Enjoy our quick guide to Yaiza, one of the municipalities in Lanzarote in Spain’s Canary Islands.
With a population reaching more than 15,000 in 2013, Yaiza has twice been voted as the “prettiest town” in Spain.
It is around 22 kilometers away from the island capital Arrecife and is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the south, east and west.
Want to see what Lanzarote looks like right now? Check out live views from streaming webcams on Lanzarote.
Perhaps you are considering retiring to this lovely part of Spain?
Below we feature an expat interview with Sonia Vargas of Optima Estate who covers the Yaiza area.
Specifically, we wanted to learn from Sonia the many reasons why people should consider moving to this area and the value for money they can get once they decide to stay permanently.
Sonia, thanks for helping our readers. I guess we should start off by asking what would you say would be the advantages to living in Yaiza compared to other Lanzarote towns?
Would the area not suit certain types of people, i.e. are there any possible downsides?
As Yaiza is a very tranquil little village, it might not be suitable for teenagers or for people who are looking for a nightlife. Non drivers might also struggle, although there is a regular bus service to Playa Blanca and to Puerto del Carmen and Arrecife.
What proportion of the local population are Spanish?
I would say that the proportion is 80/20 with 80% being Spanish residents.
What are your favourite things to do in the area?
There are many nearby attractions which are definitely worth a visit such as the delightful village El Golfo which has many superb restaurants, Las Salinas and also the valley La Geria which is famous for its wine bodegas and stunning landscape. Within the village itself are art galleries and a craft centre, a Museum of Aloe Vera and a sports centre with gym and playing field. There are a number of walks through the surrounding volcanic landscape and across to nearby villages which offer great views.
Can you give us some insider tips to the best bars or restaurants?
In Yaiza there are two very nice traditional restaurants which are “La Era” and “La Bodega de Santiago”. Also there are a few little tapas bars along the main street which are also very nice.
Are there many facilities such as doctors and dentists, shops etc?
In Yaiza you can find a pharmacy, bank, a local doctor and a little supermarket. There is no dentist in Yaiza and no big shops. For shopping, residents tend to go to Puerto del Carmen or Playa Honda.
Are there smaller villages nearby that you might also recommend?
The village of Uga is only a 3-minute drive from Yaiza. Again it is a very tranquil little village with some nice and traditional restaurants. The beautiful Playa Quemada is only a 10-minute drive from Yaiza. There you will find some very nice restaurants front line to the sea such as the “Sal Marina”. Las Breñas sits atop a plateau and offers superb views down to Playa Blanca and across to the salt pans.
What are the nearest international schools and how good are they?
There is an international school in Puerto del Carmen (15 minutes from Yaiza). It is called Colegio Hispano Británico and has a very good reputation here on the island.
Is crime an issue for expats?
Not at all. We have never heard of any crime happening in Yaiza. In general Lanzarote is a very safe island.
Coming onto buying property, what is the market like now in terms of prices going up, or down or staying the same?
After the recession in 2014, prices were beginning to rise again and there were lots of buyers around. Sales in general were doing extremely well until Brexit. Now due to the exchange rate and the low value of the Pound, prices have stopped rising and buyers have become more hesitant. At the moment what we see is that British buyers are waiting for the exchange rate to improve before making an offer.
Is this a good time to buy and are there any repossessions or very cheap properties still available to buy?
Yes, I do believe that it still is a good time to buy properties although the exchange rate is not favourable at the moment. I am sure that prices will go up in the future so buyers can now still benefit from current prices. Every now and then cheap properties come onto the market. However, we no longer see the very cheap properties that we saw during the recession.
What urbanisations are there and can you describe each one and how they might differ from each other?
In Yaiza you do not find different urbanisations. Originally there was only the centre of town. Over the years the village has expanded and now there are many properties which are all scattered around the centre of Yaiza. The big villas with good sized plots are the properties preferred by British buyers.
How much are the typical property prices in Yaiza for apartments, villas etc?
In Yaiza there aren’t many apartments. The prices generally range between 140,000 – 180,000 euros for an apartment. The most popular properties in Yaiza are detached villas with good-sized plots. The prices for these kind of villas range between 300,000 – 450,000 euros.
Any tips and advice to people looking to buy in Yaiza or surrounding area?
I recommend to visit a property and the area not only at daytime but also at night time. Also I advise to contact reputable estate agents only and not just any agent. Once the right property has been found, it is extremely important to engage a solicitor. Yaiza is a very good area to buy bigger properties with good sized plots and is suitable for people who like to be in a tranquil village away from all of the tourists.
Sonia, 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 Varadero No 4,
Playa Blanca,
Yaiza, Lanzarote
Mobile: +34 620 803 510
Phone: +34 928 519 383
From UK: 203 150 05 28
Email: sonia@optimaestate.com
Website: www.optimaestate.com
Here is an interesting tourist video on Yaiza.
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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