Puerto del Carmen

Lanzarote's largest and liveliest resort town, stretching approximately 7 km along the central east coast. Originally named Tiñosa, it was renamed in honour of the Virgen del Carmen, patron saint of fishermen. The town grew from a small fishing settlement in the 1960s into the island's main tourist hub. The main beach, Playa Grande (also called Playa de los Pocillos), extends for approximately 1 km of golden sand, protected by breakwaters and consistently awarded Blue Flag status. The Avenida de las Playas (The Strip) runs parallel to the beach and is lined with hundreds of restaurants, bars, shops, and entertainment venues. The old town harbour (Puerto de la Tiñosa) retains its fishing village character and has some of the best seafood restaurants on the island. Water sports including diving, snorkeling, jet-skiing, parascending, and boat trips are available from the harbour. Puerto Calero, an upscale marina 5 km west, offers luxury yacht berths and designer shopping. The resort offers the island's widest range of accommodation from budget apartments to 5-star hotels.