The longest established - and probably best known - resort on the island. Puerto del Carmen has everything from beachside arcades to Casinos and some of the most impressive luxury private villas in Lanzarote.
General Information
Location
Nestled on the coast in the southern central part of the island, it is only a 10 minute drive from Arrecife Airport and is a convenient place from which to explore Lanzarote’s tourist and cultural attractions.
History and Development
Like many places in Lanzarote, Puerto del Carmen was originally a small fishing village, and the old harbour is still a delightful place to visit, boasting some excellent seafood restaurants.
Although the resort has grown over the last twenty years — it now stretches along the whole 6 kilometres of golden sandy beaches — the town has been saved from the high-rise buildings that blight so many other destinations due to the strict planning restrictions.
What People Say
The resort certainly has most of the things that any holiday maker requires and according to the Ayuntamiento (Council) of Tias: surveys conducted among the ever-increasing amount of visitors report satisfaction levels between 85 and 90 per cent.
What To Do
Due to the fantastic Lanzarote climate, Puerto del Carmen offers the ability to enjoy outdoor activities all year round.
Beaches
If sun and sea are your thing, then the 6 kilometre stretch of golden beaches — washed by the waters of the Atlantic — should be enough to tempt you. All of the beaches fly the Blue Flag — awarded by the EEC — for cleanliness and lack of contamination. The surrounding waters are considered to be some of the most tranquil in the Canary Islands, they are excellent for Swimming and other water sports.
Check our guide to Puerto del Carmen beaches.
Sports
Many Sports are available here, both on land and in the water.
There are a number of diving schools and windsurfing centres in Puerto del Carmen, if you fancy taking up one of these exhilarating sports.
For the more energetic amongst you; swimming, cycling and running are also very popular, with various bike hire shops along the main beach promenade. The Lanzarote IronMan triathlon, which is a major international athletics event, starts and finishes on the Avenida de Las Playas, lending an air of excitement to the resort every May / June.
The new golf course, just outside of Puerto del Carmen on the road to Tias has been open for three years now. You can get more information about the course by visiting our Lanzarote Golf page.
Shopping
As befits such a mecca for tourists, there are a wealth of shopping opportunities available, whether you want to peruse the tourist offerings of the main Beach Avenue or fancy something a bit more upmarket in the Biosfera shopping complex. Everything is available from duty free electronics equipment, local arts and crafts through to luxury designer clothes and shoes.
Festivals
Carnaval — which takes place at the end of February to the beginning of March — attracts many visitors from all over Europe, joining the local residents in their celebrations.
The end of July signals the Fiesta de Nuestra Señora del Carmen, patron saint of Puerto del Carmen. Visitors again make the population swell as folklore performances, singing and dancing fill the night until the early hours of the morning. Specially decorated fishing boats setting out to sea, to pray for good catches in the coming year, signals the end of this particular fiesta.
Where to Eat
There are well over 100 restaurants on the Avenida de Las Playas alone, with menus to suit all tastes and budgets from fast food, through to high class gourmet eating. Read our Puerto del Carmen Restaurant Guide.
Where to Stay
Hotels in Puerto del Carmen
We currently have details of the Riu Palace and San Antonio hotels in Puerto del Carmen as well as many more.
Browse and book from our comprehensive selection of hotels in Puerto del Carmen. And book online to enjoy the best prices.
Holiday Villas in Puerto del Carmen
We feature a big selection of villas in Puerto del Carmen located across the resort, including Los Mojones and the Old Town.
Holiday Apartments in Puerto del Carmen
Select your ideal holiday apartment in Puerto del Carmen and book online now.
The Property Market
Estate Agents
As the longest established resort town on the island, it should be no surprise that there are many real estate agents to be found here.We have compiled a list of estate agents in Puerto del Carmen, which has full contact details, links to websites and further information about featured agents.
Property for Sale
The property market is very lively in this particular town, not least because of the number of weeks occupancy that holiday villas and apartments enjoy here.
You can view a list of some of the property for sale in the resort of Puerto del Carmen. This links to information pages about each property that also have a contact form so that you can get in touch with the selling agent directly.