Puerto del Carmen

Originally a small fishing village nestled on the south central coastal region of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, Puerto del Carmen is the longest established and best known resort on the island. It has retained much of its original charm and character, and the locals are friendly and welcoming to visitors. Puerto del Carmen's climate is just about perfect, boasting mild winters and summers which are not too hot, and little rain. As befits such a tourist oriented area, hotels in Puerto del Carmen are plentiful and varied. Many offer direct access to the beach, plus spas and fitness centres.

The San Antonio Hotel in Puerto del Carmen is one of the most well known in Lanzarote, and is located at the end of the strip, just a short, pleasant stroll from the resort. It offers salt and fresh water swimming pools and a children's pool, and the beach is just behind the swimming pools and gardens, offering direct access. Los Fariones Hotel is located right in the centre of the resort, at the heart of the action and has its own small, private beach. There are tennis courts, two pools, mini-golf and a sauna. The Riu Paraiso boasts four swimming pools, Jacuzzi, spa, bio-sauna and solarium. The buffet restaurants offer international and Canary Islands dishes, and there is also an on-site nightclub. The Jameos Playa Hotel is cleverly designed to blend in with the local Canary Islands architecture, and has a dining room which opens out onto mature tropical gardens which surround the swimming pool.

Puerto del Carmen has one of the finest stretches of beach on Lanzarote; six kilometres of golden, Blue Flag award sands washed by gentle, azure waves. For water sports lovers there are plenty of windsurfing centres and diving schools in the resort. There is a new golf course just outside the resort, offering some of the finest views in Lanzarote. Puerto del Carmen offers some of the best entertainment in the Canary Islands, with arcades, casinos and plenty of shopping opportunities. As for cuisine, there are over 100 restaurants just on the Avenue de Las Playas alone, with seafood a speciality.