Caserio de Mozaga

Rooms

No designer interiors here; rather, a glimpse into how well-off islanders lived a century ago. This was a family home before Maria Luisa turned it into a small hotel, and much of the furniture is original to the house. Beds are either cast-iron or wooden, set against whitewashed walls, beamed ceilings and wooden floors. Oil paintings adorn the walls, and small tables hold pot plants. Open the shutters and flood the rooms with light; close them up and keep the heat at bay.

Rooms that open onto the courtyard have rocking chairs and sofas beyond the bedroom door. Those at the back of the house open onto a small garden, where a hammock hangs from a shady tree, loungers wait on the black sand and desert plants flourish (cacti, palms, a dragon tree). Some of the brightest rooms are housed in what was the farm’s old stone warehouse, with outside steps leading up to those on the first floor. Inside, you get a similar rustic style: old beds, rugs on wooden floors, a marble dressing table, ancient beams, and a sofa if there’s room.

The 3 suites have their own sitting rooms. One has an old wall hanging and a huge window that frames views of distant mountains. Its bathroom is contemporary with big mirrors, fluffy towels, cymbal-sized shower heads and modern mosaic-tiled walls. Other rooms have more traditional bathrooms, one done out in 1960s style.

All rooms have flat-screen satellite TVs. You also get hairdryers and (in all but one room) free WiFi; beach towels are available on request.

Features include:

• Central heating
• Cots available
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• TV
• WiFi

Eating

Don't miss the restaurant; it’s one of the best places to eat in the area and has reasonable prices. It’s open for dinner every evening except Tuesday, although lunch is rarely available. You eat in a converted barn, where the style is comfortably elegant: starched tablecloths, individual table lamps, exposed stone, whitewashed walls. A couple of private dining areas (former camel stables) are located through arched doorways, and there’s a small gallery for pre-dinner drinks. Best of all is the 3m-high wall of glass that looks out across lava fields to distant mountains; four-fifths of the view is sky.

As for the food, flavours are kept simple and succulent, without complication. Starters might include cold melon soup with a julienne of Guijelo ham, chicken liver parfait served with homemade apple and mint chutney, and fried green peppers. For the main course, there are meaty delights such as entrecote steak with red peppers and fried new potatoes, baby lamb chops, and confit of duck in a membrillo sauce. There’s also a choice of fish and seafood - perhaps Teriyaki tuna or grilled fish of the day. Puddings are similarly tasty - a walnut parfait from an 1890 family recipe, a light chocolate mousse with Bailey’s sauce, and warm apple tartlets served with vanilla ice cream. There’s an assortment of smaller portions if you want to try them all.

Breakfast is a simpler, low-key spread, taken in the main house's old dining room. Hanging ferns cascade from the ceiling, copper basins hang from hooks, and a huge tapestry covers one wall. Expect freshly-squeezed OJ, bowls of fruit, croissants, toast, cold meats and cheeses, plates of tomatoes, and coffee and tea.

Features include:

• Honesty bar
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Head to the beach. If you want white sand, drop south to Playa Blanca, then head east a couple of miles to Papagayo. There are several beaches to choose from and they're the best on the island. There's a restaurant, too, but most people take a picnic
  
• Want to surf? Head north to Playa de Famara, about 15km north of San Bartolomé. Apart from the beach, you’ll find a few bars and restaurants in the village and the odd surfer dude hanging around
  
• Don’t miss a tour of the volcanoes in Timanfaya National Park - a wilderness of haunting beauty where you can peer into craters and see solidified lava flows. Extraordinary views stretch for miles, bordered on one side by the sea
  
• Hop on a camel; tours are popular in Lanzarote, and you can take one through part of Timanfaya if you want
  
• Follow the César Manrique trail. The architect and artist sculpted many of Lanzarote’s great monuments, including the Mirador del Río lookout point 450m up a cliff, with jaw-dropping views. Other Manrique jewels include the caves at Los Jameos del Agua, his private house at Tahiche (built over 5 volcanic bubbles), and his cactus garden at Guatiza
  
• Sample the local grape. Maria Luisa's family owns El Grifo, one of Lanzarote’s most famous bodegas (wineries) and wine tastings can be arranged for groups of guests
  
• Visit some of Lanzarote's pretty villages. Head to Orzola on the north coast and watch the fishermen land their haul, then pop down to Arrieta and try the great fish restaurants. Also worth a stop is 15th-century Teguise, erstwhile capital of Lanzarote, where there's a good restaurant called La Cantina

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Camel rides
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Shopping / markets
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Traditional cultures
• Wine tasting

Kids

Children are welcome in the suites, although without a pool there's little for them to do. Cots are available free of charge, and extra beds can be provided for a supplement.

Family friendly accommodation:

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The hotel is in the tiny village of Mozaga, 10km northwest of Arrecife, in the very middle of the island. It's 8km from Teguise and a 10-minute drive from the airport.

By Air:
Arrecife (10km away) is Lanzarote's only airport. It's served by a range of flights from the UK and elsewhere - click on the links below for a list of airlines.

From the Airport
You can get a taxi to the hotel but we'd recommend hiring a car so that you can explore the island at your leisure. Public transport links aren't very good.

By Car:
For car hire please see our car rental recommendations.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Lanzarote and getting around