What to wear and what to expect on a buggy tour in Lanzarote

A buggy tour on Lanzarote is not a race: it is a guided convoy of two to three hours on tarmac and dirt tracks, with dust, wind and a stop or two. Knowing that before you leave the hotel mostly changes what you put on.

What to wear on a buggy tour

The essentials, based on what the operators themselves ask for:

• Closed shoes. Every operator we checked requires them; H2O and Buggies Lanzarote turn away flip-flops and sandals. Since 1 October 2026 the law also requires them on quads and trikes.
• A warm layer. H2O asks for warm clothing even though it lends you a windbreaker, and operators recommend a jacket from October to May.
• Something for your face. Dust goggles are included (H2O, Buggies Lanzarote). A scarf or snood over your mouth helps a lot; Buggies Lanzarote sells them at its Puerto Calero office.
• Sun protection. In summer the UV index reaches 11–12, the extreme level, and you are out in the open in a buggy.

On Paracraft's jet ski pack, also bring a T-shirt to wear under the life jacket.

With H2O the helmet is part of the kit they hand out, along with the goggles. On a trike, Spyder or quad the law also requires gloves on roads between towns: ask whether the operator lends them or bring your own.

How the tour works: pickup, documents and convoy

The day starts before the engine does. If you book pickup (optional with H2O, €5 per person), wait outside reception 10 minutes early: the driver only waits about 5. Lanzabuggy leaves from its base on the LZ-2 at km 17 (Yaiza) at 09:30 and 13:15, with pickups in Costa Teguise, Puerto del Carmen, Puerto Calero and Playa Blanca.

At the H2O base you will be asked for each driver's original licence and ID card or passport; the requirements are in driving licence and age. Listen to the guide's briefing: the rest of the tour is about following them.

You drive in single file behind the guide, in small groups: H2O mentions a maximum of 8 participants on the two-seat buggy and 5 buggies on the four-seater, and Buggy Experience (H2O's brand in Costa Teguise) 6 vehicles including the guide's.

It is not all dirt track. Some Tripadvisor reviews of Lanzabuggy describe about a quarter off-road and the rest on the road, and one H2O customer expected more dirt on a route that was mostly tarmac. On top of that, on 2 October 2026 the Cabildo (island council) opened a public consultation on a by-law that could restrict or ban buggies on dirt tracks. Nothing is banned today, but routes may switch to tarmac: check when you book, and see the difference in off-road routes.

Dust and calima

Dust is one of the most frequent complaints: it comes up in Lanzabuggy reviews ("very dusty") and among the weak points of Buggies Lanzarote. In a convoy the buggy in front kicks up dirt; leaving a gap helps, as long as you keep the group in sight.

Then there is calima, dust blown over from the Sahara, with about 24 heavy days a year, mostly in January and February. On those days the authorities advise sensitive people to avoid exercising outdoors. If you have asthma or breathing problems, think about changing the date or choosing a road tour such as H2O's on-road tour from Puerto del Carmen.

Wind and temperature by season and altitude

The trade wind, from the north-east, blows on 45 % of days in January and 70 % of days in July: summer is the windiest season, not winter. The northern routes climb ridges exposed to that wind (Famara, Las Nieves, Peñas del Chache), and on very windy days it takes more effort to keep the buggy straight.

Average temperatures at the airport (AEMET):

Those are sea-level figures. H2O's off-road tour climbs to the area around Peñas del Chache, the highest point on the island at about 670 m, where the air is about 4 °C cooler than on the coast, before you add the wind. Buggies Lanzarote reviews also include complaints about the cold up high. In midsummer, on the other hand, midday is the hottest time: if you can choose, go in the morning.

Stops, toilets and photos

The stops depend on the route:

• Lanzabuggy, family buggy: stops at a bodega in La Geria with a shop, toilets and a tapas restaurant, and at Los Hervideros (this stop may change because of the weather or road closures).
• Buggies Lanzarote: the main stop is a bodega in La Geria with coffee; the 3-hour version adds a small tasting. You can check dates for the Puerto Calero tour.
• H2O on-road: includes a walk of around 1 km, about 40 minutes, to the El Cuervo volcano. Another reason to wear proper shoes.

If you are driving, the tasting is for your passenger: the drink-drive limit applies in a buggy too.

As for photos, the H2O guide takes pictures during the tour; according to a review on its website, the package costs €15 at the end.

Safety: stay in the convoy

Most buggies have a roll cage and seat belts, and the guide picks the line. The risk comes when someone leaves it. In May 2023, at Los Roferos de Teseguite (Teguise), a buggy on a guided excursion left the convoy and the track and fell about 20 metres into a ravine; both occupants died. In July 2025 another buggy overturned on a track in Teguise, and it is not known whether it was on a tour.

The lesson: follow the guide's line, do not overtake and do not strike out on your own. Driving off the tracks in protected areas can also be fined between €600 and €6,000.

H2O does not accept pregnant passengers or people with back problems, and passengers in two-seaters must be at least 1.35 m tall.

Rain and weather cancellations

It rarely rains (about 19 days a year, more in December), but when it does it can be heavy. H2O runs "rain or shine", and its GetYourGuide listing warns that the route may vary and that there is no refund for circumstances beyond the company's control. Lanzabuggy may change stops because of the weather.

If you book H2O's off-road tour on GetYourGuide, from €150 per two-seat buggy, you can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before. If the operator calls off the trip, ask them directly about a new date or a refund. To choose between tours, see the comparison.

Reviewed: 6 October 2026