Puerto del Carmen was the first tourist resort in the Canary Islands and is an example of the new Lanzarote in the tourism era. It’s divided into two areas, the old town and the seafront promenade. It has a wide range of accommodation, hotels and leisure facilities, a harbour, a beautiful promenade, a large beach and some pretty little coves. It is, and always has been, the heart of Lanzarote’s nightlife.
Located in the municipality of TÃas, Puerto del Carmen grew out of the small natural harbour called La Tiñosa, a fishing village whose origins can be traced back to the 15th century. Many families settled here and made their living from fishing. Over the years, the first few boats built up and eventually formed a coastal fleet. Neighbourhoods started to develop around the harbour and dry dock. Life was hard here but tranquil. Until 1964, that is, when construction of the Fariones Hotel began. This saw the beginning of a revolution that would change the island, its entire way of life and even the mentality of the local people.
Tourists began to arrive, sparking the need for more accommodation. In 1970, the Hotel San Antonio was built at the other end of Playa Grande, right on the coast. In the stretch of coastline in between, a holiday resort began to take shape. More hotels, flats, restaurants, bars, supermarkets, souvenir shops, car hire, and leisure facilities went up, and a seafront promenade was built. As it continued to grow, it crept northwards and upwards, making the most of the natural slope of the land.
Puerto del Carmen has more than kept up with the times and today it’s a tourist resort with enormous potential and appeal, suitable for everyone and adapted for people with reduced mobility. There’s accommodation, fun and entertainment for all tastes.
Visitors also delight in eight kilometres of different beaches, some rocky, some with golden sands, and all with crystal clear waters. It’s conveniently located just ten minutes away from César Manrique international airport and has good public transport links to other parts of the island. It’s even accessible by boat via the Puerto Calero marina. The variety of restaurants suits all tastes and recreational facilities ranging from a golf course, a casino, Rancho Texas theme park, Biosfera Plaza shopping centre, a go-karting track, diving centres, its own marina and fishing port. And when the sun sets, Puerto del Carmen offers a fabulously lively nightlife.
