There are three main holiday resorts on the popular island of Lanzarote in the Canaries. But Puerto del Carmen remains the epicenter of island tourism – as this is the spot where package holiday makers first started to visit the island in earnest back in the early 1970’s.
At that time there were no roads and apart from the Los Fariones no other Lanzarote hotels at all. Making this a novel destination for the more intrepid traveler. Today all of that has changed of course, as there is no a wide choice of accommodation options. With Puerto del Carmen well established as the best spot on the island for anyone seeking good value holiday apartments in Lanzarote. As there are literally hundreds of complexes here to choose from.
Puerto del Carmen started out as a small fishing village called La Tinosa. But as tourism took off here the resorts name was changed to Puerto del Carmen, after the local patron saint of fishermen. Who used to set sail from the Old Town harbour area which still lies at the resorts heart.
One of Puerto del Carmen’s many plus points is that is located very close to the sole island airport of Arrecife, with transfer times taking just ten to fifteen minutes depending on where your accommodation is located. Making it the easiest of the island main resorts to reach.
In addition Puerto del Carmen is home to a number of beautiful beaches which are the real key to its ongoing popularity. Chief amongst these is the largest beach, Playa Grande, which is equipped with sun shades and loungers and which also boasts good facilities such a showers and toilets. The sand here has even been imported from the Sahara desert.
Puerto del Carmen is so popular with British tourists that it has become home to a large expatriate community. With many former visitors buying their own Lanzarote property in and around the resort. As well as buying businesses locally such as bars and restaurants.
Holidays here can be enjoyed all year round thanks to Lanzarote’s incredibly clement climate. And there’s never been a better time to visit thanks to the fact that over 16 million euros has been pumped into Puerto del Carmen by the local government in order to maintain its competitiveness as a resort. As other destinations such as Egypt and Turkey have been dragging tourist numbers away.
