Planning your trip to Lanzarote? Wondering what to do in Puerto del Carmen?
Here’s our complete guide to all the best places and things to do in the area, to make the most of your stay:
- the most beautiful beaches in Puerto del Carmen
- Places to see in town
- boat tours
- excursions around the island
- fun activities in the water or on land…
This is our personal selection of must-do activities in Puerto del Carmen.
Our favorite car rental platform: DiscoverCars
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
1. Enjoy Playa Grande, the main beach
Playa Grande is definitely one of Lanzarote’s most popular beaches, and the largest in the city center.
We love its kilometer-long golden sandy shoreline and its depth, where everyone can find a bit of space.
What’s more, its orientation is perfect for admiring the mountains of southern Lanzarote, the oldest part of the island.
On the beach you’ll find sun loungers, pedal boat and paddle rentals, showers… and anything else you might need. And along the square is the main avenue, with its many restaurants and stores.
2. Dolphin-watching boat trip
Our favorite activity was the dolphin-watching trip. We were very lucky and had a dazzling show!
Of course, there’s no guarantee of seeing dolphins or whales, but in any case you’ll enjoy the beautiful views of the island, the pleasure of gliding over the water… And the excitement of looking off into the distance for a glimpse of a fin. And when you find them, it’s unforgettable!
Here’s our favorite tour to see them, in a comfortable boat where everyone has room to watch the dolphins: fast boat during the day – duration 1h30 with swimming:
See details and availability
3. Swimming at Playa Chica, our favourite beach
Playa Chica is our favorite beach in Puerto del Carmen.
It’s a charming little cove 60 m long.
It’s surrounded by a rocky barrier, creating a natural pool with calm waters.
We found the sand very fine and the waters quite transparent.
We were delighted.
If you like snorkeling, this is also a very good choice.
WHERE TO STAY IN Puerto del Carmen
Our favorites: neighborhoods and hotels
In the center, around the main beach.
Hotel Los Fariones, sumptuous – See prices, photos and availability
In Matagorda, quieter.
Hotel Aequora, for families – see prices, photos and availability.
Around the port, old town.
Hotel Gloria Izaro Club Hotel – See prices, photos and availability
4. Learn to dive
Speaking of discovering the underwater world, Playa Chica also offers the best diving opportunities.
So, if you’ve always dreamed of discovering another world, make your week magical with 2 dives to discover the marine life, underwater caves and shipwrecks stranded in the area.
See program and availability – and book!
5. Stroll along the Paseo Maritimo
Playa del Carmen is a long town. And if you like walking with a view of the sea, there’s a wonderful path that runs along the entire coastline and beaches: the Paseo Maritimo.
It’s really very pleasant, especially at sunrise.
Along the way, in addition to the lovely views, you can see some works of art and sculptures such as the Robalo.
6. Rancho Texas: zoo and water park
Rancho Texas is a zoological and botanical park with a pool, kayak and waterslide section where you can cool off after admiring all the animals.
The water park isn’t very big, but it’s a great combination for a great day out (see our comparison of Lanzarote’s water parks ).
In this park you’ll see:
- a classic zoo section
- animal shows (dolphins, birds, sea lions)
- a tunnel explaining the island’s geology
- a dolphin explanation tunnel with immersive museography
- the water park
- mini-river with mini-kayaks
7. Catamaran to Papagayo beaches
Lanzarote’s southwest coast is a must-see. You can get there by land, or observe the scenery from a catamaran, one of the best boat tours in Lanzarote.
Papagayo and its neighboring stretches of golden sand are considered Lanzarote’s best beaches and form one of the island’s main attractions.
Their large sandy expanses have remained largely untouched, with no paved roads leading to them.
These beaches are located on the Macizo de los Ajaches, the island’s oldest territory, formed around 14 million years ago.
4h from Puerto del Carmen:
The catamaran allows you to explore the entire south coast and perhaps catch a glimpse of dolphins. You can swim or kayak around the boat.
See program and availability
OUR ADVICE FOR RENTING A CAR IN Lanzarote
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- A small car is all you need.
- But you can also choose a larger one if you wish, as the parking spaces are rather large.
- Demand is high, so book early.
8. Water sports: parasailing, jet skiing, paddle…
Duration: 10min flight
Discover the pleasure of parasailing (parasailing), an activity we particularly enjoy, with the sensation of flying but less stress for take-off and landing.
You’ll enjoy exceptional views of Lanzarote and its volcanoes!
Check availability and book your flight!
If you prefer to stay on the water, you have other options too:
- A jet-ski excursion for speed and views – see details and availability
- A paddle outing to find your balance – see details and availability
9. Walk to Puerto Calero and return by boat
And finally, if you want to do a bit of walking, you can take the short, fairly flat hike between Puerto del Carmen and Puerto Calero. You’ll pass through town along the beaches, then through an undeveloped area before arriving at the Puerto Calero marina. Wear good shoes.
You can return by water cab between Puerto Calero and Puerto del Carmen to enjoy the beautiful views from the sea (10min crossing).
Buy your tickets.
And you can even continue on past Puerto Calero to the little village of Playa Quemada, where the views are even more beautiful! But there’s no boat back to Playa Quamada.
10. Submarine tour
Yellow submarine… Yellow submarine…
We warn you, after this tour, you’ll have the song stuck in your head!
This tour takes you a little way out of the harbour to discover the underwater world. It’s pretty impressive to be underwater like that, knowing you’re not that deep… no stress!
It’s an ideal activity for the whole family (except claustrophobics, of course). But the room is big enough, so we didn’t feel any anxiety.
The tour does not depart from the port of Puerto del Carmen, but from Puerto Calero. You can get there in 10 to 15 minutes by car, or take the boat-bus from the port of Puerto del Carmen.
Duration 1h. Places are limited!
See availability and make reservations
11. Activities on land
If you’d like to explore off the beaten track with a few adrenaline-pumping moments thrown in, one of the most popular activities in Puerto del Carmen is a buggy trip.
This lets you have fun, hit the dirt roads and discover some of Lanzarote’s magnificent scenery: volcanoes and cliffs.
Don’t forget to wear a bandana, cover your face and protect yourself from dust!
Drivers must have a valid driver’s license
See program and availability – and book!
WITH OUR GUIDE PLAN YOUR DREAM TRIP TO lanzarote
All the information you need for your trip:
- 7 maps that make planning easier
- + 75 pre-selected locations
- Practical advice
- + 140 photos to help you choose
12. Enjoy Puerto del Carmen’s other beaches: Matagorda, Pocillos…
The first two beaches listed in this article are our favorites, but the city is quite long and you can find other beach options, with different styles:
- Playa Matagorda and its northern section Playa de los Pocillos, very spacious but with slightly less fine sand.
- The small cove of Playa El Baranquillo (at low tide)
- The little cove in front of the Hotel Fariones
- The small cove of Playa La Penita, hidden from the street
- …
13. Minigolf and arcade games
In Puerto del Carmen, you’ll also find two minigolfs:
- Classic outdoor miniature golf: Forbidden Temple Park
- and if it’s too hot (or even raining, although that’s not unusual…), there’s also an indoor miniature golf course with arcade games: Indoor Crazy Minigolf. Book your tickets now.
PLAN YOUR STAY IN Puerto del Carmen
14 à 19. What to see around Puerto del Carmen
We strongly advise you to discover the whole island of Lanzarote. But, if you don’t want to do a lot of driving, check out places to see near Puerto del Carmen (less than 15min drive).
14. Las Grietas
Narrow canyons sculpted by the elements on the slopes of a volcano.
A fascinating and easily accessible place, with several small canyons of different sizes to explore.
Driving time from Puerto del Carmen = 10min
See our article on Las Grietas.
15. La Geria
One of the best things to do in Lanzarote is to discover the unique vineyards on the volcanic soil. They are located mainly in the center of the island between the volcanoes.
It’s quite impressive to see these plants growing on the black soil when there’s nothing else around.
La Geria is the best-known vineyard. You can taste and buy their wine, and admire the view from the parking lot!
Driving time from Puerto del Carmen = 15min
Find out more about the Wine Route.
16. Montana Cuervo
Our favourite volcano (and hike) in Lanzarote is Montana Cuervo. It’s one of the most popular, so we advise you to get there early. But it’s definitely worth it. The site is magnificent, and you can even walk inside.
Wear good shoes, and protect yourself from the sun!
Allow 1 to 2 hours, depending on the length of the visit and the number of photos you want to take.
Driving time from Puerto del Carmen = 15min
Find out more about the Montana Cuervo hike.
17. Montana Colorada
Just across from Montana Cuervo, you can also take a tour of Montana Colorado, the colorful volcano with its huge volcanic bomb.
Allow 1 hour for the tour.
And, once again, wear good shoes and protect yourself from the sun!
Driving time from Puerto del Carmen = 15min
Find out more about the Montana Colorada hike.
18. Arrecife
Lanzarote’s capital is just south of Costa Teguise.
It’s not a very touristy place, but there are still a few places to see.
You can:
- Tour the San Gines fishing port with touches of blue
- Visit the historic church of San Gines
- Admire the fort on the small island: Castillo de San Gabriel.
Driving time from Puerto del Carmen = 15min
See Arrecife’s top attractions.
19. Playa Quemada
And on the other side of the world from the big city of Arrecife, you can choose to discover a small, isolated fishing village, with its white houses and magnificent views.
Playa Quemada is really charming, and we recommend you stop off at one of the little restaurants by the water!
Driving time from Puerto del Carmen = 15min
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20 and 21. Best excursions from Puerto del Carmen
20. Timanfaya National Park
It’s a must-have. Timanfaya National Park is Lanzarote’s best excursion. It’s absolutely breathtaking!
It’s a national park and you can’t walk around on your own. But even in a group, it’s fantastic to see the colors and power of the Earth.
Timanfaya National Park is located on the west coast of the island and consists entirely of volcanic soil.
It is protected. Next to the restaurant, you can see the water projected from the Earth and touch the hot rocks. After that, you board a bus to visit the park on the unique route they’ve created.
This route offers fantastic panoramas of the many volcanic craters (formed mainly between 1730 and 1736), different types of lava and incredible colors.
- Driving time from Puerto del Carmen = 30min
- If you don’t want to drive, there are group excursions combined with other Lanzarote attractions such as the lava tubes – see prices, photos and availability.
- And much more – see the tours that include Timanfaya
21. Works by César Manrique
Lanzarote is also famous for being the home of the architect and artist César Manrique.
Above all, he liked to integrate architecture with the natural environment. It’s thanks to him that there are no major developments on the island and that it retains so much charm with all its little white houses.
One of our favorite places of his was the cactus garden, but there’s also a foundation, his house, the viewpoint over La Graciosa (Mirador del Rio) and Jamaeos del Aqua.
See the different tour options around Manrique’s works
Best things to do in Puerto del Carmen: other activities with or without children
Family bike
We haven’t done any, but people seem to have a great time pedaling and exploring in groups. There are 2-seat and 4-seat versions. Who will be in charge?
Restaurants and nightlife
The town is also full of restaurants. We preferred Playa Blanca’s gastronomic offerings, but you still have an excellent choice to find what you like.
In the evening, you’ll also find plenty of bars with live music.
See our selection of the best restaurants.
Gran Casino de Lanzarote
For something a little different, there’s also a small casino right in the heart of Puerto del Carmen. It’s called Gran Casino, although it’s quite small… you’ll find slot machines and a few gaming tables (blackjack, roulette, poker…).
Shopping
And of course, if you like shopping, you’ll find plenty of boutiques of all styles (depending on the area).
Practical tips for visiting Puerto del Carmen
Where is Puerto del Carmen – map
Here is a map to help you find your way:
The town of Puerto del Carmen is very easy to get to, in the center of the island’s east coast.
- Lanzarote airport (ACE) in Puerto del Carmen = 10min drive
- Playa Blanca to Puerto del Carmen = 30 min
- Puerto del Carmen to Costa Teguise = 20 min
Getting around
It’s very easy to get around the city center on foot.
However, it’s also a very long city.
You can easily take cabs, buses or bicycles on the long seafront cycle path.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO Lanzarote
- Best of
Most beautiful landscapes
Best things to do in Lanzarote
Most beautiful beaches
Most beautiful villages
Best boat tours
César Manrique’s attractions
Secret places, off the beaten track
Most beautiful hikes
- Practical advice
25 tips for a successful trip to Lanzarote
How to get around
How to rent a car in Lanzarote
Driving tips
Where to stay in Lanzarote
Best hotels in Lanzarote
Best excursions
Itineraries: 3 days – 4 days – 5 days – 1 week – 10 days
