Hola! Today I’m telling you about an island that holds a special place in my heart: Lanzarote. It’s where I took my very first solo trip. I went there as part of a job for Gallimard.
Here, I’d rather tell you something else: my favorite spots and what it’s like to discover this island solo.
My first favorite thing: Lanzarote’s vibe
I live in Tenerife, and I love the Canary Islands, but let’s be honest: Lanzarote is a different world. Here, there are no multi-story buildings, no big concrete blocks along the seafront. Everything is low, everything is white, the houses blend in with the volcanic landscapes, and you really get the feeling the island has been preserved. Even billboards along the roads and at bus stops aren’t allowed!
The people of Lanzarote also have a pretty funny line about Tenerife: for them, it’s both the best and the worst of the Canary Islands. I won’t say they’re wrong 😅 (I love Tenerife, but I get what they mean!). Arriving in Lanzarote, the contrast is striking, and honestly, it feels amazing.
And we owe a lot of that to one man: César Manrique.
César Manrique’s touch, everywhere
I already mentioned this in my itinerary: Manrique is everywhere on the island, and that’s exactly what I loved. This artist made sure the island’s development respected the landscapes: low, white buildings, artworks that blend into the lava rather than dominate it.
And the best part is that you can follow in his footsteps through his sites:
- the César Manrique Foundation, his house-studio built inside lava bubbles;
- the Jameos del Agua, a volcanic cave turned into an artistic space;
- the Mirador del Río, with a view over La Graciosa;
- the Cactus Garden, set in a former quarry;
- the Haría museum, his last home (I didn’t get the chance to visit it);
- Lagomar, a work by Manrique and Jesús Soto.
If I had to pick just one, it would be between the Foundation and Lagomar!
For this route, I chose a guided tour following in Manrique’s footsteps. When you’re traveling solo, it’s also a really simple way to meet a few people (and not worry about parking or directions).
Beach, culture, and hiking: the perfect balance
What I also loved about Lanzarote is being able to do it all. One day the beach, the next a museum, the one after a hike up a volcano: you never get bored, and you never feel like you have to choose.
- The beaches are gorgeous. Papagayo with its little coves of crystal-clear water, Famara wilder and more laid-back, Playa Quemada for dinner facing the sea…
- Culture, of course, with all of Manrique’s sites, but also villages like Teguise, which feels frozen in time.
- Hiking, with the Caldera Blanca loop (10 km around one of the island’s largest craters) and Timanfaya park for its lunar landscapes.
A certain sameness… that rests the mind
I’ll be honest: in Lanzarote, the landscapes look a bit alike. Black, ochre, red, some white here and there, and little vegetation. On paper, it could get repetitive. But in reality, it’s exactly what did me the most good. That simplicity has something soothing about it: no constant stimulation, you can breathe, settle down, clear your head.
For a first solo trip, it was perfect: an island where you can reconnect with yourself without feeling overwhelmed. I especially loved driving and the roads!
Do I recommend Lanzarote solo?
Yes, without hesitation. Lanzarote is a fantastic destination for a first solo trip: the island is small (you can cross it in 1h15 from north to south), easy to get around by car, calm, safe, and it offers enough activities that you’ll never get bored. The only requirement: you need to like volcanic landscapes and be comfortable with your own company.
