They also serve a wide selection of fresh fish and seafood.

To close this first day in Lanzarote, go to the town of Teguise to admire its pretty Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

This second day in Lanzarote is all about the volcanoes and the beautiful sites their eruptions have shaped on the west part of the island. By following this itinerary, you will be able to see craters, lunar landscapes, green lakes and natural pools, all in just one day!

Let’s start by exploring the national park of Timanfaya. The park is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can get there by car or by bus, but you cannot drive freely in the national park. Only one road goes through the park, and you can only access it by taking one of the national park bus tours. It is probably better this way as the road is quite dangerous and the bus is left with no choice but to drive very close to the lava formations. Let yourself be driven between craters and lava fields in this national park which covers 50 square kilometers and includes 25 volcanoes in total.

The park is home to a famous restaurant called El Diablo. This restaurant has the particularity of cooking meat with the heat given off by the volcano. If you choose not to try this restaurant, you can still see the grill at the entrance. The prices are very affordable. If, like me, you are a vegetarian, the volcano will unfortunately not cook anything for you. However, you can still enjoy a good lunch at El Diablo with a great view of the national park.

After visiting Timanfaya, continue towards the western part of the island to see El Charco Verde which is not far from the village of El Golfo. This lake is famous for being green due to the algae that populate it. You will only be able to see El Charco verde from a viewpoint, and unfortunately, you won’t be able to go very close. However, if you continue toward the beach called Playa de Montaña Bermeja, you will see a beautiful black sand beach and another green lake that was formed between the beach and the volcano. Unlike the Charco verde, you can approach this lake and even swim in it.

Next stop is Los Hervideros, just 3 minutes by car further down the road. I love these black and ochre coloured cliffs formed by the volcanic eruptions and weathered by the ocean. It’s nature in all its beauty! Just follow the trail to the many viewpoints sculpted in the rocks. 

Continue to the viewpoint over the Salinas de Janubio, a salt manufacturing plant built on a volcanic lagoon. It is pretty amazing to see! Then go to the beach called Playa del Janubio to take a dip and relax on the beautiful black sand beach.

Today’s itinerary finishes 20 minutes further along  at the natural pools of Los Charcones. These pools were formed by  volcanic eruptions and now offer a pretty great spot for a swim. 

This third day in Lanzarote is going to be a perfect day! It starts with some relaxing on the most beautiful beach of the island, and finishes with a wine tasting tour in the vineyards of La Geria. Like I said, a perfect day!

Drive to the west part of the island towards Papagayo beach. This is a gorgeous beach with golden sand and turquoise water, located in the hollow of a cliff! A path will take you up to a viewpoint from where you can admire the beach. You will also have an incredible view when arriving at the parking lot. Be careful, accessing this paradise can be a bit challenging as you have to drive through a long rocky road to get there. Drive slowly and arm yourself with patience. The beach is a popular spot, so getting there early is recommended.

For lunch, don’t hesitate to go to one of the Papagayo beach restaurants. I can recommend Casa El Barba. The service was great and you can enjoy delicious Canary island cuisine while admiring Papagayo beach.

After a very relaxing morning at the beach, it’s time to take the road to La Geria. From the road, you can study how the inhabitants of Lanzarote devised a method for growing grapes in unfavorable climatic conditions and sterile surface soils.. This technique (called enarenado) consists of digging a funnel of up to 3 meters deep to access wetter soil. Each funnel is protected from the wind by a small volcanic stone wall. Stop at one of the many Bodegas for a wine tasting. We visited la Bodega El Rubicón where we got to see their vineyards up-close and taste five different wines.

To finish this beautiful day, go to El Chupadero restaurant. It is only 2 minutes away from the Bodega. From there, get some homemade tapas, a glass of local wine and enjoy the sunset over the volcanoes and the vineyards. The perfect end to a most perfect day in Lanzarote. 

Today is about exploring the north part of Lanzarote and the beautiful island of La Graciosa.

This day starts at the Mirador del rio with an incredible view of the island of La Graciosa and the north coast of Lanzarote. Designed  by the architect César Manrique, it has been built within the rock in such a  way so as to remain invisible from afar  and to not distort the beauty of the island's landscapes. We tried to locate it from the town of Orzola, in vain.

Admire the view from the terrace, or from the café. Starting your day at this viewpoint will give you the opportunity to see the island of La Graciosa which you will visit later.

Continue 15 minutes further from the mirador through the town of Orzola. The city is very small and can be visited very quickly. Here you will find typical Lanzarote white houses, several good restaurants and a beautiful view of the cliffs. Stroll along the harbor and then take a boat to the island of La Graciosa. The crossing takes about half an hour and costs 14 euros (28 euros round trip). We went to La Graciosa with the company Biosfera Express.

La Graciosa is the smallest island in the Canary island archipelago. It is administratively attached to the municipality of Teguise and has only 700 inhabitants. The island has several beaches, each one more beautiful than the other. However, the most incredible one is Playa de Las Conchas, on the north part of the island. You have to know that La Graciosa is still very wild. There is no such thing as roads or sidewalks on the island. Houses are literally built on the sand. You would have to rent a 4x4 or a bike to reach this beach. If you do choose to go La Graciosa it is really worth it to go to Playa de Las Conchas. Unfortunately for us, the wind was really strong the day we were there and it was not recommended to travel across the island. We decided to lay down on the Playa del Salado, as it is easily accessible on foot from the port of La Graciosa, protected from the wind and offers an incredible view on the cliffs on the north face of Lanzarote.

We managed to be on the boat back to Lanzarote when the sun started to go down. It was magical!

Once back in Lanzarote, if you wish to explore one last beach before the end of the day, check out Playa Caleton Blanco. This beach offers a great view over the town of Orzola and has small semi-circular walls of volcanic stones arranged to shelter bathers from the wind.

For this last day in Lanzarote, I suggest taking the time for a short visit to Arrecife, the capital of the island. Start by visiting the Castillo de San Gabriel, then walk up Avenue César Manrique for a coffee or lunch by the water, admiring the view of the boats. Lose yourself in the streets of the capital to discover the Parroquia de San Ginés and the Casa amarilla (the yellow house).

If you have time for a last swim before leaving the island, head to Playa Honda. This quiet little town between Arrecife and Lanzarote airport has a beach which is about 2 kilometers long, lined with many restaurants and cafes. In addition to swimming, it is a perfect place for a quiet stroll along the sea. I think there is no better way to end your trip to Lanzarote.