May is one of our favourite months, blessed with not one but two long bank holiday weekends. However, the British weather has a vindictive habit of letting us down on bank holidays, leaving barbeques soaked in spring rain and beaches windswept and deserted.
A near-guaranteed good weather bank holiday can be found in Lanzarote in May, with pleasant temperatures and little rain typical throughout spring and early summer. But once the wheels of your flight hit the tarmac at Arrecife airport, you might be at a loss as to what to do with your precious time on such a beautiful island. Allow us to run through a great suggested itinerary that takes in beautiful beaches, sumptuous cuisine and unmissable cultural highlights – all within three days on the island!
Day #1: relaxation first
As Lanzarote is a medium-haul destination, there’s a longer than normal flight to account for, and the chances are, you’ll have been dreaming of the beach while cooped up on the plane. With the wide variety of both vibrant fun-filled beaches and secluded sandy coves, you’ll be well-served for places to relax.
As most of our villas in Lanzarote are situated near or in the pretty town of Playa Blanca, we think the beach there is a great place to start – once you’ve checked into one of our villas in the town. There’s a wide variety of bars and restaurants available if you want to kick off your holiday with an ice cold caña of the local Tropical beer while gazing over the narrow strait to the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura.
If you’re a true escapist, seeking an almost untouched beach that seems far from civilisation, then Playa de Papagayo is your best bet. A series of small coves separated by cliffs, you’ll be amazed that it’s just a few miles from the hubbub of Playa Blanca.
You won’t want to stray far from the resort on your first day, so our prescription is a lazy day on the beaches followed by a leisurely paseo along the promenade, sampling one of the many great Playa Blanca restaurants –
check out our guide to the best eateries in the town, or simply browse the menus once you’re there! Once the sun has set and you’re full of Canarian cuisine, head back to one of our villas in Playa Blanca and start to think about your second day on this beautiful island.
Day #2: explore the island
Now that you’re fully refreshed and acquainted with the island, it’s time to explore. Lanzarote’s small size means that you can travel almost anywhere on the island in a few hours. Some of our favourite Lanzarote excursions involve the otherworldly Timanfaya National Park, where you can ride a camel through the landscape formed by violent volcanic forces centuries ago. The rugged moonscape is a perfect place to hone your landscape photography skills – and if you go on a guided tour, you may even be shown how to cook over the boiling hot volcanic fissures that seep out of the ground in certain areas. There’s even a restaurant –
El Diablo – that cooks food using the geothermal heat. Certainly a venue you should consider if you’re looking for a unique lunch!
Moving on from the natural landscape, it’s time to get a taste of Lanzarote’s cultural and artistic side. While you’re traveling round the island, either by hire car or on the extensive bus system, you may notice colourful sculptures moving in the wind situated on the roadside.
These are the juguetes del viento, or wind toys, created by artist, architect, and all round Mr Lanzarote, César Manrique. Tracing his influence throughout the island can be a great way to spend an afternoon, spotting the wind toys and paying a visit to his magnum opus, the Jameos del Agua – a seaside cave system he turned into a bizzaro events space, complete with rock pools full of rare blind lobsters and an auditorium carved out of the rock. Catching an event within this would-be supervillain’s lair promises to be a unique experience, and upcoming shows and events include contemporary dance, traditional Canarian cultural exhibitions and DJ sets.
Of course, don’t try and overstretch yourself, make sure to leave plenty of time once you get back to your villa to luxuriate in the private pool or soak up the afternoon rays on a sun lounger.
Day #3: Arrecife calling
A Lanzarote long weekend is not complete without sampling what the capital of the island has to offer in terms of laid-back Canarian lifestyle. There are plenty of great restaurants to sample a tapas lunch before an evening flight home, all offering authentic Spanish cuisine with a Canarian twist. Keep an eye out for patatas arrugadas – literally ‘wrinkled potatoes’ these are potatoes grown in the Lanzaroteño volcanic soil and cooked in seawater. They’re perfect alongside mojo, a locally made chilli and garlic sauce.
A lazy day strolling amongst the souvenir shops is the perfect way to round off your trip, and Arrecife’s proximity to the airport makes this a much nicer prospect than whiling away the hours in the departure lounge. For a more premium shopping experience, the
Deiland Shopping Centre is just out of town and offers bespoke brands at very good prices.
Of course, the last day of a short break is often reserved for your favourite feature of the holiday – so we’re not forcing you to do anything you don’t want to do. Relax by your private pool or take one last trip to the beach – just make sure you’re at the airport in good time!
