The first aspect that hits you about Puerto del Carmen compared to other towns on Lanzarote is the scale, especially the length of the beaches (Playas), and the main road that connects them, the Avenida de las Playas. Also known as ‘the strip’, this is 6 kilometres in length, connecting the Old Town to the South, with Matagorda (nearest the airport and capital Arrecife) to the North. It is so long, in fact, that four complete laps of it constitutes the route of the marathon stage of the annual Lanzarote Ironman Triathlon.

The Lanzarote Ironman Triathlon basically takes over the whole of Puerto del Carmen for an entire weekend in late May each year. The Avenida de las Playas not only plays host to the swimming and road races, but also some 5,000 racing bikes that the runners have to leave behind whilst they run the marathon – and this follows after cycling a complete lap of the island for 5 hours in the hottest part of the day. No wonder they call them Ironmen and Ironwomen! Incidentially, and in case you think that you’re too old for such a feat, the two eldest competitors in 2009 were both 71 years old!

Puerto del Carmen beaches are very safe for bathing, and well patrolled by lifeguards, and this is one of the reasons why it is such a popular family holiday destination. Because of the size and length of the beaches, they rarely get over crowded. Parasols and loungers can be hired by the day, and there is a wide choice of bars and restaurants on the main Avenida immediately behind the beach. Jet ski and other boat hire is readily available directly on the beach as well, so there is plenty to keep all ages entertained.

Nightlife is also big in Puerto del Carmen, and centres on the Avenida de las Playas. There is a great choice of restaurants with cuisines of all types represented, and to suit all budgets. The bars and clubs are hugely popular with the younger holidaymakers, and they often stay open until 6 in the morning – so if this is a problem for you, it may be best to avoid accommodation that is close to the Avenida de las Playas.

Of course many people will not want to spend their entire holidays on the beach or at the poolside. If this applies to you, you may want to explore some of the nearby attractions. If your thing is golf, there is now a long and interesting course at nearby Tias. A handicap certificate is not required here, and especially if you plan to play on a weekday, you probably won’t find the course over busy. You will, however, enjoy fantastic views of the Atlantic from most parts of the course. Buggies and clubs can be hired here, so it is not essential to take your own.

More sedate views can be enjoyed at Puerto Calero, just 5 kilometres to the South of Puerto del Carmen, and easily and cheaply reached by taxi. Puerto Calero is an upmarket marina, with many 30 to 40 foot boats on display, and a good range of designer boutiques and shops, as well as a good range of restaurants. There is also the Museo de Cetaceos (whale and dolphin museum) which is a very popular family attraction. In fact, one of the big benefits of staying in Puerto del Carmen is the ease of getting anywhere on the island – it is really never more than 30 minutes by road from any of the island’s other attractions.

In terms of holiday accommodation in Puerto del Carmen, there is a wide choice. Because the town slopes down to the sea, this has encouraged the development of holiday apartments in Puerto del Carmen itself, but there are also many high specification villas in Puerto del Carmen and the surrounding areas just outside the town. For those preferring a more formal environment (or as much formal as you get in Lanzarote!), there are also many good hotels in Puerto del Carmen, again to suit all budgets.

In summary, Puerto del Carmen is a big resort, with big aspirations to match. It fully intends to retain its position as Lanzarote’s number one resort, even with stiff competition from newer resorts such as Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise.

John Spire writes for All Things Lanzarote, an information web site about Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. The site contains extensive details about villas in Puerto del Carmen, apartments in Puerto del Carmen, plus things to do, and places to go in and around the town.

Puerto del Carmen has lots of bars, restaurants, villas, apartments and hotels for visitors to choose from. There is also a very active club and nightlife scene in Puerto del Carmen, centred on “the strip” (as it is colloquially known), proper name the Avenida de las Playas. This starts from Matagorda at one end, and extends some 6 kilometres to the area known as Fariones at the other end. Most of the nightlife is at the Fariones end, but there is a good choice of restaurants and bars everywhere you go in Puerto del Carmen.

There are a number of newer attractions around Puerto del Carmen as well, including a new marina at Puerto Calero – fast becoming a haven for well-heeled yachting enthusiasts, and where it is great just to ogle at the fabulous boats whilst enjoying a drink. There is also a very scenic and quite testing new golf course between Puerto del Carmen and Tias, a wild west theme park, and a water park at nearby Costa Teguise.

For the best choice of holiday accommodation, it is probably best to review the many holiday villas that are available in Puerto del Carmen. There is also a wide choice of holiday apartments that will generally be cheaper than the villa options. Many of the villas in Puerto del Carmen come complete with luxury features such as private pools and hot tubs, as well as great sea and/or mountain views.

Apartments in Puerto del Carmen tend to be very close to the centre of the action, however, the villas in Puerto del Carmen may be set back a bit further from the seafront, are generally quieter, and more relaxed for a family holiday.

You can view a wide range of holiday accommodation in Puerto del Carmen at the All Things Lanzarote website.

The All Things Lanzarote website has lots of information about holiday villas and apartments in Puerto del Carmen, as well as mofrre general information about the resort.