Jump on board for Costa Teguise Carnaval

Sound the horns and get ready to invade the streets, the Costa Teguise Carnaval 2010 runs on 27 and 28 February with a Viking theme, and you could be taking part. Sands Beach Resort Hotel is just a few minutes walk away from all the festivities and they will be inviting guests to join them on their float for the big Coso parade on Saturday 27 February.

Carnaval is bright, brash and noisy, the music and dancing are infectious and everyone is invited to join in. A local girl won the competition to design this years poster, and all elements of the Costa Teguise community will be getting in the party mood.

The big parade takes place on the Saturday afternoon along the Paseo Maritimo with floats, marching bands and dancers. The explosion of colour draws everyone in and is just a prelude to the nights entertainment. Stages set up along the beachfront will host live music, and the dancing will spill over onto the beach until the early hours.

Sunday is the childrens big day as proud parents watch their children make their parade along the same route in the morning. There will be many other events in the week leading up to the main weekend, and fireworks are always a key part of the celebrations. Definitely not to be missed.

Warm seas, cool jazz, in Lanzarote

After a hot day on the Costa Teguise beachfront or relaxing around the 6 pools at Sands Beach Resort Hotel, how about chilling out to some top live FREE jazz. This weekend, July 3 and 4, the 18th annual festival, Canarias Jazz Y Mas comes to Lanzarote with an international line up.

On Friday 3 July, the ancient former capital city of Teguise is the venue from 9pm at the Casco Historico, with Icelandic jazz funk group Mezzoforte leading the way. Also on the bill are Okou,a French based duo, and local favourite Diego Barber. The next night the action moves to San Bartolome and the Teatro Municipal, again from 9pm. The stars this time are the Patrick Kraus Quartet and Diego Barber.

FREE live music is a regular feature of Lanzarote life, most big events involve music, and when the nights are as warm and pleasant as those in the Canary Islands, it’s a great way to spend an evening.

Music as varied as the Lanzarote landscape

The diverse landscape, the range of nationalities visiting the island and a wide age range, has helped to form  a interesting and challenging music scene in Lanzarote. That’s why the annual Canarian Festival of Alternative Music finds such a willing home in Arrecife, the capital.

This year is no different and over the next 3 Friday nights, 2 venues will host some great live performances. Starting on March 13, Paraiso 76 at 61 Calle Jose Antonio, presents Miniatura, a local pop/rock group and DJ Job, with more of a dance feel.

Then on March 20, the action switches to El Almacen (pic) , the main Cultural Centre, at 33 Calle Jose Betancort. There is a strong jazz flavour that night with Dos Caras de la Misma Moneda providing a contemporary feel, and Perez and Hernandez Sociedad Liberada, chipping in with some jazz/rock.

Finally it’s back to Paraiso 76 on March 27 for the electronic influenced Line, and hard edged dance music with Neketan PD vs Save My Life DJ. There will be a lot of spin off events to, with so much music bursting to get heard. To find out the latest on new additions, check out the website at www.canariasfmas.com . Even after a late night, Costa Teguise and the comfort of your Sands Beach Resort Hotel apartment, is just a 20 minute taxi ride away.  

It’s party time at Teguise Carnaval

There are many great traditions in Lanzarote, and one of the most popular is the annual Carnavals, Teguise has it’s own, with many of the events taking place just a few minutes walk away from Sands Beach Resort Hotel.

The theme of this years Carnaval is the Circus, and there will be a feast of music, colour and excitement close to the beachfront setting of Sands Beach Resort Hotel in Costa Teguise. Carnaval runs from Monday March 9 to Sunday 15 March, and the locals love to see visitors enter into the spirit, it’s great fun for all the family.

Events are split between the old inland town of Teguise, the original capital of Lanzarote, and the popular holiday centre of Costa Teguise. On Wednesday March 11, and Thursday March 12 there are big street processions at 8.30 pm, in Paseo Maritimo, the main Costa Teguise road, that leads straight to Sands Beach Resort. The big days for Costa Teguise are the Friday and Saturday, when the children and adults alike dress up in their colourful costumes and whip up a musical storm.

Friday March 13 is the childrens turn to shine, from 9pm they will parade along Paseo Maritimo for the judging of the main contests, including the Murgas, groups of brightly dressed bands, singing about local life. Saturday afternoon brings the biggest parade of all, again along the Paseo Maritimo, the Coso is a chance to show of bizarre floats and costumes, and this years circus theme will ensure there are plenty of clowns and acrobats. On Sunday March 15, the children have one last chance to show their costumes off with a 11 am party along the main road.

There are many other common themes at Carnaval, such as live music on stages set up around town, fireworks, and most of all a friendly party atmosphere that you will find hard to resist. Join in the fun, everyone is welcome.

 

Lanzarote music going underground again

One of the most sights in Lanzarote is the Jameos del Aqua, the stunning series of volcanic tubes and caves in the north at el Malpais de la Coruna. Apart from the underground cave with its pool, the above ground centre, built by Ceasar Manrique, is a fitting tribute to the founding father of modern Lanzarote. Now the underground auditorium, worn out of the volcanic rock, is about to open to the public again for concerts in a unique setting.

The natural theatre has been closed since 2001 when rock falls made it unsafe but the Canarian government tourism department has invested 5.5 million euros to restotr it to its former glory. One of the first events scheduled for the auditorium is the screening of the new Penelope Cruz film ”The Broken Embraces” which was filmed in Lanzarote at the end of last year.

 In future there will be musical performances that can make full use of the unique acoustics of this cave. As an arts venue, there can be no better setting, and it evokes much of the history and culture of Lanzarote. Sands Beach Resort Hotel reception will be happy to book one of several island tours that will include Jameos del Aqua, it’s all part of the service at this family friendly beachfront hotel.

Drink a toast to Lanzarote’s fine wines

While you are enjoying your stay at Sands Beach Resort Hotel, the selection of bars and restaurants will be pleased to introduce you to a few of the many fine varieties of wine produced in Lanzarote. The combination of volcanic soil and hot weather produces some very special grapes, and there are several vineyards around the island that welcome visitors to learn about the proud history of wine making, and of course to taste the end result. As you travel around the island you will notice that vines are grown in a special way, in small hollows in the ground with a low wall in front of them to protect them from the harsher winds, these beds are called Gerias.

Lets look at 2 vineyards, or bodegas as they are called in Spain, both with a big reputation. El Grifo is at the centre of Lanzarote, and one of the oldest bodegas in Spain, Dating back to 1775, it has been passed down through the same family and prides itself on using traditional methods assisted by the latest technology. The 61.5 hectares site includes a museum that attracts 60,000 visitors a year and a museum with 4,000 books about the art of wine making.

A more modern bodega is the Stratvs at la Geria in Yaiza, it’s a mere baby at just 150 years old. In recent years it has undergone a complete make over and now has one of the most state of the art brewing centres in europe. Don’t let that deter you, the basic ingredients and method of making wine are the same and the taste will convince you that they have made a good marriage of old and new. There is a restaurant on site so you can test the wine against a good meal, and tours can be arranged to see the wine making process.

If you check with reception at Sands Beach Resort Hotel, they can advise you of organised coach trips to a bodega, let someone else drive and enjoy a taste of Lanzarote. If you are out and about around the island, ask for a local wine, you wont be dissapointed. Cheers

Lanzarote music feast for Costa Teguise

The James Taylor Quartet are a legendary English acid jazz band that has performed to rave reviews around the world, but this weekends Costa de Musicas festival will see them perform live and free on a Costa Teguise beach. They are just one of 35 acts that will perform on 5 stages on Friday September 26 and Saturday September 27.

Sands Beach Resort Hotel is one of the sponsors of the 3rd annual event and they staged the media launch to announce all the details. Being situated on the beachfront Sands Beach Resort Hotel is just a short walk from Playa Bastian where the main musical action will take place at night. Local band Oscartienealas (pic) will kick things off on Friday evening at 8.30 followed by Kinky Beat , Facto de la Fe, Muchachito Bombo Infierno (one of Spains top groups) , and Krakovia.

Daytime music will take place at several smaller stages around Costa Teguise including the bandstand at Pueblo Marinero from 2pm to 8 pm. Saturday will be a day of celebration as it is International Day of Tourism, what better way to celebrate than with free musical performances around Costa Teguise.

Crowds will gather again at Playa Bastian on Saturday night to hear the talents of Susana Lang Lengton, Raimundo Amador, The James Taylor Quartet, New Yorks Living Colour, and Londons Dub Pistols. This is just one of many exciting events that are held in Costa Teguise during the year, it’s always fun, and everyone is invited to join in.

What´s On In July

There´s a whole host of exciting events taking place on Lanzarote during July.  Providing visitors to Sands Beach with a wide range of things to do.

 

Just up the road from Costa Teguise lies Lanzarote´s historic former capital – Teguise.  Which is currently playing host to a riotous festival of street theatre.  Featuring Riki Lopez – the renowned Spanish comedian and songwriter. All of the action is taking place in the Plaza De La Mareta – from 17.30 onwards daily.

 

Arrieta – a delightful seaside village just fifteen minutes along the coast from Costa Teguise – is playing host to this years Surfing Rock Festival, on July 19^th.  Which features an eclectic mix of board based action and live music from the likes of local favourites such as La Gallina Verde (or Green Chicken to you and me).

 

Whilst just fifteen minutes away in the opposite direction is the islands main resort of Puerto del Carmen.  Where this years Break Park Festival is being staged this weekend on the large beach at Los Pocillos, just outside the resort.

 

Break Park features loads of beach based sporting activity such as volleyball and football during the day.  Whilst come nightfall the focus switches over to live music – with a line up this year that includes Madrid based electronica favourites Wagon Cookin´ and Basque indie rockers Delorean.

 

Back in Costa Teguise itself – shopaholics can head for the resorts twice weekly market, which is held in the Pueblo Marinero every Thursday from 10.00 to 15.00 and every Friday evening from 18.00 to 24.00.  

 

Thursday’s market focuses on local artisan products, such as island wines and cheeses.  Whilst Friday nights market is bigger and brasher – with more souvenir style wares on sale.  The Pueblo Marinero is just five to ten minutes walk from Sands Beach.

 

It´s also worth noting that the summer sales are underway on the island at the moment  – so head into Arrecife for a spot of serious shopping.  The main shopping street in the island capital is Calle Leon Y Castillo and Arrecife is just ten minutes away by bus or taxi.

 

Culturally, there´s also plenty going on in and around Costa Teguise this month. With the new Jan Hendricks exhibition Badlands taking place at the Cesar Manrique Foundation in Tahcihe – running through until September 21^st.  And a festival of Opera shceduled for mid-July in the El Charco area of Arrecife.

 

To find out more about events and what´s on in Lanzarote visit the Lanzarote Guidebook website.

 

 

 

Holiday diving for all the family in Lanzarote

When you take your family holiday at Sands Beach Resort hotel, we like you to see everything that Lanzarote has to offer, on land and even underneath it in the volcanic caves, and also on and under the sea.

When it comes to snorkelling and scuba diving, Lanzarote is hard to beat, and we can put you in the hands of real experts, Calipso Diving, who are based in Costa Teguise. If you are new to diving, come along to the Mai Tai pool any Saturday at 3.30 pm for a free scuba try out. Calipso have fully qualified instructors, can kit you out in all the latest and safest equipment, and know all the best dive sites around the island. If photography is your hobby, they can even help you to capture some of the underwater memories on camera.

Instructors speak several languages and Calipso is a BSAC centre of excellence and a PADI resort centre. Whatever your experience level, they can help you from novice to instructor course level. Bookings can be made through Sands Beach Resort reception, for a half days snorkelling or scuba diving. Of course what you really want to know is what can you expect to see in the Atlantic as it laps at the shores of Lanzarote. There are 500 species of fish, including Angel Shark, Barracuda, and Giant Tuna, and all in visibility that ranges from 30 metres in summer to 50 metres in winter. The lava formations and caves that dominate the surface of Lanzarote, are even more stunning under the sea, and there is even an underwater conservation park, complete with 7 wrecks to explore.

Diving has never been so much fun, and it will give you a unique insight into the wildlife of this special island.

Family thrills in the Lanzarote Grand Prix

Do you fancy yourself as a budding Alonso or Hamilton? If you feel the need for speed, Lanzarote has just the thing for you, one of the biggest karting race tracks in Europe. Just inland from Puerto del Carmen is Gran Karting Club a 2,346 metre race circuit that caters for all skill levels and all ages.

All revved up and ready to go

The track has all the safety facillities you will need and authentic pit areas and electronic readout boards so you can check your race laps and speed. Off the track, they have food and drink areas so even if you are not racing, you can relax and watch the show.

The on track action is what makes this really special, and the 10 metre wide track is perfect for safe overtaking and real racing. There are different categories for different ages, with power and speed restricted accordingly. Infant karts are for between 5 and 10 years old, junior are for 10-16 and above that are seniors with engines that can reach 80 km per hour.

All thrills and no spills

Full safety gear is worn at all times and experts will make sure that drivers have all the thrills without the spills. For groups of six people or more, free transport will come and pick you up from Sands Beach Resort hotel, but otherwise, pick up a leaflet from reception and it will give you directions to the track. 

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