Puerto del Carmen Holidays: Beaches, Weather & Getting There
Provincia de Las Palmas · Canary Islands · Spain · 30,000 residents · on the coast
Puerto del Carmen is a coastal town of around 30,000 people on Lanzarote, in the Canary Islands province of Las Palmas, sitting just 44 metres above sea level. For British travellers its great advantage is proximity: Lanzarote airport, served by direct flights from the United Kingdom, is roughly 4 miles away, about a six-minute drive. Fariones Playa lies less than half a mile from the centre, Playa de los Pocillos a little further along, and Rancho Texas Park offers a family day out close by. The climate is the other draw, with daytime highs from 21°C in winter to 29°C in August and very little rain in most months.
Why go
- Lanzarote airport, with direct UK flights, is only about a six-minute drive from town.
- Fariones Playa sits under half a mile away, with Playa de los Pocillos close by.
- Winter highs of 21 to 22°C make January and December genuinely warm escapes from Britain.
Top sights in Puerto del Carmen
Beaches and a Family Park
The best-known attraction near town is Rancho Texas Park, a zoo about 1.4 miles from the centre and an easy choice for families with younger children.
For the sea, Fariones Playa is the closest beach, less than half a mile away, so you can walk down with towels and a cool box. Playa de los Pocillos, roughly 1.7 miles out, is the other named beach and, like Fariones, suits families.
There are around 81 tours and activities in the area, and you can book tours and tickets directly from the cards on this page.
Tours & tickets in Puerto del Carmen
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Puerto del Carmen can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Puerto del Carmen
Choosing Your Base in Town
This is a coastal resort, so the main decision is how close to the sand you want to be. Staying near Fariones Playa puts the beach a short stroll away, while the stretch towards Playa de los Pocillos, around 1.7 miles out, gives you a second beach on your doorstep. Families may want to weigh up proximity to Rancho Texas Park too.
With a population of around 30,000, the town is large enough to have plenty of choice without feeling like a city. The page shows live hotel prices so you can compare options for your dates.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Puerto del Carmen and the villages around it is a hire car from Lanzarote (ACE), about 6 min away.
Best time to visit Puerto del Carmen
Weather Through the Year
- 21°CJan3 mm
- 21°CFeb17 mm
- 23°CMar11 mm
- 25°CApr3 mm
- 24°CMay4 mm
- 25°CJun7 mm
- 27°CJul1 mm
- 29°CAug1 mm
- 27°CSept1 mm
- 28°COct7 mm
- 25°CNov12 mm
- 22°CDec9 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Puerto del Carmen is pleasant for almost the whole year: every month except February counts among the best months to visit. Winter highs sit around 21 to 22°C with lows of 15°C, which is why January and December appeal to anyone fleeing a British winter.
The hottest spell runs from July to October, peaking at 29°C in August, with October still reaching 28°C. Rain is scarce; February is the wettest month at about 17mm over four days, and March has the most rain days at five. From July to September you can expect just one rainy day a month.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 21°C | 15°C | 3 mm | 10 h |
| Feb | 21°C | 15°C | 17 mm | 10 h |
| Mar | 23°C | 15°C | 11 mm | 11 h |
| Apr | 25°C | 16°C | 3 mm | 12 h |
| May | 24°C | 17°C | 4 mm | 12 h |
| Jun | 25°C | 19°C | 7 mm | 13 h |
| Jul | 27°C | 20°C | 1 mm | 12 h |
| Aug | 29°C | 21°C | 1 mm | 12 h |
| Sept | 27°C | 19°C | 1 mm | 11 h |
| Oct | 28°C | 20°C | 7 mm | 10 h |
| Nov | 25°C | 18°C | 12 mm | 10 h |
| Dec | 22°C | 15°C | 9 mm | 9 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flights, Transfers and Ferries
Lanzarote airport (ACE) is the nearest airport and has direct flights from the United Kingdom. It lies about 4 miles from Puerto del Carmen, roughly a six-minute drive, so transfers are about as short as they come.
Once on the island, ferries connect onwards. Arrecife port, around 8 miles away, has sailings to Las Palmas and to Corralejo via Playa Blanca. Playa Blanca, about 11 miles away, runs a 30-minute crossing to Corralejo on Fuerteventura.
By air
- Lanzarote (ACE)4 miles, about 6 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Nearest ferry ports: Arrecife (8 miles), Playa Blanca (11 miles), Corralejo (18 miles).
Puerto del Carmen is good for
Around Puerto del Carmen
Easy Outings Across Lanzarote
Tías is the closest neighbour at about 3 miles, with San Bartolomé roughly 6 miles away and the island capital, Arrecife, about 7.5 miles off.
Further afield, Tinajo and Nazaret are both around 10 miles away, while the small village of El Golfo, with about 500 residents, is roughly 11 miles away. Teguise and the resort of Costa Teguise are each about 11 miles from town. With car hire, all of these make comfortable half-day trips.
Tips from Robin
Practical Points Before You Go
Because the airport is only about six minutes away, you can make the most of short breaks and late arrivals without losing a day to transfers.
The ferry from Playa Blanca to Corralejo takes just 30 minutes, so a day on Fuerteventura is perfectly realistic. And as the climate stays mild in winter, with lows around 15°C, a light layer for evenings is worth packing between December and March.
Questions people ask
How far is Puerto del Carmen from Lanzarote airport?
Lanzarote airport (ACE) is about 4 miles from Puerto del Carmen, which works out at roughly a six-minute drive. It is one of the shortest airport transfers you will find, and the airport has direct flights from the United Kingdom.
Is Puerto del Carmen warm in winter?
Yes. Daytime highs in January and December reach around 21 to 22°C, with lows of about 15°C. January sees roughly one rainy day, making it one of the best months for winter sun, while February is the wettest month of the year.
What is the hottest month in Puerto del Carmen?
August is the hottest month, with highs of around 29°C and lows near 21°C. October is almost as warm at 28°C. July, August and September each see only about one day of rain on average.
Is Puerto del Carmen good for families?
It suits families well. Fariones Playa is less than half a mile from the centre and Playa de los Pocillos is about 1.7 miles away, both family-friendly beaches. Rancho Texas Park, a zoo roughly 1.4 miles away, makes a good day out with children.
Can I take a day trip to Fuerteventura from Puerto del Carmen?
Yes. Playa Blanca, about 11 miles away, has a 30-minute ferry to Corralejo on Fuerteventura. Arrecife port, around 8 miles away, also has sailings to Corralejo via Playa Blanca, as well as to Las Palmas on Gran Canaria.