Guide to Puerto Del Carmen

'Puerto del Carmen is Lanzarote at its liveliest. But it's not all bars and bopping, with a quaint old harbour area that's chock-a-block with charm.'

Unchallenged holder of the title 'Lanzarote's liveliest resort', Puerto del Carmen has a great beach and is jam-packed with shops, restaurants and nightlife. At the same time, it's far from lacking in charm.

The old harbour is lined with fish restaurants and tapas bars, not to mention a cultural vibrancy that explodes each summer in colourful fiestas.

Beach-wise, the fine sands, calm sea and friendly atmosphere make it a great place for young kids. Plus there are plenty of attractions for teenagers and grown ups, too.

Cue a two-mile shopping strip, a huge selection of eateries ranging from traditional Spanish bodegas to fast food outlets. And enough bars to sink a battleship, let alone a few beers.

For a day out, there's the island's capital, Arrecife, just a short bus ride away, where you can wander around the picturesque lagoon, lined with white-washed fisherman's houses or browse the modern art gallery, housed in the Castle of San Jose.

For a generous helping of scenic splendour, you can head straight across the island to the Timanfaya (Fire Mountain) National Park, populated by volcanoes, lunar-like landscapes and eerie rock formations.

Alternatively, if you're looking for some sunbathing in splendid isolation, you can take a boat trip down the coast to the beautiful, unspoilt beaches of Papagayo. They're difficult to get to by car, so don't attract anywhere near the number of sunseekers you'll find in the main resorts.

Puerto del Carmen is arguably the most diverse of Lanzarote's main resorts encapsulating beach fun with old world charm. On the one hand it boasts long stretches of sandy beaches, a lively main strip which brims with bars, discos, restaurants and shops and on the other it is home to the old harbour with great fish restaurants and tapas bars. The resort is also the focal point of many of the island's colourful fiestas with the popular carnival celebration taking place in February when locals parade through the streets in dazzling custom-made costumes. Puerto del Carmen is perfectly positioned for sightseeing across the island. With its relatively central location, the resort makes for the ideal base from which to explore. Why not head out to one of the bodegas in the La Geria wine-growing valley? Here you can indulge in a spot of wine tasting and see the strange horse-shoe shaped stone constructions called Los Zocos in which vines grow in the seemingly barren soil. One of the island's most intriguing sights is a lagoon whose waters seem to glow emerald green. Known as El Golfo, it lies on the western coast of Lanzarote and is well-worth a look.

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