Something for Everyone
coming to the Canaries
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Something for Everyone
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Car Hire
Around the resorts and airport you have a huge choice of car hire companies. One of the best of all places to look for availability and prices though is our own agency, Islas Canarias Tours. We are an agent for Record Rentacar in Lanzarote amongst others and prices are around 30%/40% less than those you're likely to get in the resort.
If you're looking for places to go, check out the sections on BEACHES - TOWNS and EXCURSIONS.
If you're hiring a car locally, make sure all insurance and taxes are included in the price. "Collision waiver damage" can be a killer if not taken out as you may have to pay up to 60,000 pesetas for any damage or scratches to the car.
Of course you'll need your driving licence if you want to hire a car, along with your passport. Most companies require the driver to be 21 years old or more with a clean license and at least one years driving experience. If you have a license that doesn't have a photo and the police stop you and you haven't got your passport with you too, you'll receive an on-the-spot fine of 50,000 ptas! The newer licenses with the photo are acceptable is ID by the police without having to have your passport aswell. All driving licences are valid here, European or not. Petrol is pretty cheap at around 70 cents per litre.
Driving is on the right hand side of the road, with speed limits and warning signs very well marked wherever you go. Buses and taxis always expect you to give way to them and it's a good idea to do this if you like driving safely! Parking anywhere around the island is easy to find and often free, other than Puerto del Carmen and Arrecife. You could be hunting for a while for a free space. Whilst the roads around the island are very well maintained and often quiet, those in these two resorts gets very busy.
The main road from Playa Blanca to Arrecife is the best and takes around 40 minutes if driving at the limi. The road from Yaiza to Teguise takes you through lava fields, the wine growing region but it's pretty narrow in places so slow going. From Teguise to Haria it's pretty windy so slow again.
Lanzarote is only 60km long by 21km wide so without stopping, can be covered in a day by car. There's lots of places to stop off though so a couple of days is recommended to see the major places of interest, a third to cover everything and everywhere.
I'd recommend a full day for the north, starting at Teguise then going through Haria to Cueva de los Verdes, Jameos del Agua, Mirador del Rio and maybe the tropical park and/or the cactus garden on the way back.
I'd recommend another full day for the south to include a good couple of hours, maybe three at Timanfaya national park and then driver through Yaiza to Los Hervideros and El Golfo. Afterwards, go to the Cesar Manrique foundation and finish the day shopping in Arrecife.
