Cheap Car Hire in Lanzarote

About Lanzarote

Lanzarote is the easternmost island of the Canary Islands archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. The capital of the island is Arrecife, founded by Alonso Fernandez de Lugo in 1404.

Lanzarote is a young volcanic island, formed from eruptions that occurred over millions of years. The island is about 144 square kilometres and has a population of about 170,000 people.

The capital, Arrecife, is located on the south coast, where there are almost continuous hotels along the seafront to the Punto del Papagayo. It is a popular starting point for day trips to other parts of the island. The northern and western parts of Lanzarote offer barren, rocky landscapes that contrast stunningly with the south and east, where lush vegetation, hills and mountains rise above the volcanic remains.

A popular tourist attraction is Timanfaya National Park, which is set in an otherworldly moonscape around a living volcano. The area was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009. The unique landscape around Timanfaya makes it an ideal filming location for movies like "Lawrence of Arabia" or "Poseidon Adventure".

Basic info and car hire in Lanzarote

• Location: Canary Islands
• Population: 150,998 (2019)
• Official language: Spanish
• Currency: Euro (€)
• Weather:  The weather in Lanzarote is very convenient. The coldest month, January is an average of 17°C and the warmest is August with 25°C. The best time to visit is in the spring/autumn when the temperature is mild around 20°C. 
• Holidays in Lanzarote: For all public holidays in Lanzarote, you can read more here. 
• Internet coverage: Most hotels, bars, restaurants and cafés offer Wi-Fi.
• Road conditions:  Road conditions in Lanzarote are generally very good. Most of the roads are one-lane roads. If you go on unpaved roads, you might find them to be bumpy, but nothing extreme. 
• Car hire in Lanzarote: The most common pick-up point for vehicles in Lanzarote is at the airport. There are many different car rental companies available and they all offer competitive prices, so it's best to book a car three or eight weeks ahead of time - this will ensure you get an affordable rate! Alternatively, if your travel plans change last minute there are plenty around who can help out as well; just look no further than us here at Orbit Car Hire

 Driving in Lanzarote

Driving in Lanzarote is simple and stress-free. The road conditions are known to be in very good conditions, weather is mostly sunny. Most of the roads will have only one lane for each way. You drive on the right side of the road, so in roundabouts, you go anti-clockwise and overtake on the left. Driving in Arrecife can be quite confusing, so we recommend just parking the car and walking instead, this is due to narrow streets and many one-way roads. Driving around the Island is on the other hand very good and recommended as the Island has so many things to see and do! 

The maximum alcohol level in the blood can be 0.05% (BAC) which is lower than in the UK. The speed limit is 100km/h on motorways and 40km/h in residential areas. Signs for speed limits are well visible and easy to understand, which helps a lot when driving in Lanzarote for the first time. Other general signs are also quite easy to understand, although they are in Spanish. 

• Age limits: The minimum age to hire a car in Lanzarote is 21 years of age. The driver must also have held the license for a minimum of 1 year. 
• International Driving Permit:  If you have a driving license outside the EU and UK, you will need International Driving Permit. 
• Additional papers: Identification(passport), a valid driving licence, and valid proof of insurance. (It is advisable to buy insurance with Orbit Car Hire in case your policy doesn't cover you while driving in Lanzarote)
• Additional requirements: Warning triangle. First aid kit (not compulsory, but we strongly recommend you have it with you, just in case).
• Children in the car: All occupants must wear seat belts. Children under 18KG in weight must be in child seats and those who are 135CM tall or shorter should stay behind the driver on a booster cushion for safety's sake!
• Driving side of the road: Right Side. 
• Lights: You may think that the rainy days in Lanzarote are few and far between, but when it rains even for just an hour or two you should turn your headlights on.
• General speed limits: 100km/h on motorways and 40km/h in residential areas. 
• Parking suggestions: Parking is free and most often you will find enough of them at the tourist attractions. Parking in the towns has to be paid for. You should always find parking spots in the towns without too much trouble. 

What to see in Lanzarote

Lanzarote is one of the main tourist destinations on the Canary Islands, known for its white beaches and warm waters. Besides all these fabulous landscapes, Lanzarote also has a lot to offer its visitors culturally, historically and gastronomically.

The island is also famous for its great variety of volcanic stones, which appear in many shapes and colours due to the evolution processes of the lava flows. So if you want to take home beautiful souvenirs, this might be the best option for you!

Besides nature, tourists can visit interesting places like Timanfaya National Park where they can see amazing landscapes formed by bubbling sulphur mud pools and fumaroles (holes through which volcanic gases escape). The park's visitor centre offers a fascinating insight into the evolution of the island's landscape. Another very popular attraction in Lanzarote is MUSA Museo de las Salinas de Janubio, an artistic venue where this unique natural monument is presented using audio-visual techniques, along with more than 15000 amazing sculptures made from local salt by artist César Manrique; all of these masterpieces are inspired by pre-Hispanic myths and legends. There is also a small marine museum dedicated to the work of César Manrique, the initiator of the marine reserve of La Graciosa.

Also absolutely worth visiting in Lanzarote are several archaeological sites in places like Tahiche, Guatisea and El Golfo.

Las Coloradas: This beautiful bay of white sand is situated at the extreme southern tip of Lanzarote and can be reached by boat from San Bartolomé. It has a bit of everything to offer. Las Coloradas is close to many interesting places on the island, including traditional fishing villages and other beaches, making it an ideal place for a relaxing holiday or an eventful getaway.