Sandy beaches, good quality restaurants and accommodation and easy access to many of the island's major tourist attractions make Costa Teguise a great base for your holiday in Lanzarote.
General Information
Location
Situated on the south eastern coast to the north of Arrecife, Costa Teguise is Lanzarote’s third largest tourist resort.
It is only a 15 minute drive from Arrecife Airport and is a convenient place from which to explore the island's main tourist and cultural attractions, such as the César Manrique Foundation, as well as atmospheric villages such as Arrieta and Haria.
The island’s historic capital of Teguise is also just a 10 to 15 minute drive away and its quiet cobbled streets and historic buildings are well worth exploring, unless of course you go on a Sunday, when the large weekly market is in full swing.
The cosmopolitan island capital of Arrecife is also in close proximity and whilst it doesn't boast the historic buildings of Teguise it´s still a fascinating place to explore and is home to two castles, Lanzarote´s main shopping street Calle Real and a great weekly market which takes place every Saturday morning in and around the Church of San Gines.
History and Development
Costa Teguise is a purpose built resort, which started to take shape in the 1970s, under the aegis of César Manrique. It was initially developed as an up market alternative to Puerto del Carmen and became very popular with German and Scandinavian tourists during the 1980´s. Anchored by the 5 star Hotel Gran Melia Salinas and the Pueblo Marinero.
Some visitors say that the resort lacks an organic, central heart - and it´s true that it doesnt boast anything as atmospheric as say the Old Town Harbour area in Puerto del Carmen. However there´s still plenty of life in and around Playa Cucharas, the main beach and in the Playa Bastian area, which is home to most of the best restaurants in the resort.
One of the best ways to explore Costa Teguise is to take a stroll along the seafront promenade, which will take you past all of the five main beaches and towards the Las Maretas Palace, originally built for King Hussein of Jordan and now used by visiting dignitaries such as the King of Spain and former Prime Minister Zapatero, who is a regular visitor to the island.
Costa Teguise Weather
Costa Teguise is the least sheltered of Lanzarote´s main resorts as well as the most northerly. As a result, during the winter months, it can be cooler, cloudier and windier here than in resort rivals to the south. Which in part explains why it has fallen behind Puerto del Carmen and Playa Blanca to become Lanzarote´s number 3 resort.
However these factors become far less salient from around March onwards, although it still remains more exposed to the winds. During the summer months this breeze can be a real god send and it is important to note that there are also plenty of very still and calm days all year round.
What to Do
Although many of the activities revolve around the beach, with windsurfing in particular being very well catered for (as a result of the wind here), there is plenty more to do in and around Costa Teguise than just soak up the sun.
Costa Teguise Beaches
There are five beaches in Costa Teguise, all comprised of golden sand. The main ones, such as Playa Cucharas and Playa Bastian offer good facilities, such as WC´s, sun loungers and umbrellas. Whilst others such as Playa Ancla are a little more all natural. Read our guide to beaches in Costa Teguise to find out more.
Local Tourist Attractions
Costa Teguise is well situated to explore the many tourist attractions in the North of Lanzarote, such as the Cueva de los Verdes, Jameos del Agua and the Jardin de Cactus. All of which were created by local artist César Manrique, whose former home and studio is also just a ten minute drive away in Tahiche. So if you are planning to combine sunbathing with sightseeing Costa Teguise is an excellent choice.
Things To Do
Costa Teguise can also lay claim to the only water park on the island. The AquaPark is located around ten minutes walk from the Pueblo Marinero in the direction of Tahiche and is open daily from 10.00 to 18.00. Half day passes cost €15 for kids and €18 for adults. Reviews are often a little mixed, kids love it naturally, but it´s not on the scale of some of the mammoth water parks you encounter in other destinations and the water can feel a little chilly during the winter months.
The resort is also home to Lanzarote´s only aquarium, which again isn´t on the grandest scale but can provide a decent diversion for families.
Sports
Windsurfing, as mentioned before, is a major pastime in Costa Teguise with visitors and residents alike. There are windsurfing schools, shops and equipment rental companies clustered around the beach at Las Cucharas. Most levels of experience are catered for, from absolute beginners upwards.
Cycling and running are also quite widely enjoyed for the more energetic amongst us, the balmy climate and safe roads making for a very pleasant experience.
Costa Teguise is also home to the oldest golf course on the island, so this is where you can head for eighteen holes in the sun all year round.
Shopping
Like most purpose built resorts, there is no shortage of shops aimed at the tourist sector, with plenty of jewellers, discount electrical stores and general gift shops, with most budgets and tastes being catered for.
If you are on a self-catering holiday, there are plenty of smaller supermarkets within the resort. These stores generally stock a good range of international produce.
A larger supermarket is also located on the outskirts of Costa Teguise in the direction of Arrecife and this is the best outlet if you are looking to buy fresh meat and fish.
Costa Teguise Night Life
Puerto del Carmen is the nightlife hub of Lanzarote and if you are looking for somewhere to dance into the small hours in a club environment then head there. Costa Teguise is quieter but still has a handful of decent venues, such as the Krazy Lounge that are worth seeking out. There´s regular live jazz at Jazz Mi Madre, close to the Pueblo Marinero and loads of bars and restaurants. But if you´re expecting anything really lively you´ll be disappointed.
Where to Eat
Costa Teguise scores highly when it comes to eating out. Most of the best restaurants are located in the Playa Bastian area of the resort, with Oscars, El Navarro and Isla Bonita all rated highly. Read our guide to restaurants in Costa Teguise for more in depth information.
Transport
Costa Teguise is well served by public transport with buses and taxis being readily available. However if you want to really get the most out of your holiday to Costa Teguise and explore some of the tourist attractions which are further afield, you should consider renting a car.
There are many car hire companies within the resort, but these can be very busy, especially in peak season. We therefore reccommend booking your car in advance. Our Lanzarote Car Hire page has further details.
Where to Stay
There is a wide choice of places to stay in Costa Teguise, from studio apartments to luxury villas; which means that there is accommodation for most people's needs and budgets. View our selection of villas in Lanzarote available for rent.
Hotels
Costa Teguise offers a range of hotels, from three star though to the five star luxury of the Hotel Gran Melia Salinas (pictured left).
You can check out the available hotels in Costa Teguise on our Lanzarote Hotels page.
Apartments
There are plenty of decent, family orientated apartment complexes in Costa Teguise which offer good value accommodation, such as Los Zocos and El Sirocco. We also offer a small selection of privately owned holiday apartments in Costa Teguise.
The Property Market
The market in Costa Teguise could currently be described as pretty flat. It remains a good place to invest in a holiday villa or apartment for rental purposes and plenty of ex-pats choose to relocate here. But if you´re looking for serious capital gains then hold tight, as many local observers believe that prices could still fall further here. This is evidenced by the fact that there are quite a few unfinished developments around the outer reaches of the resort. Whilst some developers have been unable to fill units that were thrown up in the heady days prior to the credit crunch.
Estate Agents
If you are thinking about investing in property here make sure you consult reputable estate agents in Costa Teguise, to ensure that you get the best advice.
Property for Sale
If you want to see a selection of properties available to buy in the resort, please check out our dedicated Costa Teguise property for sale pages.