Lanzarote in 7 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

One third of the island of Lanzarote was once covered with lava due to eruptions in the 1730s and 1824. It can be said that after these eruptions the villages rose from the ashes to become what they are today. This is what you will see during your visit to Lanzarote: volcanic landscapes, lava caves and craters, where the colours stand out against the grey or black background.

Lanzarote also has beautiful beaches, such as those of Papagayo, caves created by one of the island's most important artists, César Manrique, museums, wineries, restaurants with exquisite food, viewpoints and the possibility of visiting an island far away from asphalt and cars: the island of La Graciosa. All this should be on your list of things to do in Lanzarote.

The best way to get around the island is by car, but there are also buses in Lanzarote that will take you everywhere. The distances are not too great as it is a small island, and it is very well connected by roads.

There is a voucher system on the island where you can save money if you decide to visit some of the places I mention, such as the Jameos del Agua, the Cueva de los Verdes or the Mirador del Río. If you buy these vouchers, you'll save quite a lot of money on the entrance fees. You can get them on their website.

To start getting to know the island, your first day can begin with a visit to one of **Lanzarote'**s main viewpoints, the Mirador del Río, which is in the northern part of the island. From there you will see the island of La Graciosa surrounded by the sea, and the beautiful landscape of the island.

In the afternoon, I recommend taking a ferry or booking an excursion to see the island and spend a few hours on the beach. And to end the day you can stroll around the charming village of Órzola, and choose a seaside restaurant for dinner.

Mirador del Río viewpoint

The Mirador del Río is located in the northern part of the island, on the Risco de Famara, 400 metres above sea level.

It was built by César Manrique, one of Spain's leading abstract artists. From there you can see the island of La Graciosa, from which Lanzarote seems to be separated by a river, hence its name.

Apart from the breathtaking view it offers, the Mirador del Río has architecture worth seeing, which is lost among the rocks of the landscape. It has free parking, a cafeteria, and a binoculars to see the entire archipelago of Chinito.

You can also enjoy this wonderful view without paying an entrance fee by driving along the same road in the direction of the antennas to the Mirador de Nahum.

• Opening hours: from 10 am to 4.40 pm
• Location: Carretera de Ye, S/N, 35541 Haría, Las Palmas
• Entrance fee: about 5 EUR adults, children from 7 to 12 years old pay half price and children under 6 years old are free.

La Graciosa Island

Just 15 minutes drive from the river viewpoint is the port of Órzola, from where the ferry to La Graciosa departs. It will take you to the island in half an hour.

You can also take a water taxi from anywhere on the island but it is more expensive. The third option, which is quite comfortable and includes water activities, is to book one of the excursions to La Graciosa from Lanzarote.

Normally, these excursions include the transfer from the hotel, as well as a catamaran ride to the French beach and lunch included

La Graciosa is an island without cars or asphalt, where only about 700 people live. The ferry arrives at Caleta del Sebo, where you will find a charming little village with white houses and sandy streets. This is a good place to have lunch and get to know the typical dishes of the island.

From there I recommend you to go to the French beach, which is 2 km away from Caleta del Sebo. You can walk there or rent a bicycle there.

The ferry companies that go to La Graciosa are: Biosfera Express and Líneas Romero.

They leave every day every one and a half hours. The first one leaves at 8 am from Órzola and the last one leaves from La Graciosa at 18.30-19 pm. They can be booked online.

Caletón Blanco Beach

Caletón Blanco beach is located in the northern part of the island, in the fishing village of Órzola. It stands out for its white sandy beach dotted with volcanic rocks and its beautiful crystal clear sea.

It is one of the best things to do with children as its waters are very calm. It is also ideal for scuba diving and snorkelling.

Stroll around Órzola and taste its gastronomy

Órzola is a small fishing village with unspoilt beaches and low whitewashed houses. It's the perfect place to dine and sample the island's delicacies, especially if you're eating fish and seafood, although you'll also find a wide variety of other dishes to try.

On the second day I recommend you visit two of Lanzarote's must-see places: Jameos del Agua and Cueva de los Verdes.

In the afternoon, you can go to one of the most beautiful beaches in the north of the island, Caletón Blanco beach. At sunset you can take a boat trip to watch the sun set and get to know the island from a different point of view.

Cave of the Greens

The Cueva de los Verdes was formed from an eruption of the La Corona volcano 20,000 years ago. It is 7 km long and continues under the ocean for a further 1.5 km. It is connected to Jameos del Agua, another point that you will visit on this day.

You can take a 50-minute guided tour to visit the incredible galleries of this volcanic cave, which was intervened by the artist César Manrique, who knew how to integrate his designs with nature. Inside, there is also a concert hall.

• Duration: 50 minutes.
• Location: 800 metres from Jameos del Agua, on the LZ-204 road
• Opening times: 10am to 4pm (until 7pm in summer).
• Entry fee: Around 10 EUR for adults, 5 EUR for children from 7 to 12 years old, and free for children under 6 years old.
• Recommendations: You can buy tickets on their website, but entry is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Jameos del Agua

Jameos del Agua is the part of the volcanic tunnel Cueva de los Verdes that is closest to the coast. Inside this particularly colourful tunnel is a lake 50 metres long, 25 m wide and up to 10 m deep.

Jameos del Agua was also worked on by César Manrique, leaving his characteristic mark. There you will find a restaurant where you can have lunch before heading to the beach.

• Duration: 45 minutes to 1 hour
• Location: LZ 204, Plot 109, Carretera Arrieta - Órzola S/N Lanzarote, 35542 Punta Mujeres
• Opening hours: 10 am to 5 pm
• Entrance fee: Around 10 EUR adults, 5 EUR children from 7 to 12 years old, and free for children under 6 years old.

Sunset boat trip

When you have finished your visit to the Jameos de Agua, you should head towards Puerto del Carmen for the last activity of the day: a short sunset cruise.

It's only about 30 minutes by car, so you can afford to grab a bite to eat and stroll around before you start this cruise.

Watching the sunset as you sail out to sea and take in the island's coastline, cliffs and beaches is one of the best Lenzarote boat tours you can do, especially if you're travelling with your partner.

These tours last approximately two hours and include a welcome glass of champagne and snacks to enjoy on board.

Timanfaya National Park is home to a volcanic landscape, the result of eruptions that took place some 300 years ago. It is truly an unusual landscape, with grey, brown, orange and reddish colours.

I have not included another visit on this day, as there is a lot to see and learn about in this park, such as the Mancha Blanca Interpretation Centre, the Islote de Hilario and the Volcanoes Route.

It is important that you visit as early as possible, as the park is open until 4pm. You can also hire a tour to Timanfaya to visit it in a more organised way and accompanied by a guide who will tell you all the interesting facts.

Mancha Blanca Interpretation Centre

I recommend that you start your visit to the park at the Mancha Blanca Interpretation Centre, where you can learn about the origins of the park, volcanism and history, before exploring the landscape.

The Centre is located before the entrance to the park and admission is free. You have more information on their website.

• Location: Lugar Tinguatón, 35560 Tinajo, Las Palmas, Spain
• Opening hours: 9am to 4pm.

Hilario Islet

The Islote de Hilario is located in the centre of the Timanfaya National Park and is the place where the minibuses leave for the route of the Volcanoes.

On the islet, you can observe the thermal anomalies that occur due to the volcanic activity in the area.

The soil of the Islote de Hilario can reach temperatures of more than 250°C at a depth of 13 metres. During the visit, the guides usually pour cold water into the ground to generate artificial geysers and explain the geothermal activity of the site.

The entrance fee includes a minibus tour along the volcano route, which cannot be done in your own vehicle.

• Admission fee: 12 EUR for adults and 6 EUR for children aged 6-12. Parking included.

Timanfaya Volcanoes Route

This route, which is also known as the route of the Fire Mountains, is one of Lanzarote's must-sees. The minibus takes you through unique volcanic landscapes that seem otherworldly, while you listen to audio information in several languages.

You can't get off during the tour, but the minibus will stop at the most interesting places for you to take pictures.

After the tour, you can have lunch at the El Diablo restaurant, designed by César Manrique, where the heat used for cooking comes from a dormant volcano. It is open from 9.30 am to 3.45 pm.

Optional: Tremesana Trails

It is possible to take a free walking tour starting from the Mancha Blanca Interpretation Centre, known as the Tremesana trail. It is about 2 km long, has little difficulty, and normally takes 2-3 hours to complete. However, you must book in advance as there are few places available and it is not possible to do it every day.

You can book on the park's website.

On the fourth day I recommend a visit to the south coast of the island, where you will find the Museum of the Atlantic, an underwater sculptural wonder, and the Papagayo beaches.

These beaches are part of the Los Ajaches Natural Monument, as the massif is estimated to be 14 million years old. You can spend the morning visiting the Museo del Atlántico and the rest of the day exploring these beautiful beaches and enjoying the serene waters.

Museo del Atlantico, the underwater museum

In Playa Blanca there is an underwater sculptural marvel, the Museo del Atlántico. There are only 3 underwater museums in the world and the one in Lanzarote was the first. It contains some 300 sculptures belonging to the sculptor Jason de Caires Taylor and covers an area of 2500 square metres.

The museum can only be reached by diving and hiring a tour. It is in a calm sea area, at a depth of no more than 14 metres. It is an ideal place to do your first dive, if you are up for the experience.

In case you don't want to dive, you can snorkel, although from the surface you can't see the sculptures in detail.

• Activity price: Around 150 EUR for beginners and 50 EUR for certified divers.
• Duration: 2.5 hours for certified divers and 5 hours for beginners.
• Schedule: In the morning.
• Recommendations: It is advisable to book in advance. There are also tours that offer transfers from different parts of the island.

Papagayo Beaches

Among the best beaches on Lanzarote are those known as the Papagayo beaches, with fine white sand and calm turquoise waters.

In total there are 8 unspoilt beaches and coves connected by footpaths. There are 4 km of beaches that you can walk from end to end, or choose one and enjoy the sun and the sea or go snorkelling.

The first beach that appears, after a 10-minute walk, is Playa Mujeres, one of the most beautiful. Before you get there, you will see some old lime kilns.

The next is Caletón del Cobre, a quieter beach and a popular nudist beach. Papagayo beach, the sixth, is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Spain, and can also be reached by car.

If you are interested in history, the Pozo beach is home to the archaeological site of San Marcial Rubicón, linked to the ancient settlements of the area.

• Symbolic entrance fee: 3 EUR.
• How to get there: Bus number 30 goes to the Papagayo Arena hotel, from where you can take the footpaths to the beaches. You can catch this bus from the Guaguas station in the town of Playa Blanca.

On day 5 I suggest you get to know a little more about Lanzarote's culture by going to one of its main museums, the Casa Museo del Campesino, where you can have lunch, and then take a trip along the LZ-30 road to visit some of the main wineries.

If you haven't rented a car, the best way to get to know the wineries is to hire a tour that will probably offer tastings at each of the wineries you visit.

Casa Museo del Campesino

The Casa Museo del Campesino, designed by César Manrique to pay homage to the local peasant, offers a tour of the architecture, clothing, culture and traditional crafts.

The white buildings with green wood were inspired by the prototype of the peasant's house.

Further away from the buildings is the 15-metre high sculpture Fecundidad, designed by Manrique and created by Jesús Soto.

In one of the buildings built later, there are now craft workshops run by local artisans and a sustainable local market. In the House Museum there is also a restaurant where you can taste typical food.

• Opening hours: 10 am to 6 pm.
• Duration of the visit: 50 minutes
• Location: Calle Triana, 38, 35500 Arrecife, Lanzarote.

Lanzarote Wine Route

After lunch, you can start your tour of the main wineries of Lanzarote, which are very special as they are located in volcanic areas.

A recommended route is to take the LZ-30 road and stop at different wineries, vineyards and museums.

Here are some details about the main wineries in Lanzarote.

1. Los Bermejos Winery

To go to Bodegas Los Bermejos you have to turn off the LZ-30 to take the Sobaco road.

• Price of the guided tour: Tastings cost around 3 EUR per glass, and include a cheese tapa.
• Duration: 50 minutes.
• Hours: 8 am to 3 pm
• Location: Carretera LZ-30, km 11, 3 km from the Monumento al Campesino.

2. El Grifo Winery

Bodegas El Grifo is one of the oldest wineries, founded in 1775. They offer very complete guided tours for those who want to know all about wine making, including tastings.

I recommend you check their website in advance, because not every day they offer guided tours in Spanish.

• Price of the guided tour: Around 35 EUR for the most complete guides and 15 EUR for the tours with audio guide for adults, and 5 EUR for children.
• Duration: There are 80 and 120 minute tours, and a 45 minute audio tour.
• Timetables - Every day at 11am, 3pm and 5pm you can do the tour on your own with audio guide.
• Location: Carretera LZ-30, km 11, 3 km from the Monumento al Campesino.

3. La Geria Winery

Bodegas La Geria is one of the most popularwineries in Lanzarote, and offers guided tours of its vineyards and winery.

• Price of the guided tour: Around 12 EUR including tasting. Children under 14 free
• Timetables: Every day at 11.30am, 2pm, 3pm, 4.30pm and 6pm. The 2 p.m. tour is in English.
• Duration: 45 minutes
• Location: Carretera LZ-30, km 11, 3 km from the Monumento al Campesino.

On the sixth day I suggest you learn more about one of the island's leading artists, César Manrique, who incorporated his designs into natural landscapes such as the Jameos del Agua and the Cueva de los Verdes.

In the morning you can go to the El Castillo Museum of Contemporary Art, where you can have lunch, and then head to the César Manrique Foundation, which is 6 km from the museum. You can also get there by bus.

International Museum of Contemporary Art Castillo de San José

The Castillo de San José International Museum of Contemporary Art is located in Arrecife, and is housed in the Castillo de San José, which was built in the 1970s.

Its interior was designed by César Manrique, who also directed the remodelling of the castle.

The works you can see in this museum are mostly abstract and belong to artists such as Joan Miro, Antoni Tàpies and Eusebio Sempere, among others. The museum also has a restaurant with a view of the sea and the docks, where you can have lunch or breakfast.

• Ticket price: Around 4 EUR including tasting. From 7 to 12 years old, 2 EUR and under 6 years old, free.
• Opening hours: Every day from 11am to 6pm. Restaurant from 12 to 11.30 p.m. and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Sunday to Tuesday.
• Location: Ctra. Los Castillos, 35500 Arrecife, Las Palmas.

César Manrique Foundation

If you take the LZ-1 road, and at the roundabout where the Manrique wind sculpture is, take the LZ-34, you will reach the César Manrique Foundation, which is 6 km from the El Castillo Museum of Contemporary Art. You can also get there by bus.

César Manrique built his house in a series of 5 underground caves or bubbles that were formed after the eruption of a volcano, which he joined together with passageways. He called his house Taro de Tahíche and today it is known as La casa del volcán (The house of the volcano).

Like all of Manrique's works, the house stands out for the continuity of the design with nature.

As well as visiting the house, on the way, you can see the volcano of Tahíche. And if you want to learn more about the artist, you can also visit the Casa Museo Haría, which is located in the northern part of the island.

Another possibility is to stay and visit the village of Tahíche, which is less than 2 km from the Foundation, and discover its exquisite gastronomy.

• Entrance fee: Around 10 EUR.
• Opening hours: Every day from 10 am to 6 pm.
• Location: Fundación César Manrique Taro de Tahíche - C/ Jorge Luis Borges, 16. Tahíche, 35507. Lanzarote

On the last day on the island of Lanzarote I suggest you visit one of the most amazing spectacles on the island: Los hervideros.

Nearby you can visit the salt flats of Janubio, the Charco de los Ciclos and beautiful beaches, to say goodbye to the island until your next visit.

If you like hiking, you can walk all the way from the Charco de los Clicos to the Salinas de Janubio.

Charco de los Clicos

The Charco de los Clicos is a green water lake located in the crater of a volcano. It is part of the Parque Natural de los Volcanes and owes its particular colour to the presence of sulphur and an algae of the Ruppia marítima type.

The Mirador del charco de los Clicos viewpoint is located 500 metres from the entrance to the village of El Golfo, where there is a car park, so you will have no trouble getting there. From there you can walk down to get a close-up view of the lake.

From the car park, you can also go to the black sandy beach of El Golfo by taking another path.

Los Hervideros

The sea pounding against the volcanic cliffs is an incredible sight. The water comes out with so much pressure that it looks like steam, hence its name. The best time to visit is when it is windy and the sea is rough. Or at full moon when the tide is high.

The only drawback if the sea is very rough is that, if you go with children, they may get scared. But it's just a matter of telling them what's going to happen and keeping an eye on them at all times.

It is less than 3 km from the Laguna de los Clicos, passing by the beach of the Bermeja mountain. You can also go back to the road and follow the LZ-703, take a bus line 60 or walk.

Salt pans and beaches of Janubio

Very close to Los Hervideros are the Salinas de Janubio, which have been in operation since 1895, trying to have as little impact on nature as possible.

Many birds come here to drink from the lagoon and the water troughs, which is why it is considered a site of scientific interest and has been declared an area of special protection for birds (ZEPA).

• Entry fee: Around 12 EUR for adults and 6 EUR for children from 6 to 12 years old, including tasting.
• Timetable: Every day at 10 am, 12 pm and 2 pm.
• Duration: 90 minutes
• Location: Fundación César Manrique Taro de Tahíche - C/ Jorge Luis Borges, 16. Tahíche, 35507. Lanzarote