Winter Sun in Lanzarote, Canary Islands
In search for winter sun in Lanzarote, we also discovered volcanic landscapes, sandy beaches, fresh seafood, and Cesar Manrique-influence white-washed buildings.
British winter is dreary to say the least. After the Christmas holiday season, I am ready for some winter sun and a good dose of vitamin D. Thanks to four BA companion vouchers which already took us to The Maldives, Cyprus, and Madeira. The last voucher fulfilled our itch for winter sun in Lanzarote, our destination for some post-Christmas family holiday.
Lanzarote is one of eight islands in the Canary Islands together with Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro, and La Graciosa. We picked Lanzarote as it was supposedly the warmest island in December due to its proximity to the Sahara desert. Looking for a quieter resort area with lively restaurants, sandy beaches and calm waters, Playa Blanca ticked all the boxes. With its southern position means less wind, glorious sunrise and sunsets, and Fuerteventura in the background. Lanzarote was the perfect destination for a mix of relaxation and activity and more importantly, winter sunshine.
If you are in search for winter sun in Lanzarote, here is a list of my top things to do.
Explore Timanfaya National Park
Timanfaya National Park is like Mars on Earth. Seriously, the out-of-this-world landscape is nothing I have seen in all my travels. The greatest volcanic eruption on record happened on the island of Lanzarote between 1730-1736 where more than 100 volcanoes violently erupted, resulting in miles of lava fields. A Unesco Biosphere Reserve, Timanfaya National Park is a protected area consisting entirely of volcanic soil. For this reason, access to the park is strictly regulated to preserve the delicate volcanic landscape.
Most people visit Timanfaya National Park via a 45-minute bus tour from the Cesar Manrique-designed El Diablo Restaurant. The excursion is awe-inspiring as the bus driver takes you up small windy roads to see the varied volcanic landscape and multitude of earthy colours. Seriously, pictures do not do this unique scenery any justice. It is best to snag seats on the right side of the bus as it is more interesting for panoramas especially as you get to higher elevations. Back at El Diablo Restaurant, there is a steam geyser demonstration where they throw water into the hole which spews out stream.
Hike Volcán del Cuervo
If you want to do a volcano walk, then Volcán del Cuervo is your answer. A short drive from Timanfaya National Park, there is a small car park on the right side of LZ-56 so it is easy to combine it with TImanfaya National Park if you set out early. It is about a 20 minute walk along flat terrain from the car park to the base of the volcano. Along the way, there are views of numerous volcanoes including the red-coloured Montana Colorada and Caldera Blanca in the distance. The whole area is Mars-like and fascinating.
At the base of Volcán del Cuervo, turn left to complete the full circular route before entering the crater. Alternatively, the quickest route to the crater is taking the right path. With a young child in tow, we made a beeline to the crater to see the rare flora and the occasional Lanzarote lizard.
Visit the La Geria Wine Region
Lanzarote’s wine region is in the valley of La Geria on the volcanic slopes covering about 20 square kilometres. The vineyards in Lanzarote do not look anything like Napa Valley or Bordeaux. Farmers discovered an indigenous way of cultivating vines by digging funnel-shaped hollows with low semi-circular walls, or ‘zocos’ to protect the vines from the harsh wind. In an arid region with minimal rainfall, the vines are covered with black picón (coarse volcanic ashes) as the porous granules retain moisture. Not surprisingly, the annual production is small, but excellent quality wines.
Spend the afternoon wine-tasting at the bodegas such as La Geria Bodegas, Bodegas Rubicon, and Bodegas El Grifo. Enjoy a crisp glass of Malvasia white and enjoy the otherworldly vineyards. It is a truly unique experience like no other wine region.
Watch the Sunset at El Golfo
The small fishing village of El Golfo on the southwest coast is home to the famous ‘green lagoon’ or Lago Verde located inside an eroded semi-circular volcanic cone. Its strange and distinctive green colour is the result of algal phytoplankton growing inside the old crater. The landscape in El Golfo is unique with Mars-like volcanos, black sand beaches, and the wild waves of the Atlantic Ocean.
Sitting on the west coast, El Golfo is arguably the best place to catch the sunset in Lanzarote. Be sure to time your visit to enjoy “golden hour” to get the best pictures with soft natural light. Another highlight of El Golfo is enjoying fresh seafood at one of the many local eateries right on the beach whilst gazing into the sunset. We had an enjoyable dinner of grilled octopus (polpo) and a seafood paella at Mar Azul. It was the perfect way to end the day after an exciting day at Timanfaya National Park.
Swim in Playa de Papagayo
A short drive from Playa Blanca off a dirt path inside Ajaches National Park is Playa de Papagayo which consists of five sandy coves, all sheltered from the wind. The main beach and also the most popular of the five beaches is Playa Papagayo. It is completely a wild and natural beach with no facilities except for a snack shop and a restaurant. Be sure to bring snacks, water, beach towels, hat and suncream for a day out in Playa de Papagayo swimming and building sandcastles. If you want a secluded beach, visit another nearby cove until you find your little slice of heaven.
Marvel at César Manrique’s Architecture
The architect and artist César Manrique, a local native left an indelible mark on Lanzarote. With a passion for nature, his architectural designs and art incorporate volcanic landscapes of his native island. In fact, Manrique enthusiastically advocated for sustainable tourism, shunning mass tourism and encouraging preservation of the island’s aesthetic features. All around the island, you can see Manrique’s influence from white-washed cubic houses to cactus gardens and nature-forming swimming pools.
Cesar Manrique designed Jameos del Agua, a natural space built inside a volcanic tunnel; Mirador del Rio, a viewpoint overlooking the northwest coast; and Jardin de Cactus, an ode to the prickly cactus You can also visit Manrique’s two homes: the Volcano House now the César Manrique Foundation in Tahíche and the House Museum in Haría.
We visited the Volcano House, Manrique’s home for nearly 20 years upon his return from New York City. This unique house sits on a 30,000 sqm lot with volcano views and miles of lava coulee. Drawing from traditional Lanzarote architecture, the upper story is more modern with large windows and lots of natural light. The lower story is the most interesting, built around five natural volcanic bubbles connected by tunnels. Each volcanic bubble has a habitable setting with a splash of colour, including a lounge area, ballroom, BBQ area, swimming pool, and an outdoor dining area. Trees and plants are incorporated throughout the lower story, giving it a natural and tranquil setting.
Eat Tapas at the Marina Rubicón
Nestled between Playa Blanca and Playa de Papagayo is Marina Rubicón, a modern and upmarket marina. On Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9am-2pm, there is a lively artisan market selling local products along the seafront promenade. Marina Rubicón is a great place to enjoy tapas and a glass of crisp Lanzarote white wine with view of the marina.
There are numerous restaurants along the seafront such as Casa Carlos, Lani’s Snack Shake, Restaurant Liken, Izaro Taberna, and La Case Roja. La Taberna, right in the middle of the marina, was an excellent choice for high-quality tapas whilst enjoying the spectacular sunset. The garlic shrimp, fish croquette, and calamari were exceptionally tasty.
Walk or Run along Coastal Promenade in Playa Blanca
A fantastic walk on the south coast is the 7km coastal promenade stretching from Marina Rubicón to Faro de Punta Pechiguera with lovely views of Fuerteventura and Montaña Roja. From Marina Rubicón, you will walk pass by Playa Dorada before reaching a string of traditional restaurants stretching to Puerto de Playa Blanca, the main ferry from Playa Blanca to Corralejo. From Punta Limones and Playa Flamingo, major beachfront hotels like the Iberostar line the beautifully landscaped promenade all the way to Faro de Punta Pechiguera.
Enjoy the winter sun in Lanzarote, the land of volcanoes and sandy beaches.
