Enjoy our quick guide to Puerto del Carmen, the main tourist town on the island of Lanzarote in Spain’s Canary Islands.
Below we feature an expat interview with Sophie Talbot-Imber of Real Estate Lanzarote who covers the Puerto del Carmen area.
Specifically, we asked Sophie on the advantages of choosing Puerto del Carmen as a place to live and the value for money that one can get if you decide to stay permanently in the area.
Sophie, thanks for helping our readers. I guess we should start off by asking what would you say would be the advantages to living in Puerto del Carmen compared to other Lanzarote towns?
Would the area not suit certain types of people, i.e. are there any possible downsides?
It is a busy and touristic area, most properties within close proximity to the beach have small outside spaces. It would not suit someone looking to get away from the bustle.
What proportion of the local population are Spanish?
As it is a tourist area I would say more international than Spanish but there are Spanish living in the area.
What are your favourite things to do in the area?
The shopping is good. In the Old Town of Puerto del Carmen there is a shopping center called Biosfera. The main beach is large so doesn’t get too crowded. The sea is normally very calm which is great for swimming.
Can you give us some insider tips to the best bars or restaurants?
Taverna del Nino, located in the Varadero, Old Town Puerto del Carmen. Is wonderful for Spanish food and Montaditos.
Enjoy, located on the main strip is great for modern Asian food. It does a mean Thai green curry!
Mardeleva, located in Old Town Puerto del Carmen is great for tapas and fresh sea food.
For night life and a dance the varadero is good, bars like Heiniken and San Miguel. But be warned they don´t get going till 1am!!
For AMAZING cocktails go to La Delicatezza Cocktail Bar on the main strip.
Are there many facilities such as doctors and dentists, shops etc?
Yes there are a selection of private doctors and the social security health centre in Puerto del Carmen. There are several dentists and a veterinary clinic in Tias which is less than 10min drive away. There are all types of shops, there wouldn’t be much you couldn’t find in Puerto del Carmen.
Are there smaller villages nearby that you might also recommend?
Tias is residential area popular with English residents. Puerto calero is along the coast and has more exclusive properties. Macher has larger fincas and villas that are more isolated.
What are the nearest international schools and how good are they?
Daos is located in Matagorda, an area to the east of Puerto del Carmen. It is a Spanish-speaking international school. Colegio Hispanico Britanico is located between Puerto del Carmen and Tias and is a large English school following the English curriculum.
Is crime an issue for expats?
The area is quite safe and there is little crime.
Coming onto buying property, what is the market like now in terms of prices going up, or down or staying the same?
With apartments, property prices have gone up and will continue to improve at a steady rate. On larger more expensive property, the prices haven´t gone up as much but there are far more people looking and ready to buy.
Is this a good time to buy and are there any repossessions or very cheap properties still available to buy?
It’s a great time to buy. With the tourist interest in this area you can get a great return if you were to holiday let the property when you are not in it. Some apartments offer a 4% APR. Repossessions are slowly let on to the market by the banks but there aren´t as many anymore, normal property prices are still good enough that you can still buy a bargain.
What urbanisations are there and can you describe each one and how they might differ from each other?
The Old Town of Puerto del Carmen is the oldest area, it has charm and still a lot of Spanish live in this area. The Main strip offers lots of bars, restaurants and shops that all overlook the long beach and sea, behind these are houses and apartments. Los Mojones is an area slightly set back from the coast, it boast large villas with great views to the mountains and sea, it is an exclusive area. Matagorda is towards the airport and offers lots of apartment complexes.
How much are the typical property prices in Puerto del Carmen for apartments, villas etc?
As a rough guide you could buy a 1-bedroom apartment from 70,000 to 100,000 euros with sea views. Two-bedroom apartment for 110,000 to 150,000 euros with sea views. Villas start at about 250,000 euros; for a detached larger villa with a pool you would be looking at around 350,000 euros. Saying this there are still properties that come up under these guide prices.
Any tips and advice to people looking to buy in Puerto del Carmen or surrounding area?
Get in contact with us, we will find your ideal property, as one of the longest established property brokers in Puerto del Carmen we can guide a buyer through every step!
Sophie, thank you so much for taking the time to help our readers with your experiences in Spain. If you want to contact her, you can find her details below.
Calle Teide nº22, Local 3 & 4
Puerto del Carmen, Tias
35510 Lanzarote
Canary Islands
Spain
Tel: 0034 928 512428
Email: info@estatelanz.com
Website: www.estatelanz.com
Office hours: Monday – Friday 9.30am -5.30pm
Below is an interesting video showing the town center and shops in Puerto del Carmen.
Contact us to be featured – we want more expat interviews for our newsletter and website. You don’t need to be an estate agent, we want to hear from anyone who lives in Spain whether you are working or retired.
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