Puerto Del Carmen combines a variety of beach settings with diving spots, a long avenue for walking and sports, and a historic fishing pier. Playa Grande is known as an urban beach with calm waters, Playa Chica for its natural protection from lava flows, and Playa de los Pocillos for its broad sandy setting and a natural spectacle in early September. These different sides of the town give you a range of options when planning your trip: beaches, water sports, exercise or maritime heritage.
Beaches: calm waters, diving and a natural phenomenon
Playa Grande is an urban beach with more than a kilometre of golden sand and calm waters. Its accessible facilities include reserved parking spaces, ramps, a walkway across the sand and a shaded area. Please check locally whether an amphibious chair is available for the service. Beach conditions and services may vary seasonally.
Playa Chica is naturally protected by lava flows. Its calm waters give the beach the character of a natural swimming pool. Diving trips that start from the beach and facilities for divers are available here; operators and availability may change. Below Playa Chica, El Veril de la Tiñosa is designated as a Natura 2000 Special Area of Conservation.
Another diving spot in Puerto Del Carmen is La Catedral. There, a cavity extends into the underwater cliff, forming a large volcanic vault. This gives the spot a distinctive underwater formation compared with the beach areas, which are shaped primarily by their sand, water and use.
Playa de los Pocillos is an expansive beach with golden sand. It is also known for the natural spectacle of the Mareas del Pino in early September. Windsurfing and swimming are possible there all year round, although actual sea conditions can vary. This distinction is useful for seasonal planning: the activities are described as available year-round, while the natural phenomenon is specifically associated with early September.
Walking or cycling along Avenida de las Playas
Avenida de las Playas is Puerto Del Carmen’s main thoroughfare and also a pedestrian-oriented corridor for walks, sports and leisure. A cycle path runs along a large part of its six-kilometre length. The sections available for use may change, so check which stretches are suitable for you before planning a ride. This makes it possible to include the avenue in your trip as a dedicated area for exercise and leisure, without assuming that it has a continuous cycle connection.
Fishing pier and sporting event
El Varadero is Puerto Del Carmen’s fishing pier, in the area historically known as La Tiñosa. Traditional buildings have been preserved there and highlight the town’s maritime character. The pier thus connects the town’s history with a distinctive built feature, complementing the beach and sports themes with a glimpse of Puerto Del Carmen’s fishing past.
The Ironman Lanzarote also shapes the town’s sporting profile. Race day begins with a 3.8-kilometre swim in the bay of Puerto Del Carmen and ends with a marathon along the promenade. The exact route and event schedule may vary from one edition to another. If you would like to plan your trip around the competition, check the dates and schedule for the relevant edition in advance.
Choose the right focus when selecting accommodation
When choosing a hotel, you can first decide which aspect of the town matters most to you: beach days, diving, cycling and walks, or maritime heritage. The beach profiles also offer clear differences: Playa Grande is described as an urban beach with calm waters, Playa Chica combines natural protection from lava flows with dives starting from the beach, and Playa de los Pocillos offers opportunities for windsurfing and swimming described as available year-round.
Discover more destinations: Masdache, Conil, Macher, La Asomada
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