A trip to Lanzarote is a good choice at any time, as it enjoys a warm climate all year round and it has an enormous range of attractions for children. The average temperature throughout the year is 21oC, and the almost guaranteed sunshine and the absence of rain mean it is possible to engage in a host of activities that children love. The unique characteristics of this Canary Island also offer parents a good opportunity to tell children about its volcanic origins and the orographic features of the landscape. Lessons in history and geography can be combined with fun throughout the experiences that will stay with your children forever. Here, we give you some ideas for combining educational visits with others where children can give free rein to their energy.
4 experiences for your trip to Lanzarote with children
Parents are often faced with questions about the best way to arrange a holiday for children, what activities are the most suitable and how to strike the correct balance between education and leisure. On a holiday in Lanzarote with children, these questions are already answered for you, since the island has various facilities, known as Centres of Art, Culture and Tourism, which offer informative experiences for the whole family. What child wouldn’t want to visit a place called the Mountains of Fire (Montañas de Fuego, in Spanish)? The reddish colour and undulating surface of the landscape in the Timanfaya National Park are reminiscent of the planet Mars. This is the perfect setting in which to talk to children about volcanic activity and the creation of islands following an eruption. Of course, if you tell them about all this while they are riding on the back of a dromedary (explain to your children that these are not camels, because they only have one hump) they won’t take it in, because they will be so entranced by the animals themselves and by the scenery around them.
The Cueva de los Verdes with kids
The second excursion recommended for children is the Cueva de los Verdes. This will be like plunging them into Jules Verne’s ‘Journey to the Centre of the Earth’, and whether they have read the book or seen the film, they’ll be fascinated to explore the very bowels of the earth. This cave is located in the upper sections of the volcanic tunnels that run from the Corona Volcano down to the Ocean. Before these reach the Atlantic, they are (thanks to the creative genius of César Manrique, Lanzarote’s favourite son) the site of an amazing artistic installation called Los Jameos del Agua. The Jameo Grande, which has an attractive swimming pool and is surrounded by native plants, is what is most likely to appeal to young children. If you’re not careful, they’ll be trying to jump into the pool. Here, you could take the opportunity to talk about some of the small creatures that live here, tiny white crabs—barely a centimetre across—which are blind and highly sensitive to light.
You will need to take care in both places, because there are damp areas, and strollers and buggies are not allowed. The best thing is to leave your stroller at the entrance, and use a baby sling for very small children.
The final educational visit is to the Charco de los Clicos, an impressive setting that seems to have been lifted from a superhero film. The pool is located next to a beach, and both form part of a volcanic crater. The most amazing thing is the phosphorescent green colour of the pool, caused by the algae that live in its depths. Nearby is the little fishing village of El Golfo, a good place to stop for lunch. Its viewing point commands stunning views of the volcanic landscape and of the Charco de los Clicos.
A fun trip to Lanzarote
If you ask your children what they associate with an island, they may well answer palm trees, beaches and pirates. As by now they will already have seen palm trees and beaches, why not take them on a pirate adventure in a real castle? At the Castle of Santa Bárbara, in the municipality of Teguise, is the Museo de la Piratería [Pirate Museum], which offers visits for children (download the brochure from their website beforehand). This fortress was built in the sixteenth century as a defence against attacks by pirates and corsairs.
Once they’ve taken off their eye patches, it’s a good time to have fun in the water—an offer children never refuse. It depends on the ages of the children, but this could be a good time to teach them snorkelling (for diving, you have to wait until they are at least 14 years old). The sea floors and clear waters around Lanzarote are perfect for observing ocean life. Two beaches that are safe for this activity are Papagayo, in the south of the island, a beach with almost no swell and where you can find fish almost up to the shore, and Caletón Blanco, located near Órzola, where the shallow waters enable children to play safely.
Excursion to the Isla de la Graciosa
If they need more entertainment, one activity enjoyed by children and parents alike is a day’s excursion by sea to the Isla de la Graciosa, as the crossing barely takes half an hour, and once you are there, you can visit the capital and explore its outskirts. Lastly, although it is not permanently available, it is worth having a look at the programme of workshops at the Monumento al Campesino [Monument to the Farm Worker], as they put on very interesting activities for the whole family, such as “create your own Canary Island sauce”. Budding chefs will have the time of their lives.
Enjoy the Barceló Lanzarote Active Resort
Families with children are very welcome at the brand new Barceló Lanzarote Active Resort, a hotel complex offering an enormous range of activities with something to suit every taste. Located on Costa Teguise, the resort is perfect for families seeking the perfect combination of wellness and sport, and a place where they can enjoy the finest offer of food, drink and leisure, with activities for all levels. So this refurbished accommodation in Lanzarote invites you to not only dream about your ideal holiday, but to actually experience it.
The Barceló Lanzarote Active Resort is based on a concept inspired by the dynamic, get-up-and-go spirit of the hotel’s guests — people who enjoy an active lifestyle and who are looking for fun, innovative activities for all ages. That is why the hotel’s 659 guest rooms include an outstanding Hypoxia Deluxe, a unique room that allows you to simulate altitudes of up to 4,000 metres, as well as our Sporting Deluxe room, which has its own training area. This four-star hotel boasts sports facilities for professionals and keen amateurs alike, with an Olympic-sized swimming pool, gymnasium and cycling centre, which also welcome families with children.
The hotel’s social life centres on La Plaza; this is where all active sports enthusiasts gather to enjoy good cuisine, music, social and cultural activities. Here, the hotel’s instructors will show you a detailed calendar of all the week’s options, so that you and your children can sign up for whatever appeals to you most, with every activity designed so that you “learn with fun”.
There is a full entertainment programme for children — HAPPY MINDS — as well as a social and multimedia facility — ONE — designed for teenagers. What better way can there be of amusing a child than by imagining that they are a prince or a chef and taking part in an adventure? Or do you think your children will have more fun riding around the resort on an electric bicycle made from recycled materials? The hotel also offers experiences with a local flavour that are sure to leave children open-mouthed with wonder. Perhaps a workshop on cooking Canary Island ‘mojo’ sauce? Or a practical class in traditional Canary Island Wrestling? You can also learn how to make sun hats or plait palm leaves. And if you love dancing, you will have the chance to learn traditional Canary Island dances such as the sorondongo, rancho de ánimas and diabletes. Another option is to try local sports, including ‘bola canaria’ [a type of bowls], plough lifting, shepherd’s leap or ‘pelotamano’.
For younger children, there are two additional programmes (not included in the children’s core entertainment programme, but which can be purchased separately), and which have been given the names of ‘Barceló Princess for a Day’ and ‘Barceló Mr Cook, The chef with superpowers’. Your children will have the time of their lives.
