Arrecife, Canary Islands, Spain

Fort San José

The San Jose Fortress was built in the eastern part of the city in the eighteenth century under King Charles III. Its main task was to protect the city and the port from pirates. Today, a museum of modern art is located here. Its creation is entirely and solely the work of César Manrique, who converted the fortress into a gallery and also assembled a collection of abstract paintings and sculptures from the 1950s to the 1970s. For tired visitors, there is a decent restaurant in the basement. The museum is open daily; admission costs just 2.5 euros.

San Gabriel Fortress

One of the most important attractions is the Castillo de San Gabriel. It was built in the sixteenth century, but just thirty years after its construction it was burned by pirates. Later, the fortress was rebuilt by Philip II’s court architect; it was connected to the mainland by the Puente de las Bolas bridge. Today, the fortress houses a small archaeological museum, and the bridge is a symbol of the city.

Iglesia de San Ginés

Iglesia de San Ginés is the main Catholic church on the island, built in 1665 with a beautiful dome and a square bell tower.

Chalice of San Ginés

Charco de San Ginés - a lagoon in the central part of the city, surrounded by a picturesque area with charming fishing houses, a palm-lined promenade, cafés, restaurants, and souvenir shops.

Spend the day on the beach

Small, well-kept beaches located at the resort of Arresife-Playa La Concha, Playa del Reducto, and Playa del Cable-are covered in delightful white sand. The European Union has awarded them a Blue Flag, confirming that the environmental condition of these beaches is at a high level. Playa del Reducto- the true pride of Arresife-is often the venue for various sporting events, including Canary wrestling-traditional Canary sports. The beach is set in the enchanting beauty of the San Gines lagoon, whose waters are calm and clear, and whose sand is loose and white, like semolina. You can use the beach absolutely free of charge; if you wish, for a small extra fee, sunbeds and umbrellas will be provided at your disposal.

Go shopping

In the city there is a pedestrian street that begins at the bridge leading to San Gabriel; it is called Leon y Castillo. Here there are many shops and other establishments where visitors can spend their money. Arrecife shops attract tourists from the island of Lanzarote’s resort centers with their relatively modest prices compared to those in beach towns.

Hameos del Agua Cave Complex

Another creation by Manrique is Jameos del Agua. Jameo is the name for a volcanic cave whose roof collapsed. The artist demonstrated all his immense skill and ingenuity, turning this natural cave into a concert hall, a greenhouse, a swimming pool, and restaurants. In addition, the volcanic contours have been preserved and fit perfectly into the overall design. The concert hall can accommodate up to 600 spectators, and its acoustics are simply impressive. Various performances and concerts are held here constantly. Also within this complex there is the saltwater underground lagoon of Jameo Chico, home to albino crabs found in only a few places on the planet.

Cactus Garden

Cesar Manrique did a lot for the island-for example, he laid the foundations of the Cactus Garden. Here you can find a unique collection of cacti that was carefully selected by the well-known botanist Estanislao Gonzalez Ferrer. Tourists will be able to see more than 1000 different species of cacti here.

Visit to Timanfaya National Park

One of the most popular and impressive Lanzarote excursions is the visit to Timanfaya National Park. This is one of the most interesting national parks and monuments to volcanism in the Canary Islands. In 1993 it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The volcanic landscape, declared a protected area in 1974, was formed in the 18th century, when powerful volcanic eruptions lasting from 1730 to 1736 transformed the entire region, burying under layers of lava the island’s most fertile lands. The area of Timanfaya National Park is 51.07 sq km; more than a hundred craters of extinct volcanoes are concentrated here, forming a unique lunar landscape that has repeatedly served as a filming location for famous Hollywood films. You can tour the reserve riding a camel, on foot, or on a minibus that will take tourists to the most memorable places. We recommend having lunch at the "Diablo" restaurant, built according to the design of the famous architect from Lanzarote-César Manrique-and trying Canarian cuisine dishes prepared using natural heat coming from deep within the earth. Timanfaya opening hours: daily from 09:00 to 19:00, in summer time (from 15 July to 15 September): from 09:00 to 17:00. Restaurant opening hours: from 12:00 to 15:30. Tourist bus operating hours: last bus at 17:00. Recommended time to visit the park: from 09:00 to 10:30 / from 15:00 to 17:00. Cost of visiting Timanfaya: 8€ adults, 4€ children from 7 to 12 years old.

For a more detailed list of excursions and their prices, you can view it after booking your cruise in your “Customer Personal Account”.