About this tour
When Ben from our team ran this Coast 2 Coast jaunt across Lanzarote, it ticked a solid box for anyone keen on artist Cesar Manrique's quirky fingerprints all over the island. The day spans land and sea — starting with Lagomar (Omar Sharif's former pad, designed by Manrique), the Cactus Garden in Guatiza, then a ferry out to the quiet island of La Graciosa for lunch and wandering. It's a 6-hour loop that pulls together the island's artistic heritage and coastal scenery without requiring your own wheels. Hotel pickup and drop-off come bundled in, plus entries and a meal, so you're not hunting for extras mid-day.
Highlights
- Lagomar's whitewashed rooms and terraces feel genuinely lived-in, not theme-park slick
- Cactus Garden crammed with North African specimens — oddly meditative for a tourist stop
- Ferry crossing to La Graciosa lets you breathe and see the archipelago properly
- Lunch and drinks included cuts the logistics of island hopping
- Live shipboard commentary actually fills gaps rather than stating the obvious
- Small-group feel means you're not herded like sheep between spots
- Hotel pickup saves wrestling with rental cars or taxis
What to expect
The day starts early with your hotel pickup, then heads straight to Lagomar near Nazaret. Expect a guided walk through Manrique's design — intimate rooms, volcanic stone, interior courtyards that make you realise why people get precious about his work. The Cactus Garden in Guatiza is next: rows of prickly pears and architectural succulents in a landscaped setting. It's pleasant, though fairly self-explanatory unless your guide brings real knowledge.
The ferry to La Graciosa is the soft highlight. You'll spend a couple of hours on the quiet island, grab lunch (included), and have time to wander the settlement or beach. The sea crossing itself is smooth most days, and the commentary on board fills you in on Manrique's influence across the island without feeling like a lecture. You're back at your hotel by mid-afternoon. Pacing is relaxed — no mad dashes.
What travellers say
- Manrique's design philosophy comes alive across three distinct venues
- Ferry to La Graciosa breaks up the day and feels genuinely restful
- Hotel pickups remove the hire-car headache entirely
- Lunch and entrance fees bundled in — fewer surprises
- Multilingual guides tailor commentary to your interest level
- Ferry cancellations due to weather can shuffle your plans
- La Graciosa time is brief if you're hoping for full island immersion
- Cactus Garden won't wow unless you're a serious plant nerd
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This tour knits together Manrique's work in one go, so you don't need to hire a jeep or bike to chase his legacy across the island. The inclusions — entries, ferry, lunch, drinks — mean fewer payment shocks. La Graciosa itself is genuinely quieter than the main island; if you want a half-day escape without the full-day commitment, this wraps it in. Small groups and a multilingual guide help. Kids can tag along; strollers work on board.
Weather can spike — ferries sometimes cancel or reschedule (the supplier will ring you 24–48 hours ahead), so avoid booking this last-minute if the forecast looks dodgy. The Cactus Garden is lovely but brief; don't expect hours of wonder. Some spots involve light walking, though it's manageable for most fitness levels. Jeep taxis and bike rentals aren't included, so if you want to explore La Graciosa independently, budget extra. Peak season crowds are mild compared to other tours, but expect other visitors. Bring sunscreen and water even though drinks are included.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.