When we arrived at our seafront hideaway in the quiet fishing village of Punta Mujeres, we had the sublime sense that we'd landed plum on our feet. This was the real Lanzarote, a world away from the big resorts elsewhere on the island. And the feeling continued as we visited their other properties, both coastal and inland, dotted around the northerly tip of the island. These are fabulously characterful and varied rentals, and we loved our stay in the romantic one-bedroom Arrieta Hideaway, with its ancient wooden beams and candlelit bathtub.
Other choices include a whitewashed family-sized villa in Punta Mujeres, a short walk from the beach, with 3 bedrooms and a shared pool; and a stunningly quirky eco-cottage for two perched on a hill near Tabayeso. Further afield (and reviewed separately), the owners also run a handful of beach apartments further down the coast in Costa Teguise and Arrecife, as well as two enormous supervillas in Tabayesco.
This coast of Lanzarote is wonderfully tranquil, with small boats bobbing just off shore, and a handful of excellent cafés, bars and restaurants. It's only a short drive up to the astounding viewpoint of El Mirador del Río, or north to Orzola for boats to the sleepy satellite isle of La Graciosa. All have English-speaking managers on hand for advice and adventure.
Highs
- Wonderful locations, great facilities and soul-feeding views in a tranquil, unspoilt corner of Lanzarote
- Most houses have beaches and restaurants within walking distance
- The varying sizes, from one to three bedrooms, make them suitable for everyone: couples, groups of friends and families
- Great value, especially if you stay for a week or more
- The locally-based British managers offer great info and services, including meal deliveries, babysitting and farmers' grocery boxes
Lows
- Don't expect five-star luxury: the houses are all comfortable but some have quirks (e.g. Arrieta Hideaway has an external shower; plus a bathtub indoors)
- For the Tabayeso Eco-Hideaway, you'll want a 4x4 vehicle and the nearest beach is a drive away
- The hideaways do not have pools, and the villa shares one
Best time to go
Lanzarote has a warm climate year-round, reaching highs of around 25-30C in August, and around 17-25C in January. Rainfall is infrequent. According to locals, the best time to visit is between September and December, as the weather is most settled then. It’s a wonderful place to escape winter cold in northern Europe.
Our top tips
Don’t miss a visit to the incredible end-of-the-world viewpoint El Mirador del Río, a short drive away. From nearby Orzola, take a half-hour ferry ride across periwinkle-blue sea to La Graciosa, a car-free island with some fantastic fish restaurants. It's also well worth going wine-tasting in La Geria region, between here and the island's extraordinary volcanic park.
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 2 independent reviews from i-escape guests
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape