The crowning jewel of the north. Standing on the edge of the Mirador del Río’s observatory platform is like standing on the edge of the world. Here’s what to expect when you visit.

With sheer drops below and stunning views of the islands of La Graciosa, Montaña Clara and Alegranza, the Mirador del Río is one of Lanzarote’s must-see attractions.

Upon arrival you’re greeted by one of Manrique’s famous fish sculptures standing tall in front of the parking spaces. The centre doesn’t look like much from the outside – a deliberate choice by Manrique, who wanted it to blend into the landscape. A single circular glass fixture sits just above the small and unassuming entrance.

Stepping into the centre you will walk through a white hallway with alcoves containing traditional clay pots from local artisan Juan Brito, backlit with a warm glow, before reaching the stunning cafeteria with panoramic views across La Graciosa – perhaps the best view with a coffee on the island? We think so.

The cafeteria serves a full list of hot and cold drinks, smoothies, ice creams, spirits, snacks and paninis.

From here you can either choose to be seated at a table and enjoy the view or head to the right and step out onto the open-air platform that overlooks the steep slopes down the shore and across all of La Graciosa. Looking over the edge of the barrier may prove challenging for those with a fear of heights.

We suggest visiting the centre on a clear and sunny day – visiting when there is a calima or a dull day will spoil the experience as the views are no where near as impressive as they could be.

This is a great spot for a photo too with the breath-taking views of the Chinijo Archipelago behind you.

Coming back into the cafeteria you can head up the stairs to the centre’s gift shop should you wish to purchase something to remember the day. Heading up the spiral staircase in the gift shop will take you to the rooftop for a slightly higher view of La Graciosa.

BOOKING INFORMATION

The Mirador del Río is open every day from 10am until 5pm (last entrance at 4:40pm) and takes approximately 50 minutes to an hour to see it all if you choose to stop off at the café for a drink and something to eat.

Entry is €9 per adult, €4.50 per child (ages 7 – 12) and free for children under the age of 6. There is a discount for Lanzarote residents which is €1.

Those with disabilities can receive a 30% discount on tickets too.

You can buy tickets online from the official website here:

https://ventaonline.cactlanzarote.com/en/tickets-and-vouchers

The post Visiting the stunning Mirador del Río first appeared on Gazette Life.

The oldest of Lanzarote’s tourist centres is a marvellously lit tour through a volcanic cave system. The surprise towards the end is genuinely stunning. Here’s what to expect when you visit.

Like the Jameo del Agua, the Cueva de los Verdes is part of the volcanic tube created after the eruption of La Corona Volcano approximately 4,000 years ago. Previously used as a refuge from pirates from North Africa, the Cabildo asked Jesús Soto to adapt the cave and make it into an attraction for visitors around the world.

Most visitors will see both the Jameos del Agua and Cueva de los Verdes on their trip as the two centres are next to each other. However, they both offer very different and unique experiences.

As you drive towards the centre, look out of the “Cueva de los Verdes” wooden sign on the right-hand side. Once you spot it, you’ll need to park at the adjacent car park. Keep your eyes peeled as the centre can be hard to spot at first – it isn’t as built up at the Jameos del Agua.

The tours allow for up to 50 visitors at a time so you may have to wait in line if you visit during peak months as the CACT tourist centres get are very busy.

Once the tour starts, you’ll be led into the cave by a tour guide for the 1km tour through the volcanic tube.

As you enter the cave, you’ll be treated to a soundscape that was recorded specifically for the caves to add to the ambiance as your tour guide explains the history of the eruptions and the formation of the volcanic tube. You’ll be exploring just a small section of the tube for the tour (the full tub extends nearly 8 kilometres in length, with a large section underwater).

You’ll be led through a narrow part of the tube and down some steps before it opens up into a large stunning space with dramatic lighting emphasising its natural beauty.

Further on you may be surprised to see a concert hall with chairs and a stage. Here you’ll sit and listen to the tour guide as they explain more about the history of the volcanic tube (concerts are frequently held here and can be booked online via the CACTs website). Does it get much better than a concert in a cave?

Towards the end of the tour, you’ll be greeted by quite the surprise inside the volcanic tube… which we won’t spoil.

BOOKING INFORMATION

The Cueva de los Verdes is open every day from 9:30am until 4:15pm and takes approximately 50 minutes to an hour to complete the tour.

Entry is €17 per adult, €8.50 per child (ages 7 – 12) and free for children under the age of 6. There is a discount for Lanzarote residents which is €2.

Those with disabilities can receive a 30% discount on tickets too (the centre is not wheelchair accessible).

Tickets can only be purchased online, from the official website here:

https://ventaonline.cactlanzarote.com/en/tickets/cueva-de-los-verdes-ticket

The post Visiting the Cueva de los Verdes first appeared on Gazette Life.

Manrique’s space age party venue is located in a lava bubble, where a legendary lake filled with unique blind crabs is flanked by restaurants, cafes, a volcano museum and a natural concert auditorium. Here’s what to expect when you visit.

The Jameos del Agua is the first Art, Culture and Tourism Centre created by César Manrique. Inaugurated in 1968, Manrique transformed the space into a unique work of art form by three jameos (a large opening in a lava tube), Jameo Chico, Jameo Grande and Jameo de la Cazuela.

Most visitors will see both the Jameos del Agua and Cueva de los Verdes on their trip as the two centres are next to each other. However, they both offer very different and unique experiences.

Once parked at the centre, walk to the front (near the sculpture) and you’ll find the entrance/ticket office. You can pay here or online and present your ticket in person at the desk.

At the entrance you’ll be immediately greeted by a large open-air space with stairs down to the cafeteria where you can stop off for a drink and a snack as you overlook the natural pool, surrounded by stunning greenery.  The area is shaded with large canvas above, so you won’t need to worry about sun burn.

If you don’t want to stop off there and then, that’s okay, you can tour the entire centre and come back to the cafeteria later on.

Walking through the cafeteria and down the stairs to the left will take you to the natural pool in the cave. Take this time to have a look at the water and you might spot some white speckles… these are the famous blind crabs of the Jameos del Agua – white in colour due to the darkness of the centre.

A path to the right of the pool will take you to the bar on the other side where you can grab a drink and some snacks. Walking through the bar and up the stairs on the left will bring you to the middle of the Jameos del Agua centre with the large swimming pool in the centre (swimming not permitted).

This is an extremely popular photo spot with thousands of selfies taken here and uploaded to Instagram and Facebook – so why not take one yourself to remember the trip?

If you walk straight from the stairs leading to the pool area you will find the Jameos del Agua auditorium – a large concert venue built into a volcanic tube.

Coming out of the auditorium and heading up the spiral staircase to the left will bring you to the final section of the tour. The stunning (and newly renovated) volcano museum.

There has been a volcano museum here for years, but it had become a little shabby and neglected until recently, when the Cabildo carried out an intensive renovation project. The new museum opened in March and the result is fascinating – an attractive, fascinating space that will delight adults and children alike.

The Casa de los Volcanes is not just a museum – it’s also part of the monitoring programme that continually measures earth tremors and seismic activity on the island. Many of the older instruments used for this are on show, with their pencil printouts. However, at one point a sign tells you to STAMP!

The moment you do, you see a computer screen in front of you register the vibrations with a series of steep peaks and troughs. This immediately caused an impromptu flamenco display from a couple of delighted children, and is a sign of how user-friendly the new museum is.

Upstairs you’ll find a huge relief model of Lanzarote, with all its volcanoes clearly indicated. Video displays show how the volcanoes were formed in a chain, as tectonic plates moved slowly over the “hot spot” below, and it’s still a surprise to see how immense the Timanfaya eruptions of 300 years ago were.

What looks like a huge, illuminated worm dominates one area. It is, in fact, a model of the Atlantida Tunnel, which extends kilometres out to sea and contains unique life forms. This is one of those displays that you can quickly get lost in.

There are quizzes for children, videos showing how people like César Manrique, Jesús Soto and the visionary Cabildo President Pepín Ramírez transformed the island in the 1960s, and guides to the island’s wildlife. Fans of the old museum will be pleased to learn that some of the mirror displays are still there. A room entirely surrounded by mirrors gives a dizzying illusion of infinite reflections in all directions.

Another new feature is a virtual reality tour through the entire tunnel, with three languages offered. It’s perhaps the easiest way to appreciate how incredible this place is – a continuous tunnel stretching from the Monte Corona, with several jameos areas where the ceiling has collapsed and including the Cueva de los Verdes and Jameos del Agua, before continuing out to sea.

It’s a place that’s worth taking your time to explore and learn in depth. We had a great time sliding a video screen along a diagram of the tunnel, pressing for information on strange shrimps and underwater sand mountains.

There are also exhibits highlighting how Lanzarote has been chosen for research by astronauts from the European Space project because of its similarity to the surface of Mars.

And, of course, the whole museum reflects the vision of Manrique – clean, white galleries with lush, green plants, glimpses through a traditional Canarian window to the pool below and those big glass panels that Manrique loved.

At the end of the museum is another bar where you can grab a quick drink and a bite to eat before checking out the gift shop which has lots of souvenirs to remember your visit.

BOOKING INFORMATION

The Jameos del Agua is open every day from 10am until 6pm (last entrance at 5:15pm) and takes approximately 1 hour to see it all.

Entry is €17 per adult, €8.50 per child (ages 7 – 12) and free for children under the age of 6. For access to the volcano museum there is an additional charge of €5.40 euros for adults and €2.70 for children.

There is a discount for Lanzarote residents which is €2. Or €3 with the volcano museum included.

Those with disabilities can receive a 30% discount on tickets too.

You can buy tickets online from the official website here:

https://ventaonline.cactlanzarote.com/en/tickets/jameos-del-agua-ticket

The post Visiting the Jameos del Agua first appeared on Gazette Life.

The Castillo de San José perches on a rocky outcrop overlooking Lanzarote’s busy commercial port. Once the most important military buildings on the island, it is now one of the island’s seven centres of art, culture and tourism created by César Manrique. Here’s what to expect when you visit.

The museum was established in 1975 under the personal direction of Manrique. A year later, and 200 years after the first stone of the castle had been laid, it was opened to the public with a spectacular exhibition featuring artists such as Picasso, Miró, Francis Bacon and Henry Moore.

Many of the works at that show form the backbone of the permanent collection on display today, after the island’s Cabildo made a huge investment in artworks by notable modern artists, creating one of the finest collections of late 20th-century art in the Canaries.

The castle building itself has hardly changed – large, starkly-decorated halls and chambers form the perfect setting for the abstract works of art. It’s possible to climb up an old stone staircase to the roof and battlements of the castle.

Just off the main hall is the Canarian Art room, featuring works by artists from the islands including Manrique’s close friend Pepe Dámaso – his work incorporates a piece of fabric that the two discovered while on a walk together.

The Pancho Lasso room houses works by a Lanzarote artist that the museum’s director, María José, shows special interest in. “Pancho Lasso was hugely talented,” she tells us. “He was the son of a carpenter and trained as a barber but showed such artistic skill that the Cabildo offered him a grant to study in Madrid.” The works in the museum back up her claim. Lasso’s work shows influences from social realism and art deco to cubism and surrealism.

The museum’s collection has grown, especially with photography which “wasn’t considered so much as art back then” according to María José.

A tunnel leading down to the restaurant is unmistakably Manrique in style, all soft curves, white walls, raw volcanic rock, and those quirky little details, such as lampshades made of wooden salad bowls. “They blasted this with dynamite,” smiles María José, aware that this would never be permitted today.

The restaurant itself is dominated by another Manrique trademark – an immense window that overlooks the gardens of the castle and the glittering blue seas of the harbour. This is the first Michelin five-fork rated restaurant on the island, and the centre for many culinary events on the island.

San José Castle presents one of the best restaurants in Arrecife to eat, have a drink or enjoy a coffee in a unique atmosphere.

The castle restaurant is open Wednesday to Saturday from 12:30pm – 11pm and Sunday to Tuesday from 11am – 6pm. The Bar-Cafeteria opens Sunday to Tuesday from 11am – 6pm and Wednesday to Saturday from 11am – 11:30pm.

The tasting menu, crafted by their culinary team, promises and exceptional dining experience with seven savory dishes and one dessert, all made with fresh local ingredients. The menu is priced at €65.00 per person. There is, of course, a regular menu with a whole host of stunning dishes to choose from as well as an extensive drinks list.

BOOKING INFORMATION

The Castillo de San José is open every day from 11am until 6pm (except December 24^th & 31^st when the museum closes at 5pm) and takes approximately 1 hour to see it all.

Entry is €5.40 per adult, €2.70 per child (ages 7 – 12) and free for children under the age of 6. There is a discount for Lanzarote residents which is €1.

You can buy tickets online from the official website here:

https://ventaonline.cactlanzarote.com/en/tickets/international-museum-contemporary-art-castillo-de-san-jose-ticket

The post Visiting the Castillo de San José first appeared on Gazette Life.

Manrique’s favourite of his creations, this charming garden features over 4,500 specimens of cactus and is set in a disused quarry in the heart of Lanzarote’s cochineal country. A traditional windmill overlooks the scene. Here’s what to expect when you visit.

The Jardín de Cactus is the last major project that Manrique worked on before his tragic death at 72 years of age in 1992.

Manrique chose a disused quarry in the heart of Lanzarote’s cochineal country as the spot for an agricultural centre with an extensive range of cacti – representing the rehabilitation of a place of great natural value on Lanzarote that was in a state of neglect.

As you arrive at the Jardín de Cactus centre, you’ll be greeted by a large, towering metal cactus in front of the entrance. It’s a popular spot for a selfie so why not take a snap to remember your visit?

When you entre the centre, you’re free to explore at your leisure. The staircase to the right of the entrance is the starting point and which will lead you through the stunning and well-maintained garden with thousands of cactus specimen from over 5 different continents (all of which are different sizes, structures & colours).

To capture the garden in all its beauty, it’s best to visit on a bright, sunny day with relatively little cloud coverage.

Each of the plants are individually signposted with species name and the path diverts in some areas and takes you up the sides of the centre with its different planting shelves.

You’ll notice just how quiet it is at the Jardín de Cactus too, with the wind blowing above and birds chirping away as you explore the different cactus species. In this way its different to the other centres as there are no tour guides or large groups (like at the Cueva de los Verdes), which allows you to really take it all in.

As you reach the middle of the garden, you’ll stand under the shade of a large Euphorbia Candelabrum that was the first cactus planted in the garden by Manrique and his colleagues in 1989.

Further on from this you will find a small pool with a face made out of rocks spewing water from its mouth – going up the stairs from here will lead you to the centres gift shop.

At the back of the centre is the bar-caféteria and windmill. We recommend stopping off for a coffee and a bite to eat before heading up to the windmill – sit down at one of the tables and admire the view of this stunningly crafted garden.

After you’ve taken in the view with a cup of the good stuff, look for the black sign with a yellow windmill on it next to a small staircase. At the top of the stairs, you’ll be met with a view over the entire centre as well as the windmill itself. Inside you’ll find the original mill.

BOOKING INFORMATION

The Jardín de Cactus is open every day from 10am until 5pm (last entrance at 4:30pm) and takes approximately 40-50 minutes to see it all.

Entry is €9 per adult, €4.50 per child (ages 7 – 12) and free for children under the age of 6. There is a discount for Lanzarote residents which is €1.

You can buy tickets online from the official website here:

https://ventaonline.cactlanzarote.com/en/tickets/jardin-de-cactus-ticket

The post Visiting the Jardín de Cactus first appeared on Gazette Life.

Don’t fancy booking a hire car for your next holiday on Lanzarote? No problem! The island’s buses – known locally as guaguas – unlocks the island’s most magical corners.

Embrace a more sustainable way to explore and let us guide you through genuine, exciting itineraries that will make you happy to leave the steering wheel behind for good.

Arrecife: The Island’s Capital

Starting your journey in the capital, Arrecife, places you at the heart of the action. You’ll wake up to views of one of the Canary Islands’ most beautiful marinas. The seafront avenue is a living museum of historical monuments, best admired on foot or by. Switch to ‘chill’ mode, let the ocean breeze guide you.

Birdwatchers, take note: the Kentish plover nests on the islet of Castillo de San Gabriel and is often spotted foraging in the rock pools. For a different perspective, the calm waters of El Reducto beach offer stunning views of the vast Atlantic horizon.

Direct Lines to Beach Paradise

The perks of the capital continue. Right on the seafront, near the city’s Cabildo (town hall), you’ll find the bus interchange. From here, guaguas depart to Lanzarote’s resorts, towns and villages. Simply pack water, a hat, and sunscreen, and jump on a line.

Remember: the journey is as important as the destination. Lanzarote’s landscapes are a unique spectacle. As former island resident José Saramago put it: “The journey never ends. The end of one journey is only the beginning of another.” The Arrecife interchange connects to almost everywhere, with the magnificent beaches of Puerto del Carmen, Costa Teguise, and Playa Honda just a short ride away.

Total Disconnection in the South

Don’t miss Playa Blanca, a fishing village that retains its seafaring soul, especially in the seafront restaurants specialising in local cuisine. An authentic ball of gofio blanched in fish broth, a plate of limpets, or fresh island rock fish are culinary pleasures from another world.

Playa Blanca’s bus station is a key hub with six lines connecting to Arrecife, the airport, Puerto del Carmen, and Yaiza. On Sundays, line 13 runs directly to the famous Teguise market, departing at 9:00 AM and returning at 1:30 PM.

Famara and Mala

The mythical beach of Famara is an Atlantic sanctuary guarded by its mighty cliff face, the Risco. Here, the horizon feels palpable, and the constant roar of the waves calms the walker’s mind. It’s also a world-renowned destination for surfing and other water sports, a place where the combination of powerful nature and absolute freedom is truly understood.

Please note: Famara beach is part of the Chinijo Archipelago Natural Park, home to unique species. The Risco cliffs host around 400 endemic plants, and the nearby sandy areas are a nesting ground for the endangered Canarian houbara bustard. Respect for this fragile habitat is paramount.

From La Caleta de Famara, guagua line 20 connects to Arrecife on weekdays, passing through charming inland villages like Mozaga, Tao, and San Bartolomé.

For a unique experience, the naturist resort of El Charco del Palo offers natural pools and a liberating environment. Hikers can enjoy the beautiful 90-minute rural trail from Haría to the secluded pools of Mala (weather permitting).

La Graciosa

No guide to car-free travel would be complete without La Graciosa. The eighth Canary Island is a world benchmark for sustainability, having completely renounced asphalt. The handful of authorized vehicles are strictly regulated by the natural park. This is utopia made reality.

Reachable by frequent ferry from Órzola, Caleta de Sebo is your gateway. Rent a bike or simply walk to pristine beaches like Las Conchas or La Francesa. Immersing yourself in this community, where humans and nature coexist in perfect harmony, is a profound sensory experience. Put on your hat and leave the noisy world behind.

The post How To Explore Lanzarote Without a Car first appeared on Gazette Life.

Built by Manrique’s associate, Jesus Soto, LagOmar is an amazing gallery, museum and restaurant set in a mountainside. Once the property of Omar Sharif, it’s a magical, unforgettable place. Here’s what to expect when you visit.

Located in the Nazaret hillside, LagOmar first opened in 1997 and is now a museum, art gallery, bar, and restaurant.

Envisioned by Manrique and designed by his right-hand man, Jesús Soto, LagOmar is still stunning, a space-age honeycomb of tunnels, caves and stairways adorned with the humorous scrap metal sculptures of Mick Gonnel. It’s a museum, art gallery, bar, and restaurant, but most of all it’s a place you’ll never forget – one of those slivers of paradise on earth.

The legend goes that film star Omar Sharif came to Lanzarote in the early 70s, fell in love with this gorgeous dwelling set into the side of a volcano, bought it and promptly lost it in a game of bridge.

However, the owners of LagOmar have always admitted that the story that actor Omar Sharif won the house in a card game was just legend. In fact, there are no records that Sharif ever owned the property, although he did visit the island to film a TV series in 1972 and gave permission that his name be used for the property as a venue for bridge tournaments.

As you enter the museum you’re greeted with stunning red rock and lots of plants. Walking through into the courtyard you can enjoy views of a swimming pool and the café.

From here you’re free to explore at your leisure, choose to take it all in one at a time or progress through the centre and learn all there is to know. Visually, it’s quite different to any property on the island, with lots of artistic flair and nature.

At the top floor of the property you’ll enter a room with old photos on the wall and information boards detailing the history of its design.

BOOKING INFORMATION

Lagomar is open every day from 10am until 6pm and takes approximately an hour to see it all.

Entry is €10 per adult, €4 per child (ages 4 – 12). There is a discount for Canarian residents which is €4 per person and €2 per person for Lanzarote residents.

Tickets to be bought at the centre.

The post Visiting Lagomar first appeared on Gazette Life.

Lanzarote’s most popular outing offers pure, breathtaking spectacle at one of the newest landscapes in the world. Take an unforgettable coach trip through the volcanos and see the power and heat of the earth’s inner crust. Here’s what to expect when you visit.

Timanfaya had been on my “to-do list” for quite a while, but it kept getting pushed back to a later date. I regret not experiencing it earlier now. As luck would have it, when I finally did decide to go, I got the chance to experience the “Isla Insólita” tour.

It wasn’t what I expected, and it certainly exceeded my expectations. There are amazing panoramic views of the volcanic landscape and blustering winds. It’s a harsh landscape, from the lichen-covered rocks to the insects that come out to feed at night.

Sitting in the tour bus as it slowly meanders through the untouched fields of volcanic rock and jagged outcrops gives a real sense of scale. It’s quite surreal.

As part of the “Insólita” tour, we stopped at Montaña Rajada (“Cracked Mountain”), which is usually off-limits to tourists, and we walked up to a viewpoint that showcased the absolute best that Timanfaya has to offer. From there, the guide talked to us about the formation of the volcanoes and the name “Timanfaya”. I was surprised to learn that “Chimanfaya” was the original name of a village that used to exist before the eruptions covered it completely in volcanic material. Its new name comes from a fault in translation or writing and was misinterpreted as “Timanfaya”.

I’d learnt many new facts about the National Park from the voice-over on the tour bus alone, but the tour guide went above and beyond to talk about the ecological information of the landscape. One of the more interesting words was “Jameo”, meaning a volcanic tube that allows natural light to shine in.

After experiencing Montaña Rajada we joined the normal route again, which took us back up to the restaurant to learn about the heat still emanating from the volcanoes. Perhaps the most practical demonstration of the heat is when one of the guides pours a bucket of water into a hole in the ground… a few seconds go by as everyone waits with baited breath before a spurt of steam comes shooting out of the hole again.

Moving into the restaurant and you’ll realise that it is an eco-friendly haven, using local products from the island and the natural heat of the Earth to cook the food. I’ve never seen anything quite like it. The main grill used in the restaurant is something I can only describe as a large well except where there would be water, there is immense heat from the earth’s centre. That’s all there is to it, a large metal grid sits on top with food sizzling away.

The “cherry on top” of the Insólita trips is that you get to try a tasting menu at the end of the tour, along with a glass of local wine.

The Canarian potatoes, goats’ cheese, tomatoes, and grilled meats were spectacular. As boring as plain old tomatoes might sound, they might just be the best tomatoes I’ve ever eaten.

BOOKING INFORMATION

The Montañas del Fuego is open every day from 09:30am until 5pm (last entrance at 3:45pm) and takes approximately an hour and a half to complete the tour.

Entry is €30 per adult, €15 per child (ages 7 – 12) and free for children under the age of 6. There is a discount for Lanzarote residents.

You can buy tickets online from the official website here:

https://ventaonline.cactlanzarote.com/en/tickets/montanas-del-fuego-timanfaya-ticket

The post Visiting the Montañas del Fuego first appeared on Gazette Life.

While Lanzarote is rightly famed for its sun, sea, and volcanic landscapes, a rich cultural pulse beats in its capital, Arrecife. For those seeking an evening of sophistication beyond the resort restaurants, the Teatro Víctor Fernández Gopar “El Salinero” is the island’s premier destination for performing arts.

Photo: Cabildo de Lanzarote

More than just a theatre, ‘El Salinero’ is a modern venue dedicated to the exhibition and production of high-quality performance. Its story is one of transformation. Initially built as an auditorium for the island’s music conservatory, it underwent significant renovations to emerge in 2007 as the dedicated Lanzarote Island Theatre. After a further brief closure to perfect safety features, it reopened permanently in 2011. In 2016, it was renamed in honour of a beloved local poet, Víctor Fernández Gopar “El Salinero”, cementing its place in the island’s cultural heart.

Today, the 592-seat auditorium is a hub of creativity. Its programme is impressively diverse, featuring everything from gripping drama and contemporary dance to classical concerts, flamenco, and jazz. It also serves as a key stage for the Canary Islands’ performing arts circuit and hosts events during the island’s premier film and visual arts festival, FICC. Whether you fancy a night of ballet, a thought-provoking play (often in Spanish, but with universal physical theatre also featured), or a live music performance, El Salinero offers a captivating alternative to a night out.

Finding Your Way to the Show

Perfectly located close to Arrecife’s main bus station, the theatre is easily accessible from all major resorts.

• From Puerto del Carmen: The Number 03 bus will take you to the station.
• From Playa Blanca: The Number 60 & 62 buses will take you to the station.
• From Costa Teguise: The Number 03 bus will take you to the station.

Checking the programme is easy – simply visit https://culturalanzarote.com/programacion/

Catching a show here offers a wonderful glimpse into the island’s vibrant cultural soul and makes for a truly memorable evening.

The post Visiting Arrecife’s “El Salinero” theatre first appeared on Gazette Life.

There are eight official Canary islands including Lanzarote, and no matter how much you love this lovely volcanic island, you’ll find it rewarding to visit the others. Only then will you get an idea of sheer variety and appeal of the Canary Islands, from big cities and bustling resorts to wild beaches and fairy-tale forests.

If you’re a resident, you’re in luck, as generous discounts apply on inter-island flights operated by Binter and CanaryFly, as well as the ferry services that connect all the islands. It’s also worth considering island-hopping during quieter times, as that’s when you can dodge the crowds and really enjoy the local atmosphere.

So, this Canary Day, why not make a booking and celebrate this Atlantic paradise in your own way?

1.) Fuerteventura

Just 40 minutes away from Lanzarote on a ferry, Fuerteventura instantly feels like freedom. There’s a relaxed, spacious vibe about the place that appeals instantly, and the pretty resort of Corralejo is the perfect point of entry.

No other island has as many beaches as Fuerteventura – glorious, strands of white sand stretching for miles. The interior of the island has its own charm and a spectacular mountain route from Betancuria to Pajara. Meanwhile, Puerto del Rosario is a pleasant capital, and the resorts of Caleta de Fuste, Jandia and Costa Calma all offer plenty of tourist fun.

Read more about Fuerteventura.

2.) Gran Canaria

The capital island of the eastern Canaries, Gran Canaria has everything from forests to mountains, beautiful rural towns and villages, and a popular resort area in the south close to impressive sand dunes.

But the capital of Las Palmas is a must-visit – home to the best city beach in Europe, a fascinating old colonial neighbourhood with an important cathedral, and two of the best shopping streets on the Canaries. It’s also the only place on the Canaries where you’ll see top flight Spanish football – “The Canaries” of UD Las Palmas are currently holding their own in La Liga.

Read more about Gran Canaria.

3.) Tenerife

Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands, dominated by the mighty, mystical volcano of Teide – the highest peak in the Atlantic. It’s also where Canarian tourism was born, in the hillside spa town of Puerto de la Cruz, while the resorts of Los Cristianos, Playa de las Americas and Costa Adeje in the south dwarf any of Lanzarote’s main resorts.

Santa Cruz is a bustling capital with plenty of shopping and business opportunities, but if you seek a little more charm, head to the nearby university town of La Laguna.

4.) La Palma

“La Isla Bonita” is a delight, still largely unspoiled. The well-laid out capital, Santa Cruz, is one of the prettiest in the Canaries.

Fans of natural spectacle mustn’t miss the stunning scenery in the Caldera de Taburiente at the heart of the island, while a drive up to the weird telescopes at the Roque de los Muchachos offers the clearest views on the Canaries.

There’s also a chance to see the youngest volcano in Europe and the banana plantation that sweep down to the sea are impressive in their own way.

5.) El Hierro

The last stop before America, El Hierro still has an enchanting “world’s end” atmosphere. It’s a beautiful but often desolate place, with few beaches and little in the way of modern tourist facilities. However, there’s a reason why so many film-makers head to the island – it’s a place that inspires with peace and solitude.

6.) La Gomera

An ancient, slowly crumbling volcano, La Gomera is one of the prettiest of all of the Canaries, with lovely coastal towns dotted at the foot of its many valleys, and soaring crags and a unique, moss-covered fairy-tale forest at its heart in in the Garajonay National Park.

Capital San Sebastian is a hilly but charming place, with plenty of historical interest and a black beach, but you really need to get out on those steep and winding roads to experience the majesty of this island.

Read more about La Gomera.

7.) La Graciosa

The little island north of Lanzarote was officially named “the eighth Canary Island” a few years ago, although it is still governed by Lanzarote. Take the ferry there for hearty meals in the capital Caleta de Sebo and walks or cycle-rides to some of the most beautiful and isolated beaches on the islands.

Read more about La Graciosa.

8.) Lanzarote

We all know about this one, of course.

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