Arrecife holidays

Arrecife is by far the largest city on the island, which means a wide choice of eateries and flavours can only be expected. However, if you want to indulge in local Canary Island cuisine, we suggest you start with papas arrugadas which is a salty potato dish served with hot sauce. Estofado is another must, this beef and chorizo stew can be sampled at El Nido which has 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor. While you’re there the crispy cod and spinach croquettes are also worth a try, no wonder this spot has been ranked number one out of 151 in the capital.

Among its old meets new streets find Barbacana Bar & Grill, a steakhouse which is renowned for its premium cuts of meat. Daniele Pizza Al Taglio also deserves a mention for its stonebaked pizzas and Heineken beer on tap. You’ll often hear the locals ordering a cafe con hielo, which is coffee with ice – a nice addition to any morning in the sun. As for alcohol, ask for a cuba libre, this combines dark rum, lime juice and cola.

Home to half the island population, it’s safe to say there’s an impressive line-up of beaches. El Reducto Beach is a closed bay of fine white sands and is half a kilometre long. Enjoying calm sapphire waters brought to you by the Atlantic Ocean, it’s a front-runner with families. Services include refreshment stands, showers, changing areas and its backed by a stand-out selection of restaurants too. El Cable is just next door and is popular with watersport fanatics, surfers more so thanks to its windy conditions which create wild waves. La Concha is the third showstopper with a soft toe-sinking shoreline to its name. Here there’s little going on, but this makes it all the more perfect for tranquil sunbathing sessions away from the city hustle and bustle.

As a port city, boat trips, fishing expeditions and diving experiences are among some of the best activities in the resort – after all, its name ‘Arrecife’ means reef in Spanish. But there’s also a weekly market bursting with wines and tropical fruits. Not to mention its dining scene and crazy nightlife!

International Museum of Modern Art: History buffs and creative types alike will appreciate this crafty collection of modern art dating all the way back to the 50s. There are several masterpieces from Manrique himself, specifically from the 70s. But the 18th century fortress in which the artwork is stored is one of the biggest allures, formally known as the San Jose Castle. Not only luring in culture vultures, but foodies too as this hotspot is also the home to one of the island’s most stylish restaurants.

Witness a real-life shipwreck: Possibly one of the island’s most famous landmarks, the Barco Telamon Encallado can’t be missed. The tale is that when sailing between Lanzarote and Fuerteventura the captain was forced to demand help from the island as enormous amounts of water entered the ship. It later sank between the shores of Arrecife and Costa Teguise on 31st October 1981. Now a jaw-dropping snorkeling spot and great sunset viewing, it needs to be on your activity list.