Jet2 recently invited me on a press trip to Lanzarote. We spent three days exploring the Spanish island which is synonymous with volcanoes and lava fields. It was my second trip with Jet2, the first being to Antalya last year which you can read about here.
I’d never been to Lanzarote, with Fuerteventura being the only island in the Canaries I’ve visited. It’s a shame I’ve not experienced more of this group of islands. They enjoy a mild climate all year round and are known as the “Islands of Eternal Spring”. I can see why they’re a popular destination for tourists. 
It was an early start, which I always prefer because it means making the most of the day with more ‘holiday’ time. When I go away with my family or friends, we always choose the earliest flight available. Jet2 has a number of flights from London Stansted to multiple destinations and this was my first time flying out from this airport.
Jet2 flight and experience
Check-in was smooth at that time of the morning and we had a good couple of hours to grab breakfast and stock up on last minute essentials.
I’m a regular Jet2 customer and I’ve never had a bad experience to date no matter the destination or the group I’m travelling with. There’s plenty of legroom on the flight and the staff are friendly. (Top Tip: If you’re having a snack on the plane, try the Onion Bhaji wrap. It’s my go-to on every return journey!)
We were heading on our first tour as soon as we landed in Lanzarote after a short four-hour flight. I’d packed a spare outfit for the day in my hand luggage and after a quick change and freshen up in the ladies, we met our tour guide Inés and off we went. I was grateful for the change of clothes because it was a whopping 33 degrees the entire time we were in Lanzarote!
How to spend 3 days in Lanzarote
El Golfo
Our first stop was El Golfo, a relatively quiet and scenic location and a must-see when visiting the island. It’s an excellent place to experience the natural beauty and geological wonders that the Canary Islands, and Lanzarote in particular, have to offer.
El Golfo is particularly well-known for the captivating Green Lagoon, which is situated within a volcanic crater.
The emerald-green colour comes from the presence of algae and minerals in the water. It’s a popular spot for visitors because you get to see the vivid contrast between the green lagoon, black volcanic sands and blue sea. (Top tip: Although the temperatures were warm, it’s also quite breezy up there so hold on to your hats and skirts!)
El Golfo is a nature reserve and it’s forbidden to swim in the lagoon. But you can walk up to the viewpoint and capture some stunning photos.
Timanfaya National Park
After El Golfo, we drove a short distance to Timanfaya National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a popular tourist destination in Lanzarote. Like El Golfo, this is a must-see if you want to see the raw beauty of volcanic landscapes.
Inés asked us a few times; doesn’t it feel like you’re on Mars? And she was absolutely right. It does feel like you’re on another planet, with the lack of vegetation and stark appearance of the volcanic soil.
We got to see some experiments of geothermal activity, including steam rising from the ground and demonstrations of how the high temperatures just below the surface can cause dry brush to ignite in flames.
We were given a handful of volcanic rocks and the heat was so intense, you couldn’t hold them too long. My years-long experience of making chapattis over a hot tava pan helped, as I was able to handle the heat better than I expected.
Visitors can’t walk freely within the park due to its protected status but you can take a guided bus tour to get a closer look at the landscapes. The driver will stop at various points so you can capture some great photos.
El Diablo Restaurant
By this point, we were all pretty hungry, having eaten at the airport earlier that morning. El Diablo is a unique and famous restaurant located within the park.
The restaurant’s architectural design is the work of the renowned Canary Islands artist César Manrique. For me, the most special feature of El Diablo is its method of cooking food using the geothermal heat from the volcanic activity beneath the park.
Large grills located over geysers naturally heat the grills to high temperatures. This geothermal heat is used to cook meats, fish, and vegetables. It’s such a unique and eco-friendly culinary experience and worth seeing if you’re in the park. The menu consists of traditional Canary Islands cuisine, including grilled meats and fish.
The chicken was tender and cooked to perfection and the Canarian potatoes were moreish. Dessert was a mini chocolate marshmallow in the shape of a volcano. What a nice touch!
Barcelo Lanzarote Royal Level
We were now pretty tired after the early start, two tours and lunch. It was great to head to our hotel and check-in at Jet2holidays Barcelo Lanzarote Royal Level. The hotel is situated in Costa Teguise, a popular destination for tourists. The suite is an exclusive area for adults within the Barcelo Active Resort.
I was impressed with how spacious, modern and elegant the room was, with it’s own seating area, huge bathroom and one of the most comfortable hotel beds I’ve ever slept in.
I’d forgotten to pack shampoo so I was grateful for the luxury toiletries in the room. I grabbed an ice cream from the All-Inclusive restaurant and chilled on one of the balcony areas in my room. Check out a room tour here.
This resort is definitely one for fans of luxury holidays. Guests have access to specific areas reserved for Royal Level guests, such as private lounges, pools, and sun terraces.
After sweating in the 33 degree heat all day, I enjoyed a long and leisurely hot shower. We were heading to a gourmet restaurant for dinner so I opted to wear a dress and went to meet the rest of the group.
Kentia Gourmet Club, Lanzarote
Kentia Gourmet Club in Puerto del Carmen is a pan-African restaurant and a must-do in Lanzarote. The modern and chic decor is jungle-inspired modern and nothing like I’ve seen before.
The unique sculpture cocktail glasses have to be seen to be believed. Would you believe there was a huge and heavy octopus-shaped glass, which you have to pick up by the tentacles?
The presentation of our dishes was intricate and each course tasted as good as it looked. We had a fresh goat cheese millefeuille with roasted tomato, toasted onion juice and crispy corn. We were then treated to Scorpion fish with fennel gel and pistachio mojo.
This was followed by sirloin tartare with organic egg yolk cured in vinegar essence and volcanic wine. Dessert was a delicious gorgeous carob sponge cake with vanilla namelaka from Madagascar, creamy chocolate from Tanzania, coffee foam from Angola.
The staff are super friendly and attentive and Kentiai s fine dining at it’s best.
Cueva de los Verdes, Lanzarote
Day two started with a buffet breakfast at the hotel. As you would expect with a luxury all-inclusive, there were plenty of options to suit all tastes. I made sure to leave on a full belly to tackle a day of touring.
First up was the Cueva de los Verdes, also known as the Green Caves. These caves are part of a lava tube system created by the eruption of the La Corona volcano, around 4,000 years ago.
It’s great to be able to explore this fascinating underground world. It’s almost other-worldly and the group and I had a bit of fun shouting ‘Goonies never say die!’ as we disappeared into the depths. The lava tube system extends for about six kilometres and are illuminated to add to the eerie experience. (Tip: there’s a brilliant experiment the tour guides do for you but no spoilers. You have to visit to find out what I mean).
My favourite part was the concert hall – yes, you read that correctly. There’s an actual concert hall within a natural cavern deep in the caves. The acoustics are excellent (I gave it a good go!) and the hall plays host to live music performances and events.
Jameos del Agua, Lanzarote
Our second stop of the day was Jameos del Agua, part of a volcanic tunnel created by the eruption of the La Corona. It was designed by artist and architect César Manrique, who also designed El Diablo (above).
One of the highlights of Jameos del Agua is a beautiful, crystal-clear swimming pool, home to a species of blind, albino crabs. You can’t swim in the water but it’s lovely to walk around and take pictures, while enjoying the cactus garden.Jameos del Agua also has a concert hall inside the tunnel and what a setting and again, great acoustics. Watch my Reel from our visit.
Jameos del Agua Restaurant, Lanzarote
By now, we were ready for lunch and enjoyed a three-course gourmet meal at the Jameos del Agua Restaurant, located right next to the volcanic tunnel.
The restaurant serves fresh seafood and Canarian specialties. We started with pumpkin soup, tucked into a grilled fillet of wreckfish, served with mojos and wrinkled potatoes and finished with a chocolate dessert.
Bodega Stratvs, Lanzarote
A few of us had packed an extra outfit to change into before our next stop. We were grateful for it because it was another excruciatingly hot day and it was nice to freshen up. We headed to Bodega Stratvs, a winery in the region of La Geria.
Lanzarote is known for its unique wine production, due to the island’s volcanic terrain and the creative agricultural techniques used in cultivating grapes.
Bodega Stratvs is one of the prominent wineries on the island and offers visitors the opportunity to learn about Lanzarote’s winemaking tradition and sample its wines.
The grapevines are grown in small, excavated pits covered with volcanic soil. These provide protection from the strong winds and heat of the island. We went on a guided tour of the facilities, vineyards and the wine cellars, ending with a tasting session.
Hespérides Restaurant in Teguise
After a couple of hours of downtime at the hotel, we headed for dinner at a local restaurant in Teguise. Hespérides serves a variety of meat, fish and vegan options, emphasising the quality of ingredients sourced from local producers. This is a warm, relaxed tavern and we enjoyed several small plates, including a tuna and avocado dish to start.
Normally, I wouldn’t order a pork dish in a restaurant but the meat was so succulent and flavourful, I literally didn’t leave anything on the plate.We finished with a vanilla dessert which had dried sweetcorn in it. Yes, sweetcorn! It sounds really strange but I actually enjoyed the crunchy texture within the soft folds.
The Village of Haría, Lanzarote
I started the final day by getting up early so I could catch the gorgeous sunrise over the sea. After breakfast, we made our stop of the day.
The village of Haría is known as the ‘valley of a thousand palms, due to the amount of palm trees in the area. It’s a picturesque village with white buildings and lush greenery, so very different to the volcanic landscapes found in other parts of the island we visited.
There are barely over a thousand people in Haría and we had a a peaceful walk around the village. It’s an ideal place to visit for those seeking a peaceful getaway or a taste of authentic Canarian village life.
The Village Of Teguise, Lanzarote
We then headed to Teguise, one of the oldest and most significant towns on the island. Teguise was the Capital of Lanzarote until it changed to Arrecife in the 19th century. The village features well-preserved colonial architecture with traditional Canarian-style houses and narrow streets. Many of the buildings have been converted into museums, shops, and restaurants.
Teguise is famous for its Sunday market, which is one of the largest and most popular on the island for both tourists and locals.We had a bit of downtime here and I spent my time walking around and soaking up the tranquility of the village, after a few busy days in popular tourist spots.
Famara Beach, Lanzarote
After Teguise, we hopped on the tour bus and headed to Famara Beach. It’s a stunning stretch, set against a backdrop of dramatic cliffs and volcanic mountains. It’s one of the longest beaches in Lanzarote and is famous for its strong Atlantic Ocean waves, making it a go-to for surfers.
Famara Beach is often considered one of the best-kept secrets of Lanzarote, as it provides a quieter and less crowded alternative to some of the more touristy beaches on the island. We had an hour to explore, dip our toes into the sea and capture the stunning mountain views.
Castillo de San José, MIAC
By now we were hungry and headed to the MIAC, a museum with a focus on contemporary and modern art. It’s located in the historic town of Arrecife, the capital of Lanzarote.
The restaurant is located just beneath the museum, housed inside a small castle, which was once the Arrecife Military Headquarters. The floor-to-ceiling windows of the restaurant allow you to enjoy the views of the harbour on the left and expansive bar on the right.We enjoyed a three-course lunch, which was superb.
We had a tomato, papaya and black olive tapenade salad for starters and I’m not a huge fan of tomatoes but they were so fresh and juicy, I polished them off.
We enjoyed a peppered beef tenderloin and a yogurt lingot with cherry jam and sugar crystal for dessert. Again. for someone who’s not a huge fan of yoghurt, I literally devoured it. After lunch, we explored the museum, showcasing the work of artists from the Canary Islands, Spain, and around the world.
Back at the hotel, we had a few hours to unwind, have a swim and enjoy the hotel’s facilities.
Taberna El Bocadito, Teguise
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