Visit Puerto del Carmen
Puerto-del-Carmen is the most popular resort on the island of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands.
Explore Puerto-del-Carmen
Puerto del Carmen is Lanzarote's most popular resort and main tourist town. It has excellent beaches, about six to seven kilometers of them and the seas here are calmer than other parts of the Canaries.
The sea here is particularly popular with divers as the water is warm and clear. There are lots of dive centers to accommodate the large number of divers who holiday here. All the beaches here have the blue flag for cleanliness.
The main street in Puerto del Carmen is the Avenida de las Playas and it stretches alongside the beaches. With beaches on one side and shops, bars and restaurants on the other it is popular in the daytime and is also one of the main areas for Puerto del Carmen's lively nightlife.
If you are looking for more upmarket shops then there is the Biosfera Shopping Centre which lies on the edge of the old town.
The old town and harbour is a bit quieter and is a lovely area to take a stroll or stop at one of the harbour bars with views out across the bay and the volcanic mountains of Papagayo and across to Fuerteventura.
Puerto del Carmen is particularly busy for Carnival which takes place late Feb/early March each year and for the Festival of our Lady of Carmen at the end of July. This festival ends with fishing boats being decorated and saying special prayers for the fishing catch for the year ahead.
Puerto del Carmen has been inhabited since before the arrival of the Normans on the island. It used to be called Tinosa and its port is still called Puerto Tinosa. In 1957 the fishing village of Tinosa was renamed Puerto del Carmen, in honour of Nuestra Senora del Carmen, a name given to the Virgin Mary as head of the Carmelite Order.
Puerto del Carmen began its growth into todays busy resort in 1967 when the Hotel los Fariones opened and attracted visitors from around Europe, especially from Britain, Germany, Spain and Scandinavia.
Attractions nearby
Nearby Yaiza is well worth a visit. It has been voted one of the prettiest villages in Spain.
Puerto-del-Carmen is south of the Timanfaya National Park. This is a beautiful volcanic area with a number of extinct volcanoes and one active volcano, the Timanfaya volcano.
Further along the coast from Puerto del Carman is the town of Teguise which used to be the capital of Lanzarote, and nearby is the Costa Teguise resort which is the other main resort on the island.
You can find more local travel ideas in the Lanzarote guide and the Eastern Canary Islands guide.
Map of Puerto del Carmen and places to visit
Puerto del Carmen places to visit
Yaiza
Yaiza has been voted the prettiest village in Spain several times though lucky to still be here as it is very close to the volcanoes at Timanfaya.
Yaiza guide
Timanfaya National Park
The Parque Nacional de Timanfaya in the Mountanas de Fuego or Fire Mountains are eerily beautiful. At the entrance you can take a camel ride up a volcanic slope.
Timanfaya National Park guide
Lanzarote
Lanzarote with its volcanic landscape is the most unusual of the Eastern Canary Islands.
Lanzarote guide
Teguise
Teguise was the island's capital until 1852. It has some very attractive buildings. Visit the town on Suday, market day.
Teguise guide
Costa Teguise
Costa Teguise is a purpose built resort near the island's old capital, Teguise. It is one of the best resorts on Lanzarote.
Costa Teguise guide
Playa Blanca
Playa Blanca is a small fishing village which has been expanded into a family based resort.
Playa Blanca guide...or see all our recommended places to visit in Eastern Canary Islands