The north of Lanzarote has some beautiful attractions that vacationers residing in the major tourist centers - which are mainly in the south of the island - might be tempted to overlook. However, the distances are not very big in Lanzarote: the farthest station Teguise, Playa Blanca, is only 42 km or 45 minutes drive, Puerto del Carmen, 26 km (30 minutes); and Costa Teguise is only 13 km (20 minutes). Although all the northern communities of the island are served by “guaguas” (Coach) company Intercity Bus, and many tourist agencies offer tours in the north, it is certainly better to take a car to rent to be master of his choices and his schedule. The roads are in good condition and adequate road signs, but gas stations are a bit spaced.
One important thing to consider is the weather: good weather in the south of the island, it may be that the sky is cloudy in the north since the two mountain ranges that crisscross the north of Lanzarote, the Risco de Famara and the Risco de las Nieves, preclude trade winds and cause precipitation; the Canary Islands are indeed on the northern edge of the tropical zone of the trade winds. Heavy cloud cover can spoil the visit of the many viewpoints that make up the northwest coast of the island, and strong winds can make disappointing stay on the beaches. Failing weather report can be seen from afar the peaks of the Risco de Famara to get an idea of the time that prevails.
It is this more humid microclimate that is causing the different character of the north of the island: the landscapes are greener and agriculture is more present. Moreover, volcanism is older than the southern one: more than 10 million years to the Risco de Famara and more than 3000 years to the Monte Corona. Although older than those in the south, the northern mountains are the highest in the island, whose highest point is the mountain of double top Peñas del Chache (671 m); the Volcán de la Corona rises to 609 m. This seniority volcanoes also allowed a cultivable soil to form, with the exception of fields of lava and scoria of Malpaís de la Corona.
Besides its landscapes and products of the earth, northern Lanzarote has fishing ports which provide some good fish restaurants.
From the island capital, Arrecife, the circuit can start by leaving the city to the north by the LZ-1 road to the village of Tahíche; to Tahíche is the former home of César Manrique, which became the foundation César Manrique, a symbolic beginning of a circuit that is full of artist’s achievements, and to his final resting place.
Continuing north through the LZ-10 highway is achieved the historic capital of Lanzarote, the city of Teguise, which is almost a museum town whose downtown is classified as a historical monument; a little away from the city the castle of Santa Bárbara offers beautiful views over the center of the island.
After Teguise can be a return to the coastal village of Caleta de Famara and its popular beach among windsurfing lovers. After returning to Teguise, we take the LZ-10 heading north-east to the village of Los Valles and the chapel of Ermita de las Nieves. On the right we see a wind farm.
The following stops will be the viewpoint of Los Helechos and viewpoint Haría that offer magnificent views of the city of Haría and the “Valley of Thousand Palms”. The visit of Haría can then be done in an hour.
In Haría it turns left on the LZ-201 road; the first stop can be done Guinate where a viewpoint that allows a first view of the island of La Graciosa and the archipelago Chinijo; there are also a wildlife park, the Parque Tropical.
A few kilometers after Guinate it turns left on the LZ-202 road towards Rio belvedere which offers magnificent views of the archipelago Chinijo, but admission is charged.
We leave the Mirador del Río by the LZ-203 road to the village of Yé where we find the LZ-201 road that we follow for 3 km until the junction towards the LZ-204 road to the village Órzola. Órzola is the port connection with the island of La Graciosa, but also has good fish restaurants.
After Órzola found the LZ-1 road heading south along the coast of the Malpaís de la Corona; we get to Jameos del Agua, pits built into a cultural center by César Manrique. 800 m to the west we can also visit the cave Cueva de los Verdes.
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A discovery tour of the north of .jpg "The northern coast of Lanzarote. The Risco de Famara seen from the Strait of Rio. Click to enlarge the image.")
.jpg "The northern coast of Lanzarote. Arrieta and the northeast coast. Click to enlarge the image.")
