Transport in Lanzarote: A Guide for Tourists

Lanzarote, one of The Canary Islands is one of the more holiday destinations for UK, Irish and European visitors alike. Situated in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 125km off the coast of Africa, it is the fourth largest and most easterly of the Canary Islands. If you are travelling to Lanzarote soon, get some information on your transportation options with our handy guide.

Bus Transportation Lanzarote: Lanzarote’s bus service is ideal if car hire is not an option for you. Many of the resorts and principal towns are linked by a bus route. Arrecife Bus, the bus company have frequent services between the airport and Arrecife, the capital town of Lanzarote. Good services are also available between Arrecife and Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise. Visitors can also get connections between Puerto del Carmen and Teguise and Playa Blanca in the south. Local buses, or guaguas are relatively inexpensive but you may wish to purchase a bus pass, which provides substantial discounts when taking multiple journeys. These can be purchased at the Estacíon de Guaguas in Arrecife.

Taxis: Apart from providing easy and releatively cost effective means of transport to and from the airport, visitors can also hire taxis for excursions around the island. Transfers from the airport to all major locations are available including Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca, Costa Teguise, Puerto Calero. Transfers to and from the different municipalities and marinas are also available. The working day rate for taxis is approximately 0.55€ per kilometre between 06.00 and 22.00. The night time rate is approximately 0.65€ per kilometre between 22.00 and 06.00. Tipping a taxi driver is standard practice and make sure to carry small notes and coins. Sometimes a driver will claim to carry no change which could end in you paying a huge tip. Air: All seven of the Canary Islands have their own airports including Lanzarote which is located about 5km south of Arrecife. Connections to the other islands if you wish to visit, are quite frequent. Most island connections are serviced by Bintercanarias and Islas Airways.

Ferry: If you are thinking of taking a day trip to neighbouring island, Fuerteventura, then there are a few options open to you. Apart from access by air, there are a few ferry companies operating from Playa Blanca and Puerto Del Carmen. Fred Olson Express and Naviera Armas both operate a service from Playa Blanca in the south of the island and the difference between the two companies is price and the time it takes to get there. The Aramas is cheaper but takes about 40 minutes, whereas the Fred Olson takes 20 minutes. Both ferries will take you to Corralejo in Fuerteventura. The Princesa Eco offers a service between Puerto del Carmen and Corralejo with 4 daily crossings except on Thursdays and Sundays.

Car Hire: This can be the most cost effective method of transportation on Lanzarote. It gives you the independence to come and go as you please, getting you to attractions and villages which are not serviced by public transport. Car hire in Spain is relatively cheap and Lanzarote is no exception. There are several pick up locations around the island, most notably at the airport. Make sure you know what’s included in the holiday car hire and outline what extras need to be paid, like child seats. Officially you need an international drivers licence to drive in the Canaries, but in reality a normal drivers licence, a formal piece of identification (passport) and a valid credit card will usually do. Be sure to carry all rental documentation and more importantly your drivers licence and passport as police can demand o see these at any time. Fuel prices are still cheaper than in mainland Europe. Ordinary unleaded petrol is about 0.97 cents per litre, diesel 0.87 per litre as of February 2011.

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