Discover Puerto del Carmen

Puerto del Carmen is the oldest and largest holiday resort on the Canary Island of Lanzarote.  And there’s never been a better time to visit – as local tourist authorities have just invested over €16 million on improvements here to ensure the resort remains competitive well into the 21st century.

Lanzarote is one of the seven Canary Islands – which are owned by Spain but which are situated off the coast of West Africa. Tourism has long been the islands economic mainstay and Puerto del Carmen was the spot where package holidays first really took off.  Transforming what had been until then a small fishing village called La Tiñosa into a bustling and modern holiday resort.

Holidaymakers first started arriving in Puerto del Carmen in earnest during the early 1970´s – as at this time Lanzarote was a new and novel destination.  Initially visitors found accommodation in and around the Old Town harbour area – which remains the organic heart of the resort to this day.  But over the years the resort itself exploded and now extends almost as far as the islands airport located just outside the capital city of Arrecife.

Indeed such as is Puerto del Carmen’s scale today that it is now split into two main zones.  The Old Town – which revolves around the harbour.  And the New Town which runs parallel with the main beach of Playa Grande and the seafront thoroughfare of the Avenida de las Playas.

Tourists will find a good selection of apartments and villas in Puerto del Carmen to rent in both areas.  Whilst the resort is also home to some of the best value four star hotels in Lanzarote.

Beaches are one of the resorts chief attractions but many visitors will be unaware that most of these playas are in fact man made.  Created using sand imported from the Sahara desert which is located only 100 miles to the east.

The most popular stretch of sand is Playa Grande but there are a number of small and more atmospheric beaches for those in the know.  Such as Playa Chica, which I located close to the Fariones Hotels and which is ideal for snorkelling and diving.

Last year the resort underwent a facelift as local authorities pumped €16 million in improvement to the infrastructure and amenities.  Much of which was spent on improving the main seafront promenade – which is now a much more enjoyable place to stroll thanks to the addition of new trees and plants and the removal of much of the traffic that used to clog this road up. Money has also been spent on transforming the harbour into a marina with plenty of moorings for luxury boats and craft.

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