An Eco Retreat, the top attractions, a wine and craft beer tour, a catamaran tour and whole load of history
Finca de Arrieta - Eco Retreat
After landing in Lanzarote we picked up our rental car and drove the short distance to our accommodation in the North of Lanzarote, Arrieta. We stayed in the Finca de Arrieta - Eco Retreat which is the largest renewable energy grid on the island of Lanzarote. It is nearly 100% self-sustainable and features solar panels, wind turbines, and its own water desalination system.
We stayed in the Eco Cabin which had 2 bedrooms, a double shower, a fully equipped kitchen, bbq and outdoor seating area. The retreat has a swimming pool, trampoline, children’s play park, table tennis and surf and body boards to take to the beach.
The retreat also operates an honesty shop where guests can choose from dried goods, fresh goods and even homemade freezer meals to cook in their own private kitchens. Not only that, there is also a herb garden which guests can help themselves to and fresh eggs from the chicken coop.
The accommodation is perfect for couples, friends and families alike with plenty of entertainment for all ages. Don’t miss feeding the donkeys and chickens, they’re adorable!
The aim is to create a community and inspire positive change on the island of Lanzarote and in time, aim to be 100% plastic free. The perfect place to stay to escape from the busy beach areas but close enough to walk to the nearby town of Arrieta.
Day one
Once we’d arrived and checked in we headed out to explore the must-sees of Lanzarote. We started with Cueva de los Verdes and used a multi-center ticket to access the attractions. The prices start from €23.50 for 3 attractions. Get yours here.
Cueva de los Verdes
Cueva de los Verdes are caves created by lava flow erupting almost 3000 years ago. You will be guided through the caves by your tour guide who will provide the information in Spanish and English. The tour takes around 50 minutes in total and is very interesting and informative.
Wine Tours Lanzarote
Next we joined a craft beer and wine tour with Wine Tours Lanzarote. We started at Bodega El Grifo and learnt about how the vines are planted 3 metres below ground level. To plant the vines it is necessary to dig below the volcanic ash sitting on the surface to find the fresh soil.
We sampled 3 wines, 2 whites and a red and some local goats cheese. We then jumped on a mini bus to a nearby brewery and learnt about the brewing process before sampling a lager, American pale ale and a double IPA. Our guide Dan was a fellow geordie and full of interesting facts. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour with Wine Tours Lanzarote.
Day two
Day two started with a trip to Jameos del Agua, a natural cave and lagoon with tiny white crabs as inhabitants. There is a restaurant here which would be a gorgeous dinner venue and a lovely garden. Jameos del Agua can be included as one of the centers on your multi-ticket. We also tried to visit Mirador del Rio which is a beautiful viewpoint overlooking the coast. Unfortunately when we visited there was a lot of cloud cover which blocked the views however this is definitely worth a visit if you are blessed with good weather.
Catamaran Tour
We then jumped on board a catamaran tour with Catlanza SL. The tour was 4 hours long and included a yoga session, a free bar, delicious pasta and salad and the opportunity to slide into the sea and use the paddle boards and kayaks on board. The staff were extremely friendly and enthusiastic and we loved our tour. We even got to see dolphins on the way back and that was a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Day three
Our final day began with a trip to Jardin de Catcus which was one of our favourite attractions. The gardens are beautiful and it is interesting to see how many different types of cacti there are.
Next we visited El Golfo and El Lago Verde. There’s a free car park close by and it’s only a 5 minute walk from the car park to reach the green lake. You can then continue along the coast in the opposite direction if you fancy a longer hike.
Timanfaya National Park
We left and drove up to Timanfaya National Park which again, is included in your multi-center ticket. Timanfaya is where the volcano eruptions took place between 1730-1736 wiping out the island of Lanzarote. You cannot walk freely around the national park and instead need to jump on the tour bus which takes you around. There is an audio guide which will provide you with facts and information along the way.
The best part of Timanfaya was the El Diablo restaurant where meat is cooked over a volcano. The menu is extremely reasonably priced and you can enjoy a panoramic view of Timanfaya whilst you eat.
We headed back to the Eco Retreat and relaxed by the pool before leaving to have dinner in the old colonial town of Teguise. We ate and drank at a lively bar called El Patio Creperie where we enjoyed sangria, local beers and delicious tapas.
Lanzarote is a beautiful island and a much loved destination for tourists around the world. My recommendation would be to avoid the busy and bustling resorts such as Playa Blanca and escape to the Eco Retreat Arreita. It will be helpful to hire a car when visiting Lanzarote but there are also public transport options available.
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