Why Honeymoon in Lanzarote
Lanzarote is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. You can see why from the car window. Building codes inspired by Manrique keep most houses low and white, with no billboards on the roads. The result is an island where the landscape still dominates.
The sights are unusual. At Jameos del Agua, a collapsed lava tube holds a saltwater lagoon, a pool and an auditorium. At the Mirador del Río, a café is built into a cliff above the strait facing La Graciosa. In La Geria, vines grow in hollows dug into black ash, each protected by a curved stone wall.
It is also easy to relax. Beaches range from golden coves in the south to the wild surf of Famara in the north, while the year-round sunshine means you rarely lose a day to weather.
When to Go
Lanzarote is a year-round destination. Daytime highs run from about 70°F in winter to the mid 80s in summer, while rain is rare at any time. That makes it especially good for honeymoons from October to May, when mainland Spain is cooler.
Summer is warm and windy. The northeast trade winds blow strongest in July and August, which keeps the heat comfortable but can make beaches gusty. European school holidays also fill the resorts and push prices up.
The sea stays cool for the latitude, roughly the mid 60s Fahrenheit in late winter and the low to mid 70s in late summer and early fall. September and October bring the warmest water. Hikers prefer spring, before summer heat on the exposed lava trails.
Where to Stay
Most hotels are in three towns. Playa Blanca, in the south, is the calmest, with a long promenade, a marina and the Papagayo beaches nearby. Puerto del Carmen is the oldest and busiest resort, with the most restaurants and nightlife. Costa Teguise, north of the airport, is quieter and good for windsurfing.
For something more personal, look inland. The villages of Uga, Yaiza and Haría have rural hotels and private villas, many with pools, lava gardens and views of the volcanoes. The north around Haría is greener, with palm groves.
Princesa Yaiza, in Playa Blanca, is a large family-oriented resort with a spa and suites. For a kid-free stay, Secrets Lanzarote Resort & Spa in Puerto Calero takes guests 18 and over. As an approximate guide, good resort and boutique rooms run about $200 to $500 a night, with villas often better value for longer stays.
Romantic Things to Do
Book a timed slot online for Timanfaya National Park's Montañas del Fuego, where a coach drives the Ruta de los Volcanes through cones and lava rivers. At the visitor area, staff pour water into the ground to show the heat just below the surface, while a restaurant grills food over volcanic heat.
Visit Jameos del Agua for its lagoon and white pool inside a lava cave, then the Mirador del Río for coffee over the cliffs. Tour the Fundación César Manrique, the artist's home built into five lava bubbles.
Spend an afternoon in La Geria tasting malvasía volcánica, a dry white wine, at bodegas such as El Grifo. Swim at the Papagayo coves, reached by a dirt road. Take the ferry from Órzola to La Graciosa, where there are no paved roads and the beaches are nearly empty. Watch the sunset over the green lagoon at El Golfo.
Getting There and Around
There are no nonstop flights from the US. Fly into Madrid or Barcelona and connect to César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport (ACE), about two hours 45 minutes from Madrid. Many European cities also fly direct, which helps if you are combining Spain with another stop.
The Canary Islands run one hour behind mainland Spain, matching London time.
Rent a car. The island is about 37 miles long, roads are good and the main sights are spread out. Buses link the resorts and the capital, Arrecife, but are slow for touring. Taxis from the airport take 15 to 20 minutes to Puerto del Carmen and around 40 to Playa Blanca.
Timanfaya and the Cueva de los Verdes require tickets bought online in advance for a set time, so plan those days first.
Food and Drink
Canarian food is simple and satisfying. Papas arrugadas are small potatoes boiled in very salty water until their skins wrinkle, served with mojo, a red pepper or green coriander sauce. Fresh fish such as cherne (wreckfish) and vieja (parrotfish) is often grilled and served with gofio, a toasted grain flour.
Local goat cheese is excellent, sometimes smoked or rubbed with paprika. Look for it on menus and at markets such as the Sunday market in Teguise.
Wine is the island's surprise. La Geria's bodegas make dry and sweet malvasía, plus reds from listán negro grapes. Most wineries have tasting rooms open to walk-in visitors. The fishing villages of El Golfo, Arrieta and La Santa are good spots for a seaside lunch of grilled fish.
Honeymoon Tips
- Book Timanfaya and Cueva de los Verdes tickets online before you arrive, since timed entries sell out.
- The Manrique centers close in the late afternoon, so plan sightseeing for the morning and early afternoon.
- Bring a windbreaker. Even warm days can be gusty, especially on the north coast and at viewpoints.
- Swim with care at Famara and other Atlantic beaches with strong currents. Obey the flags.
- Pack reef-safe sunscreen and sunglasses. The sun is intense even in winter.
- Choose a hotel with a heated pool for winter stays, since the sea is cool.
- Wear sturdy shoes on lava trails. The rock is sharp and uneven.
