There are two types of travelers who come to Lanzarote: those visiting for the first time, who go everywhere; and those who come back, and already know where to go.

This article is aimed at those who have been here before—or better yet, at first-time visitors who want to experience Lanzarote like a true local.

Those hidden corners of Lanzarote that aren't in any official guidebook, that aren't full of tourist signs.

Some will ask you to get up early, others to wear sturdy shoes and bring plenty of energy to explore them as they deserve… But almost all of them will require you to be willing to let yourself be enveloped by the silence, the volcanic rock, and the Atlantic Ocean in the background.

Ready to discover the most special spots in Lanzarote?

Charco Verde and El Golfo Lagoon: a contrast you’ll never forget

Few landscapes in Lanzarote evoke the same reaction as the green lake at El Golfo—also known as Charco Verde or Laguna Verde —when you first lay eyes on it.

And why? Because you won't be able to take your eyes off an impossibly emerald-green lake, nestled between the black volcanic sand, the red cliffs, and the blue Atlantic.

Four colors you wouldn’t think could exist together, yet they create one of the most unique and photogenic natural scenes in the Canary Islands.

But what the photos can’t capture is the sense of calm. The feeling of standing before something the volcano left here centuries ago, which time has smoothed into something straight out of a dream.

It's easy to get there from El Golfo, and the visit won't take more than an hour, but surprisingly, many tourists overlook it.

El Caletón Blanco: the hidden beach in the north that features natural pools

At the northern tip of the island, near Órzola, Caletón Blanco Beach captivates visitors with its white volcanic sand and crystal-clear turquoise waters.

It is one of Lanzarote’s hidden beaches that best captures the island’s paradox: white sand against black rock, calm waters surrounded by lava. A place that seems to have been designed by someone obsessed with proving that opposites attract.

To get there, you'll have to park your car and walk a bit, but trust us, it'll be worth it—and that little inconvenience is exactly what makes it such a peaceful spot.

The White Mountain Gorges: The Grand Canyon in Miniature

Few tourists know that Lanzarote has its own fissures. One of the island’s most spectacular hidden gems, the natural monument known as the Grietas de Lanzarote is a geological formation that runs along the slope of the Montaña Blanca volcano.

The main fissure stretches for about twenty meters, with jagged walls where you can see the layers of solidified lava left behind by eruptions centuries ago.

Walking through its halls will help you understand the island's origins in a way that no museum or information panel ever could.

One of the most special things about these crevices is how the light streams in in completely different ways depending on the day and time, making it the perfect place to visit more than once when you come to Lanzarote.

El Risco Beach: A Black-Sand Paradise

Located in the north of the island, near the town of Haría, El Risco Beach is a hidden gem. This black-sand beach with crystal-clear waters is surrounded by stunning volcanic scenery.

To get there, though, you’ll have to take a short walk from the nearby lookout point, but the effort is well worth it when you’re greeted by the spectacular views and the peaceful, quiet atmosphere that surrounds it.

There are no beach chairs, no beach bars, or anything else to get in the way or disturb you on the beach. Just the black sand, the water, and you. Something that’s becoming harder and harder to find.

Tenesar: the town that looks out over the Atlantic without anyone looking back

West of Mancha Blanca and north of Timanfaya, Tenesar lies at the end of a quiet road, with just a few houses offering breathtaking views of the open Atlantic.

It doesn't usually appear on tourist itineraries, nor is it listed as a tourist attraction, but it has something that few places in Lanzarote have: the feeling of having arrived at a place where time has stood still.

The small villages of Lanzarote are perhaps the hardest secret spots to describe, because their charm lies not in their visual appeal but in the sensory experience they offer. They are places where the island feels different, with a calm rhythm that seems almost straight out of a bygone era.

A town that will make you realize why, once you visit Lanzarote, you’ll never want to leave.

The Janubio Salt Flats: When Color Emerges Where You Least Expect It

The Janubio Salt Flats are a unique site in Lanzarote. Dating back nearly 100 years, these salt flats are the largest in the Canary Islands. They are filled with vibrant colors that shift with the sunlight.

What makes the salt flats special isn't just their palette of pink, white, gray, and ochre hues—which vary depending on the season and time of day—but the fact that they're still active.

The salt they produce is what ends up on the plates at local restaurants. It’s one of those places where the landscape and the local economy come together to preserve the essence of Lanzarote’s heritage.

The island rewards those who take their time, those who ask questions, and those who are willing to wander off to places that reveal the island’s true soul.

That’s what Lanzarote has in store for those who return. And also, if you know how to look, for those visiting for the first time with their eyes wide open.