🚌 Where Can You Go by Bus from Puerto del Carmen?
Puerto del Carmen has one major advantage – you can reach several interesting towns and villages on Lanzarote by public transport. This means you don't have to spend your entire holiday in the resort or hire a car to discover more of the island.
Buses on Lanzarote are known as guaguas. They are operated by IntercityBus Lanzarote, whose website provides timetables, routes and lists of bus stops.
Remember, however, that Puerto del Carmen stretches for several kilometres. Not every bus stops at every stop, so check connections from near your hotel before setting off.
🏛️ Arrecife – Lanzarote's Capital
Arrecife is a great destination for a day trip. Here you can explore Charco de San Ginés, a picturesque lagoon with small fishing boats, Castillo de San Gabriel, a former fortress on a small island connected to the town by a bridge, and the historic centre with its narrow streets, shops and cafés.
It's also worth walking along the seafront promenade and visiting Castillo de San José, a former fortress that now houses a contemporary art museum. The latter is located a little further from the town centre.
🚌 Getting there: Directly on bus route 2 or 3: Route 2 Timetable – Arrecife
🌴 Costa Teguise – Beaches and a Seafront Promenade
Costa Teguise is a holiday resort on Lanzarote's east coast, known for its beaches and pleasant walking areas.
You can visit Pueblo Marinero, a collection of squares and whitewashed buildings designed by César Manrique, before taking a walk along the ocean, passing Playa del Jablillo, Playa de las Cucharas and other beaches.
It's an excellent destination if you enjoy exploring on foot. I've also put together a longer walking route along the Costa Teguise promenade.
🚌 Getting there: Directly on bus route 3, via Arrecife: Route 3 Timetable – Costa Teguise
🏘️ Teguise – The Island's Former Capital
Teguise is one of Lanzarote's most interesting historic towns. It served as the island's capital for several centuries before Arrecife took over that role.
During your walk, you'll discover Plaza de la Constitución, the historic square in the town centre, the Church of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, former convents, historic mansions and narrow streets.
A popular market takes place here on Sundays, where you can buy handicrafts, souvenirs and local products.
🚌 Getting there: Directly on bus route 12, which operates on Sundays for the Teguise market. Visiting the town on other days requires checking connections involving a change of bus: Bus Timetables – Find Route 12
⛵ Playa Blanca – Marina and Southern Coastline
Playa Blanca is a popular holiday resort at the southern tip of Lanzarote.
It's worth visiting Marina Rubicón, an elegant marina with restaurants and shops, and taking a stroll along the seafront promenade. You can also see Castillo de las Coloradas, a small historic defensive tower, and explore the beaches in the centre of the resort.
Ferries to Fuerteventura also depart from Playa Blanca, although you'll need to plan such a trip carefully around the return sailing times.
🚌 Getting there: Directly on routes 61 and 161, among others, and on selected services of route 6: Timetables for Routes 6, 61 and 161 – Playa Blanca
🌵 Yaiza and Uga – Traditional Villages of Lanzarote
If you'd like to discover Lanzarote beyond its holiday resorts, consider a trip to Yaiza or Uga.
Yaiza is a traditional town with whitewashed buildings, a square and the Church of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios. It is located close to the volcanic landscapes of southern Lanzarote.
Uga is a smaller village known, among other things, for its camel breeding and traditional architecture. It isn't a typical tourist resort.
🚌 Getting there: Route 6 serves both villages, while route 61 serves Uga. As some services are infrequent, make sure you plan your return journey: Route 6 Timetable – Uga and Yaiza
⚓ Puerto Calero – Marina and Yacht Harbour
You'll already be familiar with Puerto Calero from the previous section about the coastal walk. If you don't fancy tackling the rocky trail, you can also get there by bus.
The main attraction is the marina, with its yachts, restaurants and waterfront. It's a lovely option for a short, relaxing excursion.
🚌 Getting there: Directly on route 24 or 25, depending on the bus stop and timetable. Selected services on other routes may also be available: Route 24 Timetable – Puerto Calero
🔄 Where Can You Go with a Change of Bus?
Arrecife is Lanzarote's main public transport hub. From its bus station, you can continue your journey to places including:
- Caleta de Famara – a coastal village with an extensive beach beneath the towering Famara cliffs; route 20 from Arrecife.
- Órzola – a harbour village in the north of the island, where ferries depart for La Graciosa; route 9 from Arrecife.
- Haría – a green village in the Valley of a Thousand Palms, known for its traditional architecture; you'll need to check connections through the north of the island.
These excursions take more time and require careful planning of bus connections.
📱 Where Can You Check Bus Timetables?
The most important link to save before your holiday is:
IntercityBus Lanzarote – All Routes and Timetables
On the operator's website, select the route number, direction and date of travel. Check the departure and arrival stops too, as buses travelling to the same town don't always stop in the same places.
💡 My tip: Before setting off, check the return bus timetable. This is particularly important on Sundays, public holidays and excursions that involve changing buses.
🌋 Lanzarote's Top Attractions – How to Get There Without a Car
If you're staying in Puerto del Carmen, you can also visit Lanzarote's most famous attractions. However, it's important to know that not all of them are accessible by public transport. Some are located far from towns and bus stops, so reaching them requires additional transport.
Which places can you explore independently, and where is it better to join an organised excursion? Here are the main options.
🌋 Timanfaya National Park – Land of Volcanoes
Timanfaya is one of Lanzarote's most extraordinary areas. Here you'll see vast fields of solidified lava, craters and landscapes shaped by volcanic eruptions in the 18th century.
The best-known part of the visit is Montañas del Fuego, where special buses depart from Islote de Hilario along the Ruta de los Volcanes, a route through the volcanic landscape.
🚌 How to get there: Public buses do not go to the entrance of Montañas del Fuego. You can take route 6 to Yaiza and continue by taxi, but you'll also need to arrange your return journey.
🧭 My suggestion: Choose an organised excursion from Puerto del Carmen. This way, you'll travel directly to the attraction, with transport and sightseeing included in the itinerary.
🕳️ Jameos del Agua and Cueva de los Verdes – Lanzarote Underground
Jameos del Agua is an extraordinary space created by César Manrique inside an ancient lava tunnel. Here you'll find an underground lake, a distinctive swimming pool and an auditorium.
Nearby is Cueva de los Verdes, part of the same volcanic tunnel system, which you can explore on a guided tour.
🚌 How to get there: First, travel from Puerto del Carmen to Arrecife, then change to bus route 9 towards Órzola. Selected services stop in the Jameos del Agua area. Before travelling, check the exact bus stop, walking access to both attractions and the return bus timetable.
🧭 My suggestion: If you'd like to visit both attractions in one day, consider an organised excursion. Bus services are limited, and visits to Cueva de los Verdes take place at scheduled times.
🌵 Jardín de Cactus – The Cactus Garden
Jardín de Cactus in Guatiza is one of César Manrique's final projects. The artist transformed a former quarry into a garden containing hundreds of cactus species from around the world.
🚌 How to get there: Travel from Puerto del Carmen to Arrecife, then take bus route 9 towards Órzola. The route passes through Guatiza, near the garden.
🧭 My suggestion: This is one of northern Lanzarote's attractions worth considering for an independent bus excursion. However, check the location of the bus stop and the return timetable.
🌅 Mirador del Río – Views of La Graciosa
Mirador del Río is a viewpoint designed by César Manrique, perched high on the Famara cliffs. Its terraces offer panoramic views of La Graciosa and the El Río strait.
🚌 How to get there: Public transport does not provide a convenient direct connection to the viewpoint. You can reach villages in northern Lanzarote by bus, but you'll need to arrange transport for the final section separately.
🧭 My suggestion: Choose an organised excursion that includes Mirador del Río and other attractions in northern Lanzarote.
🍇 La Geria – Vineyards Among Volcanoes
La Geria is a wine-growing region where vines grow in hollows dug into volcanic ash. Each plant is protected by a distinctive low stone wall.
It's one of Lanzarote's most recognisable landscapes.
🚌 How to get there: There is no convenient bus connection that allows you to explore the different wineries freely. You can reach nearby villages by bus, but this won't replace a journey through the entire region.
🧭 My suggestion: Join an organised excursion that includes La Geria, ideally combined with a visit to Timanfaya.
🟢 El Golfo and Charco de los Clicos – The Green Lagoon
El Golfo is a small coastal village on Lanzarote's west coast, known for its fish restaurants and extraordinary scenery.
Just nearby is Charco de los Clicos, an intensely green lagoon located inside a partially submerged volcanic crater. The contrast between the green water, black sand and surrounding rocks is truly striking.
🚌 How to get there: Getting here by public transport is very difficult. A bus to Yaiza won't take you all the way to the lagoon.
🧭 My suggestion: Choose an excursion around southern Lanzarote that combines El Golfo with Timanfaya and La Geria.
🏛️ Fundación César Manrique – Art Among Lava
Fundación César Manrique is housed in the artist's former home in Tahíche. The building was constructed on a lava field, with some rooms created inside natural cavities formed by volcanic gases.
It's one of the most fascinating places to discover how César Manrique combined architecture with Lanzarote's natural environment.
🚌 How to get there: From Puerto del Carmen, you can travel to Arrecife and then take a bus passing through Tahíche. Before setting off, check the exact bus stop and walking route to the foundation.
🧭 My suggestion: If you'd rather avoid arranging bus connections and walking directions, look for an excursion dedicated to César Manrique's work.
💡 What's the Best Way to Plan Your Sightseeing?
If you're not hiring a car, you don't have to miss out on Lanzarote's biggest attractions. However, it's worth combining two ways of exploring the island.
Use public buses to visit towns, villages and attractions close to bus stops, and organised excursions to discover places that are harder to reach, particularly Timanfaya, El Golfo and Mirador del Río.
Before booking an excursion, check whether it includes pick-up from Puerto del Carmen, attraction entrance tickets, how much time you'll have at each stop and the language spoken by the guide.
🚶 Where Does the Trail Begin?
Start your walk near El Varadero, Puerto del Carmen's old fishing harbour, described in the previous section.
From the harbour, take the steps up to the coastal path above. At first, you'll walk through a built-up part of the resort, but gradually the hotels and restaurants give way to an open, volcanic coastline.
The path runs above the rocky ocean shore. Along the way, you'll see small coves, dark rocks and stretches of coastline that have retained a much more natural character than the beaches of Puerto del Carmen.
🌋 Barranco del Quíquere – A Volcanic Landscape
One of the distinctive features along the route is Barranco del Quíquere – a rocky ravine cutting through the coastline between Puerto del Carmen and Puerto Calero.
Here, the trail descends slightly before climbing again. It's sections like these that make this more than just a stroll along a flat promenade.
Look out for the layers of rock, rugged slopes and the contrast between the dark volcanic ground and the blue Atlantic Ocean. On a clear day, you may also spot Fuerteventura on the horizon.
The route is relatively short, but rocky in places, so don't attempt it in flip-flops.
⚓ Puerto Calero – Marina, Yachts and Waterfront Restaurants
After approximately 45–60 minutes of walking, you'll reach Puerto Calero, a small resort best known for its elegant marina.
It's a completely different place from Puerto del Carmen. Instead of long beaches and large hotel complexes, you'll find a marina filled with pleasure boats and sailing yachts.
Restaurants, cafés and shops line the waterfront. You can stroll past the yachts, stop for lunch or relax with a coffee while watching life in the harbour.
Boat trips and other ocean-based activities also depart from Puerto Calero.
⛴️ How Can You Get Back to Puerto del Carmen?
You have several options.
🥾 On foot: You can return along the same route, enjoying the volcanic coastline once again. The total distance is approximately 5–6 km, excluding the walk from your hotel.
⛴️ Waterbus: Líneas Romero operates passenger boats between Puerto Calero Marina and the old harbour in Puerto del Carmen. The crossing takes approximately 25 minutes and gives you a chance to see the coastline you've just walked along from the ocean.
According to the operator's published timetable, the last departure from Puerto Calero is at 15:45. Check the latest information before your trip: Waterbus Timetables and Tickets
🚌 By bus or taxi: You can also return by road. Check the latest bus connections before setting off, as not all services operate every day.
Bus Services: Official Bus Routes and Timetables
🏖️ Puerto del Carmen – What Can You See on Foot?
Puerto del Carmen is not only one of Lanzarote's most popular holiday resorts, but also a town with an interesting history. Before the hotels, restaurants and seafront promenades appeared, there was a small fishing village whose inhabitants had made their living from the Atlantic Ocean for generations.
Today, you can discover traces of that past alongside a completely different side of Puerto del Carmen – wide sandy beaches, volcanic coves, seafront promenades and quieter corners away from the busiest tourist areas.
🎣 La Tiñosa – Before the Tourists Arrived
Puerto del Carmen was originally known as La Tiñosa. It was a small fishing village where daily life revolved around the ocean. Fishermen sailed into the Atlantic in small boats, while their families prepared equipment and helped sell and preserve the catch.
The village developed around a natural mooring area near today's old harbour. Small bays and rocky stretches of coastline offered some protection from the Atlantic waves.
The town's present name refers to Nuestra Señora del Carmen – Our Lady of Mount Carmel, who is particularly revered by Spanish fishermen and sailors.
The great transformation began in the 1960s. In 1966, Hotel Los Fariones opened, becoming one of the first symbols of tourism development on Lanzarote. Over the following decades, the former fishing village grew into a large holiday resort.
⚓ El Varadero – Puerto del Carmen's Old Harbour
If you'd like to discover traces of old La Tiñosa, start your visit at El Varadero, the old fishing harbour.
This is where you can best imagine what Puerto del Carmen looked like before mass tourism developed. You can still see boats along the waterfront, while nearby narrow streets and older buildings offer reminders of the town's fishing heritage.
Close to the harbour, you'll also find Casa Roja, a distinctive historic 19th-century building associated with the former fish trade. Look out for its red façade, which stands out against the surrounding pale-coloured buildings.
🐠 Playa Chica – A Small Beach with an Underwater World
Playa Chica, also known as Pila de la Barrilla, is a small beach near the old harbour. It is surrounded by dark volcanic rocks, and its sheltered bay is suitable for swimming when weather and sea conditions allow.
It's one of Puerto del Carmen's best-known diving spots. Beneath the surface, you can discover rocky formations and a variety of marine life.
Even if you don't dive, it's worth stopping here during your walk – the scenery is noticeably different from the resort's wide sandy beaches.
🌊 Playa Grande – The Heart of Tourist Puerto del Carmen
Playa Grande is one of Puerto del Carmen's main beaches. Stretching for approximately 1.2 km, it attracts visitors with its light-coloured sand, gently sloping shoreline and convenient location.
Avenida de las Playas, the resort's main seafront road, runs alongside the beach. Here you'll find restaurants, cafés, shops and plenty of places to take a break during your walk.
This part of Puerto del Carmen shows just how dramatically the former fishing village has changed.
🌴 Playa de los Pocillos – A Wide Beach and Plaza de las Naciones
Playa de los Pocillos is a vast sandy beach further along Puerto del Carmen, towards the airport. Its broad stretch of sand and open surroundings make it look completely different from the small Playa Chica.
Nearby is Plaza de las Naciones, a square designed by the Canarian artist Ildefonso Aguilar. Events and gatherings take place here, and the square itself is an interesting feature of the seafront area.
✈️ Matagorda – A Quieter Part of Puerto del Carmen
Matagorda is an area of the resort closer to Lanzarote Airport. You'll find hotels, restaurants and Playa de Matagorda, a wide sandy beach connected to the other parts of Puerto del Carmen by a coastal walking route.
You can also watch aircraft approaching the nearby airport to land. It's an added attraction for aviation enthusiasts and photographers.
🚶 Avenida de las Playas – A Walk Along the Coast
Avenida de las Playas connects the main tourist areas of Puerto del Carmen. Comfortable walking routes follow the coastline, passing beaches, restaurants and shops.
You don't have to walk the entire route. You can choose a section near your hotel or plan a longer walk, discovering more beaches and different corners of the resort along the way.
🗺️ Where Are These Places Located?
On my own specially created map of Puerto del Carmen, you'll find the exact locations of all the places described, marked walking routes and useful landmarks to help you plan your own sightseeing.
👉 You can purchase the map with or without the guide: Lanzarote with Manrique – Guide and Map
Puerto del Carmen Without a Car – What to See and How to Get Around
Puerto del Carmen is one of Lanzarote's most popular resorts and a great base for anyone who wants to explore the island without hiring a car. Long seafront promenades, beautiful beaches, an old fishing harbour and good bus connections mean that even without your own transport, you don't have to limit yourself to your hotel and the nearest beach.
What is worth seeing in Puerto del Carmen, and where can you go without a car? I'll show you some interesting walking routes, including the scenic coastal trail to Puerto Calero, and explain which towns and attractions on Lanzarote you can reach by bus and when it's better to join an organised excursion.
You'll also find links to up-to-date bus timetables and detailed descriptions of places worth including in your holiday plans.
🎣 La Tiñosa – Before the Tourists Arrived
It's hard to believe when walking past today's hotels, restaurants and shops, but Puerto del Carmen was once a small fishing village called La Tiñosa. There were no wide promenades or luxury apartments. Instead, there were modest houses, boats pulled up onto the shore and families whose daily lives depended on the ocean.
Fishermen set out into the Atlantic in small boats, and the weather determined whether they would return with full nets. In the harbour, fishing equipment was repaired, catches were unloaded and preparations were made for another day's work.
Why was the village established here? The small bays and natural shelter along parts of the coastline provided fishermen with safer places to keep their boats. La Tiñosa developed around what is now the old harbour of El Varadero.
⛪ Where Does the Name Puerto del Carmen Come From?
The name refers to Nuestra Señora del Carmen – Our Lady of Mount Carmel, who is particularly revered as the patron saint of fishermen and sailors. They entrusted their safety at sea to her protection.
In the mid-20th century, the old name La Tiñosa gradually gave way to Puerto del Carmen. Before long, it wasn't just the name that changed, but the appearance of the village itself.
🏨 The Hotel That Started a Major Transformation
In 1966, Hotel Los Fariones opened, widely regarded as the first large tourist hotel in Puerto del Carmen. It symbolised a new era, when the former fishing village began its transformation into one of Lanzarote's most popular holiday resorts.
More hotels, restaurants, shops and apartments appeared along the coast. Tourism brought new employment opportunities for local people, but it also changed the character of the village almost completely.
⚓ Where Can You Find Traces of Old La Tiñosa?
The best place to start is El Varadero, Puerto del Carmen's old harbour. This is where you'll find the most visible reminders of its fishing past.
You'll see boats, narrow streets and buildings that look quite different from those along the tourist promenade of Avenida de las Playas.
👀 Look out for: Try to find the point where the old fishing village meets the modern holiday resort. A short walk is all it takes to see just how much Puerto del Carmen has changed over the past few decades.
📘 Discover Lanzarote with César Manrique
Planning a holiday in Puerto del Carmen and want to explore more than just the beaches and your hotel surroundings? Discover the old fishing village, take a scenic walk along the volcanic coastline, or explore the extraordinary places scattered across Lanzarote.
I've created Lanzarote with César Manrique, a travel guide filled with fascinating stories, interesting facts and practical information about the island's attractions. It will help you decide which places are worth visiting during your stay in Puerto del Carmen.
🧭 Plan your own adventures: discover interesting places, walking routes and attractions across Lanzarote. Find GPS coordinates, ticket prices, opening hours, accessibility information for visitors with disabilities, and other useful tips to help you explore the island independently.
📱 PDF travel guide: keep it with you on your phone or tablet, whether you're strolling through Puerto del Carmen or heading out to discover more of the island.
👉 Explore the guide: Lanzarote with César Manrique