Lanzarote will absolutely take your breath away with its vast volcanic landscape and striking white buildings clustered together in towns against a wild backdrop. You can easily fit a lot in if you have just a week to explore this stunning Canary Island and getting around with a hire car is the best way to see it all!
This post is sponsored by Jet2.com. We jetted off to Lanzarote with Jet2 Holidays for a week to see what we discovered! Thank you Jet2 and as always, all opinions and views remain honest and my own.
Arrival & Car Hire Pick Up
Before we even got to Lanzarote I was so happy to find out that we would be getting our flights from Birmingham with Jet2 as it’s so convenient for us and there is no extra expenses to worry about! We were lucky enough to have a Jet2CarHire to get us around for our adventures and the process couldn’t have been simpler. You can arrange your car hire before you jet off or you can arrange it once you get to your resort and some selected hotels offer “hotel delivery” which means your hire car will be delivered to your hotel so you don’t have to queue up at the airport, which is pretty neat!
However, if you do opt for pick up at the airport as we did, then the desks are located right next to the luggage carrousels and you can sign the paperwork and pick up the keys before your bags even make it out to you.
It was such an easy process that I highly recommend it to anyone thinking of hiring a car in Lanzarote. Plus they offer a £1 deposit and a price match guarantee, WINNING!
Hotel: Seaside Los Jameos Playa
If you’re looking for the perfect hotel to just relax, get pampered and be in the BEST location to explore the island, then you might want to check out Seaside Los Jameos Playa through Jet2holidays. The moment we entered through to the reception area, our mouths dropped as the foyer opens up and reveals the most spectacular architecture and high windows that let the warm winter sun flood through.
We were blown away with this hotel, which says a lot after being so lucky to have stayed in so many incredible hotels around the world. It felt large enough that you weren’t tripping over the other guests but intimate enough that you wouldn’t get lost! We got booked in for their all-inclusive package which can always make people a little nervous, after all, food is king and you never know what you’re going to get. Let me assure you right now that the buffet was PHENOMENAL! Every day they mixed things up and had themed nights with freshly cooked dishes from all over the world. Also, my vegetarians and vegans can rest assured, they’ve got you covered with PLENTY of options which are all clearly labeled, so you will never go hungry! Also, the cocktails… 10/10, would recommend.
Where to explore
There is an endless list of places to go, sights to see and tapas to try but here are some of the best things to see in Lanzarote. Where our hotel was located made it perfect to explore the island as we were so central, situated only a 6-minute drive from the airport and lying in the middle of the coast, we never felt as though we were backtracking or wasting time in getting to and from the best places.
Cactus Garden
This may well be one of the most popular stops for visitors but for good reason! Simply pay your entrance fee (which is just under 6 euros) and spend an hour or so wandering through the maze of incredible cacti while you admire the volcanic backdrop. We also stopped at the cafe there for a coffee so we could really take in the breathtaking scenery.
Arrecife
Just a short drive up the coast from the hotel you’ll arrive in Arrecife which certainly feels like it boasts more of a locals vibe than other coastal towns that are aimed more at tourists. Parking here didn’t look promising as we went up and down the coastal road looking for somewhere to slot in. We ended up going back to where we spotted a large underground carpark (you can’t miss it as you are driving into Arrecife from the south).
Arrecife is the perfect place for those who just love to wander and follow their noses. The castle museum which is set out on the waterfront is free to enter however all of the signs were in Spanish so make sure you have google translate at the ready. Also, while you’re in there, don’t forget to go upstairs to the roof where you can get a panoramic view of the city.
Playa Blanca (weekly markets)
Who doesn’t love a good market?? Well, there are huge markets held in Playa Blanca (right at the very south tip of the island) every Wednesday and Sunday, plus for those with a car hire, you can park at the Ramada car park, FOR FREE! You’ll find lots of beautiful handmade items from locals spanning every generation you could think of. Clothing, boardgames, homeware, and souvenirs can all be snapped up if you fancy taking a bit of Lanzarote back with you!
Once you’re done with your shopping spree, make sure you grab a seat at one of the little cafes to enjoy a cold drink in the sunshine while you soak up the view of the marina, before heading back to the car for some more adventuring!
Puerto del Carmen
If you do decide to stay at Seaside Los Jameos Playa then Puerto del Carmen is literally on your doorstep and you can walk straight along the coast to explore its many shops, beautiful sprawling beaches, and many bars!
It’s certainly aimed more at the tourist crowd with one euro beers being advertised along with some suspiciously cheap English breakfasts. However we did find an incredible bar called Cafe La Ola which is down a small driveway, just look out for the ridiculously colorful pillows! We actually came back here a couple of times and sat staring at the sea with a cold beer, or two!
Timanfaya National Park
No trip to Lanzarote would be complete without a visit to Timanfaya National Park! It gave us major Tongariro Crossing vibes from New Zealand and if you thought the landscape you had seen across the rest of the island was jaw-dropping, then you are in for a big surprise!
We made a stop at El Golfo to see the green lake as well as grab a cold drink from a tiny restaurant while we munched on Olives and caught some winter rays. The walk to the green lake is very short and easy, just stop at the large carpark located on the left-hand side as you enter El Golfo, honestly, you can’t miss it, and follow the path!
As you’re driving through the park, there are plenty of stopping points to pull over, whip out the camera and take in the incredible sights.
When you arrive at the entrance to the park, be warned, they do not accept card, so take some cash so you don’t have to go on a wild chase to find an ATM, which are few and far between on the outskirts of the park!
Your entrance ticket will include a bus ride through the volcanic landscape and once you get on the bus and start moving, you quickly realise why they don’t allow anyone else to drive it. Those afraid of heights, be warned as the bus comes off the edge of many steep drops before sharply swinging back onto the road making everyone grip their seats and gasp. But what you will see from the windows will leave you speechless. It’s as though this area of the island was frozen in time as the sheer amount of molten rock encapsulates everything for as far as the eye can see.
Cueva de Los Verdes & Jameos del Agua
Second, to the national park, the green caves are easily the most spectacular sights you will find on the island. The queue was long but worth the wait as a tour guide leads you down into the labyrinth, pointing out how these caves were actually a lava run, showing signs of molten lava which had dried all around the rock, leaving almost water droplet style textures in every direction. As someone who is claustrophobic, I was a tad worried but I hung back from the crowd and the “small parts” are over very quickly and it’s nothing too crazy or tight. Most of the tour is in huge open spaces, with only tiny bits requiring you to duck! Whatever you do, do not miss out on visiting the green caves!
Jameos del Agua is situated just across the road (pretty much) from the green caves so usually people do these two together! As you make your way down the staircase you are pulled into an unexpectedly peaceful area where you can sit and take in a spectacular sight.
Mirador del Rio
Who doesn’t love a good panorama? Well, hold onto your hats as you get the most spectacular view of La Graciosa for only a few euros. There is also a cafe where you can sit inside next to a huge window which wraps around so you can enjoy the view with a latte.
What else can I say?
Lanzarote really surprised me, with its dramatic landscape which never gets old, to the most wonderful people and the most unforgettable attractions. We all know that the best way to get around any place is with a car but Lanzarote really offers endless treats to its drivers (and passengers). The island is small so there won’t be any long stints sat in a car and all of the roads are perfectly tarmacked, meaning you can focus on the sights around you and not the potholes in front of you! Plus, YOU’RE FREE! No relying on group tours and exploring on someone else’s schedule! Whenever you want to get out of the hotel, whether it’s for a full day of exploring, or just to pop to a couple of towns closeby, you can just get up and go. Plus, my favourite part, is leaving for the airport on our schedule! Just park the car up, drop the keys and head for the check-in desks.
Right now, all I want to do is go back to explore more of the Canary Islands, so any tips or recommendations would be very much appreciated! Also, here’s a link if you fancy exploring the Canary islands with jet2holidays. A massive thank you to Jet2 for sending us on an incredible trip around Lanzarote!
