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Travelling in Lanzarote with kids

This culturally rich island is well known as a family destination, but our guide hopes to show you some of the best Lanzarote family activities as an alternative to the all-inclusive resorts. From guided hikes to volcanic summits to exploring James Bond-like underground homes, thrilling watersports and stays in yurts by the beach, we make travelling in Lanzarote with kids a breeze.

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Travelling in Lanzarote with kids

Is Lanzarote good for families? The answer, obviously, is yes, but if all you know of the island is the south coast resorts and the year-round sunshine, it may surprise you just how brilliant Lanzarote family holidays can be for your brood.

Lanzarote has long been a favourite with families. Great weather all year-round, beautiful sandy beaches, fascinating volcanic landscapes and superb surf. It also has some of the coolest family-friendly, eco friendly places to stay which are far from the all inclusive resort vibe that parts of Lanzarote are notorious for. From yurts to traditional farmhouses to a fishing cottage right on the water’s edge, at Responsible Travel we pride ourselves on reaching the parts that mass tourism cannot reach. Always travel responsibly. Strictly for under 18s. And for the real best family resorts in Lanzarote, head to the bottom of the page.

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Things to do in Lanzarote for families

Stay in a yurt

There’s something magical about a stay in a yurt in Lanzarote. As well as sleeping under canvas, the sound of the Atlantic soothing you to sleep, there is a wonderful family atmosphere, with a donkey, chickens, pool and a safe beach within walking distance. Choose between luxury yurts or slightly more basic yet totally beautiful sleeps.

Hike the volcanoes

The trip to the top of Timanfaya National Park is fantastic, but get there early in the day as the queues to get in go ballistic. Consider going on a hiking trip instead, with expert guides, who inspire your young ones to learn about geology and the workings of the planet in ways that are too cool for school.

Jameos del Agua

The masterpiece of local legend César Manrique, who did so much to prevent Lanzarote from being concreted over by identikit resorts, this volcanic cave in the north of the island has a natural lake inside, and is home to an albino crab which inspired many of the sculptures around. There’s a cafe, and an interesting volcano museum. The Jameos del Agua is like a villain’s lair from a James Bond movie, though César Manrique was undoubtedly a hero.

Cycling

Lanzarote is fantastic for cycling, with well-paved roads and not a great deal of traffic. Even in summer, if you’re away from the busy southern resorts, the roads tend to be quiet and safe. Our partners will often be able to help with arranging bike hire for all the family, as well as helmets, and providing suggested routes for half- or full-day trips.

Watersports

Kids will love the amazing range of watersports they can get up to on family holidays in Lanzarote while parents (and grandparents) can either watch from the shore, or dive in themselves. Lessons in surfing, kayaking, windsurfing and kitesurfing can all be arranged – in many cases our partners will be able to either organise them for you, or put you in touch with reliable companies. Younger kids can also throw themselves into bodyboarding in Lanzarote’s excellent waves.

Beach bliss

From the lovely little beach at Arrieta with its village vibe, to the wide, black strand at Famara where all the surfers go, there is a corncucopia of coastal delights in Lanzarote. The beach segues into fish filled reef on the island of La Graciosa, and the volcanic lagoons outside Orzola on the north coast make for gorgeously warm, shallow swimming. All enclosed by natural volcanic walls.

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Best places to stay in Lanzarote for families

Which part of Lanzarote is best for families?

Most families gravitate towards the resorts found on the south of the island – and it’s understandable why. But actually, the best place to stay in Lanzarote for families is around Arrieta, a small town in the northeast of the island. Here you’ve got a gorgeous, Blue Flag beach popular with local people, and a huge range of unique, eco-friendly accommodation, from yurts to villas and cottages, all of them off-grid (powered by wind and solar) and equipped with everything a family might need on holiday. Handy, if there’s something you forgot to pack! Arrieta is also fab for families with toddlers. Little ones can wander safely around a large, family-owned finca, perhaps feeding table scraps to the resident chickens, stroking the donkey, or running around the play area. There’s even a babysitting service if parents want a night out.

Lanzarote travel advice for families

Catherine Mack, travel guide author at Responsible Travel and a big fan of Lanzarote for her own family holidays, shares her top Lanzarote tips for families: “Take a boat trip out to La Graciosa, off the north coast. Or if you like a bit of speed, get the high speed RIB boat. This is a stunning island, with no roads, just sand covered streets. Bring a snorkel and head off to the beach just beside the tiny campsite, there are lots of fish there. There are lots in the fish shop at the harbour too, so bring some back home to put on the bbq. Don’t miss the very special island chapel, with stunning glass windows dedicated to fishermen.”

Michelle Braddock, co-founder of our partner Lanzarote Retreats: “Lanzarote is a wonderfully safe destination for families, with no health issues, no malaria and no vaccinations needed. Also there are no snakes, scary spiders or any dangerous animals.”