Costa Calma is situated on the east coast of Fuerteventura, around 50 miles (80km) south of the island's airport. This purpose-built resort is popular with families and couples looking for a quiet and relaxing beach holiday. The highlight of Costa Calma is its attractive beach of fine sand which rarely gets crowded, even during the high season.
Costa Calma's first hotel opened in 1977, but tourism didn't really take off here until the 1980's when the new road from the capital, Puerto del Rosario, was completed. The resort was built around the small hamlet of Canada del Rio, although great care was taken to ensure the area was not buried under a sea of concrete and high-rise hotels. Several green zones have been created in and around the resort. The approach road to Costa Calma, which is surrounded by Canarian pines and palm trees, is an important wildlife haven and is home to a flock of colourful European Hoopoes.
The main beach at Costa Calma is situated within a large bay and is about a mile long. The sea here is usually quite calm (hence the resort's name) so is suitable for children. Various facilities are available, including showers, toilets and a small beach bar. There is also a windsurfing school. Costa Calma does not have a seafront promenade - instead many of the apartments and hotels are situated directly next to the beach.
To the south of Costa Calma is the huge Playa de Sotavento, which stretches for about 12 miles (20km) towards the neighbouring resort of Morro Jable. This beach can get quite breezy, so it is usually popular among windsurfers. There is even a large wind farm situated nearby. An extinct volcano, Pico de Zarza, overlooks Sotavento beach to create a stunning and memorable scene. Some holidaymakers attempt to walk from Costa Calma to Morro Jable. If you want to try this, allow yourself plenty of time and go prepared. Take lots of water, some food and sunscreen. Fortunately though, there is a reliable bus service between the two resorts, so you do not have to walk back. Alternatively, a taxi ride from Morro Jable costs about 16 euros.
There are several small shopping centres dotted throughout Costa Calma, such as El Palmeral, Bahia Calma and Sotavento. At most of these complexes you will find supermarkets, clothing stores and souvenir shops. One of the most popular events in Costa Calma is the weekly Sunday morning market. The colourful stalls sell a range of goods aimed at holidaymakers.
Costa Calma has many reasonably priced restaurants offering Italian, Chinese and local cuisine. Nightlife in the resort tends to be fairly quiet, although there are several discos and late night bars. One of the most popular discos is Bounce in the El Palmeral shopping centre. Some of the bars provide entertainment such as karaoke nights, although this is usually aimed towards German tourists.
There are several bus stops throughout Costa Calma, with services to Morro Jable, Pajara, Costa de Antigua and Puerto del Rosario. Bus timetables can usually be found in local magazines.
Costa Teguise is situated on the southern coast of Lanzarote, about four miles north-west of the island's capital, Arrecife. This purpose-built resort has developed from nothing within the last 30 years. It was originally intended as a luxury holiday destination, and often attracted visitors such as King Hussein of Jordan, but has more recently become known as a family-friendly resort. The strong sea breezes which often affect the island mean that Costa Teguise is also a mecca for windsurfers.
Costa Teguise has four sandy beaches. The largest of these, measuring around 600 metres in length, is Playa las Cucharas. Every July it hosts the Professional Windsurfers Association Cup, although the winds usually drop during the winter months making this beach more suitable for families. Playa Los Charcos is a small beach, about 150 metres long, with fine sand and clear water. Playa Bastian and Playa Jablillo are a couple of small, sheltered beaches, although the latter can get quite busy as it is overlooked by a large hotel.
Just outside Costa Teguise is Lanzarote's only water park, with all the usual slides, chutes and tubes, although most of the rides are geared towards small children. Also close to the resort is Golf Costa Teguise. This 18-hole course - the first one to be built on the island - is set within palm trees and cacti at the edge of an extinct volcano. Golf Costa Teguise is suitable for players of all abilities and is maintained in good condition all year round. There are some great views of the Atlantic Ocean from its fairways.
The resort has quite a busy nightlife during the high season, most of it concentrated around the Plaza Pueblo Marinero which has several bars and pubs. The majority of restaurants in Costa Teguise are aimed towards British families and are quite ordinary. There are some exceptions though, most notably the La Graciosa Restaurant in the 5-star Salinas Hotel, while La Taberna del Pueblo Marinero and El Pescador both serve local food.
For a more memorable dining experience it is worth taking a short trip outside Costa Teguise to the nearby Lagomar restaurant. This has a spectacular setting, built into natural caves on the edge of a cliff. Lagomar had originally been the home of actor Omar Sharif, but was converted into a restaurant, bar and nightclub in the 1980's. Legend has it that Sharif lost the house after gambling it away during a game of Bridge.
A few miles inland is the historic town of Teguise, notable for its Colonial Spanish architecture. It is home to several good restaurants, art galleries and bars, as well as a variety of antique and craft shops. Lanzarote's biggest market is also held here each Sunday. This is usually a colourful affair, with street entertainers helping to keep the shoppers in high spirits. Overlooking the town is the Castle of Santa Barbara, offering lovely views of the surrounding area. A museum dedicated to the emigration of islanders throughout the centuries is housed within the castle. There is a regular bus service from Costa Teguise to the town.
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