Jameos Del Agua is another fabulous adaption of natural beauty by Cesar Manrique at the foot of the Volcano Monte de la Corona which last erupted 3000 years ago. It is situated in the North of Lanzarote, away from the main Lanzarote Resorts such as Playa Blanca, an hours car drive away.
A jameo occurs when a ceiling of a volcanic tunnel collapses. Normally, this is when the tunnel exceeds 20 metres wide, or due to gases which cause an explosion. The winding staircase leads into a cave that opens out into beautiful gardens. The garden has a wonderful open air swimming pool, dance floor and bar. Towards the far end is a concert cave where you can enjoy fabulous natural acoustics and a great selection of artists performing.
You can easily enjoy visiting both Jameos Del Agua and La Cueva de Los Verdes in the same trip.
Opening Times:
10.00 – 18.30 Daytime
19.00 – 02.00 Tuesday and Saturday
19.00 – 23.30 – Restaurant
Telephone : +34 928 848020
€8 Adult
€4 Children aged 7-12
Although, it is situated right up in the North of Lanzarote, it is not far by car from the main Lanzarote Resorts of Playa Blanca, Puerto Del Carmen, Puerto Calero, where you can find a large selection of villas for rent, or Lanzarote hotels to stay in .
So, I haven’t had a chance to do a Gallery Post on Sticky Fingers for a while, and so I am really glad that I dropped by this week and not last! Tomorrow is rather a toughie. So, basically, what I have chosen to do is take a selection of images from the last few postings on my blogroll. The reason for this it shows exactly what my blog is about.
Primarily, I started my blog to write about the things I like about Lanzarote, good advice and the such for families coming on holiday. Now I still blog about this but also about all the things we do as a family Lanzarote related or not. Also, sometimes I get a chance to be part of this great community of parent bloggers as well, which is simply great:) So there’s variety to say the least!
A little About Lanzarote -
Nixon Surf Challenge 2011 – Surfing North of the Artic Circle – A trip we made beginning of April with Hubby’s work.
Something for the Weekend Post for Thinly Spread
Three Generations in the Mountains – Mother In Law, Hubby and our kids.
Our local Beach in Puerto Calero – Sofia on the rocks!
Lanzarote Wine – it features a lot in our house!
Sometimes it feels strange to participate in some of these things because my blog isn’t strictly just about families and being a mum, so thank you Sticky Fingers for letting me explain to you:-)
Haria, Valley of 1000 Palms is situated in the North of the Island of Lanzarote. Far from a classic Lanzarote Resort. Haria is a traditional Lanzarote village. Steeped in heritage it’s thousands of miles away from the main Lanzarote Tourist Resorts of Playa Blanca or Puerto Del Carmen.
It’s a great place to drive through and take a mid-morning coffee, amble around the old streets taking in some of the lovely old buildings. There’s a lovely market on a saturday morning selling crafts and local handmade gifts to take home. Not the same rat-ta-tat-tat that you find in some of the tourist markets nowadays.
The pace is slow, the coffee is great, and so are the selection of restaurants and traditional Tapas bars that you find here. So, enjoy the slow pace, and take a while to step back in time while your on your holiday.
If you have spent the day in La Graciosa for example, Haria is a great place to head to on your way back for a quick bit to eat. They are very child friendly and it’s only about 15 minutes from Orzola where the ferry comes in. Alternatively, go there on route to any of the following tourist attractions in the North. Jameos Del Agua, La Cueva de los Verdes, Mirador del Rio.
For some restaurant recommendations…La Frontera Haria. Alternatively, Los Dos Hermanos a great coffee and tortilla. It’s always a good sign when the locals are eating there as we all know. Last time I was here the head of the Police for the Haria district was having his coffee here, so, it’s a sure bet that you’re gonna enjoy a drink or snack.
La Cueva de los Verdes, “The Green Caves” are just one of the many natural wonders of Lanzarote. They’re not situated near any of the Lanzarote Resorts, but up in the most northern part of the Island. It’s one of the longest volcanic tunnels in the world running for 6km. In 1964 Jesus Soto, created a 2km gateway so that the tunnel could be visited. What is amazing is that the only evidence of human intervention appears to be the amazing lighting in the walls.
The caves were once used the the Guanches who were Aboriginal people inhabiting the island. They used to caves to hide from Pirates. Two of the key features of the caves are the optical illusions that you can see by taking a guided tour, which I recommend highly. Secondly, the caves acoustics’ are phenomenal. So, if you are thinking of taking in this sight while staying in one of the many fabulous Lanzarote Villas, or Lanzarote Hotels, then it’s well worth checking to see if there’s any concerts scheduled to be on.
The caves are situated in close proximity to Jameos Del Agua which is part of the same volcanic tunnel system and can be visited at the same time. The Caves are underground, so if you suffer from claustrophobia bare this in mind when visiting the Caves.
Opening Times: From 10.00am – 18.00 (Last Entry 17h)
This is our first weekend in Norway, after travelling from Lanzarote for the Easter holidays. This may come across as a bit of a confusing post, but it was originally prompted by the lovely Christine Moseler over at Thinly Spread. Mr and Mrs Thinly Spread have been Tree climbing.
We used to live near a Tree Climbing Activity Centre in Labenne south west France. The first time my two step sons went was 9 years ago, Scott was 7 and Jake was 4. The place had a great selection of levels, so it was perfect because they could all do something that was suitable for their level. When you have a big family like we do with big age ranges. It’s difficult to sometimes get an activity that works for everyone. This one most definitely does.
We’re not tree climbing this weekend, because we are in the mountains for Easter. We are a half English, half Norwegian family. We’ll be lucky enough to be skiing. The children get to play around in the snow, build dens, and climb trees. Something that they cannot do in Lanzarote. It’s one of the things that children miss out on living in Lanzarote is the fact that there isn’t any trees to climb. We are lucky enough to be here long enough that we don’t have to go out on the slopes everyday. In Hemsedal, children can ski for free until they are seven years old. I think sometimes the simpler the activity the better. Like walking the forest, or climbing in the snow, building dens. The best things in life are generally for free!
Five Free Activities in Lanzarote
1) Catching fish in the rock pools in Punta Mujeres. (okay you need a bucket..)
2) Building really big features in the sand all together as a family – I remember my Grandad building me a car on the beach in Cornwall. Famara beach is a great option, the sand is really wet perfect for construction.
3) Feeding the fish in Puerto Calero Marina.
4) A running race! We do this at the airport, and do timed sprints on the small stretches outside, when we are waiting for a flight. (before going through to Lanzarote Airport Departures!)
5) Finding shells, pretty stones on many of the beaches.
César Manrique was an artist who grew up in Lanzarote. He was instrumental in creating many of the tourist attractions that you find dotted among the Lanzarote Resorts today. César Manrique’s hand in the planning regulations on the Island is what has protected Lanzarote from being overdeveloped with high rise buildings like you see in other resorts. The only Lanzarote Hotel which is a high rise building is that of the Grand Hotel that is situated on the beach front in Arrecife.
The Fundacion is situated in Tahiche just outside of the Lanzarote resort of Costa Teguise. The museum is was actually César Manrique’s home after he returned from America in the 1970’s. The gallery has original drawings from Picasso, and is a great place to go and explore. An inspiration to many villas in Lanzarote, why not go and visit the museum and be inspired yourself. The museum is not huge, so your visit can be as short or as long as you would like it to be. It’s a great place to visit if the Lanzarote weather is not quite what you want it to be. Whether it’s raining or whether it’s too hot in the summer. It’s got great energy surrounding it and you will come out with a certain feeling of tranquility.
I wouldn’t recommend this as a place to go with small children. Although, there aren’t a huge amount of things that they can get into trouble with. You may simply find it a bit too stressful. In a push chair is okay, although there are parts of it that you will need to carry the pushchair down.
Price is €8 for adults and under 2’s are free
Tel: +34 928 843 138
A good time to go is later in the afternoon after all the busses have left. If you run out of time and don’t get a chance to check out the souvenir shop then don’t forget they have a pretty good shop at Lanzarote Airport, where you can purchase prints, scarfs, vases all with varying versions of his work.
César Manrique, as mentioned earlier was key in the development of cultural tourism in Lanzarote. These are some of the other works he contributed and created in Lanzarote. Do you want to know more? Check out our blog for more information and guides about tourist attractions, Lanzarote apartments, Lanzarote villas. It’s all there..
This is a fun event that runs every year on the island and it celebrates two things important to Lanzarote – sports and good wine!
This year’s event runs on 19th June and as always there will be many serious athletes running the half marathon of 21 KM, but amateurs and even walkers are very welcome to join the run through Lanzarote¡s spectacular wine growing district of La Geria.
All participants get T Shirts and there are medals for every age category, but the overall winners in the male and female sections win their weight in wine!
There’s a great party afterwards at one of the wine bodegas, where food and drink are served and entertainment is laid on. The whole thing is organised by Club La Santa and you can enrol here: Lanzarote Wine Run
We have some super accommodation for couples and families looking to stay in Lanzarote for our many sporting events ranging from luxury villas to two bed apartments You can see all our accommodation on these pages: Lanzarote accommodation
You would probably think that the only similarity between the Islands of Lanzarote and the Islands of Lofoten would be the Unesco Biosphere Reserve status that both places have. The Island of Lanzarote in 1971, and the Lofoten Islands, which are situated north of the Artic Circle, further North than most parts of Alaska and further North than Iceland, in 1978.
However, another key similarity between these two places is the quality of the waves and surfing conditions. Surfing in Lanzarote is most common in the beach town of Famara. Although, there are a good choice of other surf spots dotted in and around the island. Beach break in Famara makes it easier for beginners to learn some basic techniques, and the vast stretching beaches of Famara ensure that you don’t get the same crowding in peak times of the year. Also, the stable all year round temperatures in Lanzarote means great winter conditions with big wave surfing in warmer waters than the rest of Europe.
So, what about surfing in the Lofoten Islands? Well, for one the water temperatures are pretty different. The gulf stream passes through the Lofoten Islands not only bringing the cod, who congregate in these warmer waters, but surfers too. The water temperatures are as low as 4 degrees in the winter months, but around 8-10 degrees in the summer. In comparison to Lanzarote where the water temperatures only drop to 16 at most and rise to 25 at it’s during the months of September and October.
Lanzarote surfers Jose Maria Cabrera and Eric Rebiere both have been enjoying the what the colder waters of the north can offer in terms of surfing at the Tenth Nixon Surf Challenge 2011. Flights to Lanzarote this year have been increased in volume in order to keep up with increased demand affected by external factors such as Egypt and Turkey. You can find a wide variety of accommodation choices both in the main Lanzarote resorts and out of them for both Lanzarote Hotels, villas in Lanzarote, and apartments in Lanzarote.
The Lofoten Islands is a little more remote and you need to take two internal flights to reach Henningsvær where you have a good base to explore the surf spots and experience some local traditions of these cod fishing villages. If you enjoy the water and the mountains then why not come and enjoy Camp Lofoten held in Spring each year, where you can enjoy guided tours and try your hand at surfing, or ditch the board shorts for hoodie and boots, warmest wetsuit available, and off you go…
This is a first. The first time I am blogging about something I haven’t actually been too here in Lanzarote. Mojito productions put on their second comedy night in the Lanzarote resort of Puerto Del Carmen last night. The first Comedy night was held in the Lanzarote Resort of Playa Blanca in December and such a roaring success that the second followed shortly after. So, what with no baby sitter and no husband to protect me from any crazed comedians taunting me all night, I most definitely ducked out of this evening of friends, fun and a few drinks. So, instead, I popped the question on Facebook, to see what kind of a response the evening had had for a couple of reasons really.
Firstly, lots of people who have lived here for along time, or those who’ve moved from the big smoke, miss this kind of thing. The opportunity to be able to enjoy an evening out that isn’t just swilling beer, or eating a delicious meal. A visit to the theatre or to the cinema. Living abroad in Lanzarote isn’t quite the same as many other countries where integration is an absolute must if you want any kind of social life and that includes taking onboard the language as well. So, well done Mojito Productions for embracing something new and bringing something different to the Island that both tourists Non-Spanish speaking residents can enjoy. It needs it.
Secondly, if we want to see more of these types of events being organised by individuals or companies here in Lanzarote, then we need help support them on what we like, what we hated, what we loved and what we want more of in the future.
“You can’t please all of the people all of the time, but you can please some of the people some of the time” See below direct quotes from a few of you. A little video clip of one of the comedians in case like me you didn’t get there.
If you didn’t get a chance to feedback to me, then leave me a comment here and join in the fun!
Comments
“Comedy night was brilliant. Didn’t feel like going but left feeling great so thats a good sign. Personally I feel it was a big improvement on first offering, line up was great. Best act hands down was the last guy, the northener. Quick, animated, energetic and hilarious – real on your feet comedy! It’s uplifting to be in a room full of friendly faces and acquaintances, really brings the island together and adds an extra dimension to the show knowing personally the people being singled out. Allen, Ian, Pi, Ronn and Claudia (Miss Belgium) were last nights victims but I am sure our mums always told us never sit in the front row. Only downside to the event as per last time was price, quality and stock levels of alcohol”.
“Great night throuroughly enjoyed it- laughed my socks off and stomach aching still! Only complaint would be slow bar staff- could have done with waiter service- All comedians very funny- American guy a bit flat after a while but overall a fab fun night. Miss Belgium needs to learn a few manners mind- she embarrased herself bigtime….. funny…. “xxx annonymous….
“We had the best time…had to rush off quickly though to get a certain puker home!..top night thoughxx” Charlotte Gilpin Moss.
“Where were you? You missed a treat. Photos to follow. ”James Mitchell Where’s the photos James?!
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