Lanzarote's scenery is often compared to a lunar landscape or even Mars. Lanzarote is a favourite destination for scifi filmmakers and in many of its locations it is very easy to imagine the early days of Earth. But locals nickname the island "La Distinta", something like "the different". And it is this "otherness" that we will discover on our wanderings along the coast, on our way to the craters or when we visit the local special vineyards. But Lanzarote is also referred to as the Hawaii of Europe, thanks to the high quality waves that even the top surfers seek out. We can learn the basics of surfing, experience a few ZOGA lessons and discover for ourselves what makes ZOGA MOVEMENT different from YOGA. In this beautiful place you will have enough space for both and Veronika and Šárka from YOGIAM studio will be great teachers for you.
We'll be waiting for you at Arrecife airport, to toast your arrival with a glass of cava, Spanish champagne, and go check in. On the way, we will stop to buy groceries, especially for those who want to use their own kitchen.
We drive along a single highway, 25 kilometres long in total, for a while before the commercial parts of the capital Arrecife disappear behind us. After that, we'll just follow small roads where the open horizon is enlivened by dozens of volcanic cones and whitewashed houses of Lanzarot villages.
Los Cocoteros is a quiet, seaside village of four streets where the road ends and where the only pub is so inconspicuous that many visitors don't even find it. If there's time after checking in, we can go for a swim in the natural pool right in the village, or in the nearby bay behind the still-functioning salt fields. After dinner, we'll sit down with wine and mint tea from the garden and discuss the details of the next few days.
Today we will make the first ascent of the nearby Tinamala volcano and then drive to Famara beach and enjoy swimming in the natural pool in the evening.
After breakfast we will enjoy an introductory talk about the ZOGA movement concept (60 min) and go on excursions.
We'll walk straight from the Surf Garden. The top of Tinamala Mountain, just over 300 metres high, offers a spectacular view of the wild east coast, the villages of Guatiza and Los Cocoteros and the centre of the island with the massif of El Risco on its western side. In the past, this mountain was the site of the quarrying of high quality red stone, widely used in the construction of houses, especially in Arrecife. Mining stopped half a century ago and the former quarry is now a protected heritage site. It has also been filmed several times, and the quarry has served at one time as an Egyptian temple and at another time for a shot from another planet.
After returning to the bungalows, we'll relax and go to the other side of the island to watch the waves. (Those interested can try the basics of surfing.)
Famara is a 4.5 km long beach where most of the surf schools on the island are concentrated. There are several reasons for this. These include the safe environment for lessons thanks to the sandy bottom, the vastness of the beach where there is always enough space for everyone, and last but not least the genius loci of this corner of the world, defined by the several hundred meter high rock wall of El Risco, which rises directly above the beach.It is here that we will explain and learn basic surfing techniques and rules, talk about waves and currents, and try to catch our first wave.
After returning to Los Cocoteros, you can prepare your own dinner or go to one of the proven pubs in the area and in the evening relax your legs and hips in the ZOGA movement class (75 min).
From Los Cocoteros, we head north, and our first stop is the Cueva de las Aguas natural formation just a few hundred metres outside the village. We will then follow the coastal path through the exclusive nudist village of Charco de Palo to Arrieta, 8 km away.
The village of Charco de Palo was founded among the dunes of this isolated part of the island in the 1970s by the German naturalist Gregor Kaiser and was originally inhabited only by nudists. They can still spend their days in Adam's robes not only by the sea, but anywhere in the area, including restaurants (although there it's only until 6pm). So there is a great opportunity to swim in the local bay or one of the natural pools quite lightly 😀 However, if you prefer to swim, nothing happens at all. There are several interesting rock formations around the village that we won't miss.
The road from Charco de Palo continues through the desert landscape and volcanic outcrops below the village of Mala to Arrieta. Along the way we rest on the terrace of a modest hut, which the authorities have tried to remove for some reason. However, the owner of this informal property eventually won the court case and his beloved Choza, which has been part of this coastline for decades, can continue to serve as a nice stop for passers-by.
The reward of the morning trek will be the sight of Garita Beach and the town of Arrieta against its backdrop. It will be just in time for lunch, the perfect time for seafood, fish or local "wrinkled potato chips" with the popular tapas.
We can relax on the beach, have an afternoon mojito and slowly return to our accommodation.
We will return home just as pleasantly tired. Relaxation Yoga (60 min) - we will breathe deeply with pranayama the smell of the island, use movement to relax after the trip and after a glass of wine or a glass of Algerian tea we will say goodnight.
We will spend the day in the northern part of Lanzarote, first on the beach in Orzola and then we will visit the Mirador del Río viewpoint. From here, we will transfer by car to the highest point on the island, and explore its steep western edge. On the way, we stop for lunch in Haría, a town of a thousand palm trees.
On this day you can start with breakfast in the open outdoor kitchen and afterwards you can do a ZOGY lesson focusing on the spine and chest (75 min.) After the lesson we will go for a hike.
We can come here just to have a look.
Mirador del Río is a viewpoint set into the steep cliff of the El Risco massif, looking out over the ocean and the opposite islands from a height of 479 metres. It is among the objects created or directly contributed to by Lanzarote native and last "Renaissance" great - painter, sculptor, architect, urban planner, activist and above all visionary, Cesar Manrique.
Peñas de Chache, with its height of 672 m above sea level, is the highest point of the island. The number isn't very impressive, but you have to imagine that it is a near vertical elevation, so in fact it is the most dramatic spot on the island. We walk several kilometres along the edge of the world, with views of Famara Beach and Timanfaya.
We will stop at the chapel of the Virgin Sněžná, at 560 m above sea level, and then return the same way. This time the northern and western Lanzarote islands of Montaña Clara, Roca Oeste, Allegranza and the inhabited Graciosa will be deflated on the horizon.
We return to the cars and from there we drive through the fertile valley with the villages of Los Valles and Mojón back to Los Cocoteros.
After returning to the Surf Garden rest and who would not like to cook dinner, the option again in a local pub. There we can also play "bolas", a traditional Canarian game very similar to petanque.
"Rest" day. We sail by boat to the islet of La Graciosa, which is part of the largest European marine reserve "Chinijo". We'll explore its southwest coastline and swap surfboards for snorkels.
From the port town of Orzola, boats leave every half hour to the opposite island of La Graciosa, specifically to the village of Caleta de Sebo.
La Graciosa is the only inhabited island in the European Union without asphalt roads. The means of transport here are either bicycles or jeeps, which also serve as taxis. After disembarking, we'll shop at a local bakery for some great picnic sandwiches, before heading out for a shorter trek along the south coast to take a peek at the pitorean church of the Virgin of the Sea, the island's patron saint.
The journey to the strangely named "Kitchen" beach will take us through the interesting ecosystem of the southwestern part of the island. Light footwear, which we will be tempted to take off every now and then to paddle through the clear mini-lakes in the rocky depressions or in the shallow water of the sandy shore, will be sufficient.
In Caleta de Sebo, it is possible to take another quick dip before boarding the boat, or sit in one of the port cafés and watch the monumental El Risco wall on the other side of the La Ría Strait.
After about half an hour ferry ride back to Orzola, we pick up our cars at the parking lot and head in the usual direction of Los Cocoteros.
And when we return to Surf Garden after a "restful" day, we will be more than tired. Dinner at a good pub nearby will be well deserved. In the evening we will have Yoga Nidra (30 - 40 min) - immerse yourself in yoga sleep. We are awake, but at the same time we sleep a little bit. You listen to the voice, feel the emotions and just be with yourself for a while. Let yourself be surprised by what yoga nidra will bring you.
For those who would like to get up in the morning, join us for a morning Poweryoga class (60 min) - a dynamic class that will make you aware of your strength, how firmly you stand on your own two feet and focus on balance. After breakfast, we will head to Tenegüime Canyon, created in the distant past when torrential rains still washed over the island and the vegetation was much more lush. We will also visit the medieval town of Teguise.
After breakfast, we will drive just a few minutes through the village of Guatiza to the starting point of the trek through the Teneguime Valley.
The Teneguime Valley was declared a protected area in 1994 and is one of the most interesting places on the island in terms of vegetation. A number of terraces with fig trees reveal that in the past this secluded ravine was used for agriculture. The water collected here during the rainy season provided natural irrigation. All you had to do was come at the right time and harvest. Fresh water, pools and small lakes can be found here after every heavy rain. It's like leaving Lanzarote for a while...
We have lunch in Teguise, ranked one of Spain's most charming towns in 2019. Teguise was the island's capital until 1847 so we find the oldest and most important historical buildings and a defensive castle on the hill behind the town. When Arrecife was granted capital status, Teguise seemed to freeze in time. Except on Sundays, when there are markets, life here moves slowly and quietly. A few cafes, a few shops, quiet streets.
After dinner at the Surf Garden, a talk on ZOGA, fascia and emotions (about 60 min) - about how nothing is separate in the body, what movement is all about and how emotions can affect our posture.
In the afternoon we say goodbye to the waves and in the evening we say goodbye to the island. We will follow the waves to Famara again and our goodbye Lanzarote will take place in a small wine bar. But before that, we'll have a look at the El Cuervo crater.
On the last day at Famara you can try surfing once more. In the morning ZOGA movement (75 min) - neck and upper body, lunch will be in a pub right in Caleta de Famara.
The El Cuervo volcano was the first to start a six-year volcanic marathon on the island in 1730. Fifty new volcanoes were created in the process, burying 15 villages and a quarter of the island, the most fertile.
La Geria is proof that everything bad is good for something. A place that, after endless volcanic eruptions, seemed a picture of doom has been transformed in a few decades into one of the most interesting wine regions in the world. Over a glass of wine, we'll talk more about the local extreme farming practices.
We will return to the Surf Garden pleasantly winded, but feel free to continue the farewell party.
Final stretching, packing and a visit to the salt fields.
On the last day, and especially before several five-hour sessions on the plane, we can't miss our regular morning yoga practice, this time it will be Yin Yoga. We're going to go to nearby Caleta again. Aside from taking another dip in the ocean there, we'll stop by Juan's on the way to get some salt. I'll preface this with the fact that you can hardly imagine a less commercial place 😀
Only half an hour's drive away from the hustle and bustle of the small but busy airport at Arrecife.
We say goodbye at Cesar Manrique airport, tanned and hopefully happy and content. We'll have a kilo of salt in our backpack, we'll understand what those people see on those waves, what makes Lanzarote different, and why they named the airport after this man 😉🏄
Lanzarote's scenery is often compared to a lunar landscape or even Mars. Lanzarote is a favourite destination for scifi filmmakers and in many of its locations it is very easy to imagine the early days of Earth. But locals nickname the island "La Distinta", something like "the different". And it is this "otherness" that we will discover on our wanderings along the coast, on our way to the craters or when we visit the local special vineyards. But Lanzarote is also referred to as the Hawaii of Europe, thanks to the high quality waves that even the top surfers seek out. We can learn the basics of surfing, experience a few ZOGA lessons and discover for ourselves what makes ZOGA MOVEMENT different from YOGA. In this beautiful place you will have enough space for both and Veronika and Šárka from YOGIAM studio will be great teachers for you.
We'll be waiting for you at Arrecife airport, to toast your arrival with a glass of cava, Spanish champagne, and go check in. On the way, we will stop to buy groceries, especially for those who want to use their own kitchen.
We drive along a single highway, 25 kilometres long in total, for a while before the commercial parts of the capital Arrecife disappear behind us. After that, we'll just follow small roads where the open horizon is enlivened by dozens of volcanic cones and whitewashed houses of Lanzarot villages.
Los Cocoteros is a quiet, seaside village of four streets where the road ends and where the only pub is so inconspicuous that many visitors don't even find it. If there's time after checking in, we can go for a swim in the natural pool right in the village, or in the nearby bay behind the still-functioning salt fields. After dinner, we'll sit down with wine and mint tea from the garden and discuss the details of the next few days.
Today we will make the first ascent of the nearby Tinamala volcano and then drive to Famara beach and enjoy swimming in the natural pool in the evening.
After breakfast we will enjoy an introductory talk about the ZOGA movement concept (60 min) and go on excursions.
We'll walk straight from the Surf Garden. The top of Tinamala Mountain, just over 300 metres high, offers a spectacular view of the wild east coast, the villages of Guatiza and Los Cocoteros and the centre of the island with the massif of El Risco on its western side. In the past, this mountain was the site of the quarrying of high quality red stone, widely used in the construction of houses, especially in Arrecife. Mining stopped half a century ago and the former quarry is now a protected heritage site. It has also been filmed several times, and the quarry has served at one time as an Egyptian temple and at another time for a shot from another planet.
After returning to the bungalows, we'll relax and go to the other side of the island to watch the waves. (Those interested can try the basics of surfing.)
Famara is a 4.5 km long beach where most of the surf schools on the island are concentrated. There are several reasons for this. These include the safe environment for lessons thanks to the sandy bottom, the vastness of the beach where there is always enough space for everyone, and last but not least the genius loci of this corner of the world, defined by the several hundred meter high rock wall of El Risco, which rises directly above the beach.It is here that we will explain and learn basic surfing techniques and rules, talk about waves and currents, and try to catch our first wave.
After returning to Los Cocoteros, you can prepare your own dinner or go to one of the proven pubs in the area and in the evening relax your legs and hips in the ZOGA movement class (75 min).
From Los Cocoteros, we head north, and our first stop is the Cueva de las Aguas natural formation just a few hundred metres outside the village. We will then follow the coastal path through the exclusive nudist village of Charco de Palo to Arrieta, 8 km away.
The village of Charco de Palo was founded among the dunes of this isolated part of the island in the 1970s by the German naturalist Gregor Kaiser and was originally inhabited only by nudists. They can still spend their days in Adam's robes not only by the sea, but anywhere in the area, including restaurants (although there it's only until 6pm). So there is a great opportunity to swim in the local bay or one of the natural pools quite lightly 😀 However, if you prefer to swim, nothing happens at all. There are several interesting rock formations around the village that we won't miss.
The road from Charco de Palo continues through the desert landscape and volcanic outcrops below the village of Mala to Arrieta. Along the way we rest on the terrace of a modest hut, which the authorities have tried to remove for some reason. However, the owner of this informal property eventually won the court case and his beloved Choza, which has been part of this coastline for decades, can continue to serve as a nice stop for passers-by.
The reward of the morning trek will be the sight of Garita Beach and the town of Arrieta against its backdrop. It will be just in time for lunch, the perfect time for seafood, fish or local "wrinkled potato chips" with the popular tapas.
We can relax on the beach, have an afternoon mojito and slowly return to our accommodation.
We will return home just as pleasantly tired. Relaxation Yoga (60 min) - we will breathe deeply with pranayama the smell of the island, use movement to relax after the trip and after a glass of wine or a glass of Algerian tea we will say goodnight.
We will spend the day in the northern part of Lanzarote, first on the beach in Orzola and then we will visit the Mirador del Río viewpoint. From here, we will transfer by car to the highest point on the island, and explore its steep western edge. On the way, we stop for lunch in Haría, a town of a thousand palm trees.
On this day you can start with breakfast in the open outdoor kitchen and afterwards you can do a ZOGY lesson focusing on the spine and chest (75 min.) After the lesson we will go for a hike.
We can come here just to have a look.
Mirador del Río is a viewpoint set into the steep cliff of the El Risco massif, looking out over the ocean and the opposite islands from a height of 479 metres. It is among the objects created or directly contributed to by Lanzarote native and last "Renaissance" great - painter, sculptor, architect, urban planner, activist and above all visionary, Cesar Manrique.
Peñas de Chache, with its height of 672 m above sea level, is the highest point of the island. The number isn't very impressive, but you have to imagine that it is a near vertical elevation, so in fact it is the most dramatic spot on the island. We walk several kilometres along the edge of the world, with views of Famara Beach and Timanfaya.
We will stop at the chapel of the Virgin Sněžná, at 560 m above sea level, and then return the same way. This time the northern and western Lanzarote islands of Montaña Clara, Roca Oeste, Allegranza and the inhabited Graciosa will be deflated on the horizon.
We return to the cars and from there we drive through the fertile valley with the villages of Los Valles and Mojón back to Los Cocoteros.
After returning to the Surf Garden rest and who would not like to cook dinner, the option again in a local pub. There we can also play "bolas", a traditional Canarian game very similar to petanque.
"Rest" day. We sail by boat to the islet of La Graciosa, which is part of the largest European marine reserve "Chinijo". We'll explore its southwest coastline and swap surfboards for snorkels.
From the port town of Orzola, boats leave every half hour to the opposite island of La Graciosa, specifically to the village of Caleta de Sebo.
La Graciosa is the only inhabited island in the European Union without asphalt roads. The means of transport here are either bicycles or jeeps, which also serve as taxis. After disembarking, we'll shop at a local bakery for some great picnic sandwiches, before heading out for a shorter trek along the south coast to take a peek at the pitorean church of the Virgin of the Sea, the island's patron saint.
The journey to the strangely named "Kitchen" beach will take us through the interesting ecosystem of the southwestern part of the island. Light footwear, which we will be tempted to take off every now and then to paddle through the clear mini-lakes in the rocky depressions or in the shallow water of the sandy shore, will be sufficient.
In Caleta de Sebo, it is possible to take another quick dip before boarding the boat, or sit in one of the port cafés and watch the monumental El Risco wall on the other side of the La Ría Strait.
After about half an hour ferry ride back to Orzola, we pick up our cars at the parking lot and head in the usual direction of Los Cocoteros.
And when we return to Surf Garden after a "restful" day, we will be more than tired. Dinner at a good pub nearby will be well deserved. In the evening we will have Yoga Nidra (30 - 40 min) - immerse yourself in yoga sleep. We are awake, but at the same time we sleep a little bit. You listen to the voice, feel the emotions and just be with yourself for a while. Let yourself be surprised by what yoga nidra will bring you.
For those who would like to get up in the morning, join us for a morning Poweryoga class (60 min) - a dynamic class that will make you aware of your strength, how firmly you stand on your own two feet and focus on balance. After breakfast, we will head to Tenegüime Canyon, created in the distant past when torrential rains still washed over the island and the vegetation was much more lush. We will also visit the medieval town of Teguise.
After breakfast, we will drive just a few minutes through the village of Guatiza to the starting point of the trek through the Teneguime Valley.
The Teneguime Valley was declared a protected area in 1994 and is one of the most interesting places on the island in terms of vegetation. A number of terraces with fig trees reveal that in the past this secluded ravine was used for agriculture. The water collected here during the rainy season provided natural irrigation. All you had to do was come at the right time and harvest. Fresh water, pools and small lakes can be found here after every heavy rain. It's like leaving Lanzarote for a while...
We have lunch in Teguise, ranked one of Spain's most charming towns in 2019. Teguise was the island's capital until 1847 so we find the oldest and most important historical buildings and a defensive castle on the hill behind the town. When Arrecife was granted capital status, Teguise seemed to freeze in time. Except on Sundays, when there are markets, life here moves slowly and quietly. A few cafes, a few shops, quiet streets.
After dinner at the Surf Garden, a talk on ZOGA, fascia and emotions (about 60 min) - about how nothing is separate in the body, what movement is all about and how emotions can affect our posture.
In the afternoon we say goodbye to the waves and in the evening we say goodbye to the island. We will follow the waves to Famara again and our goodbye Lanzarote will take place in a small wine bar. But before that, we'll have a look at the El Cuervo crater.
On the last day at Famara you can try surfing once more. In the morning ZOGA movement (75 min) - neck and upper body, lunch will be in a pub right in Caleta de Famara.
The El Cuervo volcano was the first to start a six-year volcanic marathon on the island in 1730. Fifty new volcanoes were created in the process, burying 15 villages and a quarter of the island, the most fertile.
La Geria is proof that everything bad is good for something. A place that, after endless volcanic eruptions, seemed a picture of doom has been transformed in a few decades into one of the most interesting wine regions in the world. Over a glass of wine, we'll talk more about the local extreme farming practices.
We will return to the Surf Garden pleasantly winded, but feel free to continue the farewell party.
Final stretching, packing and a visit to the salt fields.
On the last day, and especially before several five-hour sessions on the plane, we can't miss our regular morning yoga practice, this time it will be Yin Yoga. We're going to go to nearby Caleta again. Aside from taking another dip in the ocean there, we'll stop by Juan's on the way to get some salt. I'll preface this with the fact that you can hardly imagine a less commercial place 😀
Only half an hour's drive away from the hustle and bustle of the small but busy airport at Arrecife.
We say goodbye at Cesar Manrique airport, tanned and hopefully happy and content. We'll have a kilo of salt in our backpack, we'll understand what those people see on those waves, what makes Lanzarote different, and why they named the airport after this man 😉🏄
itinerary by Reni
Lanzarote's scenery is often compared to a lunar landscape or even Mars. Lanzarote is a favourite destination for scifi filmmakers and in many of its locations it is very easy to imagine the early days of Earth. But locals nickname the island "La Distinta", something like "the different". And it is this "otherness" that we will discover on our wanderings along the coast, on our way to the craters or when we visit the local special vineyards. But Lanzarote is also referred to as the Hawaii of Europe, thanks to the high quality waves that even the top surfers seek out. We can learn the basics of surfing, experience a few ZOGA lessons and discover for ourselves what makes ZOGA MOVEMENT different from YOGA. In this beautiful place you will have enough space for both and Veronika and Šárka from YOGIAM studio will be great teachers for you.
We'll be waiting for you at Arrecife airport, to toast your arrival with a glass of cava, Spanish champagne, and go check in. On the way, we will stop to buy groceries, especially for those who want to use their own kitchen.
We drive along a single highway, 25 kilometres long in total, for a while before the commercial parts of the capital Arrecife disappear behind us. After that, we'll just follow small roads where the open horizon is enlivened by dozens of volcanic cones and whitewashed houses of Lanzarot villages.
Los Cocoteros is a quiet, seaside village of four streets where the road ends and where the only pub is so inconspicuous that many visitors don't even find it. If there's time after checking in, we can go for a swim in the natural pool right in the village, or in the nearby bay behind the still-functioning salt fields. After dinner, we'll sit down with wine and mint tea from the garden and discuss the details of the next few days.
Today we will make the first ascent of the nearby Tinamala volcano and then drive to Famara beach and enjoy swimming in the natural pool in the evening.
After breakfast we will enjoy an introductory talk about the ZOGA movement concept (60 min) and go on excursions.
We'll walk straight from the Surf Garden. The top of Tinamala Mountain, just over 300 metres high, offers a spectacular view of the wild east coast, the villages of Guatiza and Los Cocoteros and the centre of the island with the massif of El Risco on its western side. In the past, this mountain was the site of the quarrying of high quality red stone, widely used in the construction of houses, especially in Arrecife. Mining stopped half a century ago and the former quarry is now a protected heritage site. It has also been filmed several times, and the quarry has served at one time as an Egyptian temple and at another time for a shot from another planet.
After returning to the bungalows, we'll relax and go to the other side of the island to watch the waves. (Those interested can try the basics of surfing.)
Famara is a 4.5 km long beach where most of the surf schools on the island are concentrated. There are several reasons for this. These include the safe environment for lessons thanks to the sandy bottom, the vastness of the beach where there is always enough space for everyone, and last but not least the genius loci of this corner of the world, defined by the several hundred meter high rock wall of El Risco, which rises directly above the beach.It is here that we will explain and learn basic surfing techniques and rules, talk about waves and currents, and try to catch our first wave.
After returning to Los Cocoteros, you can prepare your own dinner or go to one of the proven pubs in the area and in the evening relax your legs and hips in the ZOGA movement class (75 min).
From Los Cocoteros, we head north, and our first stop is the Cueva de las Aguas natural formation just a few hundred metres outside the village. We will then follow the coastal path through the exclusive nudist village of Charco de Palo to Arrieta, 8 km away.
The village of Charco de Palo was founded among the dunes of this isolated part of the island in the 1970s by the German naturalist Gregor Kaiser and was originally inhabited only by nudists. They can still spend their days in Adam's robes not only by the sea, but anywhere in the area, including restaurants (although there it's only until 6pm). So there is a great opportunity to swim in the local bay or one of the natural pools quite lightly 😀 However, if you prefer to swim, nothing happens at all. There are several interesting rock formations around the village that we won't miss.
The road from Charco de Palo continues through the desert landscape and volcanic outcrops below the village of Mala to Arrieta. Along the way we rest on the terrace of a modest hut, which the authorities have tried to remove for some reason. However, the owner of this informal property eventually won the court case and his beloved Choza, which has been part of this coastline for decades, can continue to serve as a nice stop for passers-by.
The reward of the morning trek will be the sight of Garita Beach and the town of Arrieta against its backdrop. It will be just in time for lunch, the perfect time for seafood, fish or local "wrinkled potato chips" with the popular tapas.
We can relax on the beach, have an afternoon mojito and slowly return to our accommodation.
We will return home just as pleasantly tired. Relaxation Yoga (60 min) - we will breathe deeply with pranayama the smell of the island, use movement to relax after the trip and after a glass of wine or a glass of Algerian tea we will say goodnight.
We will spend the day in the northern part of Lanzarote, first on the beach in Orzola and then we will visit the Mirador del Río viewpoint. From here, we will transfer by car to the highest point on the island, and explore its steep western edge. On the way, we stop for lunch in Haría, a town of a thousand palm trees.
On this day you can start with breakfast in the open outdoor kitchen and afterwards you can do a ZOGY lesson focusing on the spine and chest (75 min.) After the lesson we will go for a hike.
We can come here just to have a look.
Mirador del Río is a viewpoint set into the steep cliff of the El Risco massif, looking out over the ocean and the opposite islands from a height of 479 metres. It is among the objects created or directly contributed to by Lanzarote native and last "Renaissance" great - painter, sculptor, architect, urban planner, activist and above all visionary, Cesar Manrique.
Peñas de Chache, with its height of 672 m above sea level, is the highest point of the island. The number isn't very impressive, but you have to imagine that it is a near vertical elevation, so in fact it is the most dramatic spot on the island. We walk several kilometres along the edge of the world, with views of Famara Beach and Timanfaya.
We will stop at the chapel of the Virgin Sněžná, at 560 m above sea level, and then return the same way. This time the northern and western Lanzarote islands of Montaña Clara, Roca Oeste, Allegranza and the inhabited Graciosa will be deflated on the horizon.
We return to the cars and from there we drive through the fertile valley with the villages of Los Valles and Mojón back to Los Cocoteros.
After returning to the Surf Garden rest and who would not like to cook dinner, the option again in a local pub. There we can also play "bolas", a traditional Canarian game very similar to petanque.
"Rest" day. We sail by boat to the islet of La Graciosa, which is part of the largest European marine reserve "Chinijo". We'll explore its southwest coastline and swap surfboards for snorkels.
From the port town of Orzola, boats leave every half hour to the opposite island of La Graciosa, specifically to the village of Caleta de Sebo.
La Graciosa is the only inhabited island in the European Union without asphalt roads. The means of transport here are either bicycles or jeeps, which also serve as taxis. After disembarking, we'll shop at a local bakery for some great picnic sandwiches, before heading out for a shorter trek along the south coast to take a peek at the pitorean church of the Virgin of the Sea, the island's patron saint.
The journey to the strangely named "Kitchen" beach will take us through the interesting ecosystem of the southwestern part of the island. Light footwear, which we will be tempted to take off every now and then to paddle through the clear mini-lakes in the rocky depressions or in the shallow water of the sandy shore, will be sufficient.
In Caleta de Sebo, it is possible to take another quick dip before boarding the boat, or sit in one of the port cafés and watch the monumental El Risco wall on the other side of the La Ría Strait.
After about half an hour ferry ride back to Orzola, we pick up our cars at the parking lot and head in the usual direction of Los Cocoteros.
And when we return to Surf Garden after a "restful" day, we will be more than tired. Dinner at a good pub nearby will be well deserved. In the evening we will have Yoga Nidra (30 - 40 min) - immerse yourself in yoga sleep. We are awake, but at the same time we sleep a little bit. You listen to the voice, feel the emotions and just be with yourself for a while. Let yourself be surprised by what yoga nidra will bring you.
For those who would like to get up in the morning, join us for a morning Poweryoga class (60 min) - a dynamic class that will make you aware of your strength, how firmly you stand on your own two feet and focus on balance. After breakfast, we will head to Tenegüime Canyon, created in the distant past when torrential rains still washed over the island and the vegetation was much more lush. We will also visit the medieval town of Teguise.
After breakfast, we will drive just a few minutes through the village of Guatiza to the starting point of the trek through the Teneguime Valley.
The Teneguime Valley was declared a protected area in 1994 and is one of the most interesting places on the island in terms of vegetation. A number of terraces with fig trees reveal that in the past this secluded ravine was used for agriculture. The water collected here during the rainy season provided natural irrigation. All you had to do was come at the right time and harvest. Fresh water, pools and small lakes can be found here after every heavy rain. It's like leaving Lanzarote for a while...
We have lunch in Teguise, ranked one of Spain's most charming towns in 2019. Teguise was the island's capital until 1847 so we find the oldest and most important historical buildings and a defensive castle on the hill behind the town. When Arrecife was granted capital status, Teguise seemed to freeze in time. Except on Sundays, when there are markets, life here moves slowly and quietly. A few cafes, a few shops, quiet streets.
After dinner at the Surf Garden, a talk on ZOGA, fascia and emotions (about 60 min) - about how nothing is separate in the body, what movement is all about and how emotions can affect our posture.
In the afternoon we say goodbye to the waves and in the evening we say goodbye to the island. We will follow the waves to Famara again and our goodbye Lanzarote will take place in a small wine bar. But before that, we'll have a look at the El Cuervo crater.
On the last day at Famara you can try surfing once more. In the morning ZOGA movement (75 min) - neck and upper body, lunch will be in a pub right in Caleta de Famara.
The El Cuervo volcano was the first to start a six-year volcanic marathon on the island in 1730. Fifty new volcanoes were created in the process, burying 15 villages and a quarter of the island, the most fertile.
La Geria is proof that everything bad is good for something. A place that, after endless volcanic eruptions, seemed a picture of doom has been transformed in a few decades into one of the most interesting wine regions in the world. Over a glass of wine, we'll talk more about the local extreme farming practices.
We will return to the Surf Garden pleasantly winded, but feel free to continue the farewell party.
Final stretching, packing and a visit to the salt fields.
On the last day, and especially before several five-hour sessions on the plane, we can't miss our regular morning yoga practice, this time it will be Yin Yoga. We're going to go to nearby Caleta again. Aside from taking another dip in the ocean there, we'll stop by Juan's on the way to get some salt. I'll preface this with the fact that you can hardly imagine a less commercial place 😀
Only half an hour's drive away from the hustle and bustle of the small but busy airport at Arrecife.
We say goodbye at Cesar Manrique airport, tanned and hopefully happy and content. We'll have a kilo of salt in our backpack, we'll understand what those people see on those waves, what makes Lanzarote different, and why they named the airport after this man 😉🏄
Lanzarote's scenery is often compared to a lunar landscape or even Mars. Lanzarote is a favourite destination for scifi filmmakers and in many of its locations it is very easy to imagine the early days of Earth. But locals nickname the island "La Distinta", something like "the different". And it is this "otherness" that we will discover on our wanderings along the coast, on our way to the craters or when we visit the local special vineyards. But Lanzarote is also referred to as the Hawaii of Europe, thanks to the high quality waves that even the top surfers seek out. We can learn the basics of surfing, experience a few ZOGA lessons and discover for ourselves what makes ZOGA MOVEMENT different from YOGA. In this beautiful place you will have enough space for both and Veronika and Šárka from YOGIAM studio will be great teachers for you.
We'll be waiting for you at Arrecife airport, to toast your arrival with a glass of cava, Spanish champagne, and go check in. On the way, we will stop to buy groceries, especially for those who want to use their own kitchen.
We drive along a single highway, 25 kilometres long in total, for a while before the commercial parts of the capital Arrecife disappear behind us. After that, we'll just follow small roads where the open horizon is enlivened by dozens of volcanic cones and whitewashed houses of Lanzarot villages.
Los Cocoteros is a quiet, seaside village of four streets where the road ends and where the only pub is so inconspicuous that many visitors don't even find it. If there's time after checking in, we can go for a swim in the natural pool right in the village, or in the nearby bay behind the still-functioning salt fields. After dinner, we'll sit down with wine and mint tea from the garden and discuss the details of the next few days.
Today we will make the first ascent of the nearby Tinamala volcano and then drive to Famara beach and enjoy swimming in the natural pool in the evening.
After breakfast we will enjoy an introductory talk about the ZOGA movement concept (60 min) and go on excursions.
We'll walk straight from the Surf Garden. The top of Tinamala Mountain, just over 300 metres high, offers a spectacular view of the wild east coast, the villages of Guatiza and Los Cocoteros and the centre of the island with the massif of El Risco on its western side. In the past, this mountain was the site of the quarrying of high quality red stone, widely used in the construction of houses, especially in Arrecife. Mining stopped half a century ago and the former quarry is now a protected heritage site. It has also been filmed several times, and the quarry has served at one time as an Egyptian temple and at another time for a shot from another planet.
After returning to the bungalows, we'll relax and go to the other side of the island to watch the waves. (Those interested can try the basics of surfing.)
Famara is a 4.5 km long beach where most of the surf schools on the island are concentrated. There are several reasons for this. These include the safe environment for lessons thanks to the sandy bottom, the vastness of the beach where there is always enough space for everyone, and last but not least the genius loci of this corner of the world, defined by the several hundred meter high rock wall of El Risco, which rises directly above the beach.It is here that we will explain and learn basic surfing techniques and rules, talk about waves and currents, and try to catch our first wave.
After returning to Los Cocoteros, you can prepare your own dinner or go to one of the proven pubs in the area and in the evening relax your legs and hips in the ZOGA movement class (75 min).
From Los Cocoteros, we head north, and our first stop is the Cueva de las Aguas natural formation just a few hundred metres outside the village. We will then follow the coastal path through the exclusive nudist village of Charco de Palo to Arrieta, 8 km away.
The village of Charco de Palo was founded among the dunes of this isolated part of the island in the 1970s by the German naturalist Gregor Kaiser and was originally inhabited only by nudists. They can still spend their days in Adam's robes not only by the sea, but anywhere in the area, including restaurants (although there it's only until 6pm). So there is a great opportunity to swim in the local bay or one of the natural pools quite lightly 😀 However, if you prefer to swim, nothing happens at all. There are several interesting rock formations around the village that we won't miss.
The road from Charco de Palo continues through the desert landscape and volcanic outcrops below the village of Mala to Arrieta. Along the way we rest on the terrace of a modest hut, which the authorities have tried to remove for some reason. However, the owner of this informal property eventually won the court case and his beloved Choza, which has been part of this coastline for decades, can continue to serve as a nice stop for passers-by.
The reward of the morning trek will be the sight of Garita Beach and the town of Arrieta against its backdrop. It will be just in time for lunch, the perfect time for seafood, fish or local "wrinkled potato chips" with the popular tapas.
We can relax on the beach, have an afternoon mojito and slowly return to our accommodation.
We will return home just as pleasantly tired. Relaxation Yoga (60 min) - we will breathe deeply with pranayama the smell of the island, use movement to relax after the trip and after a glass of wine or a glass of Algerian tea we will say goodnight.
We will spend the day in the northern part of Lanzarote, first on the beach in Orzola and then we will visit the Mirador del Río viewpoint. From here, we will transfer by car to the highest point on the island, and explore its steep western edge. On the way, we stop for lunch in Haría, a town of a thousand palm trees.
On this day you can start with breakfast in the open outdoor kitchen and afterwards you can do a ZOGY lesson focusing on the spine and chest (75 min.) After the lesson we will go for a hike.
We can come here just to have a look.
Mirador del Río is a viewpoint set into the steep cliff of the El Risco massif, looking out over the ocean and the opposite islands from a height of 479 metres. It is among the objects created or directly contributed to by Lanzarote native and last "Renaissance" great - painter, sculptor, architect, urban planner, activist and above all visionary, Cesar Manrique.
Peñas de Chache, with its height of 672 m above sea level, is the highest point of the island. The number isn't very impressive, but you have to imagine that it is a near vertical elevation, so in fact it is the most dramatic spot on the island. We walk several kilometres along the edge of the world, with views of Famara Beach and Timanfaya.
We will stop at the chapel of the Virgin Sněžná, at 560 m above sea level, and then return the same way. This time the northern and western Lanzarote islands of Montaña Clara, Roca Oeste, Allegranza and the inhabited Graciosa will be deflated on the horizon.
We return to the cars and from there we drive through the fertile valley with the villages of Los Valles and Mojón back to Los Cocoteros.
After returning to the Surf Garden rest and who would not like to cook dinner, the option again in a local pub. There we can also play "bolas", a traditional Canarian game very similar to petanque.
"Rest" day. We sail by boat to the islet of La Graciosa, which is part of the largest European marine reserve "Chinijo". We'll explore its southwest coastline and swap surfboards for snorkels.
From the port town of Orzola, boats leave every half hour to the opposite island of La Graciosa, specifically to the village of Caleta de Sebo.
La Graciosa is the only inhabited island in the European Union without asphalt roads. The means of transport here are either bicycles or jeeps, which also serve as taxis. After disembarking, we'll shop at a local bakery for some great picnic sandwiches, before heading out for a shorter trek along the south coast to take a peek at the pitorean church of the Virgin of the Sea, the island's patron saint.
The journey to the strangely named "Kitchen" beach will take us through the interesting ecosystem of the southwestern part of the island. Light footwear, which we will be tempted to take off every now and then to paddle through the clear mini-lakes in the rocky depressions or in the shallow water of the sandy shore, will be sufficient.
In Caleta de Sebo, it is possible to take another quick dip before boarding the boat, or sit in one of the port cafés and watch the monumental El Risco wall on the other side of the La Ría Strait.
After about half an hour ferry ride back to Orzola, we pick up our cars at the parking lot and head in the usual direction of Los Cocoteros.
And when we return to Surf Garden after a "restful" day, we will be more than tired. Dinner at a good pub nearby will be well deserved. In the evening we will have Yoga Nidra (30 - 40 min) - immerse yourself in yoga sleep. We are awake, but at the same time we sleep a little bit. You listen to the voice, feel the emotions and just be with yourself for a while. Let yourself be surprised by what yoga nidra will bring you.
For those who would like to get up in the morning, join us for a morning Poweryoga class (60 min) - a dynamic class that will make you aware of your strength, how firmly you stand on your own two feet and focus on balance. After breakfast, we will head to Tenegüime Canyon, created in the distant past when torrential rains still washed over the island and the vegetation was much more lush. We will also visit the medieval town of Teguise.
After breakfast, we will drive just a few minutes through the village of Guatiza to the starting point of the trek through the Teneguime Valley.
The Teneguime Valley was declared a protected area in 1994 and is one of the most interesting places on the island in terms of vegetation. A number of terraces with fig trees reveal that in the past this secluded ravine was used for agriculture. The water collected here during the rainy season provided natural irrigation. All you had to do was come at the right time and harvest. Fresh water, pools and small lakes can be found here after every heavy rain. It's like leaving Lanzarote for a while...
We have lunch in Teguise, ranked one of Spain's most charming towns in 2019. Teguise was the island's capital until 1847 so we find the oldest and most important historical buildings and a defensive castle on the hill behind the town. When Arrecife was granted capital status, Teguise seemed to freeze in time. Except on Sundays, when there are markets, life here moves slowly and quietly. A few cafes, a few shops, quiet streets.
After dinner at the Surf Garden, a talk on ZOGA, fascia and emotions (about 60 min) - about how nothing is separate in the body, what movement is all about and how emotions can affect our posture.
In the afternoon we say goodbye to the waves and in the evening we say goodbye to the island. We will follow the waves to Famara again and our goodbye Lanzarote will take place in a small wine bar. But before that, we'll have a look at the El Cuervo crater.
On the last day at Famara you can try surfing once more. In the morning ZOGA movement (75 min) - neck and upper body, lunch will be in a pub right in Caleta de Famara.
The El Cuervo volcano was the first to start a six-year volcanic marathon on the island in 1730. Fifty new volcanoes were created in the process, burying 15 villages and a quarter of the island, the most fertile.
La Geria is proof that everything bad is good for something. A place that, after endless volcanic eruptions, seemed a picture of doom has been transformed in a few decades into one of the most interesting wine regions in the world. Over a glass of wine, we'll talk more about the local extreme farming practices.
We will return to the Surf Garden pleasantly winded, but feel free to continue the farewell party.
Final stretching, packing and a visit to the salt fields.
On the last day, and especially before several five-hour sessions on the plane, we can't miss our regular morning yoga practice, this time it will be Yin Yoga. We're going to go to nearby Caleta again. Aside from taking another dip in the ocean there, we'll stop by Juan's on the way to get some salt. I'll preface this with the fact that you can hardly imagine a less commercial place 😀
Only half an hour's drive away from the hustle and bustle of the small but busy airport at Arrecife.
We say goodbye at Cesar Manrique airport, tanned and hopefully happy and content. We'll have a kilo of salt in our backpack, we'll understand what those people see on those waves, what makes Lanzarote different, and why they named the airport after this man 😉🏄
