Car Hire Lanzarote Airport

Like all the islands in the archipelago, Lanzarote enjoys a wonderful climate all year round, so any time of year is good for visiting the island.

To get better offers for car hire on Lanzarote, certainly the best time is during the low season on the island, between the months of March and November.

An excellent starting point for your tour of the island’s capital is the Puente de las Bolas, located at the beginning of the promenade, which passes over the sea and leads to the San Gabriel Castle, which stands imposingly overlooking the ocean.  To the east of the city, you will find the San José Castle, built in the 18th century, which today houses the International Museum of Contemporary Art.

It is recommended that you go to the large fishing port, where the blue boats and almost all of them display a skilfully carved effigy, will attract your attention. El Charco de San Ginés is a raffled lake with beautiful bridges leading to the church of San Ginés, with a colonial-style façade and a square tower.

Fundación César Manrique: 4 km north of Arrecife, in Taro de Tahiche. This house is a reflection of what César Manrique wanted for his island, an architecture integrated into the landscape.

It is built on five volcanic bubbles and a river of bluish black lava. The reliefs are perfectly integrated over the 1,500 m2. The bubbles, each one of a colour, are dedicated to the muses. In the red one, a fig tree has been growing for many years, which climbs up to the hall transformed into an exhibition hall.

César Manrique promoted the uniformity of colour on the island, based on white houses with blue, green and brown windows and doors. The basis of his idea was “harmony with nature, preserving tradition and an architecture integrated into the landscape, of proportions in accordance with the natural environment”.

Routes by car in Lanzarote north:

Teguise
11 km north of Arrecife. It is, without doubt, the most beautiful town on Lanzarote, built with colonial style houses, with admirable doors, windows and carved wooden balconies.

The central square is surrounded by beautiful buildings such as the church of San Miguel with a pink stone portico and a bell tower with skilfully worked balconies and windows. In front of the church is El Alcatife, a beautiful house converted into a restaurant.

Here, the Palacio de Spinola stands out, a group of rooms decorated with antique furniture. The corridors and exterior patios are decorated with plants and flowers that embellish this 18th century mansion. Only 1 km away is the castle of Santa Barbara, built on the top of Mount Guanapay, at whose feet the city extends, and in the distance, a splendid panorama of a large part of the island.

Teguise is home to the Canary Island’s premier instrument, the timple. This is an instrument similar to the five-string ukulele with the bass in the centre, which is very typical of Lanzarote. It takes two days to make and can be ordered from some of the workshops in the area.

Haría
15 km north of Teguise, 27 km north of Arrecife This quiet and peaceful town, located in the Valley of a Thousand Palms, has lava-paved streets and gardens overflowing with flowers. It is worth the visit, especially because the winding road that goes there passes through some impressive ravines, covered with cactus and crops with trellises.

Mirador del Rio
8 km north of Haria, 32 km north of the reef. Like an eagle’s nest it towers over the three islands in front of it: Graciosa, Montaña Clara and Alegranza. The wind is blowing hard, as if to sound the immense basalt organs that channel the lichen-covered lava rivers. A large terrace allows you to contemplate the panorama.

The Jameos del Agua
Include photo of Jameos de Agua lagoon. 27 km north of Arrecife, and 11 km east of Mirador del Rio. Concerts or performances are held in the auditorium. In addition to the Cueva de los Verdes, there are some volcanic caves, which have been fitted out by César Manrique.

You descend via a staircase carved into the rock through lush vegetation and relaxing music that introduces us to this unreal world. An opening in the ceiling of the cave lets in the sun’s rays that illuminate the dark lake and gives it turquoise, navy and metallic blue reflections. Here live the albino and blind crabs, unique in the world.

The second cave converted into an auditorium. The sumptuous natural setting makes the volcanic stone vault the ideal stage for concerts. A skilful distribution of the lighting gives a magical air to the whole.

Guatiza and Mala
13 km and 22 km north of Arrecife These villages are the main centre of conchinchilla breeding in the prickly pears, and extend as far as the eye can see. A pass during the flowering season (May) is a treat for the eye. Yellow or orange flowers cover the incised spines so that a fig is born that the natives find delicious.

The Cactus Garden
Located between Mala and Guatiza. As you enter, in the middle of the road, there is a sculpture of about 8 meters that represents a cactus. There are currently 1,420 species growing there, most of which originate in America, Madagascar and the Canary Islands. Some measure no more than 3 cm, and some reach 25 m.

La Santa Village
9 km northwest of Tinajo. Almost at the end of the road you can see an authentic fishing village with its small port. The waves break against the rocks with a deafening noise, and between the houses and the sea, a walk of volcanic earth gives an old and charming aspect to the place.

In the direction of the lighthouse, when the road becomes a track, there is, among lava, a kind of lake of green, white and turquoise water that invites you to swim.

Costa Teguise

8 km northeast of Arrecife. The third tourist centre of the island, a paradise for surfing and windsurfing fans, as well as golfers, who could enjoy an 18-hole course.

Routes by car in Lanzarote south:

Puerto del Carmen

14 km south of Arrecife A 12 km long beach stretches between the old fishing port and the airport. The most popular tourist destination on Lanzarote.

Playa Blanca

45 km south of Arrecife. At the southern end of the island, there is a humble sleeping fishing port, Puerto del Carmen. The promenade is full of flowers and is very pleasant. From bars and restaurants you can watch the sunset behind Fuerteventura. If you are looking for tranquillity, you can go to the southeast end, at the foot of the Ajache Grande and Ajache Chico volcanoes, where there are numerous coves and beaches, including those of Papagayo and Punta de Papagayo.

The beaches of Papagayo

The most beautiful beaches of Lanzarote start at Punta del Aguila. Las Coloradas is a beach of sand and black pebbles, while after passing a few rocks, the sand turns golden and the water becomes transparent, as happens at Playa de las Mujeres or Playa del Pozo. In the bay you will find the old village of Papagayo are nudist and full.

Los Ajaches Natural Park
5 km east of Playa Blanca. Los Ajaches can be reached by a track from Playa Blanca. From the top of the cliffs you can see a dreamy cove with clear and crystalline waters. Diving enthusiasts have their paradise here.

Timanfaya National Park
25 km north of Playa Blanca, 36 km west of Arrecife The park has an area of about 5,000 hectares. The visit starts with a zigzagging path and, little by little, the fire mountains come closer, and the landscape is almost lunar. As you climb the toll barrier, you enter the route of the volcanoes. This narrow road leads to the islet of Hilario, 2 km away.

Cars must be parked, as the visit is by bus. Soon the first surprises take place, the sun heats up, a hole of about 50 cm deep burns in a few seconds some dry grasses that get into it. At only 10 cm deep, the temperature reaches 150º C and at 6m it is 400º C.

The crater of Los Cuervos, whose walls are full of multicoloured stones and where there is a wall of rocks of subtle shapes and colours. The Valle de la Tranquilidad, extends with a granulated lava floor, with a few stones; further on, the sinuous lava rivers, impressive cracks and caves.

The dromedaries, lying in the sun with their curious mounts, wait to give a ride to those who wish to climb part of the volcanoes’ slopes, the gravel of which is cushioned under the hooves.

Geria Plateau
18 km north of Playa Blanca, 23 km southwest of Arrecife. Covered with ashes from the last eruption, man’s courage and imagination transformed it into fertile land where vines grow. The art of cultivation is surprising, and is that the farmers dig the soil in the form of a cone to plant a vineyard in the centre, which they surround with gravel in the leeward direction and to protect it from the winds and to conserve moisture.

Yaisa
26 km southwest of Arrecife, 15 km north of Playa Blanca. In its square is the church of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios. Los Jardines de Hera, a 17th century house converted into a restaurant.

If you wish to make the most of your trip and enjoy your time, we recommend that you explore the island with a rental car. Remember that you can reserve a car hire Lanzarote from 7 £ per day with unlimited mileage.