Charco de San Ginés is a tidal lagoon in the centre of Arrecife, on Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. The sea fills and drains it with the tide, and local fishing boats lie moored on its water. Cottages, cafés and restaurants line the edge, and a walkway runs all the way round. The lagoon sits close to the town's shopping streets and main seafront, and takes its name from San Ginés, the patron saint of Arrecife.
Charco de San Gines Lagoon
Local name: Charco de San Ginés
Tidal lagoon in central Arrecife, ringed by a walkway, cafés and moored fishing boats.
- Entrance
- Free; there is no ticket.
- Parking
- Paid car park about 185 m away; free car park about 260 m away.
- Difficulty
- None: the lagoon is in the town centre, and a walkway runs all the way round it.
- Transport
- Bus stop Avenida de Vargas – Archivo Municipal, about 120 m away; León y Castillo – Calle Real about 300 m away.
- Advance booking
- Not needed for the lagoon itself.
- Hours
- Open at any time; the lagoon and walkway are public space.
- Address
- Charco de San Ginés, Arrecife, Las Palmas, Spain
What makes it special
Fishing boats sit on still water right in the middle of town, with whitewashed cottages crowding the rim of the lagoon. The walkway goes all the way round, so the circuit is the visit: boats on one side, café terraces on the other.
The water moves with the tide. Sit in the sun on a rising tide and you can watch the lagoon slowly fill, the hulls lifting as it does. Early in the day the sunrise comes up over the harbour, and by evening the restaurants along the edge are busy. It makes an easy pause between the seafront and the shopping streets, both of which are close by.
Good to know
- The lagoon is tidal: the water level and the look of the harbour change through the day.
- Restaurants round the edge vary in quality and price, so read the menu before you sit down.
- There are toilets about 140 m away, and free public ones about 520 m away.
- There is no drinking-water point nearby; carry water or buy it at one of the cafés.
- The shopping streets and the main seafront are close, so the lagoon fits easily into a walk round town.
Getting there
The lagoon is in the centre of Arrecife, close to the shopping streets and the main seafront, so from anywhere in town you can walk in.
The nearest bus stop is about 120 m away in a straight line. By car, there is a paid car park about 185 m away and a free one about 260 m away. From either, you walk through town streets to the water, and then the walkway takes you all the way round the lagoon.
Best time to visit
Best: early morning, and any time the tide is coming in.
The sunrise comes up over the harbour, and on a rising tide you can watch the lagoon fill and the boats float up.
Avoid: low water, if you want the full lagoon.
As a tidal basin it holds noticeably less water when the tide is out, and the boats sit lower.
Sun & daylight
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Frequently asked questions
Does it cost anything to visit Charco de San Ginés?
No. The lagoon and the walkway round it are open public space with no ticket; you only pay for what you order at the cafés and restaurants.Can you walk all the way around the lagoon?
Yes. A walkway runs all the way round, past the moored boats, the cottages and the restaurant terraces.Where can I park near Charco de San Ginés?
There is a paid car park about 185 m away and a free one about 260 m away.Are there toilets at the lagoon?
There are toilets about 140 m away, and free public toilets about 520 m away.When is the best time to go?
Early morning for the sunrise over the harbour, or on a rising tide, when you can watch the lagoon fill.