Puerto del Carmen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Puerto del Carmen
|
|
|---|---|
|
Town
|
|
_-_OSM_Mapnik.svg)
 Puerto del Carmen
Location in Lanzarote
Puerto del Carmen
Location in Canary Islands
|
|
| Country |  Spain |
| Autonomous Community |  Canary Islands |
| Province | Las Palmas |
| Island | Lanzarote |
| Municipality | Tías |
| Time zone | UTC+00:00 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+01:00 (WEST) |
| Postcode |
35510
|
Puerto del Carmen (Pto. del Carmen) is a popular tourist town on the island of Lanzarote. Lanzarote is one of the Canary Islands in Spain. It is part of the area called Tías. Many of the more than 1 million visitors to Lanzarote each year choose to stay in Puerto del Carmen. Because of this, most of the town's money comes from tourism.
Contents
History of Puerto del Carmen
The area where Puerto del Carmen is located was lived in a long time ago, even before people from Europe arrived on the island. Since the 1500s, this place was known as Tiñosa. You can see this name on old maps. The name "Tiñosa" might come from the Guanches, who were the native people of the Canary Islands.
This area became an important port where ships could anchor safely. In 1591, a writer named Leonardo Torriani mentioned the natural port of La Tiñosa. Later, it became important for trading barrels.
In 1900, La Tiñosa was officially named a "Port of General Interest." This meant it was a very important port. However, it lost this title in 1928 to another port called Arrecife. In 1904, La Tiñosa was a small town with 194 people, mostly working as fishermen. In 1957, this fishing village got a new name: Puerto del Carmen. This name honors Nuestra Señora del Carmen, who is a special patron saint.
The main street along the coast is called "Avenida de las Playas." It has many restaurants, shops, bars, and even casinos. The town has grown from the coast, reaching about one kilometer inland.
Tourism in Puerto del Carmen
Puerto del Carmen started attracting tourists after the Hotel los Fariones opened in 1967. Now, people from all over Europe visit, especially from Ireland, the UK, Germany, Scandinavia, and other parts of Spain.
The Avenida de las Playas is the main road in town. It stretches about 7 kilometers along the southern coast of the island. On one side, you'll find beautiful beaches. On the other side, there are many restaurants, bars, shops, and other fun places for tourists. Hotels, apartments, and villas spread about a kilometer inland from the beach.
The older part of town is charming and peaceful. It includes the harbor and docks, known as Puerto Tinosa. Here, you can find different restaurants and bars with great views. You can see the harbor, the sea, and the volcanic mountains of Papagayo. On a clear day, you might even see Fuerteventura, another Canary Island.
Scuba Diving
Puerto del Carmen is a great place for scuba diving. There are many dive centers here, and diving is one of the most popular activities. The conditions for diving are excellent all year round. The water temperature is usually between 19°C (66°F) in winter and 23°C (73°F) in summer. You can often see very clearly underwater, with visibility usually more than 25 to 30 meters (82 to 98 feet).
Playa Chica is a popular spot for divers in the old town. From here, you can reach over 10 different dive sites. You can start your dive from the shore or take a boat.
Shopping and Dining
Puerto del Carmen has many shops that sell things mainly for tourists. In the newer part of town, you'll find bars, restaurants, and souvenir shops. The old town has many restaurants with outdoor seating. These places offer views of the marina below and the distant volcanic mountains.
The Biosfera Plaza is a shopping mall that opened in 2002. It has many well-known international stores and places for entertainment. For older teens, there are a few clubs that stay open until 6 AM, which are popular with young visitors.
Images for kids
-
A view of the Port of La Tiñosa.
See also
In Spanish: Puerto del Carmen para niños
