Hire Cars.  You do not need a hire car for your visit to Villa Rosa, as you can easily get around using public transport and taxis.  However, many people find a car useful during some or all of their stay.   There are a number of car hire companies on the island and with most of them you can, if you wish, pre-book before your visit, for collection at the airport or office, or to be delivered to our villa.

Alternatively, many companies have offices in the towns, and there are a couple just a short walk from Villa Rosa.  You can therefore make your decision about car hire after you arrive, if you don't want to commit yourself before you leave home.  ..more about hire cars.

Getting from the airport to Villa Rosa.  If you are not using a hire car, then taxis are available outside the arrivals hall.  You will be given the exact address and directions to Villa Rosa, for the taxi driver.  The fare will only be a few euro.

Minibuses are also available to book in advance.

If you are using a hire car, collect your car from the car park and follow the signs to leave the airport.  Follow the signs to Yaiza.  This road will pass under a bridge that carries the LZ-2, the main Arrecife-Tias road that you will be joining.  Leave the slip road and join the dual-carriageway.  Don't forget that you will be driving on the right!  Move over to the left hand (outside) lane as soon as possible, as you will shortly be leaving the LZ-2 via a slip road on the left - that is, by the central reservation!

Take this left hand slip road marked "Puerto del Carmen".  (Be careful because there is another slip road just before the Puerto del Carmen turn.)  Continue on this road, passing between the petrol stations on either side of the road.

The signs show Puerto del Carmen and the circunvalacion (by-pass/ring road) straight ahead, but you should take the first exit (on the right), marked "Grandes Playas".  This road will take you under the circunvalacion, and to a roundabout.  Take the road straight ahead to Matagorda and your holiday villa is almost in sight!

Out and about

By foot.  Our villa is located at the easterly end of Matagorda.  Have a stroll in the immediate area to get your bearings.  Leave the villa and perhaps walk through the streets and gardens to reach Calle Gramillo, alongside the Matagorda shopping centre.  The shopping centre, with a selection of bars, supermarkets, shops and restaurants is straight ahead.  Matagorda beach and the promenade are to the left.  This walk takes less than ten minutes.

Or perhaps walk from Villa Rosa directly to the north eastern end of Playa Matagorda.  Heading right along the beach promenade will take you to the front of the Matagorda shopping centre.  Alternatively head left along the beach promenade to Playa Guacimeta.  Don't be surprised if you come across the occasional naturist - but it is not compulsory!   If you continue along the beach front you will reach Playa Honda.  The walk to Playa Honda takes about one hour at a very gentle pace.

By car.  Part of Matagorda is a one way system, so watch the signs if you want to drive to the shopping centre!

Your first visit will probably be to Puerto del Carmen.  You can either take the ring road or drive through Matagorda.  The ring road is accessed from the roundabout on Carretera de Las Playas.  Drive up Carretera de Las Playas to the roundabout.  Turn left and follow the road into Puerto del Carmen.  Alternatively you can drive through Matagorda to the roundabout near Sol Lanzarote.  From there, follow the road to Puerto del Carmen.

Some streets in Puerto del Carmen, including the central part of the main Avenida de las Playas, have parking meters.  Look out for the blue road markings.  These are operational in the mornings and evenings but not in the afternoons, Sundays, or public holidays.  Check the times on the meters.  As you put money into the meter it will show you the time you should leave.  The maximum stay is two hours.  Press the button when you have put in as much as you need - there is a maximum.

By taxi.  Taxis are fairly cheap and an ideal way to get around the towns.  You can flag down taxis or telephone.  A taxi available for hire shows green light on the roof.  There is a public telephone near Villa Rosa, and two taxi ranks about a five to ten minute walk from the villa.

By bus.  Buses (known as guaguas - pronounced wahwahs) run every twenty minutes to half an hour between Arrecife and Puerto del Carmen, calling on the edge of Matagorda.

Getting back

If you are travelling to the airport by hire car, leave the villa and head to the roundabout on the outskirts of Matagorda, and take the road straight ahead.  Then take the first slip road to the right, which is unmarked, pass between the two petrol stations and follow the signs to Arrecife.  Join the LZ-2 towards Arrecife, and follow the signs to the Aeropuerto, turning right very soon.  This road takes you into the airport complex.  Depending on your car hire company, follow either the hire car drop off signs to leave your car in the dedicated car hire area of the car park, or follow the signs for the main car park, taking a ticket on your way in.  Your car hire company will tell you what to do.

Departures.  The departures hall is clearly marked.  You should normally arrive at the airport check-in two hours before departure, but check your tickets or travel itinery.  Since most of the passengers on your flight will be travelling with tour operators, they will probably arrive at the checkout in coach size bunches, so be prepared to queue.  The check-in desk is unlikely to open earlier than two hours before departure, but the queue at the desk will already exist at this time.  The only advantage in being near the front is you will have more time to shop, or eat, in the departures lounge.