Arrecife Holidays

Arrecife Holidays – Beaches and culture in Lanzarote’s capital

Bustling, cosmopolitan and surprisingly full of culture, Lanzarote’s coastal capital, Arrecife, is one of the few places where you can combine a beach holiday and a city break in one. Formerly a small fishing village, Arrecife now boasts long streets lined with boutique shops, fine restaurants, promenades, parks, nightclubs and museums. When you tire of looking round the shops, take a stroll along the beautiful promenade that connects the city’s two beaches; the Playa del Reducto, with its golden sand and crystal clear waters, and Playa del Cable 2 kilometres further west.

Castillo y Leon, also known as Calle Real, is the main shopping promenade in the city, while the hub is arguably El Charco de San Gines; a large salt-water lagoon located in the centre of the city surrounded by attractive fishermen’s cottages. There are two castles to explore; the Castillo de San Gabriel and the Castillo de San Jose, home to the Museum of Contemporary Art. And both Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise are nearby should you fancy a change of scenery.

When to go

Like all Canary Island resorts, Arrecife sees pleasantly warm weather all year round. The peak summer season is between June-August, when the weather is at its hottest but the prices are at their most expensive. There is another peak season between November- April, when the winter-sun seekers hit the city. Prices tend to rise over this period also. Spring (May-June) and autumn (September-October) are good times to visit, as prices are cheaper and the weather is still fantastic.

One of the best times to visit Arrecife is over the Carnaval period. During this time, the city comes alive with street parties, parades, fireworks, dancing, costume processions, live music and the election of the Carnaval Queen (and Carnaval Drag Queen). The Carnaval is over lent, which changes every year, but always between late January-mid March.

The weather in Arrecife 

Arrecife holidays will benefit from excellent weather no matter what time of year you take them. The spring months of April-May see average maximum temperatures of 20-23C, with 8-9 hours of sunshine a day. The summer period of June-August heats up to around 25-28C, with a steady 9 hours of sunshine. Autumn (September-October) continues to see hot weather, with temperatures consistently around 26C. The winter period between November-March sees clement temperatures of between 19-22C, with 6-7 hours of sunshine a day.

Getting the best deal

For the cheapest deals on package holidays to Arrecife, consider travelling outside the peak summer season. May-June and September-October see some of the cheapest prices, and you can get some great deals on winter sun holidays if you look around. Booking well in advance always sees the biggest savings, as the best-priced rooms in the most popular hotels tend to sell out fast. This is particularly the case over the Easter, Christmas and half-term school holidays, or when major events are on like the Carnaval between January-March. For some great offers on holidays to Arrecife, take a look at our best deals below or visit our late deals offers here.

Airport and transport need to know

Your holiday to Arrecife will start at the small, bustling Lanzarote Arrecife (ACE) airport. This is a clean and modern airport that has recently been extended to include a second terminal. The majority of shops and restaurants are found in terminal 1. You can reach the airport from various hubs in the UK, including those in the cities of London, Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham, as well as smaller regional one such as Exeter and Humberside.

Those planning a holiday in Arrecife will benefit from the city’s close proximity to the airport at around 6 miles away. Transfer to the airport by road takes around 25 minutes. The cheapest way of getting to the city is by the Transporte Interurbano de Lanzarote Linea 23 shuttle bus. This runs to the centre of Arrecife every half hour, and costs around €2 per person.

Alternatively, you can opt to take a taxi. Taxis wait outside terminal 1 and seat up to 4 people. They are metered, and you should expect to pay about €6. This is arguably a more convenient door-to-door option.

Finally, you may wish to hire a private car for the duration of your holiday, to be picked up at the airport. These are relatively inexpensive, and can be booked through companies such as Cabrera Medina from around €110 for a week. 

The best beaches in Arrecife 

The beaches on the south coast of Lanzarote tend to have calmer conditions than the wild north, ideal for diving, swimming, and snorkelling, as well as boat excursions such as whale and dolphin watching tours. The island is a windsurfer’s paradise, with windy shores all around the island. Beaches of note around Arrecife include the city’s own Playa del Reducto, Playa Grande at Puerto del Carmen and Las Cucharas beach at Costa Teguise.

Playa del Reducto beach

Playa del Reducto beach is the largest beach located in Arrecife. It’s protected by reefs, which gives the bay calm waters that resemble a lagoon. A recently renovated promenade with bars and cafes provides a lovely spot to sip a drink and watch the sun go down. The sand is fine and white and the waters are crystal clear. You’ll find free parking, showers, public toilets and a lifeguard here. This beach has a pretty park full of palm trees at one end, and rarely gets overcrowded.

Costa Teguise beaches

Eastwards along the coast from Arrecife, around a 15 minute drive away, is the popular beach resort of Costa Teguise. Las Cucharas beach here is arguably one of the best spots for windsurfing on the entire island. The wind here really blows in the afternoon, so beginners are advised to try it out in the mornings. May-August will see the wind conditions at their best. If windsurfing’s not your things, just relax on the soft sand or paddle in the crystal clear sea. You’ll find a raft of amenities here, including public toilets, free parking, restaurants, bars, shops, a lifeguard and access for the disabled. Also nearby are the white sands of Los Charcos and Bastian beach; ideal for those with small children due to its warm shallow waters.

Puerto del Carmen beach

Expansive, toasted sand stretching for over 1200m, a lengthy promenade of restaurants, shops and bars, and clean, clear waters… Puerto del Carmen is ideal for a family beach outing. Around 15 minutes by car westwards along the coast from Arrecife, Puerto del Carmen is easily accessible and well worth a look. The main beach is known as the Playa Grande. You’ll find toilets, showers, shops, sunbeds, parasols and pedaloes here. Despite its size, during the peak summer months the beach can fill up quickly, so get there early to bag a sunbed. For those interested in scuba diving, just off the coast a number of shipwrecks have been sunk to create an amazing marine park, populated by sting rays, angel sharks and plenty of brightly coloured fish.