Travel Diary: How to Spend 3 days in Lanzarote

Holidays to Lanzarote has been a popular spot for British tourists for as long as I can remember. It requires only a few hours travel, is pretty much guaranteed to have sunshine weather for eleven months of the year, and it has everything you might need for a cost effective few days away. I had visited Lanzarote many-a-time as a child on family holidays, but when Jet2holidays* invited me to join them a press trip, I was excited to revisit it as an adult and explore some of the culture I was too young to appreciate the first time around.

How to get to Lanzarote from the UK

Travelling to Lanzarote is very quick and affordable, and the best and quickest way to visit is by plane. There are regular flights to Lanzarote via Jet2 and it takes around 4 hours, or 3 if you count the hour time difference. You can also find plenty of inclusive deals and package holidays on the Jet2holidays website. 

Lanzarote is popular with a lot of sunseekers due to the year-round sunshine (their rainfall is so limited and tends to be in November), so its great for restful winter escapes, luxury holidays or, if you prefer to keep busy, there are certainly some adventure packed itineraries you can enjoy too. 

Day 1 in Lanzarote - Travelling from London Stansted, El Golfo and Timanfaya National Park

With only three days to execute our busy itinerary and see as much of the island as possible, we caught a super early Monday morning flight from London Stansted. This was the perfect excuse to grab a hearty breakfast from the in-flight menu (would have been rude not to), and we were treated to some beautiful sunrise views once in the air. Before we knew it, though, we were touching down in sunny Lanzarote and feeling the heat. With just a little bit of time to get changed before swiftly heading to our first destination of the day. 

El Golfo

Our first stop of the day was to El Golfo. Arguably one of the most famous spots on the island, El Golfo is known for its stunning views and a protected green lake (Los Clicos Lagoon). You can't swim in the lagoon, which gets its colour from the high concentration of algae, but it has been the setting of many a film, including One Million Years B.C. (1966) starring Raquel Welch, spaghetti westerns including Take a Hard Ride (1975), and the science-fiction film Enemy Mine (1985). Here, our wonderful tour guide taught us all about the different types of red and black rock which blankets the island as a result of the historic volcanic eruptions from the 1700s. 

Timanfaya National Park and the El Diablo Restaurant 

Next up on our itinerary was one of my most anticipated stops of the trip - Timanfaya National Park. Spanning over 30 miles, the parkland is a vast barren land which served as the backdrop for The Dawn of Man scenes in Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey.

The red landscape is result of six years of the eruptions which would go on to be so deeply engrained in Lanzarote's culture, agriculture and tourism. It is entirely made up of volcanic soil - making it look and feel like another planet entirely. Fun fact - NASA is even working with the Lanzarote government at the national park in order to better understand the landscape of Mars. 

After some demonstrations from the park rangers, it was time to grab some lunch from the El Diablo restaurant which uses nothing more than the heat of the earth and volcanos to prepare it's dishes. After a long morning of sightseeing and travelling, this did just the trick - and for dessert they even served adorable popping candy volcanos. 

With our bellies fully and having experienced some of the best cultural experiences Lanzarote has to offer, we headed to our hotel to unpack and relax for a few hours. 

The Barceló Lanzarote Royal Level

The Barcelo Lanzarote Royal Level is just one of hotels available via Jet2holidays. Located conveniently from the majority of the must-see spots on the island in Costa Teguise, Las Palmas, this hotel is part of the Jet2holidays Luxe collection; meaning it is one of their top rated 4 and 5 star properties in an exclusive location - favoured for their stylish decor, great service and fine dining restaurants. 

Decorated with cactus plants and tropical gardens, you can expect sunset sea views from an exclusive-access infinity pool area, all inclusive dining and access to all the facilities within the Barcelo Lanzarote Active Resort. My spacious room felt more like an apartment, complete with a living room and TV area, private balcony, stylish bedroom and a kitchenette. It would certainly do nicely for our three night trip.  

Kentia Gourmet Club in Puerto del Carmen

Having gotten myself unpacked and relaxed, it was time to head out for dinner at one of Lanzarote's top eateries. The Kentia Gourmet Club in Puerto del Carmen is a Michelin star dining experience and the perfect date night location. With Lanzarote being just 80 miles from the North African coast, Kentia Gourmet Club offers an incredible menu of global fusion dishes and fancy cocktails amid African inspired décor. 

This was without a doubt the best meal we've had all week and perhaps one of my favourites of all time. The service was fantastic, the restaurant has a great atmosphere thanks to the quirky, stylish décor and the 5 course meal really loved up to its Michelin star rating. I would say this is a must if you're looking to sample some of the best food Lanzarote has to offer. 

Day 2 in Lanzarote - The Cueva de los Verdes and Jameos del Agua 

Cueva de los Verdes

I'll be honest, I had fully intended to get up and enjoy the amazing breakfast selection at the hotel, but the bed was just far too good to leave. I opted for grabbing some fruit and pastries to go for the mini-van instead. Today's adventures would see us heading first to the Cueva de los Verdes (the green caves) - an incredible lava tube which left natural caves.

The caves are another popular tourist attraction of the Haria municipality on the island and are protected, meaning you must attend with a tour guide in order to enter. It's well worth doing though to learn all about the history of these incredible caves, which are now often used for music events due to the incredible acoustics. Interestingly, the droplets caused by the cooling lava have meant that there is no echo at all in the caves and makes for the perfect and unique concert venue. 

The Jameos del Agua

A stones throw away from the spectacular views of the caves is Jameos del Agua. Also a cave system as a result of a lava tube, it's home to one of the world’s most unique restaurants; a stunning salt water pool filled with albino crabs found only in Lanzarote, and striking backdrops carved from Lanzarote's signature black basalt. Designed and shaped by the famous Lanzarote artist and architect, César Manrique, Jameos del Agua has hosted many great artists and parties over the years since the 1970s, including Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollock. 

Once you've enjoyed the caverns and taken in the natural pools, you can take a seat at the restaurant for a delicious 3 course lunch.

Wine tasting tour at Bodega Stratvs

After another wonderful lunch, we made our way to one of Lanzarote's many wine vineyards, Bodega Stratvs in Las Palmas. Despite the lack of rainfall in Lanzarote, winemaking is very much the lifeblood of the island. In fact, there are nearly 2,000 registered viticulturists and 21 wineries making up the Denominacion de Origen, all of which use traditional methods for an authentic taste. 

Unlike vineyards you may have seen, all the grape vines in Lanzarote are found on the ground. The volcanic black stones which are seen all over the island are perfect for produce and farming as they store and slowly release water over time, making up for the lack of rain. The water stored in the stones, allows the grape vines to grow throughout the year until harvest, the rain comes and the process starts all over again. Some of the vines we were shown during our tour of Bogeda Stratvs are over 200 years old. 

If like me you're not the biggest fan of wine, the tour of the vineyard still makes for an interesting group activity and our tour guide was hilarious and full of stories. She was also great at recommending some sweeter wines that might suit my childlike palette, so even I enjoyed the tasting session. They also had a wonderful shop full of cheeses, chocolates and treats to take home with you.

Dinner at Hespérides Restaurant in Old Town Teguise

Having had a wonderful few hours in the pool back at the hotel to cool off from the day's sun, it was time to head out for another incredible dining experience. For the second evening of our trip, we visited Old Town in Teguise for a 5 course meal at Hespérides. 

Located a little off the beaten path, I'm so glad to have been shown this spot as it may not stand out from the outside. Restaurante Hespérides offers a relaxed yet smart setting, serving up a rotating menu of hearty Spanish and international plates, with a twist, alongside a bar of wine, beer and cocktails. Making use of all the island's fresh produce, they whipped us up an experimental menu to sample. 

I really loved this meal and we had a wonderful time visiting. Though some of the dishes were not necessarily the sort of thing I would think to order for myself, I always love a set menu that will force me out of my comfort zone. I'm still thinking about the tuna avocado dish, and I would absolutely recommend making yourself a reservation if you find yourself in Lanzarote anytime soon. 

Day 3 in Lanzarote - Haría, Valley of the Thousands Palms and Teguise Old Town

Haría, Valley of the Thousands Palms

Up early again for our final full day in Lanzarote with Jet2, we made our way to the north of the island to the picturesque village of Haría, also known as the Valley of the Thousand Palms. Though small and with a population of less than 1000 people, Haria is a quaint and quiet spot, ideal for browsing local independent shops and cafes, completely unspoiled by tourists and surrounded by Lanzarote's volcanic countryside. We spent a little while here before heading off to yet another charming spot on the island. 

Teguise Old Town

Just a short drive down the road from Haria is Teguise Old Town, one of the first settlements established in the Canary Islands and the former capital. Not to be confused with the coastal town of Costa Teguise, Teguise is a peaceful market village with plenty of architecture and buildings dating back to the 1500s, when they would come under siege of blood thirsty pirates. 

In the present day, however, it is home to a market every Sunday (which takes over the entire square as the largest market in Lanzarote),  as well as a number of monuments, a very instagrammable windmill and churches. 

Famara Beach

After a successful retail therapy session and stop-off for an ice cream, we continued the third day of our Jet2 Lanzarote holiday with a quick stop at Famara Beach, a stunning golden beach which is popular with locals and surfers. With stunning views of the cliffs and a vast beach, it makes for a beautiful spot to soak up the sun. 

Lunch at the MIAC (International Museum of Contemporary Art)

We built up a healthy appetite from all of the morning exploration, and so it was time to head to MIAC, the International Museum of Contemporary Art for our final lunch of the Jet2 trip - and a very cultured dining experience.

Housed within the 18th century military fort of Castillo de San Jos on the port of Arrecife, the museum was opened in 1975 and remodelled by none other than César Manrique. Decorated with Lanzarote's signature upcycled wood and black volcanic rock, the museum is a luxury setting, hosting a variety of artists from all over the world, with the glass terraced restaurant overlooking the bay. An idyllic spot for lunch or dinner when visiting Lanzarote. 

 

With our stomachs suitably full, we walked off our three courses and toured the museum before making our way back to the hotel one last time. It's safe to say we crammed in so much within our 3 day visit to Lanzarote with Jet2holidays. If you're visiting the island and hoping to see as much as possible, I would absolutely recommend a rental car as everything is so easily accessible by car and you can cover so much in a short space of time. 

I'm so grateful for the opportunity to revisit Lanzarote as an adult. It brought back some wholesome childhood memories, whilst creating some great new ones. I'm also super thankful to have been joined by such a friendly, lovely group for the duration of the trip, with whom I got to share this adventure with. That's it for another travel diary - you can find more information about holidays to Lanzarote with Jet2 via their website, and I hope that you'll find this guide useful should you ever find yourself on the beautiful island of Lanzarote. So tell me, have you ever been to Lanzarote or the Canary Islands? Which holiday destinations are on your list? As always I love reading your comments so please do leave me some below.

Until next time fellow jetsetters, 

*Disclaimer: This was a press trip and collaboration with Jet2 Holidays and the Lanzarote Tourist Board. As always, all views and opinions are my own.