Yaiza

Yaiza is regularly named one of the prettiest villages in Spain — a spotless white town of low, elegant houses set at the very gates of Lanzarote's Timanfaya volcanoes. Blindingly white against the black lava and blue sky, softened by bougainvillea and framed by the strange, sculpted mountains of the fire country, it's a picture of the island's distinctive beauty. Repeatedly recognised for its tidiness and charm, Yaiza rewards a stop with quiet lanes, a lovely church square and a real sense of place.

Set in the volcanic south-west of Lanzarote, Yaiza is the gateway town for the island's most dramatic landscapes and a natural pause on the way to the fire mountains or the southern beaches. It's a genuine working village rather than a resort — and all the more appealing for it.

What it's like

Yaiza embodies the island look that César Manrique fought to protect: low white houses with green and blue woodwork, no high-rise in sight, and vivid flowers spilling over walls. The setting does the rest — the town sits on the edge of a vast field of lava and cinder cones, so the contrast between the crisp white streets and the black volcanic land beyond is striking at every turn. It is one of the most photogenic spots on an island full of them.

The mood is calm, dignified and local. There's a fine church on a peaceful plaza, a scattering of small galleries and restaurants, and streets that invite an unhurried wander. This is a place to slow down, admire the architecture and the volcanic backdrop, and enjoy the quiet before or after the busier sights nearby.

What to see and do

Yaiza's headline neighbour is Timanfaya National Park, the extraordinary "Fire Mountains" born of the huge eruptions of the 1730s, whose lava fields lap right up to the village. The park's coach route, geothermal demonstrations and Manrique-designed visitor restaurant are among the great sights of the Canaries, and Yaiza is the closest town to its gates.

In the village itself, take time for the whitewashed Iglesia de los Remedios and its square, the little art spaces, and simply the streetscape — few places distil Lanzarote's aesthetic so completely. The surrounding La Geria wine region, where vines grow in black cinder pits, is close at hand too; our Canary wine guide explains this remarkable landscape.

Where to stay and eat

For its size, Yaiza has a good reputation for food — a clutch of well-regarded restaurants serving both refined and traditional Canarian cooking, from fresh fish and grilled meats to papas arrugadas with mojo, often with a La Geria wine to match. It's a rewarding lunch stop of the sort our Canarian food guide seeks out.

Accommodation is limited and low-key — a few rural cottages (casas rurales) and small guesthouses — so most visitors stay at the coast and pass through Yaiza en route to the volcanoes. The nearest resort base is Playa Blanca, a short drive south, from where Timanfaya, the beaches and the village are all easy day trips; our where to stay guide compares the options.

Getting there and around

Yaiza lies in the south-west of Lanzarote, at the meeting point of the roads to Timanfaya, Playa Blanca and the west coast, so it's an easy stop on almost any southern itinerary. A hire car is much the best way to explore this part of the island and to reach the volcanoes and beaches beyond — see our guides to getting around and car hire. From Playa Blanca it's only around 15 minutes' drive; buses serve the area but a car gives you the freedom to combine the sights.

Nearby

Yaiza sits at the crossroads of Lanzarote's finest south-western sights. Beyond Timanfaya lie the golden coves of Papagayo and the resort of Playa Blanca, while the La Geria vineyards and the salt flats of Janubio are close at hand. Start with our Lanzarote hub to weave this beautiful, volcanic corner into a wider island trip.