Puerto del Carmen and Matagorda - Lanzarote - Resorts Guide

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Overview: Set beneath a range of steep hills on the south coast of Lanzarote, Puerto del Carmen is the island’s major resort. Its main feature is a spectacular two-mile (three km) golden beach, which is backed by a main road, The Strip, where shops, bars and restaurants of every variety can be found. The Old Town retains some of its old world charm but for the most part the resort is a sprawling holiday complex offering entertainment for all ages. Puerto del Carmen is the centre of the Lanzarote’s nightlife and, being centrally located, is within easy distance of all the islands key attractions. Matagorda is a small purpose-built resort just a few minutes drive along the coast from Puerto del Carmen, or a 30 minute walk.

Shopping: Puerto del Carmen is stuffed with shops of all kinds, from duty-free electrical stores and tourist stalls along The Strip to the excellent clothes shops and boutiques in the Old Town. Altough the supermarkets in Matagorda are fine, those looking for a wider variety of shops generally make the short journey to Los Pocillos or Puerto del Carmen. The Sunday Market in Teguise is worth a visit; as well as the usual tourist tat visitors will find a variety of locally produced goods from pottery to tablecloths. It is around €14 each way by taxi.