Costa Teguise On a Budget
Located on the eastern coast of Lanzarote, Costa Teguise is one of the most attractive tourist areas on the island. As is with most of the Canary Islands, beaches and watersports like windsurfing and scuba diving are especially popular. The island also has a golf course and a water park.Sights
Costa Teguise is home to five beaches, all with golden sands and aqua blue waters. Cucharas beach is ideal for those looking to windsurf, while Bastian Beach is ideal for families with small children since it is easily accessible and protected from the winds. These are the two main beaches, each with facilities including restrooms/WC's, loungers, and umbrellas. Jablillo is smaller though still popular, Los Charcos is probably the most exposed though quieter, and Ancla is a local favorite (natural and off the beaten path).Two other nearby attractions include Jameos del Agua and Cueva de los Verdes. Both locations are a part of an underground volcanic tunnel formed by a river of lava. Today, Jameos del Agua houses a bar, restaurant, swimming pool, and concert hall, while Cueva de los Verdes is open for touring the volcanic caverns and tunnels. The Jardin de Cactus, a cactus garden designed by artist Cesar Manrique is also popular with visitors.
Neighborhoods
The island's historic capital of Teguise is located just a 10 to 15 minute drive away and its quiet cobbled streets and historic buildings are well worth exploring for those interested in seeing remnants of the island's past. Most restaurants and amenities are concentrated near the two main beaches, though the Pueblo Marinero also has a cluster of restaurants, pubs, and shops. Pueblo Marinera, which can be described as a quaint fishing village area, is also home to typical Canary buildings as conceived by the local artist, Cesar Manrique. The small coastal villages of Arrieta and Haria are also worth a visit. Arrieta has a small working harbor where local fishermen unload their catches each morning, making for a number of excellent seafood restaurants which are very popular with the locals and visitors alike. It is a peaceful escape from some of the more touristed areas on the island.Activities
In addition to sightseeing amongst the many features mentioned above, Costa Teguise is also a hotspot for beaches and water activities like snorkeling, scuba diving, surfing, windsurfing, parasailing, and canoeing. Windsurfing is especially popular. There are windsurfing schools, shops, and equipment rental companies clustered around the beach at Las Cucharas, which cater to all levels of experience.Shopping is common in the main tourist areas of town (including gift shops, jewelers, discount stores, etc.), and it is also home to the only water park on the island, which houses an aquarium.
Food and Dining
The local cuisine of Lanzarote is a fare typical of the Canary Islands. Main dishes are simple, usually with some kind of meat or fish as a base, and are often accompanied by a sauce called mojo. The sauce made mainly of oil, garlic, vinegar, salt, red pepper, thyme, oregano, coriander, and several other spices. There are two varieties of mojo: rojo (or red, often served with meat) and verde (or green, often served with fish). Another kind of local dish is papas arrugadas (or "wrinkly potatoes"), which are cooked unpeeled in salt water then baked dry. Gofio is another common ingredient. Served as a side dish in a moist patty or as a base for pastries and pies, gorfio is a flour substitute milled from a variety of cereals like wheat, corn (maize), and barley, or a mixture of them. In addition to traditional fare, there are also a number of non-traditional restaurants especially in the resort areas like Costa Teguise. Visitors will be able to find a wide variety of dining selections including Greek, Chinese, Indian, and Mexican. There will be plenty of options near the more popular beaches like Bastian and Cucharas.Transportation
The island's only airport is located about 5 kilometers to the west of the town of Arrecife. Charter flights serve Lanzarote from Northern Europe. There are also scheduled flights to some of the other Canary Islands, to the Spanish mainland, and to a few international locations (notably London).Some of the airlines serving Lanzarote (ACE) include Iberia, Air Europa, EasyJet, British Airways, Monarch, Thomsonfly, Thomas Cook, Hapag Lloid, Air Berlin, Jetair, Lauda Air, Aer Lingus, Ryanair, and Jet2. Two local companies, which mostly offer flights between the Canary Islands, are Islas Airways and Binter Canarias.
Costa Teguise is only 10 to 15 minutes by car from the airport.
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