Unusual places to stay in Lanzarote

Head to the north east coastal village of Arrieta to stay in a traditional fisherman’s cottage, beautifully converted to accommodate up to four people, with a double bed and a sofa bed. This is the sort of place where you could almost cast your line straight out of the bedroom window and wait to get a bite. Nestled on the water’s edge but also in the heart of the fishing village, the slipway beside the cottage still houses traditional wooden boats for local people.

In this stunning restoration even the bath has a sea view, although you will probably spend most of your time in the sea water, or hanging out at the nearby tapas restaurant watching the world go by. And it isn’t a big world, this part of the island being very much a local hangout. The fisherman’s cottage has been designed to be as “eco” as possible, using local building materials, traditional techniques and solar panels to generate power. You also don’t need a car, being only a stone’s throw from the village shops, and a line’s throw from dinner.

There’s also a restored farm, or finca, by the sea in Arrieta, which you could almost drive past without noticing, until suddenly you do a double take and spot eight conical roofs poking through the swaying palm trees, mirroring the conical peaks of their volcanic backdrop. In the dry, hot climate that Lanzarote is famous for, sleeping under canvas has to be one of the best ways to holiday, especially for families. Lanzarote yurts range from standard to luxurious, from silks and sassiness to simple yet classy.

Family run by an English couple who have lived here for over 20 years and raised their own children here, these yurts echo with screeches of delight from children as they collapse on the shaded daybeds during the midday heat, or bounce on the trampoline surrounded by dramatic volcanic landscapes at sunset. Even better – it’s just a short walk to the beach which stretches out in front of them. With solar panels and wind power, and a totally sussed approach to sustainability by the founders on their beloved Lanzarote, these yurts are the sort of place that people book again and again, to get their finca fix.

The village of Tiagua, on the edge of Timanfaya National Park and, incidentally, where you can enjoy one of the best goat stews on the island, offers a relaxed rural retreat away from the coastal crowds. Here you can stay in self-contained apartments in a historic cottage with a communal pool, and get a taste of life in a small agricultural community. Lanzarote’s golden beaches are only a short drive away, however. The laidback atmosphere is enhanced by quiet roads, making stays in Tiagua popular among our more active travellers, whether they be runners, triathletes in training, or aficionados of a good country walk.