Activities in Lanzarote: the island of volcanoes
Welcome to one of the most important Canary Islands: Lanzarote! This island has it all, golden white sandy beaches, mountains, palm trees and turquoise waters. Its white houses with blue details are the perfect combination with its dreamlike landscape. It all sounds like paradise, doesn't it? But Lanzarote has a unique characteristic, its reddish and black lands form a landscape from another planet... As if it were Mars! Which makes Lanzarote the perfect island for new adventures.
Lanzarote is situated in the Atlantic Ocean, 1000 km from the mainland, 140 km from the North African coast and approximately 400 km from the Madeira Islands. Getting to this island is not as difficult as it may seem. In Lanzarote there is an airport, better known as Arrecife Airport, as it is located in the capital of this island.
You can travel easily from cities such as Dublin, Brussels, London, Munich, Edinburgh, Zurich, Berlin, Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester and Amsterdam. If you want to experience the experience of travelling by boat you have two options, twice a week, a ferry departs from Cadiz or Huelva. ! And don't forget that you can easily go from one island to another by ferry!
Kayaking and snorkelling excursion at Papagayo Beach
Papagayo Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches, not only in Lanzarote but also in Spain. This beach is a destination of volcanic reefs, with golden sand, crystal clear turquoise waters and an almost unaltered beauty, as it has very few facilities due to the fact that it belongs to the Natural Monument of Ajaches which is an area of great archaeological wealth. Here you will find a car park and two restaurants where you can enjoy cocktails and food with the best view.
Playa Papagayo is surrounded by cliffs that protect it from the wind and make its waters calm... or rather perfect for snorkelling and kayaking. Our Kayak and Snorkel excursion is the perfect combination to discover this lunar landscape. You will get into your kayak and be guided from Las Coloradas beach, where you will enjoy the view of the cliffs and the different beaches until you reach Playa Papagayo.
After a kayak tour what happens to us? Well, we work up an appetite! That's why on the shores of Playa Papagayo you'll enjoy a picnic and then snorkel and explore the crystal clear waters filled with all kinds of fish, starfish and seahorses, octopus, crabs and maybe even rays and angel sharks. After this break you will continue your tour, learning about the history of the Canary Islands, eruptions and volcanism, until you reach Punta de Papagayo. It's a perfect plan, isn't it?
Diving in the Underwater Museum of Lanzarote
The wonders of Lanzarote are not only to be found on the surface. This island has one of the most exciting and magical surprises of the archipelago... an underwater museum!
The Atlantic Museum was created on 10 January 2017 by the diver, biologist, sculptor and ceramist Jason deCaires Taylor . This magnificent museum is located in the bay of Las Coloradas at a depth of 15 metres and covers an area of 2,500 square metres with more than 300 sculptures, creating film-like images that are perfect for scuba diving.
This majestic underwater world is not only an artistic expression, but also a conservation project. The sculptures are made of a type of pH-neutral concrete which creates an artificial reef that is expected to help increase the marine biomass and the reproduction of the island's many species. It is no coincidence that this island has been chosen for this project, as Lanzarote has a good track record in biodiversity conservation, for example, having been awarded Biosphere Responsible Tourism certification by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.
There is no better activity to get to know this atlantis of biodiversity than scuba diving. To begin this adventure, your PADI instructor will explain everything you need to know to have a safe and wonderful experience. Then you will enter the water, all the time accompanied by your guide, for a first dive. Afterwards, you will have a break for a snack and a drink of water to prepare for the second and third dives. This is the third dive during which you will visit the Atlantic Museum.
You will be amazed to see how the author managed to immortalise the tragedy of maritime migrations and you will glimpse the marine mirror, a habitat for different species. You will also get to know Lanzarote's neighbours, as some of their faces are also perpetuated on the seabed.
Paragliding in Caleta de Famara, the land of mountains
Imagine more than 3 kilometres of golden sandy beach and volcanic rock surrounded by the giant natural walls that are the cliffs of Caleta de Famara.
This volcanic locality is located in the Chinijo Natural Park, classified as a special protection area for birds (ZEPA), as it is perfect for the nesting of eagles, hawks, sea birds, birds of passage and even birds in danger of extinction.
When you reach this place your eyes will not believe the dark giant you are looking at... the famous Risco de Famara. Then, as you lower your eyes you will be able to observe the colours of the wings of the paragliders and sails that fly over the area. At low tide, you will feel the sun's rays on your cheeks as the cliffs of Famara, the clouds and the sky are reflected in a mirror of sand.
Now that you know what awaits you in Caleta de Famara, you will understand why paragliding is the best activity to discover this place. After an explanatory talk from the instructor, you will put on all the equipment and walk over the cliffs until you fly. You will feel the fresh breeze while your feet are suspended in the air, you will observe the wonderful cliffs of Caleta de Famara while you feel the clouds and the sun rays close by.
You can opt for a quiet 20 minute flight where you will enjoy the calm scenery, an adrenaline flight where you will try out fun manoeuvres for 20 minutes or the options with which you can enjoy the scenery for longer. If you are not a fan of heights, don't worry, there is plenty to do in Caleta de Famara.
Jet Ski Excursion in Playa Blanca
Playa Blanca is a paradise of golden sand, warm temperatures and clear waters. This place is located in the south of Lanzarote (from here you can see the north of Fuerteventura) and is a true paradise not only to relax, but also to enjoy the best activities.
Unlike Playa Papagayo, Playa Blanca has all the services a traveller is looking for: shops, hotels, pharmacies, churches, bars and restaurants. This area of fishing villages with traditional architecture and landscapes formed by volcanic eruptions in the 18th century make Playa Blanca one of the most popular tourist spots in Lanzarote. This part of the island is also the connection point between Corralejo and Fuerteventura, as the ferry arrives at the Marina Rubicon which is located here.
But Playa Blanca doesn't have just ONE beach, but several: Playa Blanca, Playa Dorada and Playa Flamingo, which has an incredible view of Lobos (Fuerteventura). One of the most effective and fun ways to discover these islands is on a jetski!
This excursion can be done alone or with a passenger, you don't need a sailing licence and you will be guided in a closed circuit for your safety. You will be able to enjoy the breathtaking landscapes of the south of Lanzarote, you will feel the fresh air, the smell of the beach, the freshness of the water and the warmth of the sun. Not only will you experience the adrenaline of this activity, but you will also discover the most splendid beaches in the surroundings, historical sites such as the Castillo del Águila (or Castillo de las Coloradas) and you will be able to explore the coves that are inaccessible by land.
After this activity you can sit down in a restaurant and taste the best dishes of Playa Blanca to end your perfect day without forgetting to look for what else to do in Playa Blanca.
Quad excursion in the Janubio Salt Flats
The Salinas de Janubio are a site of scientific interest and were once the main economic livelihood of Lanzarote. They are located in a lagoon that was formed by volcanic eruptions creating natural lava barriers between the sea and the lagoon.
These extensive salt pans are a National Protected Area of great biodiversity due to the birds and crustaceans that live here. At this point on the island you will learn all about the salt makers, the salt pans and their production. You can also enjoy the viewpoints and the unique landscape as you walk among these white and pink slabs of salt.
Getting to the salt mines from Playa Blanca is not complicated at all, you can take a car, bus or rent a car, but what could be better than a quad tour to fill your day with adrenaline? On this excursion you will discover Lanzarote from Playa Blanca to the salt mines of Janubio where you will discover the magnificent salt mines, then continue your tour to Puerto del Carmen on dirt roads and finally return to the starting point without first making a stop at the wine museum of Lanzarote.
Parasailing in Puerto del Carmen
Puerto del Carmen is located in the southeast, is very close to the airport and is one of the most touristic towns of Lanzarote. Just like Playa Blanca, it has all the services you could need and its more than 8 kilometres of golden sandy beaches are perfect for those looking for a typical summer holiday. The most important points of this town are Playa Grande, Playa los Pocillos, Playa de Matagorda, the street market and the promenade.
One of the best ways to get to know Puerto del Carmen is not by walking but by flying! The Parasailing flight is an unforgettable and peaceful experience for the whole family, where you will discover not only the town, but you will be able to reach up to 100 metres high and see the coast of Lanzarote. You can choose between solo flight, double flight and even triple flight so that no one is left out of the experience. If after discovering Puerto del Carmen from the air you want to do more activities you should know that there is a lot to do in Puerto del Carmen.
Windsurfing in Costa Teguise
Costa Teguise is also one of Lanzarote's most popular tourist spots. In this part of the island you will also find all the services you need, hotels, restaurants, a water park and a lot of tradition. You can also visit beaches such as Las Cucharas, Playa Bastián, Playa del Jarabillo, Playa de los Charcos or the promenade. What do you think about climbing a volcano? The volcano of Tahíche is quite accessible, as it is no more than 300 metres high and from here you can see different parts of Costa Teguise.
Playa de las Cucharas, in Costa Teguise, is where you can enjoy one of the most popular water activities in the world, windsurfing. This beach of golden sands, transparent waters and plenty of wind is perfect for windsurfing. It is no coincidence that it has hosted the PWA (Professional Windsurfers Association) world championship.
You don't need to be an expert to enjoy this activity. The one, two or five day courses for beginners will help you understand everything you need to master this discipline. The instructor will give you all the necessary equipment, windsurf, harness and wetsuit. You will then be explained all the techniques you will need to practice and then get into the water, put your new skills into practice and enjoy yourself.
But if windsurfing is not your thing, or you are staying in this area of the island, you can look for more options and see what to do in Costa Teguise.
We can define Lanzarote as the perfect island for everyone. Adventurers, the curious, nature lovers, sports enthusiasts, families, groups of friends and lovers of history and culture. You will live unforgettable moments in Lanzarote, whether discovering its treasures under the sea, exploring its lands from another planet, jumping over its natural walls or enjoying its eternal beaches. You have many options for activities in Lanzarote, but just in case you want to discover other islands or if you still have doubts about which one is your favourite, we recommend you to read our articles to decide between Gran Canaria, Tenerife or Fuerteventura.