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DESTINATIONS, EUROPE, SPAIN · October 14, 2018

10 Unforgettable Things to Do on the Island of Lanzarote


I hadn’t heard of Lanzarote – wasn’t even sure how to pronounce it – but this unique little island left us begging for more. From its other-worldly, volcanic terrain to the most idyllic beaches, “unique” really is the best word to describe the place.

In the Canary Islands, Tenerife is the popular kid in school. Everyone knows of her, and she even had an Ed Sheeran song written about her. Lanzarote is lesser known, but the more time you spend, the more you’ll fall in love.

We stumbled on this trip through a combination of wanting to do something different, and finding really cheap flights. In the lead up, people warned that Lanzarote was becoming condensed with primarily English and German travelers, seeking a cheap and boozy weekend at all-inclusive resorts. Others warned that weather, while pleasant year-round, can become very windy.

Don’t let any of this deter you – we can attest that a trip to Lanzarote should firmly be on every traveler’s wish list. When you do wise up and plan a trip, we hope these 10 tips can help you out:

1. Rent a car

You’ll be exploring every corner of this island, so get one you’re excited to drive.

2. Explore the North

The South has the man-made resorts, and the more commercial options when it comes to shopping and eating. It also has some breathtaking beaches, but we’ll get to that.
The North is more authentic, less populated, and boasts some impressive beaches of its own. We recommend Playa de las Conchas, Famara, and Playa de la Garita (aka Arrieta)

3. Take a ferry to La Graciosa, and bike to Playa de las Conchas

About 600 people live on La Graciosa, and its max length is less than 5 miles .

There’s something euphoric about feeling so remote from everything.

From Lanzarote, you can catch a ferry every half hour from Orzola (starting at ~9AM, free parking). The ferry is only 20-30 minutes, and the whole time you can gaze and appreciate the massive, coastal mountains of North Lanzarote.

Once you get to La Graciosa, make sure you stock up on water. You’ll be renting bikes and peddling across the island to Playa de las Conchas, which is 3.5 miles away and has no shops or restaurants.

Las Conchas might seriously be the most beautiful beach I have ever seen, but she does make you work for it. The bumpy sand trail, combined with the shitty rental bikes, make for a pretty tiring ride. Once we got there, we realized the long trek meant that almost everyone on the beach was young and fit. Moreover, you’ll find that the women prefer to sunbathe topless.

We both concluded that perhaps every beach should include an exhaustive, sandy bike ride as a prerequisite.


4. Stay in a yurt

We don’t usually shout-out our accommodations, but this one took the cake. Book a stay with Kate and Claire via 1yurt.com, and thank us later.


5. Skip the tourist attractions

If we could do it over, we would have skipped the tourist attractions and kept on exploring. There are just too many beaches and landscapes on this island to waste time in queues and listening to a guide say the same thing thrice in different languages.

6. Explore the South

On the drive down, if you have time, we suggest stopping by the wine region of La Geria, or exploring volcanos in Timafanya National Park.
We stayed in Playa Blanca, which was a great base for exploring our top picks: Playas de Papagayo and El Golfo.

7. Spend at least a day exploring the Papagayo Beaches

Papagayo actually has several beaches to choose from, but there is one called Papagayo Beach, and that’s where we spent our entire day. We enjoyed every second, but we left with remorse that we left this for our last day on the island. If you have the time, do at least a full day of beach hopping at Papagayo – or better yet spread it across two days. After catching a tan, unwind with a beer and an ocean view at El Chiringuito.

8. Catch the sunset. Every night.

If you do one thing on your trip, go to Bogavante around 7pm to grab a table by the rocky beach. Indulge in locally-produced white wine and freshly-caught fish, all while the sun sets into the ocean. Right in front of you. El Golfo faces west, so it is alwasy an ideal spot for sundowners.

Wash the meal down with a Barraquito, a mix of espresso coffee and vanilla liqueur that is traditional to the Canary Islands.

9. Stargaze. Every night.

Coming from London, this was such a pleasant surprise for us. If you stay at 1yurt, you can start up a fire, play some tunes, and use their telescope to really tap into your inner astrologist.

10. Stay a while

When the plane was landing, I honestly thought the landscape was a little ugly. When we drove off in the rental car, I thought the buildings looked somewhat run down. I was worried the trip was going to be a disaster. But the longer we stayed, the more we came to love Lanzarote.

We took two days off from work for a long weekend in Lanzarote, but we both left wishing we had more time. Do yourself a favor, and spend as much time here as you can.


In: DESTINATIONS, EUROPE, SPAIN

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All aboard… The train from Kandy to Ella in Sri All aboard…

The train from Kandy to Ella in Sri Lanka! This 7 hour train journey transports you from the chaotic city streets of Kandy to the misty mountain tops of Ella. 

It is known as one of the most picturesque train journeys in the world. So does it live up to the hype? Is it worth the 7 hour ride? 

To me, yes, yes, 100% yes. Especially when tickets can be less than $5 USD…After reading tons of guides & then experiencing the train myself, a few tips for your trip:

🎟️ Buy reserved tickets in advance. This will help ensure you have a seat & don’t have to elbow your way for one. You can do so online or at the train station. Online tickets go on sale a month before and sell out quickly! If you buy from the train station, go a day or two in advance of your desired trip date.
⏰ Try to avoid weekends. This is a very very busy train for locals & tourists alike. Book the blue Express train, otherwise this journey will take even longer than 7 hours lol. 
🚂 Choose seats in 2nd or 3rd class, ideally next to a window. In these classes they have open windows & doors where you can get the full experience (& views) to peak out of. If you choose to hang your body, arm, leg, etc out of the train, you do so at your own risk! Don’t be dumb…
📸 Best views are on the right side of the train up to Nanu Oya. After that, best views are on the left side. Aka views are amazing on both sides! You can also move freely around the carriage, so don’t stress it. 

Last tip, enjoy!!! Take it all in. With your eyes, not just your phone & camera 😏. This is by far the best train ride I’ve experienced to date.
Kandy to Ella in Sri Lanka is rumored to be one of Kandy to Ella in Sri Lanka is rumored to be one of the most scenic train journeys in the world. 

The train ride is around 7 hours total - zipping past swirling green tea hills, tiny rural towns, rushing waterfalls & colorful stations. 

7 hours might sound like a lot, but I can honestly say, I never found myself bored. Quite the opposite! I was glued to the window (or open doorway 🫠) for fear of missing a single moment. 

As you might have noticed, this train has open windows & doorways that passengers can peak out of. Would you (safely!) give it a try?
If you’re a plant lover like me, you need to add If you’re a plant lover like me, you need to add the Square Peg Hotel in Kandy, Sri Lanka to your bucket list! 

Potted plants overflow from the hotel’s windows and walls, intertwining with trees along its edges, giving the hotel a captivating, post-apocalyptic charm. In the best way..

Square Peg offers a calm oasis overlooking the rowdy city of Kandy just below. The views & this property exceeded our expectations in every way! 🌿
Postcards from Kandy, Sri Lanka. A city equal part Postcards from Kandy, Sri Lanka. A city equal parts chaotic, vibrant & sacred. A city full of competing sounds - cawing crows, bleating tuk tuks, thrumming drums & whining brass horns. A city I had low expectations for, but left wishing I had more time. 

We stopped over in Kandy to take the famous Kandy to Ella train (more on this later!) & were glad to have some time to explore the city, albeit short. Here’s a mini 24 hour guide to Kandy:

DO // At the center of the city is Kandy Lake. Leisurely wander through town taking in the sights along the way. Next to the lake is the Kandyan Cultural Center where you can experience a traditional Kandyan dance performance. After the performance, head next door to visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, one of the most important Buddhist sites in the world. 

STAY // The Square Peg Hotel was an oasis overlooking the city. In addition to the incredible views, they also have a gorgeous rooftop where they serve traditional curries in the evening & Sri Lankan breakfast in the morning.
This time last year Dave surprised me with an over This time last year Dave surprised me with an overnight trip to Anza Borrego Desert State Park, and it’s still one of my favorite weekend trips we’ve done while living in San Diego. Here’s a mini guide and some inspo to make the trip! 

GETTING THERE // The park is a super easy and very scenic 2 hour drive from San Diego. Stop in Julian on your way for a slice of their famous apple pie and a trip seemingly back in time. 

STAY // @bungalowsofthedesert_ offer adorable vintage trailers with everything you need to be comfortable (think firewood, gas stove, & tea kettle) yet still get the benefits of camping (think dark starry nights & no neighbors for miles). 

SEE // Font’s Point at sunset is a can’t miss with views across the badlands that i imagine are akin to Mars. Check out my latest reel for a few tips on how to get there.

Awin

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All aboard… The train from Kandy to Ella in Sri All aboard…

The train from Kandy to Ella in Sri Lanka! This 7 hour train journey transports you from the chaotic city streets of Kandy to the misty mountain tops of Ella. 

It is known as one of the most picturesque train journeys in the world. So does it live up to the hype? Is it worth the 7 hour ride? 

To me, yes, yes, 100% yes. Especially when tickets can be less than $5 USD…After reading tons of guides & then experiencing the train myself, a few tips for your trip:

🎟️ Buy reserved tickets in advance. This will help ensure you have a seat & don’t have to elbow your way for one. You can do so online or at the train station. Online tickets go on sale a month before and sell out quickly! If you buy from the train station, go a day or two in advance of your desired trip date.
⏰ Try to avoid weekends. This is a very very busy train for locals & tourists alike. Book the blue Express train, otherwise this journey will take even longer than 7 hours lol. 
🚂 Choose seats in 2nd or 3rd class, ideally next to a window. In these classes they have open windows & doors where you can get the full experience (& views) to peak out of. If you choose to hang your body, arm, leg, etc out of the train, you do so at your own risk! Don’t be dumb…
📸 Best views are on the right side of the train up to Nanu Oya. After that, best views are on the left side. Aka views are amazing on both sides! You can also move freely around the carriage, so don’t stress it. 

Last tip, enjoy!!! Take it all in. With your eyes, not just your phone & camera 😏. This is by far the best train ride I’ve experienced to date.
Kandy to Ella in Sri Lanka is rumored to be one of Kandy to Ella in Sri Lanka is rumored to be one of the most scenic train journeys in the world. 

The train ride is around 7 hours total - zipping past swirling green tea hills, tiny rural towns, rushing waterfalls & colorful stations. 

7 hours might sound like a lot, but I can honestly say, I never found myself bored. Quite the opposite! I was glued to the window (or open doorway 🫠) for fear of missing a single moment. 

As you might have noticed, this train has open windows & doorways that passengers can peak out of. Would you (safely!) give it a try?
If you’re a plant lover like me, you need to add If you’re a plant lover like me, you need to add the Square Peg Hotel in Kandy, Sri Lanka to your bucket list! 

Potted plants overflow from the hotel’s windows and walls, intertwining with trees along its edges, giving the hotel a captivating, post-apocalyptic charm. In the best way..

Square Peg offers a calm oasis overlooking the rowdy city of Kandy just below. The views & this property exceeded our expectations in every way! 🌿
Postcards from Kandy, Sri Lanka. A city equal part Postcards from Kandy, Sri Lanka. A city equal parts chaotic, vibrant & sacred. A city full of competing sounds - cawing crows, bleating tuk tuks, thrumming drums & whining brass horns. A city I had low expectations for, but left wishing I had more time. 

We stopped over in Kandy to take the famous Kandy to Ella train (more on this later!) & were glad to have some time to explore the city, albeit short. Here’s a mini 24 hour guide to Kandy:

DO // At the center of the city is Kandy Lake. Leisurely wander through town taking in the sights along the way. Next to the lake is the Kandyan Cultural Center where you can experience a traditional Kandyan dance performance. After the performance, head next door to visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, one of the most important Buddhist sites in the world. 

STAY // The Square Peg Hotel was an oasis overlooking the city. In addition to the incredible views, they also have a gorgeous rooftop where they serve traditional curries in the evening & Sri Lankan breakfast in the morning.
This time last year Dave surprised me with an over This time last year Dave surprised me with an overnight trip to Anza Borrego Desert State Park, and it’s still one of my favorite weekend trips we’ve done while living in San Diego. Here’s a mini guide and some inspo to make the trip! 

GETTING THERE // The park is a super easy and very scenic 2 hour drive from San Diego. Stop in Julian on your way for a slice of their famous apple pie and a trip seemingly back in time. 

STAY // @bungalowsofthedesert_ offer adorable vintage trailers with everything you need to be comfortable (think firewood, gas stove, & tea kettle) yet still get the benefits of camping (think dark starry nights & no neighbors for miles). 

SEE // Font’s Point at sunset is a can’t miss with views across the badlands that i imagine are akin to Mars. Check out my latest reel for a few tips on how to get there.

Awin

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