CÉSAR MANRIQUE TOUR

A whole day tour dedicated to exploring the works of the artist Cesar Manrique, who has had a profound impact on how Lanzarote looks even today.

The tour starts with a quick visit to the Monumento al Campesino – a museum, restaurant and craft shop development situated in the centre of island and created in honour of the farmers who toiled so laboriously to survive before tourism took off.

From Mozaga, the coach heads north to the town of Haria, where Manrique spent the last few years of his life. The pretty town is one of the greenest spots on the island, thanks to all the palm trees planted here. From Haria, it’s a short drive to the end of the island, where the Mirador del Rio is located. This is an old artillery post that has been converted into a fantastic look out post, where you can look out on the neighbouring islands of La Graciosa, Montaña Clara and Alegranza.

From the Mirador it´s not far to the restaurant where you´ll be offered a three course lunch. After lunch, the tour then offers you a choice for the next visit – either the Cueva de los Verdes (The Greens Cave) or the Jameos del Agua.

The Cueva de los Verdes is an underground tunnel system carved out by the lava flow 5,000 years ago, when Monte Corona erupted. The Jameos del Agua is the same tunnel as it meets the sea and Manrique transformed it into one of the most unusual and beautiful sights the island has to offer. Part music venue, nightclub and restaurant, the Jameos also has an underground lake where a rare albino crab lives, hanging gardens and one of the most amazing pools you will ever see.

On the way back towards the centre of the island, you´ll visit the Cactus Garden, home to thousands of examples of this spiny species of plant. Arranged in an old quarry, the terraces form an ampitheatre which you can walk around to get a closer view of the cacti.

The final stop of the day is at the Cesar Manrique Foundation. This was the artist´s former home and is an architectural wonder, as it has been partially created from five underground volcanic bubbles. It also has an extensive exhibition of his paintings in what used to be his studio. The journey back to your accommodation from the Foundation should get you back in resort around 6.00pm.