As I sit down writing this, I have been back from Lanzarote, Spain, for less than 24 hours. So all the lovely impressions are still very fresh in my head – the perfect time to write it all down! My boyfriend and I went to the lovely Canarian island for easter. We just couldn’t stand the cold of Germany anymore, to be honest. And since Lanzarote is much closer to Africa than Europe, we figured it would be a lot warmer and sunnier there. Plus, we obviously really enjoy traveling. Especially to places that offer unique hiking opportunities, as Lanzarote does!
Where To Stay In Lanzarote
Even though Lanzarote is a small island, it has got a lot to offer! If you’re into hiking and nature like we are, the north of the island is where you want to go. If you’re just there for the sun and the beaches, you’ll be better off towards the south coast. We opted for this amazing AirBnB right in the middle, close to Puerto del Carmen. I would highly recommend the place, as it is newly renovated, offers all the appliances one could think of, and is just a 5-10 minute walk away from the beach & promenade.
How To Move Around Lanzarote
Lanzarote has great infrastructure. We rented a car, because we knew we wanted to see as much of the island as possible. But if you want to be a little more budget friendly, you could easily get around the island by bus. Or, if you’re fit enough, cycling is also an option. Like a lot of the Spanish islands, Lanzarote is well loved by cyclists. The roads are all in great condition and thus amazing to ride on. But, like I said, you’ve got the be in good shape: the roads are rarely flat, it’s a constant up and down!
Hiking In Lanzarote
Now for the fun part and one of the reasons we selected Lanzarote as our destination: hiking trails. As I have just mentioned, there are a lot of hills/mountains on the island. None of them are particularly tall, not by European standards (i.e. the Alps) anyways. They can get quite step though, and the terrain is pretty sandy.
Mirador Risco de Famara
The first hike we did was to the highest point of Lanzarote, to the Mirador Risco de Famara. It’s an amazing hike right by the coast, although you don’t get to see the ocean much for the first hour or so. Said first hour is also the toughest, as there is a difference in altitude of almost 600 meters in just 3,5 kilometers. But trust me, the climb is worth it, as you get rewarded by the views down to mountain.
We actually picked the perfect day to do this hike: there was a storm warning for the coastline, and there must have been gusts of wind with more than 60 km/h. More than once those gusts actually pushed me over – it probably looked like I was drunk. Not ideal when hiking up a rather steep mountain – but hey, we made it out alive. And once we made it to the top, the rest of the route was pretty easy going, all down hill for about 10 kilometers. I would highly recommend this route, just make sure you pick the right day weather-wise.
Caldera de los Cuervos
For our second hike the next day, we picked a much easier route: around and into the volcano crater Caldera de los Cuervos. This one was pretty easy going, pretty flat, and only about 1,5 hours long. With that said, the easier a route is, the more traffic there is to be expected. While we were basically all alone on our first hike, on this second one there were a lot of other tourists. So I can only imagine what it must be like during the height of the season. Nonetheless, I would once again highly recommend paying a visit. It isn’t everyday that you get to walk into an once active volcano!
What Else To Do
There are a few more things that are worth doing while in Lanzarote:
Go To The National Park Of Timanfaya
The national park of Timanfaya is very close to Caldera de los Cuervos – you can actually see it from there. Admission is 20 € per person, you can only drive in by car and then have to get on a bus for a 35 minute guided tour. It is definitely worth the money, because driving through this park is like an expedition to Mars. There is lava stone all around, and you can actually see all the different layers of hardened lava from volcanic eruptions of hundreds of years. There is hardly any flora to be found – apart from the odd succulent or cactus.
Visit The Cactus Garden
The Jardín de Cactus is another touristy hot spot on the island. But rightfully so, as it is a lovely garden with the most interesting cacti and succulents! Admission is 8 €, and I would imagine it gets quite busy during the summer months. There is also a nice little café there, where you can sit and look over the garden. Definitely worth a visit!
Stop By Antigua Rofera de Teseguite
We actually came by the Antigua Rofera by accident while driving from our hike in Famara to the cactus garden. A great spot to snap some pictures and marvel at what nature is capable of!
