Villa Cristal, Luxury Villa Rental Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote, 4 Bedrooms , 3 Bathrooms, Free Air Con/WiFi

Puerto del Carmen Area

Situated towards the south of Lanzarote, Puerto del Carmen is by far the liveliest resort on the island. Its main beach Playa Grande is sometimes referred to as Playa Blanca - not to be confused with the resort of the same name further south! Its gently shelving golden sands make it suitable for swimming and it has won the coveted Blue Flag for cleanliness and hygiene. Running alongside is the Avenida de las Playas, which has a pleasant flower-adorned walkway on one side and a host of bars, shops and restaurants on the other. The Avenida continues all the way along the coast to Los Pocillos and Matagorda, giving visitors ready access to other beaches in the area.

Puerto del Carmen started life as a fishing village and its picturesque harbour at the southern end of the resort is still very much in action. It is a lovely place to unwind over a drink and watch the fishing boats come and go, and if you wander into the square nearby you’ll see the locals playing boules. When you feel more energetic, there is plenty to do here.

There are many companies offering water sports and if necessary instruction in snorkeling and scuba-diving, or you can go riding courtesy of the Rancho Texas riding stables (recently converted to a theme park) in Puerto del Carmen itself or Lanzarote á Caballo at Yaiza. You can admire the underwater world from a submarine or a glass-bottomed boat or try your hand at deep-sea fishing. There are also numerous excursions to attractions further afield – find yourself a copy of The Gazette or Lancelot magazines as these give much information about the island and what is going on.

The Avenida de las Playas is where all the action takes place. Shops line the road all the way to Los Pocillos and when darkness falls it buzzes with activity as its bars and discos swing into action. Popular nightspots include The Big Apple, Waikiki Beach Club, Hippodrome and Charlie’s and the fun continues until 3 or 4 am. There is plenty of family entertainment too, and if you fancy a flutter, you can play American roulette and Black Jack at the Casino – over 18’s only and don’t forget your passport.