Travel guide – puerto del carmen and matagorda
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Overview
Set beneath a range of steep hills on the south coast of Lanzarote, Puerto del Carmen is the island’s major resort. Its main feature is a spectacular two-mile (three km) golden beach, which is backed by a main road, The Strip, where shops, bars and restaurants of every variety can be found. The Old Town retains some of its old world charm but for the most part the resort is a sprawling holiday complex offering entertainment for all ages. Puerto del Carmen is the centre of the Lanzarote’s nightlife and, being centrally located, is within easy distance of all the islands key attractions. Matagorda is a small purpose-built resort just a few minutes drive along the coast from Puerto del Carmen, or a 30 minute walk.
Shopping
Puerto del Carmen is stuffed with shops of all kinds, from duty-free electrical stores and tourist stalls along The Strip to the excellent clothes shops and boutiques in the Old Town. Altough the supermarkets in Matagorda are fine, those looking for a wider variety of shops generally make the short journey to Los Pocillos or Puerto del Carmen. The Sunday Market in Teguise is worth a visit; as well as the usual tourist tat visitors will find a variety of locally produced goods from pottery to tablecloths. It is around €14 each way by taxi.
Restaurants
There are hundreds of restaurants to suit all tastes and wallets in Puerto del Carmen. Most restaurants are on The Strip serving everything from local cuisine to fast food, as well as Chinese, Mexican and Indian restaurants. Lani’s is a popular local chain that offers a mix of local and English cuisine, and Harley Rock is an American diner that is a great choice for those with kids. There are many fine restaurants near the harbour in the Old Town. La Puerto Cascada is highly recommended but queues are likely. Tomatisimo, on the way into the Old Town, serves excellent Spanish dishes and next door is Montimare, a small French bistro. Both usually need to be booked the day before. Those wanting to get out of Puerto del Carmen for the evening can take a taxi to the old capital, Teguise. It has a lovely atmoshere in the evening and a few good restaurants, Ikarus probably being the best.
Nightlife
Puerto del Carmen is the main nightspot of the island and its population swells most evenings as tourists from other resorts come to enjoy its bars and clubs. There are loads of good English, Irish and Scottish bars along The Strip. The Centre Atlantico has a number of cocktail bars and can be a good spot to start the evening. The Hippodrome is also here but more serious clubbers may prefer Caesars. For those who aren’t easily offended Lady Muck’s Comedy Drag Show Bar or the Titi Trollop Show can be great entertainment.
Activities
All sorts of watersports can be organised at the beach including banana boat rides, jet skiing and sailing. Windsurfing is particularly good due to the strong regular winds. Deep-sea fishing is also excellent and can be arranged through a couple of operators. Scuba diving schools take trips to local wrecks as well as offering lessons. For land-lovers there is tennis and squash within the resort and golf and horse riding nearby. Boat trips go from the harbour and from Puerto Calero. Further afield visitors can explore the dramatic landscape of the Timanfaya National Park. Most activities can be organised through the tour operator reps, though it is sometimes cheaper to book directly.
Attractions in Puerto del Carmen and Matagorda
Museum of Contemporary Art
Modern art in an old building works well in Lanzarote’s capital, Arrecife, where a collection of works by international artists is on permanent display in the Castle of San Jose, a fortress built between 1776 and 1779 by King Carlos III of Spain. Some of the artists featured are Bacon, Picasso, Miro, Botero, Damaso and Luis Feito.
Timanfaya National Park
Timanfaya National Park is unique because it is the only national park in the world to have been developed by local residents. Also unique is what the park offers, which includes a volcanic field filled with a variety of geological and geothermic phenomena. In the restaurant visitors can end their guided tour of these wonders by enjoying a meal cooked on geothermal heat emanating from the steam vents and geysers exuding from the lava. The park also features 180 different plant species on its stark landscape.
The Cactus Garden
Situated between Guatiza and Mala is an unusual sightseeing attraction that combines art with nature. Artist Cesar Manrique created a work of art in the form of a cactus plantation in an old quarry. The site also features a restored windmill.
Climate
Lanzarote has a great climate throughout the year, although the sea breeze can be quite bracing. The average temperature is comfortable all year round, rarely dropping below 63°F (17°C) and more often above 82°F (28°C) during the day. During the winter it gets cool in the evenings and the sea temperature drops. Rainfall in the summer months is almost non-existent, but showers are likely between October and April.
Health
There are no health risks associated with travel to Spain, and no vaccination certificates are required for entry. Spain has a reciprocal health agreement with most EU countries, including the UK, providing free emergency health care at State run hospitals. UK travellers should take a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Note that private clinics are not covered, and the scheme gives no entitlement to medical repatriation costs, nor does it cover ongoing illnesses of a non-urgent nature, so comprehensive travel insurance is advised.
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