La Santa is a small fishing village on the northwestern coast of Lanzarote, close to Famara and Timanfaya National Park.
Around six hundred people live here. Many are local families, fishermen, surfers or people connected to sport and outdoor life. La Santa still has the pace of a small Canarian village.
It’s common to see neighbours sitting outside their homes with tables and chairs, children playing on their own in the streets and families swimming in the harbour on hot days. It’s a quiet place with a close connection to the sea, where much of everyday life still happens outside.
I recommend La Santa to people who enjoy staying somewhere with its own identity and are happy to adapt a little to the local way of life.
If you’re looking for shopping centres, shops, parties or busy nightlife, La Santa probably isn’t for you. If you prefer peace and quiet, walking among volcanoes, eating fresh fish, being active and spending time near the sea, you’ll probably feel at home here.
 

A walk around La Santa

A good way to get to know the village is to start on the seafront and follow the coast towards El Picacho volcano, also known as Montaña Roja.
The first part of the walk takes you through the village, giving you a feel for everyday life here. You’ll pass the fishing harbour, local houses and the places where people meet for food or a drink.
Little by little, the village disappears behind you and the path enters a completely open volcanic landscape. The scenery changes quickly, with lava, ocean and volcano all around you, and hardly any buildings in sight.
It takes around thirty minutes to reach El Picacho. If you feel like it, you can walk to the top for views over La Santa, the ocean and much of Lanzarote’s northwestern coast.
On the way back, I like to stop somewhere along the seafront, have a drink and watch the sun go down. Afterwards, you can stay for dinner at one of the village restaurants.

What to do if you don’t surf

You don’t need to surf to enjoy La Santa.
The village is a great base for discovering the north and west of Lanzarote, two of the least developed parts of the island. You can take the car or your bike and spend the day exploring small villages, trails and volcanic landscapes.
If you enjoy photography or work in a creative field, you’ll probably find inspiration around almost every corner. La Santa has a strong visual character, which is why it has been used as a location for campaigns by brands such as Zara, Moncler, Salomon, Massimo Dutti and El Corte Inglés. You can also spot several places from this area in the video for Provenza by Karol G.
If you enjoy sport, this is a great area for running and cycling. There are road, mountain and gravel routes, with much less traffic than in the more touristy parts of the island. If you use Strava, have a look at the routes nearby and you’ll find plenty that start directly from the village.
You can also walk, take photos, swim in the harbour or simply sit by the sea. La Santa is a good place to slow down, do less and enjoy the rhythm of the village.

Surfing in La Santa

La Santa is known internationally for its waves. The area is sometimes called the Hawaii of Europe because of the quality and variety of its surf breaks.
There are five well known peaks in the village itself: El Barranquito, El Quemao, La Izquierda, La Derecha and El Centro.
These are demanding waves. To surf here, you need at least a solid intermediate level, as well as experience, an understanding of surf etiquette and respect for the local community.
If it’s your first time here, I recommend going with a local guide or surfer. It’s also worth taking the time to watch, ask questions and understand how each peak works before entering the water. Showing an interest in the place and in the people who have surfed here all their lives makes a real difference.
Beginners can enjoy watching the waves from the shore, especially when a good swell arrives, but should look for more accessible places to learn. Famara usually has more suitable options, depending on the conditions that day.
In our guide to surfing in Lanzarote, we share more advice on entering the water and enjoying the waves respectfully.

Where to eat in La Santa For such a small village, La Santa has plenty of places to eat. El Barquillo is my favourite restaurant in the village. It’s a classic local place near the harbour, where fresh fish is still the main focus. The food and service have improved a lot in recent years, but it has kept its original character. It’s one of the places I most often recommend if you want to try fresh fish and Canarian food. Restaurante La Santa, Bar El Quemao and Sal Marina also serve fish, seafood and traditional dishes. They’re good options after a morning in the sea or a long walk. Alma Tapas, Ana Viciosa and Amêndoa offer something a little more refined. Prices are higher and the food is closer to what you might find in a contemporary restaurant in a city. They’re good choices if you’re looking for a more special dinner. There’s also the Chinese restaurant and Los Delfines pizzeria. They’re simple places that do the job when you want something easy after surfing, cycling or walking. Not every restaurant needs to be chasing a Michelin star. At weekends, I recommend booking ahead, especially if you want to eat at one of the smaller restaurants. Walking to El Picacho The most typical walk in La Santa follows the coast to El Picacho, also known as Montaña Roja. The full walk there and back is around five kilometres and takes roughly an hour. It’s worth taking your time, stopping for photos and enjoying the views along the way. It’s an easy route, although some parts of the ground are uneven. I recommend wearing comfortable shoes, carrying water and bringing something to protect you from the wind. My favourite time to walk it is towards the end of the day. The route takes you through one of Lanzarote’s most open and untouched landscapes, with the volcano meeting the sea and the sun setting directly in front of you. You’ll find more walks in the area in our guide to routes around northwestern Lanzarote.

Places to visit nearby

La Santa is within easy reach of some of Lanzarote’s best known landscapes.
Famara is around ten minutes away by car, crossing the Soo desert. You can walk along the beach, see the Famara cliffs or spend the afternoon watching the surfers.
In the other direction, you’ll find Tinajo and much of the island’s volcanic landscape. Timanfaya National Park, Volcán del Cuervo and several trails through the volcanoes are all a short drive away.
Lanzarote is a small island. Even the longest journeys usually take around an hour, so La Santa is a good base for exploring.
From the accommodation, you can walk around the village, visit the harbour, follow the seafront and reach El Picacho. You’ll need a car to visit Famara, Timanfaya and the rest of the island.

A few practical tips I recommend renting a car if you want to explore Lanzarote freely. The villages are usually separated by drives of ten or fifteen minutes, and public transport doesn’t provide easy access to every place. Getting around by bike is also possible, but the wind can make some routes much harder than expected. For a big food shop, I usually recommend Chacón in Arrecife. Supermarkets in the northern villages are smaller and normally a little more expensive. You can do a large shop when you arrive, then buy anything else you need during the week from small shops and local producers. If it’s hot and you feel like swimming, you can go to La Santa’s fishing harbour. It’s where those of us who live here usually swim. The water is often clean and clear, and it feels very much like part of local life. You can also visit Caleta de Caballo, around five minutes away by car, or Famara, around ten minutes away. Keep in mind that this part of the island isn’t known for calm, sheltered beaches. The sea can be powerful, so always check the conditions before entering the water. Evenings in La Santa are usually quiet. There are restaurants and a few places to have a drink, but you won’t find clubs, large terraces or busy nightlife.

A normal day in La Santa

When I’m in La Santa, my day starts with a thirty minute walk with our dog.
I usually leave home and go to check the sea first, just to see what the waves are doing. Then I come back, make a coffee and do some exercise.
If there are no waves, I go for a run. My favourite routes are the path to the volcano and the loop around Club La Santa. If the conditions are good, I go surfing instead.
I normally get home around ten or eleven, have breakfast and work for a few hours. Before lunch, if the weather is good, I walk down to the harbour for a swim.
Then I have lunch at home and work for a little longer. At around five, I try to fit in another hour of exercise. It might be surfing, cycling or some functional training.
I finish the day with a long walk with the dog. We often walk from home to La Santa volcano and back while the sun is going down.
It isn’t a particularly complicated day, but it sums up what I enjoy about living here. The sea, sport, work and nature are always close.

Is La Santa right for you?

La Santa is worth visiting even if you don’t surf. What matters is that you enjoy quiet places, nature and life in a small village.
It’s a place for walking, being active, eating well, taking photos and discovering a part of Lanzarote that still has a strong local identity.
If you’re looking for busy streets, shopping, cocktails and nightlife, other parts of the island will suit you better.
But if you value simple, photogenic places with fewer tourists, and want to spend a few days surrounded by a raw volcanic landscape, La Santa can be a very special place.