Tourism is big on the east coast of Lanzarote and the architecture reflects this. However, drive up the coast in a northerly direction and you can enter another world. The landscape changes and there is more of an authentic feel to the place. Arrieta is a wonderful village that is home to local fisherman. It is a charming place to stop for lunch; there are various restaurants around the harbour that produce some knock out fish dishes.

Driving through Lanzarote, Timanfaya National Park, Canary Islands, Spain by Son of Groucho

After a delicious lunch, drive further north to Punta de Majors for a dip in a natural swimming pool. There are several pools formed by the rocks and they fill up when the tide comes in. This is a great and unique place to have a refreshing swim. The pools are very pretty and outstrip a hotel swimming pool every time. They were originally used as a place for locals to do their washing. Remember too throw a towel in the boot before you set off.

Keep heading north until you reach the signs for Famara Beach. This is a natural wonder on Lanzarote. If you have ever felt the need to surf then this is the right place. There is a beach of 400m of fine sand – don’t expect the white sand of traditionally beautiful beaches as the sand is brown due to the volcanic nature of the island. However, the water is a great blue colour and the surfing is very good here. The famous Lanzarote surf school is based here so it is a great place to start your surfing career. As the water can be fairly turbulent, swimmers are officially advised to swim close to the shore.

Famara Beach, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain by torephoto

If you have set off on your Lanzarote adventure on a Sunday, then a trip to Teguise would be certainly worthwhile. It is the old capital of Lanzarote and as such it has some impressive colonial architecture. The Sunday market is a grand affair, with stalls selling local crafts. It is a bustling affair and it is often a great place to pick up those souvenirs that we love to buy. There are various food stall that make lunch a cheap and tasty event. A hot tip is to get there early for a great parking spot.

Lanzarote is not just an island of high rises and drunken tourists. It is a beautiful and rather unique island that has a lot more to offer than a clichéd holiday in the sun. The trick to finding the hidden gems is to use a hire car and explore the island at your own pace. It is not a huge island and it can be circumnavigated within a day. The stunning yet eerie volcanic scenery is breathtaking and provides great photographic material.

Written by Elizabeth James who writes for www.carrentals.co.uk. For more information, click here.

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