Beat the winter blues with a fitness break in Lanzarote
For many people, the concept of an ideal vacation includes mendacity starfished on a solar lounger, cocktail in hand, for 2 weeks straight, but when fly-and-flop isn’t your jam and also you don’t need to abandon your health routine while you put in your OOO, Lanzarote’s newest wellbeing hotspot must be in your radar.
Freshly refurbed in 2022, the four-star Barceló Lanzarote Energetic Resort in Costa Teguise is fashionable with professional and novice athletes, who flock to the resort from throughout to benefit from its impeccable coaching services. We’re speaking a heated, 10-lane Olympic pool, a professional biking centre, a premium gymnasium, a CrossFit field, PT providers and extra each day health courses than you may shake a flip flop at.
If you happen to’re in a position to drag your self away from the resort, there’s loads of alternative for working, mountaineering, biking and golf, plus all of the water sports activities you may presumably ask for. Mainly, it’s a paradise for health freaks.
Intrigued? Let’s dive into the small print…
Inform me in regards to the space
Earlier than you ask, no, Lanzarote isn’t all package deal holidays and boozed-up Brits overseas. Positive, there is a component of that however there’s so far more to this Canary Island than its previous (unfair) ‘Lanzagrotty’ nickname. Assume dramatic volcanic landscapes, plentiful golden sandy seashores to wiggle your toes into and a glittering sea that appears prefer it’s gone by way of an Insta filter.
Then there’s Timanfaya Nationwide Park, dwelling to the jaw-dropping Montañas del Fuego, picturesque white-washed villages dotted alongside the rugged shoreline and La Geria wine area, the place you may pattern Lanzarote’s more and more lauded (and intensely scrumptious) volcanic wines.
As for the resort, it’s set on the shores of the peaceable Costa Teguise, with panoramic vistas that make you need to cease scrolling and too many palm timber to depend. Bliss.
I’m bought. Discuss to me in regards to the health services
Actually, they’re fairly spectacular. I’m not often one to hit up a resort gymnasium once I’m on my holibobs however after a tour of the swanky 485m house, even I felt impressed to kickstart my day with a full physique sweat sesh. A far cry from the dingy, cramped resort gyms I’ve skilled previously, this one is vibrant, ethereal and brimming with state-of-the-art gear and equipment, from dumbbells and kettlebells to treadmills, spin bikes and rowers. Not forgetting the out of doors CrossFit field, full with pull-up bars, rings, battle ropes, suspension trainers and punch baggage.
Sadly, my 36-hour journey didn’t enable a lot time for prolonged gymnasium periods, however I did handle to squeeze in some courses –they run commonly all through the day and are free for all visitors to hitch (you’ll have to pay further for a PT session, nevertheless). There’s numerous high-energy stuff like Les Mills Physique Pump and Physique Fight to get your blood pumping, however I wished to take the tempo of life down a notch, so I opted for dawn yoga and Physique Stability.
I often battle to quiet the fixed chatter in my thoughts throughout my weekly Vinyasa periods again dwelling, however there’s one thing extremely soothing about practising to the sound of lapping waves and rustling palms on a sun-drenched deck overlooking the ocean. Really blissful.
Group health not your factor? No drawback. Hire a motorcycle from the on-site biking centre for a leisurely peddle alongside the sleek coastal promenades or fireplace up your quads with a difficult trip into the mountains (The Mirador del Río viewpoint within the Famara mountains boasts magnificent views of the tiny Caribbean-worthy Isla Graciosa and is properly definitely worth the effort, apparently). There’s additionally mountaineering and path working aplenty, with well-marked routes that snake throughout the island. If you happen to’re extra of a water child, Famara Seashore is a surfer’s paradise, whereas the crystalline waters of Playa del Jabillo are the dream for snorkelling and diving.
Are there alternatives for R&R too?
Completely! While you’re carried out exerting your self, make your strategy to the wellness centre for a well-deserved volcanic stone therapeutic massage or soothe your drained muscular tissues with some downtime within the sauna. Sadly, it was closed for upkeep throughout my go to, however I’ve it on good authority that the Lanzarote Expertise, one of many spa’s signature therapies utilizing volcanic lava and aloe vera, is to not be missed.
Spa services apart, for me, among the best issues in regards to the sprawling resort is the very fact you may dip out and in of the motion as your coronary heart needs, there’s zero strain. If you happen to wished to sway your break extra in the direction of relaxation and rejuvenation, then go for it. Let your S.O. go ham within the gymnasium when you spend your time flitting between the seven (!) aquamarine swimming pools dotted across the grounds. Everybody’s a winner.
It sounds fairly wholesome. Will I’ve to outlive on inexperienced juice and crackers all week?
Panic not, this isn’t a bootcamp or detox retreat. Sure, you may nourish your physique with recent fruit, grilled fish and rainbow salads, however there’s additionally loads of alternative to indulge. It’s a vacation in spite of everything, folks! Whether or not you need to dive into the beautiful island delicacies (don’t miss the papas arrugadas con mojo) or combine issues up with Italian or Japanese, the resort has at least 12 eating places and bars to select from. You possibly can go for mattress and breakfast or go all in with all-inclusive, which is what we did.
Breakfast at La Dolce Vita was a buffet affair, and it was critically scrumptious, with an emphasis on recent flavours and native produce. I began with a veggie omelette, smoked salmon and avo, earlier than shifting on to a yoghurt bowl with a mountain of nuts and seeds, uncooked honey and presumably the sweetest, juiciest melon I’ve ever tasted. I rounded issues off with a handful of pastries smothered in blueberry jam and a café con leche. You’re purported to eat breakfast like a king, proper?
When it comes to dinner, for me, the stand-out was Koi, an Asian-fusion providing the place we dined on crispy prawn and veg tempura with a sticky candy soy dressing, zingy tuna tartare and oh-so-many sushi rolls. The superbly offered plates had been paired with wonderful mineral-heavy Lanzarote wines that slipped down virtually too simply. Dessert? A fragile vanilla cheesecake and a splendidly wealthy, gooey chocolate fondant with… wasabi ice cream. We completed off the night time with a digestif of Arehucas honey rum at Champs Sports activities Bar (sizzling high: stick to at least one should you’ve obtained an early class the next day).
What’s the lodging like?
The resort has a whopping 659 visitor rooms, together with normal doubles, household backyard suites, three deluxe sports activities rooms –which have a devoted exercise space, sizzling tub and sauna – and one hypoxia room, which simulates the circumstances of sleeping at altitude. Pay a bit extra and nab a Royal Stage room for fancier lodging, non-public entry to sure eating places and swimming pools and additional touches like a welcome bottle of fizz and each day treats in your room. I used to be fortunate sufficient to have a Royal Stage wristband, and admittedly, I did really feel like a little bit of a VIP as I sauntered across the grounds.
What’s the vibe on the resort?
Forward of the journey, I used to be barely involved the clientele would solely encompass gymnasium bros and wannabe health influencers. Fortunately, I used to be proved incorrect – the vibe is laid-back and the gang a pleasant, worldwide combine, with loads of youngsters in tow.
On that observe, little ones will love the Barcy Youngsters Membership, providing heaps of leisure through an outside play space with swings and slides, splash zones and a ball pool, when you get pleasure from a little bit of child-free time. Within the evenings, there are family-friendly reside music exhibits in La Plaza, a energetic sq. on the coronary heart of the resort.
So how do I get there?
It’s round 4 hours to fly to Lanzarote’s buzzy capital Arrecife from the UK (bonus: there’s no time distinction), with continuous flights working from all main airports. From the airport, it’s a breezy 10-minute taxi trip alongside the golden coast to the resort.
Last ideas
I checked out after two days, feeling concurrently relaxed and energised, wishing I may sack off work and spend one other week (or two) on the resort. I often come again from a vacation feeling hungover and exhausted, however not this time. I genuinely felt wonderful in spite of everything that motion, healthful meals, sunshine and deep sleep. In my eyes, it’s the proper stability of health, enjoyable and leisure.
Would I return? Positively. The truth that costs for meals, journey and lodging in Lanzarote stay reasonably priced is but one more reason so as to add it to my wellness wishlist.