Things To Do in Playa de los Pocillos

Timanfaya’s dramatic black moonscape of lava formations has featured in Star Wars, Stone Roses videos and was even the test site for the Apollo moon buggies. A tour will take you round the semi-dormant volcanoes then you can get lunch in the café – they barbecue the beef using geothermal energy, you know.

There’s duty-free shopping to be had in the trio of commercial centres, plus you’ll find more retail therapy in Puerto del Carmen, both on the seafront and at the Biosfera mall on Avenida Juan Carlos. Or you can browse for souvenirs in the capital Arrecife. The Saturday morning market has handmade jewellery, ceramics and leather ware – there’s also a little hidden market at the back of the town hall that sells artisan pottery and organic food. It’s open mornings, Monday to Saturday.

A glass of champagne sangria on the terrace overlooking the harbour sets the tone for an evening at Casa Roja. The small but elegant menu leads you through dishes such as foie gras paté and medallions of beef with red wine and wild mushroom, with a delicious finale of hot raspberry cake topped with chocolate ice-cream. And there are around 50 wines to choose from, too.

Eating on Playa de los Pocillos’ promenade means you get fabulous sunset views while you tuck into Chinese, Italian and Spanish cuisine at the beachfront restaurants. Some people like to take a pre-dinner walk along the waterfront to Puerto del Carmen, where eating places are lined up like sardines on Avenida de Las Playas. And speaking of fish, there are some great seafood restaurants around the old harbour here.

The kilometre stretch of golden sand does sunbathers very well, but it’s the waters here that are a real pull for windsurfers. It’s the perfect combination of calm sea and Atlantic breeze that does it. There are surf schools to help beginners get started, while the surf shops stock all the kit you should ever need.

Along the prom and in Playa de los Pocillos’ 3 shopping centres, you’ll find bars with cocktail lists and big-screen TVs. It’s Puerto del Carmen – the island’s liveliest place – that picks up the pace in the evenings, though. You’ll find numerous bars and clubs around the Centro Atlantica on Avenida de Las Playas as well as near the harbour.

Volcanic craters and dramatic lunar landscapes are what you’ll find at Timanfaya National Park, about 40 minutes away. A coach will take you up through the twisting, turning roads of the Fire Mountains, which erupted nearly 300 hundred years ago. And if you want to find out how hot it is round these parts, stop off for lunch at the restaurant, where they grill their food using goethermal energy from under the ground.

Playa de los Pocillos has a few little family-run eateries dotted along the beachfront promenade. You’ve got a mixed line-up here, with menus serving up Chinese, Italian and Spanish classics like tapas. What these places all have in common, though, is the VIP views of the sunset.

Calm waves and an Atlantic breeze double up to make Playa de los Pocillos a top spot for windsurfing. You’ve got surf schools here that cater for all levels, so even beginners will soon be up on their feet. And if you’re looking to buy some new kit, the surf shops on the promenade will sort you out.

Puerto del Carmen puts on the glitz – not to mention the feathers and sequins – for its annual carnival, which takes place around February or March. It’s a vibrant celebration with music, dance and colourfully decorated floats. The parade itself is a real show-stopper – you can follow it along Avenida de Las Playas to the old harbour, where the partying continues through to the early hours.

Over in Puerto del Carmen, at this popular bistro every dish is named after a musician, music style or instrument. That means you can tuck into the terrine Boogie Woogie with slow-roasted veggies or try the fillet steak Armstrong, which puts on a show with a shiitake mushroom sauce. Owner Tony dishes up live jazz most evenings, too.

For many visitors, the Temple Bar & Restaurant is like a second home, thanks to the comfy seating and friendly staff. Great cocktails and live music every night of the week also helps. And there’s simple, home-cooked food like burgers and lasagne on the menu. Oh, and the loos are spotlessly clean.

The Anchor really is a little slice of home. This seafront bar comes with friendly staff, chilled beer and, if you’re hungry, home-made burgers. They’re quite big on their TV sports matches here, but bingo, quiz nights and Elvis impersonators all make regular appearance, too.

The resort’s trio of shopping centres covers things on the souvenir front. Keep an eye out for jewellery made with light green gemstones – this stuff’s called olivine and it’s a bit of a Lanzarote signature. Meanwhile, if you’re after nibbles or beach kit, head for the promenade.