The village of Costa Teguise in Lanzarote

The town is part of the municipality of Teguise and has just under 8,000 people, including many tourists.

There is really no cultural attractions in Costa Teguise, but you can visit the ancient capital of the island, Teguise, which is 12 km northwest of Costa Teguise; one goes to Teguise by road LZ-34 and LZ-10 highway. Half way you can stop at Tahíche where lies Foundation César Manrique.

North of Costa Teguise, at Guatiza, is the interesting Cactus Garden (12 km). Further north, after Arrieta, the Cueva de los Verdes, a volcanic cave and the Jameos del Agua, a volcanic hose designed by César Manrique. Everything north of the island the small port of Órzola allows to embark towards the island of La Graciosa.

The inauguration in 1977 of the five-star luxury Las Salinas Sol (now Gran Meliá Salinas) marked a milestone in the development of Costa Teguise. The hotel was designed by architect Fernando Higueras, in collaboration with his friend, artist and environmentalist César Manrique, who designed the plans of the gardens and pool.

The contribution of César Manrique in the development of Costa Teguise is also visible in the neighborhood of Pueblo Marinero (« le village marin »), conceived as a holiday village with Canarian style buildings, limited to two floors and grouped around patios, and a stage show. César Manrique also intervened on Villa La Mareta, property of King Hussein of Jordan.

In the 1970s and 1980s, most complex first apartments and hotels were built according to the desired rules by César Manrique in the traditional architectural style of Lanzarote and in harmony with the natural landscape of this volcanic region. Later, in the 1990s, other buildings no longer respected the rules, for example the concrete fortress Hotel Beatriz.

The projects too ambitious development of the resort are seen in many developments, not built but already serviced, as can be seen on the outskirts of Costa Teguise and many empty apartments and others that deserve to being renovated. Costa Teguise is not the elitist destination of its initial project, but has become a destination for family holidays.

King Hussein never stayed in this villa, but one of his son spent a holiday period after his marriage. King Hussein gave away the villa of La Mareta to King Juan Carlos I of Spain in the late 1980s; since it is used as a holiday residence for the Spanish Royal Family and receive foreign guests mark and even the Spanish government leaders.

The residence of La Mareta is located by the sea, in the southwest part of the resort, Calle Real (Royal Street); it is strictly guarded, do not visit and can only be observed from a distance.

The most central beach, the longest and most famous is the Playa de las Cucharas (Beach of the Spoons); it is a white sandy beach, gently sloping, suitable for children to swim. It is a well-equipped beach and you can rent chairs and umbrellas. The Playa de las Cucharas is very crowded, especially by surfers and windsurfers. This very windy beach - with a constant breeze - is famous in the world of windsurfing: each year, it held competitions of freestyle. Beginners can find windsurfing schools behind the beach. At the back of the beach is the shopping center Centro Comercial Las Cucharas.

Just north-east is the Playa de los Charcos (Beaches of Puddles), a small beach at the bottom of a cove almost enclosed by two dykes. It is covered with white sand and is reported less equipped than the Playa de las Cucharas.

The Playa del Jablillo is a bit southwest of the center of the resort, at the bottom of a cove protected by dikes rocks that form almost a natural pool, especially at low tide; the beach is covered with white sand but access to the sea is quite rocky. It is the most tranquil beaches of Costa Teguise.

The Playa Bastián is located further to the southwest of the station; it’s a beach of black volcanic sand named picón the Canary Islands. The Playa Bastián is lined with palm trees and feature walls of nearly circular dry stone where you can shelter from the wind, like zocos that protect the vines of La Geria. The beach is well maintained and has sun loungers and umbrellas for rent. The view is somewhat spoiled by the proximity of port facilities and water desalination plant to Arrecife.

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 am to 17 pm 30; Saturday, 10 am to 13 pm.

Phone: 00 34 928 592 542

• Line 1 connects Costa Teguise to Arrecife in 20 minutes, from 0 am to 23 pm; three times an hour at peak times.
• Line 3 connects Costa Teguise to Puerto del Carmen, via the bus station in Arrecife, from 0 am to 23 pm; three times an hour at peak times.
• Line 11 connects Costa Teguise market of Teguise (every half hour but only on Sunday morning from 9 am to 11 pm).
• The line No. 25 links Costa Teguise to Puerto Calero, via the bus station in Arrecife and Puerto del Carmen.

Detailed schedules on the site intercitybuslanzarote.es.

Address: Avenida de las Islas Canarias 12 / Las Maretas 20B

Phone: 00 34 628 102 177

Site on the Web: www.tommys-bikes.com

Costa Teguise Golf :

Address: Avenida del Golf, s/n. On the LZ-34 highway connecting Costa Teguise to Tahíche and San Bartolomé.

Open all year from 8 am to 19 pm.

Price: 18-hole course, 58 € to 72 € depending on the season. Club rentals for around € 15.

Phone: 00 34 928 590 512

Site on the Web: www.lanzarote-golf.com

It was originally created by the UCPA club Nathalie Simon, France champion of windsurfing in 1986.

Equipment rentals and surf lessons, windsurfing, kayaks ...

Address: Centro Comercial Las Maretas, nº 2, Calle Marajo.

Phone: 00 34 928 590 731

Site on the Web: www.lanzarotewindsurf.com

Windsurf Paradise Lanzarote

Address: Calle La Corvina, 8

Phone: 00 34 928 346 022 / 00 34 635 054 110

Site on the Web: www.windsurflanzarote.com

Address: Centro Comercial Calipso, Local 3, Avenida de las Islas Canarias, s/n

Phone: 00 34 928 590 879

Site on the Web: www.calipso-diving.com

Aquatis Diving Center

Address: Playa de las Cucharas, Local 6

Phone: 00 34 928 590 407

Site on the Web: www.diving-lanzarote.net

One can observe hundreds of species of marine animals in 33 aquariums.

Address: Centro Comercial El Trébol, Avenida de las Acacias, s/n

Hours: daily, 10 am to 18 pm.

Admission: adults € 12.5; children € 8.

Phone: 00 34 928 590 069

Site on the Web: www.aquariumlanzarote.com

Aquapark Costa Teguise

Eight sliding slopes more or less steep, roller coasters, water slides ...

Address: Avenida del Golf, just off the golf course. Special buses, with supplements from other resorts on the island, Puerto del Carmen and Playa Blanca.

Hours: year round from 10 am to 18 pm.

Admission: adults € 22.5; children 16 €.

Phone: 00 34 928 592 128

Site on the Web: www.aquaparklanzarote.es

Luxury hotel with a botanical garden designed by César Manrique to 1977 and decorated with works of art, bridges, ponds, waterfalls ... A large swimming pool - also created by Manrique - a spa, tennis courts, golf, evening entertainment, sumptuous rooms and several restaurants. The hotel also has a few villas with private pool and garden.

Address: Avenida de las Islas Canarias, s/n. The hotel is located near the ocean, between the beaches of Playa de las Cucharas and Playa de los Charcos.

Price: € 160 half board for a double room. Villa from 500 € per night.

Phone: 00 34 928 590 040

Site on the Web: www.solmelia.com

Address: Avenida del Jabillo, s/n.

Price: 120 € in double room.

Phone: 00 34 928 590 654

Site on the Web: www.belivehotels.com

Address: Avenida de las Islas Canarias, 13. 5 minutes from the Playa de las Cucharas.

Phone: 00 34 928 590 100

Site on the Web: www.h10hotels.com

Address: Avenida del Mar, s/n. Behind the beach of Playa Bastián.

Hours: daily, 12 am to 23: 30 pm; close on Sunday.

Price: 30 €.

Phone: 00 34 928 591 526

Address: Avenida de los Cocederos, s/n.

Hours: daily, 9 am to 23 pm.

Phone: 00 34 928 590 626

Site on the Web: www.restaurantevillatoledo.com