LanzaroteCruise Port Guide
Lava fields, a green lagoon and César Manrique's caves are what you're here for. Find out which of Arrecife's two piers you're at, then pick a plan that's back well before all-aboard.
Welcome to Lanzarote
Pro Picks
Volcano tour · 4.5 hrsTimanfaya volcanoes and El Golfo, from the port
A morning coach tour built around cruise calls: the Fire Mountains of Timanfaya National Park with its geothermal demonstrations, the green lagoon at El Golfo, then the black-ash vineyards of La Geria. It leaves from the port itself, and October 2026 reviewers say the pickup is just outside the terminal gate.
From $68.55/ person
Book Now →
Buggy tour · 2–3 hrsOff-road volcano buggy tour
Drive your own buggy along dirt tracks through old quarries and cactus country to Peñas del Chache, the island's highest point, with a guide leading. It starts in Costa Teguise, next door to Arrecife; drivers need their original licence, held for two years, and must be 20 or over.
See live price
Book Now →
Boat day · 6 hrsLa Graciosa catamaran day with a swim stop
An express ferry across to the little island of La Graciosa, free time in its harbour village, Caleta del Sebo, then a catamaran to Playa Francesa to swim, snorkel and kayak, with paella and drinks on board. It runs six hours from the north tip at Órzola, so it suits a long call.
From $74/ person
Book Now →Your time ashore
Count from leaving the ship to being back aboard.
Lanzarote in 3 hours
Off-road buggy tour
Off-road volcano buggy tour
A guided buggy ride through quarries and cactus fields to the island's highest point and back to Costa Teguise, next door to Arrecife. Priced per buggy for two, and drivers need their original licence.
Time required2 - 3 hours
Submarine dive
Real submarine dive at Puerto Calero
Sink to about 30 metres past three wrecks and shoals of fish in a submarine kept at normal air pressure, with an audio guide. It leaves from Puerto Calero marina on the south coast; check in 30 minutes before your dive.
From$72.88
Time required1 hour
Lanzarote in 5 hours
Volcano and wine country tour
Timanfaya, El Golfo and La Geria coach tour
Timanfaya's Volcano Route and geothermal demonstrations, the green lagoon at El Golfo and a stop in La Geria's wine country, with the park ticket included. It isn't cruise-specific, so check the pickup point before you book.
From$70.81
Time required5.5 hours
Vineyard hike with wine tasting
La Geria vineyard hike with wine tasting
An easy 8.5 km walk past craters and vines planted in pits of black ash, ending with local wine and cheese. It meets at 9:30 AM at Bodega Rubicón, inland; book the pickup option and confirm it covers the port.
From$52.71
Time required4 hours
Lanzarote in 9 hours
Manrique sights and La Graciosa day trip
Coast to coast: LagOmar, Cactus Garden and La Graciosa
The house carved into a volcanic quarry at LagOmar and César Manrique's Cactus Garden, then the ferry to La Graciosa for a paella lunch and free time. Seven hours, longer if your pickup is far out.
From$91.94
Time required7 hours
North of the island: lava caves and viewpoint
North Lanzarote: lava caves and Mirador del Río
Jameos del Agua, a guided walk through Cueva de los Verdes and the Mirador del Río lookout, with entry fees included and lunch extra. At nine hours it only works on a long call, and the caves aren't for the claustrophobic.
From$92.98
Time required9 hours
Whole-island bus tour
Whole island: volcanoes, lagoon and caves with lunch
Janubio's salt flats, El Golfo, Timanfaya's Volcano Route, lunch, La Geria and Jameos del Agua in one coach day. Nine hours, so only for a ship in port well into the evening.
From$106.51
Time required9 hours
Within a stroll of the boat
Six stops within a 20-minute walk of the Naos cruise pier, from the marina to Arrecife's lagoon and old church. Ships at Los Mármoles are a shuttle or taxi ride away, and the shuttle drops off by the marina, so the map works from there too.
Drinks · 0.2 mi · ~6 min
Marina Lanzarote
The marina next to the pier, with cafés and restaurants along its quay and an information point open on cruise mornings. The shuttle from Los Mármoles stops nearby.
Landmark · 0.6 mi · ~14 min
Charco de San Ginés
A small saltwater lagoon full of fishing boats, ringed by white houses and waterfront tables. The old heart of Arrecife, with plenty of cafés for a sit-down.
Eat · 0.6 mi · ~14 min
Tasca La Raspa
A restaurant on the north side of the lagoon, one of the places port guides name for a meal in town. Casa del Miedo, a seafood place, is a few doors along.
Church · 0.8 mi · ~17 min
Iglesia de San Ginés
Arrecife's parish church, on a small square just south of the lagoon, built of white stone and dark volcanic rock.
Market · 0.8 mi · ~18 min
Mercado Agrario (Saturday farmers' market)
A farmers' market for local produce, cheese, pastries and flowers. It only runs on Saturdays, 10:00 to 14:00.
Museum · 0.8 mi · ~19 min
Castillo de San José (MIAC)
An 18th-century harbour fort that now holds the island's contemporary art museum, with a restaurant. Open daily 11:00 to 18:00, €5.40; it's north of the pier, the opposite way from the lagoon.
Handy Helpers
Small things that make a port day easier.
Private Driver, Waiting at the Dock
A pre-booked driver meets you at the dock for a fixed price. No haggling, no waiting for a taxi to fill.
Bike rental
Cover more ground than on foot. Book ahead and return it well before all-aboard.
Travel eSIM
Install it on ship WiFi and your maps and ride apps work the moment you land in Lanzarote.
Quick answers
Facts last checked .
How we checked these answers
Every answer is built from facts we checked against the sources below and cross-checked with recent port guides. Where sources disagreed, the answer says so instead of guessing a number.
Getting ashore
Where do cruise ships dock in Lanzarote?
Cruise ships in Lanzarote dock alongside at Arrecife, the island's capital, at one of two piers: large ships usually use Los Mármoles in the cargo port north-east of town, while smaller ships may get the Naos pier beside Marina Lanzarote, much closer to the centre. There's no tendering. Lines seen calling include P&O Cruises, MSC, Holland America, Norwegian, Celebrity, Costa and Cunard, but which line gets which pier isn't published, so check your ship's daily programme.
What is there to do in Arrecife from the cruise ship?
Yes: Arrecife's old quarter around the Charco de San Ginés lagoon is a 15-minute walk from the Naos pier, or a short shuttle ride from Los Mármoles, and strolling the lagoon costs nothing. Nearby are the parish church, Castillo de San Gabriel with the town's history museum, and the contemporary art museum in Castillo de San José (€5.40, open daily 11:00–18:00). The terminals themselves are basic, with seating and restrooms but few shops. The stroll map shows what's close.
Can you walk from the cruise port in Lanzarote into town?
It depends on the pier. From the Naos pier, Arrecife's Charco de San Ginés is 0.6 miles along the flat harbour front, about a 15-minute walk. From Los Mármoles it's about 2 miles out through the cargo port on an exposed road with almost no shade, so most people take the cruise line's shuttle (about 10–12 minutes) or a taxi. The shuttle drops off by Marina Lanzarote, where the stroll map starts.
Is there a shuttle from the Lanzarote cruise port, and how much is a taxi to Arrecife?
Yes: cruise lines usually run a shuttle bus from Los Mármoles to Marina Lanzarote, near Arrecife's centre, in about 10–12 minutes; whether it's free or paid depends on your line, and one guide puts a paid day pass at around €9. Taxis are metered and wait outside both terminals. Arrecife's reported fares from May 2025 start at €3.05 by day plus €0.80 per km, with €1.20 extra for trips into or out of the Los Mármoles dock, and a 2026 guide puts the ride into town at about €6–8.
Can you rent a car at the Lanzarote cruise port?
Yes: car-rental firms have counters or pickup points at Arrecife's cruise terminals, including the island companies CICAR and Cabrera Medina at Naos, and taxis queue outside both terminals. If you rent, check the return time against your all-aboard time before you set off.
Beaches & water
Is there a beach near the Lanzarote cruise port?
Only from the Naos pier, and it's a longer walk: Playa del Reducto, Arrecife's sheltered town beach with showers and beach bars, is about 1.5 miles along the seafront, roughly 30 minutes on foot. From Los Mármoles no beach is a realistic walk because the pier sits inside the cargo port; a taxi to Reducto takes under 10 minutes, about €7.
Tours & time ashore
What are the best Lanzarote shore excursions from the cruise port?
Lanzarote shore excursions from the cruise port center on Timanfaya National Park's volcanoes, buggy rides, and boat days to the small island of La Graciosa. One morning tour of Timanfaya and El Golfo's green lagoon is built for cruise passengers: it runs 4.5 hours from $68.55 and picks up just outside the terminal. The favorites and time plans list each option with its length and price.
Can I visit Timanfaya National Park on my own from the ship?
Yes, but book ahead: Lanzarote's visitor centres (CACT) sell Timanfaya's Montañas del Fuego tickets for €30, with the visit taking about 90 minutes, and the site is open daily 09:00–15:45. CACT recommends buying tickets online because some centres have no box office. The simplest option from the ship is a cruise-passenger tour that leaves from the port and runs about 4.5 hours, from $68.55.
How much of Lanzarote can I see in one port day?
In a typical port day you can do one of Lanzarote's big sights properly: Timanfaya's volcanoes take a 4.5- to 5.5-hour tour, and the north's lava caves or La Graciosa take 6 to 9 hours. With only a few hours, Arrecife's old quarter is a 15-minute walk from the Naos pier or a 10–12 minute shuttle ride from Los Mármoles. The 3-hour plans are the shortest tours that fit.
Can I get to Puerto del Carmen from the cruise port?
Yes: Puerto del Carmen is a bus ride from Arrecife, with buses running about every 20 minutes for about €1.30–1.40. Buses are cash only, and drivers can't change notes over €10, so bring coins or small notes.
Is the Teguise market on when my ship is in port?
Only if your ship is in on a Sunday: the Teguise market runs every Sunday from 9:00 to 14:00 in the old town of Teguise, inland from Arrecife, with over 400 stalls of crafts, clothes, local produce and food, plus Canarian music and dance. On any other day there's no market, so plan something else.
Money, safety & connections
What currency does Lanzarote use, and can I pay by card?
Lanzarote uses the euro. Cards and phone payments are widely accepted in shops, restaurants and taxis, and there are ATMs on Calle León y Castillo in Arrecife's centre. Carry a few euros in coins or small notes for the local buses, which take cash only.
What time zone is Lanzarote in?
Lanzarote is on Canary Islands time, the same as London: UTC+0 in winter and UTC+1 in summer, with clocks going back on 25 October 2026. Your ship may keep a different time, so check whether all-aboard is in ship time or local time.
Do I need a passport to go ashore in Lanzarote?
US Customs and Border Protection says US citizens on a closed-loop cruise can re-enter the United States with a birth certificate and government photo ID, but warns that a passport may still be needed to enter the countries the ship visits. Lanzarote is in Spain and the Schengen area, where a non-EU visitor's passport should be valid for at least 3 months after leaving and issued within the last 10 years.
Is Lanzarote safe for cruise passengers?
Petty theft is the main risk for cruise passengers in Lanzarote: the US State Department rates Spain Level 2, "Exercise Increased Caution", and doesn't single out the Canary Islands. In Arrecife, don't leave bags unattended on the beach or on café tables.