Cesar Manrique

Cesar Manrique is the Canaries own world renowned architect, find out more about this influential artist.

Lanzarote

A trip to Lanzarote from Fuerteventura is a great day out:  a mini cruise on the 25-minute ferry, a bit of history and culture, a multilingual guide on an air-conditioned coach, plus lunch and wine.  What’s not to like?  

Lanzarote isn’t a big island, but seeing all the main points in a day isn’t really possible, so choose your trip – north or south.  Or plan two days.  So far, I’ve taken a tour of the south of the island, and one of the north.  I haven’t – yet – treated myself to a camel ride.

Cesar Manrique House

Cesar Manriques House

A trip to the north of Lanzarote is focused on the life and architectural creations of the Lanzarote artist, César Manrique.  You’ll see his monument to the farmers, where there’s now the centre for agriculture on the island, craft outlets, and an underground restaurant.

Cesar Manriques House Pool

You’ll see the very cool house Manrique created out of lava caves; the peaceful gardens with pools;  the cactus garden, with its plants from all over the world; the underground theatre, and the sea-water pools, miles from the sea.  Sit on a rock and watch the tiny crabs that live in these deep isolated pools.

Underground Sea Pool with crabs

Cesar Manrique’s Cactus gardens

A substantial buffet lunch with wine is offered on this tour, and it’s worth taking the time to fill up.

North island trips are usually on either a Monday or a Friday, with a pick up and drop off by the ferry at Playa Blanca.  It’s an eight-hour trip, but the 8 am ferry from Corralejo is early enough, and, if you book your return for 7 pm, that will give you time for a drink and a bite at one of the harbour restaurants or bars.

Tips and hints. 

Take water, snacks, sun cream, a hat, and sunglasses.  The coach drivers of the organised tours sell small bottles of water which are kept in a cooler, though, and the trips have plenty of stops for water, coffee, and the bathroom.  The south island tour has plenty of variety.  The Manrique, north island, tour has highlights for children, such as the crabs and pools, but it’s more of a trip for adults. 

Whichever trip you choose, be prepared to be dazzled by Lanzarote!

To find out more about trips to Lanzarote contact enquiries@corralejo-excursions.com

Gillian Beattie-Smith