Costa Teguise Travel Guide

The smallest and most recently developed of the island's three main holiday resorts, Costa Teguise is situated on the southeast corner of Lanzarote and is a haven for families and sun-seekers. Although it is a purpose built resort, Costa Teguise manages to have a nice community feel to it, as there are lots of little squares around which the bars and restaurants are located. The resort is more low-key than some but still offers plenty to do through a wide variety of shops and restaurants catering to all tastes, and of course lovely beaches for holidaymakers to relax on. Playa de las Cucharas is probably the best of the three beaches, and has uninterrupted views and crystal clear blue waters. Playa Bastian is another idyllic spot to enjoy the sub-tropical sunshine.

Shopping

Costa Teguise has a variety of shops around the resort and in the La Cucharas Shopping Complex, selling all the usual tourist tat for holiday makers, as well as offering a few electrical duty-free stores. The busy Sunday market at Teguise is well worth a visit, and carries a variety of locally produced goods from pottery to tablecloths along with the inevitable 'I've been to Lanzarote' t-shirts. Although visitors should be able to find souvenirs and anything they may need on holiday, Costa Teguise is not suited to big shopping sprees.

Restaurants

There's a good range of restaurants in Costa Teguise catering for all tastes and pockets. Besides a number of local establishments, there are plenty of Italian, Indian, Thai, Chinese and seafood restaurants. For British visitors longing for home, there are several fish and chip shops that offer traditional cod and freshly made chips, and other places that serve up English breakfasts and screen Premier League football on big screen TVs.

Nightlife

The nightlife in Costa Teguise is hardly legendary, and visitors generally take a taxi to Puerto del Carmen, a larger holiday resort ten miles (16km) to the west, if they're in the mood to party. There are some nice bars around the marketplace to start the evening off.

Holiday activities

There's plenty of entertainment for holidaymakers in and around Costa Teguise. Water sports, including sailing, windsurfing, jet skiing, snorkelling and scuba diving, can be arranged from the beaches, while just outside the resort there is an 18-hole golf course and a water park for the kids. Further afield visitors can explore the Timanfaya National Park and the ancient capital, Arrecife. Boat trips and submarine tours go from Puerto Calero, 10 miles (16km) west of Costa Teguise, and camel and horse rides can be organised. Most activities can be arranged through the tour operator reps, though it's sometimes cheaper to book directly.

Any negatives?

It's possible to get good bargains in the electrical duty-free stores when on holiday in Costa Teguise, but visitors should remember that they can't take purchases back to the shop once they have left the island. They should check everything works and that all batteries, cables and plugs are included; that they receive a European guarantee, not an Asian one; and that all electrical items have a CE stamp. While water is safe for cleaning teeth and washing food, it's very high in mineral content and can cause bad stomach problems. Bottled water should be used for drinking.