Jardín de Cactus

Hardly any other has influenced Lanzarote so much as the artist César Manrique. He was a painter, architect, sculptor, designer, and environmentalist. His vision was a symbiosis of architecture and nature. Start the tour in his footsteps with a visit to Monumento al Campesino, a monument dedicated to the hard-working rural population. See the traditional craftsmanship of the Canary Islands in the small museum and marvel at the impressive restaurant in the foothills of a lava field. Continue into the Valley of a Thousand Palms to the Mirador del Rio. Enjoy one of the most spectacular panoramic views of Lanzarote and one of the most representative architectural creations of César Manrique that unites art and nature. Visit the nearby cave, Jameos del Agua part of a 7-kilometer-long lava tube, which was created by the eruption of Monte Corona around 8000 years ago. Discover Jameos del Agua, a portion of which was artistically designed by César Manrique. Here you will find a restaurant, a concert hall, and a small lake with direct access to the sea where small, white-blind crabs live. At the end of the tour, you will drive to the cactus garden “Jardin de Cactus”. Here you will find more than 1100 different species of plants from around the world spread across 5000 square meters. On the way back you will visit the Fundación César Manrique in the artist’s former residence. See some of his works of art and discover how the artist worked. A large part of the complex is nestled in the foothills of the longest lava flow of the Canary Islands, with unusual structures running through the entire house.

Admire two emblematic places of art and nature conceived by the artist César Manrique on this full-day trip in Lanzarote to the LagOmar Museum and the Cactus Garden. Take a ferry to La Graciosa and indulge yourself with a savory paella and free time to discover the island.  Begin your tour in the morning with pickup near your accommodation in Lanzarote. Hop on the air-conditioned bus and travel to LagOmar where your multilingual guide will take you to explore the house of the famous Hollywood actor Omar Sharif, its "lagoon", tunnels, and caves carved in the mountain. Enjoy this Arabian Nights-inspired dream situated in the village of Oasis de Nazaret. Legend has it that the actor lost the house in a card game and never returned to Lanzarote. Head to the Cactus Garden, a magnificent example of an architectonic intervention perfectly integrated into the landscape. Cesar Manrique created this audacious artistic complex where you can find over 450 different cactus species from around the world and an traditional windmill. Board a ferry to the island of La Graciosa. Marvel at the breath-taking views of the north coast of Lanzarote on the open upper deck. Once you arrive on the island, explore the small fishermen's village and its peculiar church before enjoying paella and drinks aboard a docked ferry. Experience the charm of local life or join in activities like hiking, cycling, swimming at pristine beaches, or take a jeep tour around the island in your free time after lunch. Take the ferry back to Lanzarote and transfer back to your hotel at the end of your tour. 

Enter the eclectic Fundación César Manrique to see paintings by Spanish artists in the old studio and Manrique's house. Discover the town of Teguise at its own pace. Get picked up at your accommodation and travel aboard an air-conditioned bus. Walk through the magical Fundación Manrique with a guide from a local expert. Marvel at the formation in which nature, art, and architecture come together in the same place. Admire the unusual life of the artist, embedded in one of the longest lava flows on the island. Observe the natural lava paintings and their curious forms, which inspired the world-famous creations of Manrique. Afterward, direct to Teguise, the ancient capital of Lanzarote. Enjoy your free time to find the picturesque streets and see the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe. On Sundays, check out the market to buy local food, crafts, and collections. Visit the famous Famara Beach. Return to your hotel at the end of the excursion.

César, a multidisciplinary artist, painter, sculptor, conservator of monuments and tourist resorts, designer of landscapes and gardens, and recognized ecologist, created from natural volcanic accidents a tendency that impacted the world. He managed to unite Art, Urbanism and Tourism in a single concept, under a philosophy and model of urban intervention based on sustainability and respect for the natural values of the territory, into what is now a world reference. The Island would be different without the Monument to the Peasant, Los Jameos del Agua, Mirador del Río, Cactus Garden or the Cave of the Greens. It would certainly be less attractive and with much less personality. Not visiting these Centers and works of art, being able to interpret them, is like not even having travelled here. This tour offers you the opportunity to discover the North of Lanzarote having a panoramic of Haría, Riscos de Famara and Volcán de la Corona. You will have the privilege to visit the art centers of Cesar Manrique such as Monument to the Peasant, Cactus Garden, Mirador del Río and Fundación César Manrique. Choose if you wish to visit Jameos del Agua or Cueva de los Verdes, two marvelous art centers which are a must in your visit to Lanzarote.

Be transported to another time through the paved streets and historical plazas of Teguise, the municipal capital of Teguise. Enjoy a great view of El Valle de las Mil Palmeras (the valley of the thousand palm trees) on the way to Los Valles towards Haría. Then visit the Cueva de los Verdes, a uniquely beautiful cave with an indescribable interior formed by volcanic eruptions. After passing through Arrieta and Mala, stop at the aloe museum where you will learn about the benefits of aloe. Continue to Guatiza to have a look to the prickly pears plantations where the natural dye, cochineal, is produced. Explore the old quarry where the famous artist César Manrique perfectly fused nature and art. Follow the road to the César Manrique Foundation, located in the old house of the magnificent Lanzarote-born artist. Here, we have the opportunity to contemplate Manrique’s work, as well as various paintings and sculptures by different avant-garde artists.

Step into the eclectic César Manrique Foundation to see paintings by Spanish artists in Manrique's old studio and home. Discover the village of Teguise at your own pace on this tour. The excursion departs from the port of Arrecife to Tahiche. There you will find the house museum of Cesar Manrique, a loving and respectful protector of nature. You will be amazed by his fascinating idea to create a house inside a lava tongue. Finally, you will visit the Teguise market where you will have some free time. Return to the cruise ship at 14:00.