Matagorda

Although a suburb of Puerto del Carmen, Matagorda is a relaxing resort with its own identity.  We're at the north eastern end of Puerto del Carmen, just a short drive from Lanzarote's Arrecife airport, so your holiday can start almost the moment you land.  The area is served by a small shopping centre that houses a selection of bars, supermarkets, shops, an amusement centre suitable for children as well as numerous restaurants.  The centre is less than a ten minute stroll from Villa Rosa, as is the beach.

 

In common with many other beaches on Lanzarote, including those at adjacent Los Pocillos and Guasimeta, the beach at Matagorda has been awarded the Blue Flag, a symbol of high environmental, sanitary and safety standards.

In this area, Puerto del Carmen's Avenida de las Playas is pedestrianised leaving the Urbanizacion with traffic free access to the beach.  This wonderful pedestrianised promenade meanders along the beach front from the Beatriz Plaza Hotel, passing the Matagorda shopping centre, Matagorda's beach side bungalows and apartments and on to Los Pocillos beach and the Jameos Playa Hotel.  

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Puerto del Carmen

Once a sleepy fishing village, Puerto del Carmen is now the liveliest and most popular resort on the island.  One kilometre from Matagorda, at Los Pocillos, the Avenida de las Playas loses its pedetrianised status and becomes the resort's main road at its north eastern end.

Puerto del Carmen boasts, in total, six kilometres of golden beaches on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, and these are undoubtedly a major magnet for holidaymakers.  Although the waters are considered among the most tranquil of the Canary Archipielago and can be enjoyed by swimmers and other water sport enthusiasts, certain parts of the coast attract sufficient wind for windsurfing.  From Los Pocillos, the first beach on the roadside is Playa Los Pocillos.  Los Pocillos, with its own fine sandy horse shoe shaped beach and a small range of shops, restaurants, cafes and bars, offers a quieter more relaxing ambience than central Puerto del Carmen to the south west.

Puerto del Carmen's main beach is Playa Grande, sometimes called Playa Blanca but not to be confused with Playa Blanca, the resort, on Lanzarote's south west coast.

Across the road, commercial premises, shops, restaurants, bars and night clubs line its entire length.   There are over one hundred restaurants with food to suit every taste and every pocket, from fast food to gourmet.  Also in abundance are a large variety of shops, boutiques and bazaars stocked with everything from duty free electronics to local arts and crafts and designer clothes, shoes or jewellery.

As the beach comes to an end, the harbour takes over and we come across the "old town", which includes the newest shopping and dining centre on the island!  The old town and harbour boasts more restaurants, bars and opportunities for restful or lively evenings - it's your choice.

Lanzarote

The island of Lanzarote is located some 100 kilometres off the west coast of Africa, on the same latitude as Florida and the western Sahara.  The island enjoys a heavenly holiday climate boasting average maximum temperatures of over 24ºC, and an average of over 8 hours sunshine every day, all year round.  Lanzarote is a beautiful and extraordinary island with its unusual volcanic landscape, white painted low-rise buildings and sun-drenched sandy beaches. Its villages offer a wide selection of cafés, bars, restaurants, shops and markets and close at hand are attractions such as Lanzarote's volcano Fire Mountain in the Timanfaya National Park, the natural caverns at Jameos del Agua and the charming capital city of Arrecife.  ..more about Lanzarote.