Beautiful Sunny Lanzarote

Noreen Lane 01 October 2002
My husband and I went to Puerto Del Carmen and stayed in the San Francisco Park Apartments which are located in the heart of the town of Puerto Del Carmen, and are only minutes’ walk from the beaches, restaurants pubs cafes and night light.

We departed in early December from Cork to Arrecife for 1 week. We had left really cold weather in Ireland and the first thing I remember was when the door of plane opened the lovely hot balmy air that hit my face. It was like being in a different world. We were transferred to our apartment via coach which took 20-25 minutes.

During our stay we went on The Grand Tour via coach. Firstly the tour took us to beautiful El Golfo where Olivin Stone was discovered. From there you can see the rugged coastline of Los Hervideros and the salt flats of Janubio where we learnt about the importance of salt extraction in the islands history.

At Timanfaya National Park, Home of the Fire Mountain, we saw geothermal experiments, demonstrating the power of heat just below the surface. We had time to go into the natural oven where food was cooked. We then went on a camel ride around the base of the volcano which I must say was an experience. We then went on a magnificent crater tour where we got the best views of the lava fields, where we had a tasty three course meal.

We journeyed through a Canarian village called La Geria home of the most unusual vineyards in the world. We learnt the history and process of wine making with the opportunity to taste the wines and buy them on site if we so wished.

We ended our trip with a visit to Los Jameos del Agua with its magnificent subterranean gardens and the magnificent auditorium. The 'Jameo Grande' has been turned into a beautiful garden of tropical plants species centred around a vibrant, turquoise-coloured pool. At the end of this 'Jameo', an auditorium of 600 seats has been built which possesses excellent acoustics. It is the venue for many concerts.

Teguise is a beautiful picturesque village with buildings dating back to the 17th Century displaying beautiful carving in wood around the doors and windows. At the weekly market, any different stalls lined the cobbled streets selling all sorts of goods ranging from clothes, shoes, ceramics, handbags, paintings, toys and many other crafts. Don’t forget to haggle if buying anything.

Although not as boisterous as its neighbouring Tenerife, Puerto Del Carmen is the ideal holiday destination for young and lively couples and families as it can cater for both. It has beautiful beaches which stretch for 6km, culture, fantastic scenery and a lively nightlife. It has lots of activities to keep everyone occupied such sport activities like windsurfing, marine excursions, deep sea fishing, scuba diving and recreational centres. Other activities include shopping, dining in the array of restaurants which cater for every palate, pubs and nightclubs which are along the La Playas Avenue on the main street.

I can’t recommend this resort enough and look forward to my next visit there.