Travel Tips

Puerto del Carmen in Lanzarote has been an established resort for well over 40 years now. Like so many areas of mainland Spain, it developed from its origins as a fishing village mainly in response to the upsurge in popularity for package holidays in the Canary Islands. There is now a wide range of older and newer holiday villas in Puerto del Carmen, as well as holiday apartments and hotels. In fact, the town itself is undergoing something of a facelift currently, with a central feature being a more pedestrian friendly main thoroughfare. This is due to be completed well in time for the main summer holiday season in 2010.

Compared to other towns in Lanzarote, the scale of what is availble in Puerto del Carmen is very large. This applies especially to the beaches (the Spanish name is ‘Playas’), and the main road that connects them, the Avenida de las Playas. Also known as ‘the strip’, this extends for some 6 kilometres, from the Old Town to the South, to Matagorda (nearest the airport and capital Arrecife) at the northern end. This length is just right, in fact, because four complete laps of the Avenida constitutes the route of the marathon stage of the annual Lanzarote Ironman Triathlon.

The Lanzarote Ironman Triathlon basically takes over the whole of Puerto del Carmen for an entire weekend in late May each year. The Avenida de las Playas not only plays host to the swimming and road races, but also some 5,000 racing bikes that the runners have to leave behind whilst they run the marathon – and this follows after cycling a complete lap of the island for 5 hours in the hottest part of the day. No wonder they call them Ironmen and Ironwomen! Incidentially, and in case you think that you’re too old for such a feat, the two eldest competitors in 2009 were both 71 years old!

Puerto del Carmen beaches are very safe for bathing, and well patrolled by lifeguards, and this is one of the reasons why it is such a popular family holiday destination. Because of the size and length of the beaches, they rarely get over crowded. Parasols and loungers can be hired by the day, and there is a wide choice of bars and restaurants on the main Avenida immediately behind the beach. Jet ski and other boat hire is readily available directly on the beach as well, so there is plenty to keep all ages entertained.

Nightlife is also big in Puerto del Carmen, and again centres on the Avenida de las Playas. There is a great choice of restaurants with cuisines of all types represented, and to suit all budgets as well. The bars and clubs are a magnet for the younger holidaymakers, often staying open until 6 in the morning – so if this is a problem for you, it may be best to avoid choosing accommodation that is on, or near, the Avenida.

For many people,a holiday in Puerto del Carmen will be about more than spending the entire time on the beach or at the poolside. If this applies to you, why not explore some of the nearby attractions? If you like golf, there is now a long and interesting course at nearby Tias. A handicap certificate is not required here (but it’s a good idea to take one with you if you have one), and especially if you plan to play on a weekday, you probably won’t find the course over busy either. You will, however, enjoy fantastic views of the Atlantic from most parts of the course. Buggies and clubs can be hired here, so it is not essential to take your own. It’s a good idea to book in advance -just search on ‘lanzarote golf tias’, and you will quickly find the contact details.

If you don’t want to move around so much, more sedate views can be enjoyed at Puerto Calero, just 5 kilometres south of Puerto del Carmen. Puerto Calero is an upmarket marina, with many beautiful ocean going boats on display, plus some good designer boutiques and shops, and several restaurants. For appeal to the younger visitors (perhaps) there is also the Museo de Cetaceos de Canarias (whale and dolphin museum) which is a very popular family attraction.

Puerto del Carmen, has a wide range of holiday accommodation from which to choose. Because the town slopes down to the sea, this has encouraged the development of a number of complexes of holiday apartments in Puerto del Carmen itself, which rise away from sea level on picturesque tree-lined roads. There are also many high specification individual villas in Puerto del Carmen, many with private pools. The size of villa and gardens tends to increase in the surrounding areas just outside the town. For those preferring more formal accommodation (whatever formal means in Lanzarote!), there are some very good 4 and 5 star hotels in Puerto del Carmen, at varying costs. Out of season, you can usually get some very good bargains, and that has been very much the case during the recession in 2009.

In summary, Puerto del Carmen is a big resort, with big aspirations to match. It fully intends to retain its position as Lanzarote’s number one resort, even with stiff competition from newer resorts such as Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise.

John Spire writes for All Things Lanzarote, an information web site about Lanzarote, the most northerly of the Canary Islands. The site contains extensive details about villas in Puerto del Carmen, apartments in Puerto del Carmen, plus things to do, and places to go in and around the town.