Each year, thousands of tourists spend glorious holidays at Seaside Los Jameos hotel in Los Pocillos. They enjoy its beautiful gardens, its traditional yet elegant and modern décor and the incredibly high quality of its food.

But what many people who live on Lanzarote aren’t aware of is that they can also enjoy these dining opportunities. In fact, if they don’t, they’re missing out on some of the finest food on the island.

Vicente Rodríguez is the Head Chef at Seaside Los Jameos. A local lad from Las Breñas, he has ended up in charge of dozens of staff at one of the island’s most prestigious luxury hotels. We met up with him to talk about the hotel’s latest and most impressive restaurant,

Arroz y Fuego. Arroz y Fuego means “Rice and Fire”. What’s the concept, Vicente?

This is a restaurant that serves paellas and arroces, freshly- prepared Mediterranean rice dishes that are cooked in front of your eyes on the large stoves in the restaurant. We also serve a variety of tapas dishes and, of course, a wide range of local and national wines.

What’s the difference between a paella and an arroz?

An arroz is any rice dish, but a paella is a Valencia dish that should be prepared in a special pan on an open flame. The star ingredient of a paella is the rice, while other rice dishes focus on the other ingredients.

What rice dishes do you offer?

There are dishes with lobster, with Iberian pork, with fish, seafood or chicken. There’s a Canarian rice dish with rabbit, and a vegetarian option.

Jamie Oliver nearly caused a war when he put chorizo in his paella. Would you ever do that?

That might be taking things a bit far with a paella, but I have made a rice dish with longaniza sausage that turned out very well indeed.

What ingredients do you use?

The rice comes from Molino Roca in Valencia, one of the best suppliers that exists. Really good olive oil is important – a kilo of rice requires 100 mls of oil – and we use an extra virgin oil from Ronda in Andalusia. All fresh ingredients are locallysourced and every ingredient apart from the stock is prepared from scratch.

What about the tapas?

We offer cheeses from the dairy in Uga, a classic Canarian rabbit recipe called Conejo Al Salmorejo. We’ve developed a salad with sweet potatoes, and another with local beetroot, apples, fennel and goat’s milk yoghurt.

The restaurant is stunning, and the food looks irresistible. How do you manage to provide a large hotel with such a high standard of dining?

I like to say I surround myself with people who know more than I do. My staff are vital, and many of them are trained locally at the catering school.

How do you reserve a table at Arroz y Fuego if you’re not a guest at the hotel?

Simply call the reception on 928 51 17 17.

https://www.los-jameos.com/gastronomy/arroz-fuego

The post Rice and fire: Lanzarote chef brings Mediterranean dishes to Seaside Los Jameos hotel first appeared on Gazette Life.

The migration crisis in Ceuta at the end of July focused the attention of the world on a situation which is already familiar to the Canaries.

On the 30th and 31st of July 2026, around 72,000 young people entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on the North African coast. Most of them did so by swimming around a breakwater separating the Spanish territory from Morocco, and at least 100 of them died in the attempt, mostly by drowning.

Ceuta, whose population is 84,000 was quickly overrun, and images of migrants wandering the streets and sleeping rough quickly went global. However, a few days after the influx, the majority of migrants had returned to Morocco after it became clear there was no opportunity for them to stay and even less chance of reaching mainland Europe.

The reaction from many European governments was highly critical of Spain. Italy, Sweden and Denmark called for Spain to be excluded from the Schengen Area, and Italy announced checks on Spanish travellers, despite there being zero possibility of migrants reaching Italy from Ceuta via Spain.

This move backfired when Spain angrily responded by imposing identical checks on Italian visitors to Spain, causing far more inconvenience to Italians given that ten times more of them visit Spain than vice-versa.

The criticisms of Spain focused on a recent Supreme Court ruling that was said to have encouraged arrivals by sea, as well as the Socialist government’s recent amnesty that is aimed at regularising the situation of around a million immigrants. This was described as a “pull-factor” encouraging entry, although the deadline for the amnesty ended last year and there is no evidence that it influenced the influx to Ceuta.

As well as the attacks from EU allies, Spain was also criticised by Donald Trump’s US government, still smarting after Spain refused to allow its planes to use Spanish air bases for the US/Israel attacks on Iran.

Meanwhile, many sources have claimed that Morocco was behind the incident, encouraging crossings and ordering border guards to stand aside. They compare it to the 2021 incident, when 8,000 migrants entered Ceuta in a similar manner. The Moroccan ambassador to Spain later acknowledged that the crisis had resulted from a diplomatic dispute between the two countries, and Morocco was widely condemned for using migrants as a political weapon.

THE CANARIAN ROUTE

Morocco is not a promising place for young people. Unemployment is rampant, agriculture has been destroyed by drought and inequality and corruption are rife. In 2019, King Mohammed VI’s government introduced compulsory military service to “promote patriotism among the young”, a move that was widely seen as an attempt to control dissent and crack down on protests.

Similar, or worse, conditions exist in many African countries, and many migrants from these countries have also made their way to Morocco, hoping for an opportunity to reach Europe.

Without a visa, which is almost impossible to obtain, there are only three ways to do so: across the Strait of Gibraltar, over the Mediterranean to the Balearic islands or over the Atlantic to the Canaries.

The Canarian route is by far the most dangerous of these, involving a long sea journey in small wooden boats or inflatable dinghies. While the shortest distance between Africa and the Canaries is 95 kms, many take much longer voyages of up to 2,000 kms.

Many thousands of migrants have drowned at sea – at least 1,300 this year alone, according to the Caminando Fronteras charity. However, many more have arrived or been intercepted in Canarian waters.

Nevertheless, the Canarian route is currently less popular than it has been for years. This year has seen a dramatic drop of 60% in the number of arrivals to the Canaries, and last year saw a 40% drop compared to 2024.

But Ceuta shows that this situation can change quickly, and the Canaries has consistently called for more help from the state to deal with irregular migrants by providing funds or projects to cope with the influx.

On Lanzarote, for example, male migrants are processed within 48 hours in tents located on Puerto Naos. Afterwards, they are transferred to larger centres on Gran Canaria, or sent to the mainland to await the result of asylum claims. Women and children are taken to separate centres and children without parents or guardians will become the responsibility of the Canarian Government.

Very few will eventually remain on Lanzarote, but the island, and the rest of the Canaries, will continue to offer hope to desperate people.

On his historic visit to the Canaries in June, Pope Leo XIV pointed out the essential tragedy behind migration, saying “While there is a right to seek refuge when life is threatened, there is also a right not to have to migrate: the right to remain in one’s own home without hunger, war, persecution, violence, the earth becoming uninhabitable, corruption stealing the bread of the poor, or weapons destroying the future of children”.

The post Ceuta crisis highlights continuing pressure on Canary Islands migration route first appeared on Gazette Life.

Saturday 12th September is the most important day in Lanzarote’s calendar, when thousands of islanders dress up in traditional costume and make their way, by whatever means possible, to the church in Mancha Blanca.

The story of Lanzarote’s biggest pilgrimage goes back to the volcanic eruptions of 1736, when the earth trembled, ash fell from the skies and fiery rivers of lava lit up the night.

One of those tongues of lava threatened to engulf the village of Mancha Blanca, so the local priest begged for the aid of the virgin and thrust a wooden cross into the ground at the edge of the village.

The lava stopped, and the villagers promised to build a church in honour of the virgin. However, they forgot their pledge until, several years later, a young shepherd girl reported being approached by a sad-looking lady, who told her to remind the villagers of their promise.

When she returned, the girl was disbelieved, but a further visit in which the virgin left her thumb-print on the girl’s head convinced them. After being taken around local churches on a kind of identity parade for Virgin Marys, the girl identified her visitor as the Virgin of Los Dolores. The church was built, and the image of the virgin is said to have helped protect the village from another lava flow in 1836.

On Lanzarote, the Virgin of Los Dolores is also known as Our Lady of the Volcanoes and is the object of the island’s largest religious gathering – a romería (pilgrimage) that takes place every September and attracts thousands of islanders in traditional dress to Mancha Blanca.

HOW TO ENJOY LOS DOLORES

The Romería de Los Dolores is the only time of the year when people from every corner of Lanzarote gather in one place to celebrate their culture and their heritage.

It’s also a commitment – pilgrimages aren’t meant to be easy. Unless you’re very old, very young or have mobility problems, you’re expected to get there on foot for at least some of the way, and you’ll also need to invest in some traditional clothing.

But it’s worth it – the other timeless attraction of pilgrimages is the joy of arrival, a sense of deep satisfaction and achievement that permits you to enjoy the festivities to come. On the afternoon and evening of Saturday 12th September, the beautiful village of Mancha Blanca will be a joyful place.

It’s also an event where everyone is welcome, as long as they respect local customs and practices. One of those customs is wearing traditional dress.

The costumes worn are the traditional garb of field workers – long skirts, aprons and bonnets for women; high-waisted trousers, waistcoats, collarless shirts, sashes and bandannas for men. They’re available in several local shops in the weeks leading up to the pilgrimage and also come in useful on Canary Day and other local fiestas.

Many roads around Mancha Blanca are closed on the day of the pilgrimage, so it’s worth planning your route well in advance.

But if you don’t wish to attend the pilgrimage itself, you can still find plenty of activities in Mancha Blanca in the days leading up to the pilgrimage. The small town becomes a centrepiece for folk music, food and drink and is the location for the island’s biggest craft fair.

CRAFTS ON SHOW

A statue of Doña Dorotea, the potter who created the famous figures known as The Lovers of El Mojón, stands in the main square of Mancha Blanca, announcing the villages importance to island crafters. And the annual craft fair at Mancha Blanca is an absolute must-visit for anyone interested in handicrafts.

Held in a large marquee, the fair presents more than 100 stalls where crafters of all types, from Lanzarote and the rest of the Canaries, proudly present their handiwork and offer items for sale.

Dates

At the time of writing Tinajo Ayuntamiento had not yet released the schedule for the Fiestas of los Dolores. However, these are the likely dates of the main events. To confirm, keep an eye on our website www.gazettelife.com or our Facebook page.

10th September: Craft fair opens. The fair is usually open from 11 am until 10 pm and will take place each day until the 15th.

11th September: Festival Nanino Díaz Cutillas. The most important folk music concert of the year, featuring groups from all over the Canaries.

12th September: Romería. Pilgrims arrive from all over the island, gathering in the main square at Mancha Blanca. At 7 pm offerings are made to Our lady of the Volcanoes.

14th September: Concert. This year the Madrid singer Malú is the headlining act.

15th September: Feast Day of Our Lady of the Volcanoes.

The post Lanzarote prepares for its biggest pilgrimage first appeared on Gazette Life.

Our readers regularly send us messages and emails regarding Lanzarote, here are some of your thoughts that we printed in the September edition.

Readers are reminded that views and comments expressed within the Ed’s Postbag page are those of the contributors and may not necessarily reflect the opinions or standpoint of our staff. It should also be noted that we are an independent publication free from political persuasion or governmental censorship.

CRUISE CORRECTIONS

Dear Editor,

As a marine engineer of long standing and seniority, I would like to dispute the claim of the Ecologistas in Action (News, last issue) regarding modern cruise ships.

Ship generators, which they refer to as auxiliary engines, are nothing as described.

They are sited on special mounts to prevent noise transmission through the hull and throughout the ship, (passengers). There is no underwater disturbance, exhaust is passed through filters and catalytic converters.

Cooling water for these engines and any other machinery is usually indirect, meaning there is no contact between sea water cooling and machinery.

Nothing harmful is ever discharged overboard on a modern ship, all sewage waste, food waste, grey water etc is processed on board by a biological or chemical sewage treatment plant. The final discharge is pure water.

Solid waste, cardboard, plastic etc., is compressed and bundled ready to go through the shoreside recycling system.

There are strict maritime rules for what can be discharged overboard from any modern ship, and, enormous fines if found to be ignoring the rules.

As for the number of cruisers that are “discharged” ashore, that is a different scenario and has to be balanced between island livelihoods, damaging footfall and protection of the local flora and fauna.

A case in point is the many cruise ships entering Venice, the number that berth at one time is now realised to be very damaging and there are big cutbacks on the ships that can visit in a year.

Hope this helps to enlighten people and will counter the doomsters that seem to hold sway these days, even if they are wrong.

Caio,

David J Fraser

RALLY RAGE

Dear Editor,

I’m writing to complain about last month’s Rally de los Volcanes.

This is a small island and a Biosphere Reserve, where authorities are constantly reminding tourists not to pick up stones or leave pathways in order to preserve nature and leave wildlife in peace.

But that changes every year when high-powered cars roar around narrow roads, shattering the silence and attracting spectators who stomp all over private land.

Not only is it destructive – there’s also a hint of arrogant bullying about it, the powerful showing everyone else that they can do what the hell they like.

This is a tiny, fragile island. Motor sports have no place here.

M. Taylor

SCOOTER SCOURGE

Dear Gazette,

I think electric scooters are great idea. They’re cheap, ecologically friendly and allow many people, especially younger ones, to get around easily and quickly.

But they must be used correctly. Too often I see scooter riders without helmets, riding in the wrong direction or on the pavement, darting out into zebra crossings or with more than one person on board – yesterday I saw three teenagers on the same scooter riding the wrong way down a one-way street. I am terrified of being involved in an accident with one of these riders.

If local police started enforcing the law, with fines and confiscation of scooters, the situation would surely improve. As it is, their inaction is likely to contribute to accidents and possible deaths.

Richard,
Playa Blanca

The post Reader’s Letters – September 2026 first appeared on Gazette Life.

Lanzarote has lost over 1,000 holiday rentals in the last year, according to the Canarian Institute of Statistics. But the Canarian law that caused the decrease has so far failed to alleviate the acute housing crisis on the island.

The island had 7,809 VVs (viviendas vacacionales/ registered holiday rental properties) at the end of July 2025, but that figure has fallen to 6,803 at the end of the same month this year. The decrease of 12.8% is lower than the average for the Canary Islands, which is 15%, but still constitutes a significant drop.

As a result, the income from these properties has fallen by over €4 million to €21.4 million.

In the resorts, Teguise lost 162 VVs (10%), Tías lost 274 VVs (10%), and Yaiza was hardest hit with the loss of 355 rental properties (15%).

The results clearly show the effect of the Canarian Law on Rental Properties, which came into effect in December last year and introduced strict new requirements for rental owners.

However, one of the main aims of this controversial law – freeing up rental properties for longer-term residential lets in order to bring rents down and ease the housing crisis on the islands – has not taken place. If anything, it has reduced the number of accessible rentals on Lanzarote.

In a recent report by El Diario de Lanzarote, representatives of the island’s real estate sector claimed that very few owners of VVs have moved into the residential market but have instead simply removed their properties from the market altogether.

They claim that the problem was never the number of holiday rentals, it is the legal insecurity that Spanish law provides for landlords, which removes control of properties for a minimum of eight years.

This has also affected property sales, which have fallen by 70% according to one professional, who says that buyers are increasingly reluctant to purchase properties as investments.

Other estate agents commented that the owners who have converted their properties to residential lets have failed to adjust rents downwards, leaving them out of reach for most islanders.

The post Lanzarote loses more than 1,000 holiday rentals as new law fails to ease housing crisis first appeared on Gazette Life.

Managing an estate after the loss of a loved one often involves far more than probate alone. Increasingly, families are seeking help with everything from property sales to practical arrangements during a difficult time.

When someone passes away, dealing with the emotional impact is often accompanied by a long list of practical responsibilities. Probate is usually the first issue people think about, but the reality is that administering an estate can involve much more.

Property transfers, house sales, legal paperwork, inheritance matters and even arranging services linked to the deceased’s home can quickly become overwhelming, particularly for families living overseas or those unfamiliar with the process.

This is where specialist support can make a significant difference.

CJH Consultancy works with clients across a range of estate-related matters, including wills, lasting powers of attorney, estate planning, trusts, inheritance tax planning, business succession and probate support.

One area where the company has seen growing demand is the need for a more joined-up approach following a bereavement. When a property forms part of an estate, probate and conveyancing often need to be handled together. By coordinating these services through appropriately regulated professionals, the process can be managed more efficiently and with fewer delays.

The need for additional support can be even greater when family members live abroad. In these circumstances, practical tasks such as preparing a property for sale, arranging repairs, organising clearances and liaising with estate agents can become difficult to manage from a distance.

CJH Consultancy has increasingly found itself helping clients coordinate these arrangements alongside the probate process, creating a single point of contact during what can be a challenging period.

The company also assists families who require guidance on estate planning before such situations arise. Having the right wills, powers of attorney and succession plans in place can reduce uncertainty and help loved ones manage affairs more smoothly in the future.

As more people own property in multiple locations and families become increasingly spread across different countries, the administration of estates is becoming more complex. Having access to experienced guidance can help ensure that legal, financial and practical matters are dealt with in an organised and timely manner. For those seeking advice on probate, estate administration, wills, trusts or inheritance planning, CJH Consultancy offers consultations to discuss individual circumstances and available options.

https://cjhconsultancy.co.uk/

The post Suffered a Bereavement? Here’s What You Need to Know About Managing an Estate first appeared on Gazette Life.

After years of seeing holidaymakers head out for dinner every evening, Nerina Howell of Event & Catering Solutions Lanzarote says she is noticing a growing appetite for something different: staying in, slowing down and letting dinner come to the villa. And this summer, husband Matt has unexpectedly become part of the picture too.

I’ve been noticing a change in the way some families are choosing to eat while on holiday in Lanzarote.

For years, going out for dinner every evening has simply been part of the holiday routine. But increasingly, through my work as a private chef, I’m finding families choosing to spend their evenings at their villa instead.

And actually, I can understand why.

You’ve spent the day exploring the island, swimming, relaxing by the pool or enjoying the beach. You come home, kick off your shoes, pour yourself a cold drink and watch the sun go down from the terrace. Instead of getting everyone dressed and organised to go back out, dinner comes to you.

This year, I’ve increasingly found myself cooking for families over several days of their holiday rather than simply arriving for one special evening. It creates a completely different style of private dining.

One evening might be Spanish tapas to share. Another could be a relaxed Mediterranean dinner with salads, grilled fish and local produce. There might be a BBQ around the pool, an easy family supper after a long day out, or a three-course dinner with dessert and wine on the terrace.

Different menus, different styles and a different kind of evening whenever you want one.

At Event & Catering Solutions Lanzarote, I can tailor the experience around the people sitting around the table, including children, grandparents and dietary requirements. It can be as relaxed as you like; nobody needs to dress up or worry about getting everyone out of the door.

I take care of sourcing the ingredients, preparing and serving the food, and clearing the kitchen afterwards, leaving families free to spend the evening together.

For larger groups, this can also make things considerably easier. There are no taxis to organise, no table to find that can accommodate everyone and no need to wonder whether tired children will make it through dinner. You can simply stay in the villa you’ve chosen for your holiday and enjoy it.

I’ve been cooking professionally for more than 25 years, from luxury estates in the UK to sailing boats in the Mediterranean and beyond. Food has taken me around the world, but Lanzarote is now home, and Mediterranean and Canarian flavours are at the heart of what I cook.

Having provided this style of service to families over the summer, I’m now receiving more enquiries and bookings for 2027.

So perhaps the way we eat on holiday really is changing.

Bookings are already underway for 2027.

Email: nerinahowell@gmail.com
Phone: 0034 711 065 993
Website: www.eventandcateringsolutionslanzarote.com

And finally, a little P.S. from me…

Following my scheduled surgery this summer, my recovery hasn’t been quite as straightforward as we’d hoped, and Matt has spent rather more time than anticipated being my chauffeur, carer, nurse, medical appointments manager, personal shopper and chef!

I’m incredibly grateful to him, although it has meant some of his own electrical work has had to take a back seat while he helped me get back on my feet.

Now, my recovery is finally going in the right direction, so Matt has some availability for electrical work this autumn. After everything he’s done for me, I thought it was only fair that I give my electrician husband a little plug for once!

If you’ve got electrical work, repairs or one of those smaller jobs you’ve been meaning to get sorted, please get in touch and I’ll happily pass his details on.

Thank you, Matt. I couldn’t have managed these last few weeks without you.

Due to high demand, his schedule for planned work is booking into 2026 & 2027. For trusted electrical care, contact him via WhatsApp at +34 711 008 502.

The post Is the Way We Eat on Holiday Changing in Lanzarote? first appeared on Gazette Life.

The world’s first octopus farm in Gran Canaria has been cancelled due to the difficulty of raising sufficient numbers of the creatures to make a profit.

The Spanish company Nueva Pescanova caused global outrage when it proposed the world’s first octopus farm in 2021, and there was widespread satisfaction following the announcement that the project had been cancelled last month.

But a report in Canarias7 says that it was not pressure by animal rights groups that led to the cancellation, but simply the difficulty of farming the eight-legged molluscs. In preliminary trials, only 15% of octopuses survived until adulthood.

This would mean an annual production of 30 tons of octopus, a hundredth of the 3,000 tons originally forecast.

The main problem in farming octopuses is feeding them. In the wild, they are voracious eaters but supplying the live feed that would sustain profitable numbers in farmed conditions has so far proved impossible. However, demand remains high. Octopus prices have soared in the last ten years due to demand from international markets, and a product that was once a regular feature on Spanish shopping lists has now become a luxury product. 

The post Why has the world’s first octopus farm in Gran Canaria been cancelled? first appeared on Gazette Life.

A man was arrested in Famara yesterday after a high-speed car chase.

Police began the pursuit after the driver evaded a police checkpoint at the LZ-402 roundabout and sped off towards Famara, which was full of people celebrating the end of the local fiestas. After making reckless manoeuvres that could have risked the safety of pedestrians and other road users, local police succeeded in stopping the car.

The vehicle was confirmed to have been stolen, and the driver had no licence. He was arrested and faces charges of reckless driving, car theft and disobeying a police officer.  

The post Reckless driver arrested in Famara first appeared on Gazette Life.

More than twice as many tourists visiting Lanzarote prioritised comfort over a lower price when choosing transport during their stay, according to the latest ISTAC survey.

Comfort was the biggest factor influencing tourists in Lanzarote when choosing transportation during the second quarter of 2026, ahead of price, according to the latest Survey on Tourist Expenditures from the Canary Islands Institute of Statistics (ISTAC).

A total of 450,087 tourists opted for comfort when making their transport choice, compared with 212,503 who prioritised a lower price.

Rental cars were the most popular form of transport among tourists visiting Lanzarote.

Across the Canary Islands, 6.3% of tourists reported experiencing some difficulty related to transportation during their stay in the second quarter.

The main problems were associated with the punctuality and organisation of public transport. The most frequently reported issue was confusing or insufficient information, followed by perceptions that public transport timetables were inconvenient.

Delays and cancellations were also identified as a significant difficulty.

Most visits were for holidays

The survey found that 91.7% of visits to the Canary Islands during the quarter were for holidays, leisure and entertainment.

A further 2.7% of visits were for business and professional reasons, while 5.6% were for other personal reasons, including visiting family or friends, education and health-related matters.

Most tourists stayed in collective accommodation, with hotels accounting for 59.8% of stays and apartments for 16.8%.

Private accommodation accounted for the remainder. This included homes or rooms rented from private individuals, at 12.8%, while 7.1% stayed in a friend’s or relative’s home, their own home or other private accommodation.

The average length of stay was 8.4 days. Visitors resident in Switzerland recorded the longest average stay, at 12.6 days, while residents of the rest of Spain had the shortest, at 5.5 days.

Nearly half travelled on package tours

Some 47.2% of tourists visiting the Canary Islands travelled as part of a package tour, defined as a service including at least transportation and accommodation that is sold as a single, indivisible package.

The survey also found that 38% of tourists who travelled to the Canary Islands during the second quarter of 2026 had not considered another destination when deciding where to go.

Among those who had considered alternatives, the main options were another destination in the Canary Islands, another destination elsewhere in Spain and Greece.

Repeat visits were common, with 72.2% of tourists having previously visited the Canary Islands.

Overall satisfaction with trips to the Canary Islands received an average rating of 8.8.

The post Comfort beats price for tourists choosing transport in Lanzarote first appeared on Gazette Life.