Overview of Puerto del Carmen

Puerto del Carmen has made a name for itself over the past 40 years as the largest and busiest resort in Lanzarote island. Boasting good weather all year round, all the comforts of home and shops full of duty free treasures lining the streets; the resort has become one of the top UK holiday destinations. Flights to Lanzarote are short and reasonably priced providing a cheap and cheerful family get away in the sun. There is a whole host of activities to keep children entertained, and numerous high class boutiques, late night bars, pubs and clubs to amuse the adults. For those wanting more than just a resort holiday, Teguise- the old capital of Lanzarote (history and culture) and the spectacular Timanfaya National Park (nature) are only 30 minutes drive away.

History

The town of Puerto del Carmen started life as a small fishing village, with the area of around the port jetty El Varadera still retaining its original, traditional charm. Although Puerto del Carmen has been continuously developed, the council have set strict planning restrictions. There are no towering sky scrapers obstructing the view of the prevailing topography cradling the resort.

Culture

The old town of Puerto del Carmen possesses a Castillian/ Maxos culture that was more widespread pre- touristic development. Locals celebrate their unique culture through the several fiestas and carnival that take place annually. Catholicism is an important part of the cultural essence of Lanzarote and prevalent throughout the Canary Islands. You can attend a traditional Catholic service inside the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Carmen (The Church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen).

                             

Economy

The of land of Puerto del Carmen and Lanzarote in general is very barren and dry. It is said that Lanzarote receives less rain fall per annum than some parts of the Sahara Desert. Agricultural development has always been a problem for Puerto del Carmen, and before the tourism boom people looked to the sea to make a living. Most families relied on fishing as their primary source of income. However, after the 1960s and then even more so after the 1980’s, tourism brought a valuable income for local people.

How to get there

By Bus:
Buses 02, 03, 24 and 25 departs Arrecife bus station for Puerto del Carmen. Bus 03 runs 24 hours and you can expect departures every 20 minutes during peak hours. Frequency reduces slightly on weekends.

Coming from the south, bus 61 departs hourly from Playa Blanca between 08:30 and 23:20 on weekdays and every two hours between 09:00 and 22:30 on weekends.
If you wish to get to and from the famous Sunday Market in Teguise, bus 12 departs from Puerto del Carmen on Sundays 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30 and 11:00. Return buses from Teguise Market run at 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:15 and 14:00.

 

For those wishing to island hop between Lanzarote and Fuerteventura on a ferry, there are free Fred Olsen buses included in the fare (departing couple of times daily, both direction) from Puerto del Carmen to Playa Blanca in the south for ferry departure to Corralejo in Fuerteventura.

By Car:
If you should like to visit several places during your stay in Lanzarote, then it is recommended that you hire a car. Car hire companies can be found at the airport arrivals or in major resorts in Lanzarote.

From Arrecife, exit the city via LZ-2 southward. You will pass the Lanzarote airport before turning left for LZ-40 (Carretera Las Playas). From here, follow the signs to your resort or destination. Otherwise, keep driving past the Lanzarote Golf until you reach the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Calle Reina Sofia (LZ-504) for the centre of Puerto del Carmen. Journey time: 20 minutes from Arrecife and 15 minutes from airport.

Driving from the Playa Blanca (south), follow LZ-2 northwards past the town of Macher. At the roundabout before the town of Llanitos, turn right at the 1st exit onto LZ-504 and continue. Journey time: 31 minutes.