Exclusive Editor’s Tips:

Just a 10-minute walk from the cruise terminal, the saltwater Charco de San Ginés lagoon is lined with whitewashed former fishermen’s houses that now host some of Arrecife’s best restaurants. Many have outdoor tables overlooking the water, serving Canarian staples like octopus with mojo sauce, papas arrugadas (wrinkly potatoes), and the sweet, layered barraquito coffee liqueur. Local standby La Puntilla, open since 1987, draws regulars for its signature pil-pil cod on chef José Rodríguez’s rotating menu. For something more contemporary, book a table at the sleek, glass-fronted Lilium, where El Bulli–trained chef Orlando Ortega reimagines island cuisine with modern flair (think grilled sea bass with ponzu and mojo verde). Or, head to the city center for Lasaña Digital, a punkish spot with red-lit interiors, inventive cocktails, and gluten-free tapas.

Roam Lanzarote’s historic capital and creative center

Roughly 20 minutes from the cruise dock, inland Teguise — Lanzarote’s capital until 1852 — has reinvented itself as a laidback hub for artists and makers. The Sunday market is the main draw, with some 400 stalls selling crafts, ceramics, and street food, but the town is also a great place for a relaxed stroll and lunch any day of the week. At Ikarus (Pl. Clavijo y Fajardo, +34 928 84 57 01), owners Carlos and Luise welcome diners with dishes like local king prawn carpaccio and mandarin. The restaurant at the boutique Palacio Ico hotel is highly rated for Sunday lunches and evening menus from chef Victor Valverde, a protégé of Basque master Martín Berasategui — advance booking is essential. For coffee, Mura sells proper flat whites alongside homewares by island creatives, while local fashion shops like Dragonfly (known for its fabric bomber jackets) and Palmera Concept (straw bucket hats) epitomize Lanzarote’s prevailing boho-chic style.

Sip wine in a volcano vineyard

The star attraction of the “Island of 1,000 Volcanoes” is Timanfaya National Park, about 35 minutes west of the cruise port, where a dramatic eruption between 1730 and 1736 created today’s stunning rust-colored landscapes. The views are spectacular, but the park can get crowded. For a quieter experience, head to El Chupadero, a traditional black-sand vineyard in La Geria, to nurse Malvasía white wine alongside bacon-wrapped dates. Or hike the nearby Volcán del Cuervo, where a 40-minute circular trail leads into a sound-muffled caldera—an otherworldly alternative to Timanfaya, with far fewer visitors.