Tinajo
Although the local authority website is only in Spanish, we have to applaud them, it’s the best of the bunch. It’s clear, simple and there are far more interesting places and things to do in Tinajo than we first thought (the site was a good memory jogger). You almost feel that they are still trying to keep Tinajo a secret and perhaps that’s why the site is only in the local lingo! Tinajo
Tinajo prides itself on being authentic. Asides from the Timanfaya National Park the vineyards of La Geria and the Sports complex of Club La Santa there has traditionally been very little tourism in this area. The main town of Tinajo lies between two volcanoes, Tinajo and Tinache, with some of the other “real” villages being La Santa, Soo, La Vegueta, Mancha Blanca and El Cuchillo. The whole area has the lowest population density on the island, with only around 5,500 folk living there.
It now promotes itself as the “Sustainable Municipality” and is introducing initiatives (both private and public) to advance and enhance future possibilities for its residents. For an area rooted in agriculture and traditionalism it seems to be putting much thought into the near future – other Councils could perhaps take note instead of employing the usual knee-jerk responses to the islands development (soapbox moment over..)
Arts and Culture
Mancha Blanca Market on Sunday mornings 09:00–14:00. This tiny, but super little market opened in the summer of 2006. It is formed in a U shape of small stone stalls and divided into agricultural, baked, fish, meat, dairy, wine, and artisan and confectionary products. There’s something extra special about fresh flowers when you know they’ve come from someone’s lovingly tended back garden. The last Sunday of every month there are events showing different traditions and customs.
Dolores – Fiesta of Our Lady of the Volcanoes 15th September each year. This fiesta, perhaps even more than the better-known carnival fiestas of February, is the most popular and fun traditional happening on the island. Around 50,000 Islanders converge on the tiny chapel (Hermita) of Mancha Blanca to honour Our Lady of the Volcanoes who, as it’s told, saved Mancha Blanca on more than one occasion from the ravages of volcanic activity.
“Pilgrims” arrive in a number of ways from special busses that are put on around the island, to foot, to mule, to camel and with the occasional supermarket trolley wobbling precariously with it’s load of lads, alcohol and snacks to keep them going all night. It is a truly impressive sight with most people donning Canarian costume and many playing the timple or guitar to accompany the dancing.
The festival builds to a late night crescendo when the statue of the Virgin is paraded through Mancha Blanca. It is a wonderful sight and a tradition that whilst adapting to modern ways (fireworks, funfair, a fair few people lying addled in the streets) epitomizes the best of Lanzarote and its native people.
Little word of advice…
The best thing to do is find out if there are any busses going to and from Mancha Blanca from where you are staying as parking is a problem. From early afternoon the high street between Tinajo and Mancha Blanca is blocked off by the police. If you do manage to park there you may not be able to leave when you want – or like us, even remember where you parked your car!
Visitors Centre of Mancha Blanca. This is found on the road between Mancha Blanca and Yaiza and is a modern building set in a sea of lava. There is a permanent exhibition about the volcanology of the Canary Islands along with info about the flora and fauna of Lanzarote. If this is your bag take advantage of a trip to the audiovisual salon for a photographic and video montage explaining the history of Timanfaya.
Timanfaya National Park – Fire Mountains. Yes, it’s really touristy but unless you go to the Hawaiian Islands or Iceland you are unlikely to ever get the chance to see this kind of spectacular landscape. Kids love this one – a bus ride with spacey music, burning bushes, spouting geezers and chicken (not live) cooked on Flintstone lava BBQ, what’s not to love.
Wine
La Geria & other wine areas of Lanzarote. Yes, now we are talking – we hold the Bodegas (vineyards) of this area and beyond close to our hearts and their produce always in our fridges and racks. We could wax lyrical for eons about how the vines survive against all odds, the resilience of the Bodega owners and workers, the surprising quality of many of the wines but we won’t. Oh ok, we know you want us to – here comes a bit more info. And, if you don’t believe how good the Lanzarote wines are just click the link here, click on “Bodegas” on the top navigation bar and then “premios” (to see the award winning wines) in the left-hand bar and then “bodegas” for a list of the bodegas, the types of wine they produce, visiting times and address details (if applicable)
The Lanzarote wine region covers an area of 2,000 hectares and consists of 18 vineyards (Bodegas), which produce 1.5 million litres of wine annually. The most popular varieties grown are red Negramoll and Listán Negro. White – Malvasía, Pedro Ximénez, Diego, Listán Blanco, Moscatel, Burra Blanca and Breval.
If you love wine, take the time to plan your own Bodega wine tasting route or contact us for suggestions.
Walking and Hiking
Dust off your hiking boots, Tinajo is a great place to go rambling, the link is in Spanish, but get yourself a decent map and it’s easy enough to work the routes out.
La Santa
Is famous for two things, well elite level sports activity really – surfing and triathlon. Which is why it gets it own title. Club La Santa is a purpose designed multi-apartment complex mainly for serious sports enthusiasts and host of one of the toughest Ironman triathlon competitions on the world circuit. They hold a number of courses, mainly related to triathlon disciplines throughout the year. The Club has been running for a many years now and they have an excellent reputation for their sports facilities and training camps. Having said this we feel the clients do sacrifice quality accommodation and surroundings for the sake of their sport, but this doesn’t seem to bother them.
The real pulsing bits of La Santa in our humble opinion are the magnificent waves and the surf community there. This place from a surf point of view is as real as it gets. This seems as good a place as any to give you an overview of all the main surf spots in Lanzarote. Click on the link below, if you follow the road linking Tinajo directly up to the sea you come to the main surf spots of Caleta de Caballo, Boca del Abajo, El Centro, Morro Negro, The Slab and the big daddy of them all El Quemao.
We’ll say it one more time just in case you missed it! Surfing & bodyboarding, that is ONLY if you do either of these things to a very decent level. La Santa is a dangerous place if you don’t know what you are doing and a “random good bit” can fast turn into a “random bad bit” if you’re not very careful.
Go visit Dennis at CentrePoint Surf Shop in the main high street through La Santa. He’ll give you tips and advice, rent you any equipment you need and make suggestions about the best places for you to surf based on your experience. Never surfed before but would love to have a go? Get some surf lessons booked – the DWS magic system will have you springing like a champ in no time. So, you’re not into surfing what else can you do? Bypass La Santa? No don’t do that there are other things going on there…
La Santa Lagoon – Asides from the small beach in front of the Club La Santa complex there is a large lagoon that’s quite a favourite with the locals and people learning to windsurf. As it is enclosed there are no waves and it’s a safe, fun alternative if you have children. Buy a ready-to-go throwaway BBQ in a supermarket and it’s a good place for a beach BBQ.
Relaxing
If you really want to chill out and empty your mind of any cares for a while try sitting down on the rocks at La Santa and just watching the waves. It’s so hypnotic with the sun sparkling on the peaks as they roll in. Might sound a bit airy-fairy, but give it a go the feel-good factor is really high.
Biking
Cycling in Lanzarote is a memorable experience. The scenery is breath taking, the main the roads are good and there are plenty of off-road tracks. For cycle hire and information in La Santa go and see Steve at Pro Bike in the high street After all this talk of exercise you must be exhausted and requiring nourishment. There are quite a few restaurants in La Santa.
Restaurants
Amêndoa is an international fusion-style restaurant more locally known as Lucy’s (after the owner). This place has a stylish modern interior and a small terrace. The menu is varied, unusual and lovingly presented – a little more expensive than other restaurants in the village but the price vs. quality ratio is spot on. Music features in quite a big way here, whether it’s samba rhythms playing subtly in the background or occasional live band grooves. Avenida El Marinero 20, La Santa Open daily 13:00-15:30 & 18:30-22:30.
Restaurant Verde Mar, Run by ex Ironman woman Debbie Jones this restaurant features fresh food and good menu options. Senora Encarnacion 2, La Santa (Tel 0034928 840858 / 630 152 860).
El Barquillo Tapas is just brilliant, a gutsy, authentic little place well loved by the fishermen and locals. If you are in the high street walk down the small road towards the ocean next to Pro Bike (opposite CentrePoint Surf Shop) then hang a left and go down the stairs into El Barquillo. It’s cheap as chips, the food is simple and good (from solid tapas to a mean bacon butty) and it’s the only place to get an excellent, steaming cup of coffee early on a morning (our surfer kids show us no mercy on weekends if the waves are good!) C/ Recalmon 20, La Santa.
Between La Santa and Famara is a road that mostly hugs the shore, asides from a volcanic hillock or 2. Before reaching Famara you pass through the village of Soo, not too much happening there but here’s the diamond..
Breathing in Soo
Have you ever breathed properly? Not the normal shallow puff in and out kind that most of us think of as breathing, but real deep transformational breathing that can heal you and fill you with energy? Most people haven’t and we are fortunate to have travelling Breath Guru Alan Dolan gracing our shores for large lumps of the year. If you or your children suffer from asthama or any other allergies or disorders, stress whatever, he can turn you right around in a matter of a few hours. Tucked away in the wilds of Soo, he can organize a simple one-off session as a fascinating experience or even hold a tailor-made breathwork retreat at any Pure property. Contact us or Alan directly at or more details.
