Lanzarote in October brings highs of 26 to 27 ºC, a sea still above 22 ºC and the first autumn rain, usually brief. The fiestas are village celebrations, concentrated in the first half of the month: El Pilar in El Cuchillo, the Aguapata in El Islote, the Rosario in Femés. Arrecife closes its free concert festival, Puerto del Carmen hosts an international triathlon, and the month ends with the Noche de los Finaos. This guide covers what October offers every year: the weather, the sea, the fiestas and the plans that work best.

The weather in October: two degrees cooler than September

According to AEMET’s climate normals for Lanzarote Airport (1981–2010), the average October high is 26.7 ºC and the average low 19.4 ºC, about two degrees below September. Rainfall rises to 10 millimeters, spread on average over two rainy days, and relative humidity sits around 71 %. The month adds up to about 235 hours of sunshine, close to seven and a half a day.

When it rains, it usually comes as showers that last a few hours. Calima can show up, as in any month: when the wind swings to the southeast and brings Saharan dust, temperatures climb several degrees for two or three days and visibility drops. AEMET’s warnings give a day or two of notice.

Nights drop to an average of 19 ºC. A light jacket comes in handy for open-air concerts and village dances.

The sea and the beaches: the water keeps its summer warmth

The Atlantic holds on to much of the heat it gathered over the summer, and in October the water stays above 22 ºC, barely a degree below September’s peak. Swimming, snorkeling and diving stay comfortable all month.

The wind decides the beach, as always on the island. The south and southeast are sheltered and the sea is usually calm: the Papagayo beaches, Playa Blanca, Puerto del Carmen and Playa Honda are the choice for swimming. In autumn the first North Atlantic swells reach the north and west coasts: Famara and La Santa enter surf season, and swimming there demands respect for the currents and attention to the flags.

With school holidays over on the Spanish mainland and across Europe, the resort beaches are quieter than in summer, except on long weekends.

October’s fiestas: El Pilar, El Islote, Femés and Charco del Palo

October’s fiestas are village celebrations, with programs built for residents and open to anyone who wants to join.

El Pilar, in El Cuchillo. On October 12, a national holiday, the village of El Cuchillo, in Tinajo, honors Nuestra Señora del Pilar with an evening Mass and procession accompanied by the municipal band. The fiestas start weeks earlier with traditional championships of bola canaria, the Canarian bowls game, envite and other card games, workshops and dessert contests, and the final weekend adds a street dance and live music.

The Aguapata, in El Islote. The small village of El Islote, in San Bartolomé, celebrates the Fiestas del Aguapata between the last days of September and the first half of October, depending on the year, with street events over more than a week.

The Rosario, in Femés. In early October, Femés, in Yaiza, honors the Virgen del Rosario with a Mass and a procession through the village streets.

Charco del Palo, in Haría. The northern coastal village holds its fiestas at the start of the month, with live music, a tapas contest and children’s activities.

Municipal programs are published one or two weeks before each fiesta on the town hall websites. Almost every event is free.

Arrecife en Vivo: the last Fridays

The first Fridays of October close Arrecife en Vivo, the free concert festival the capital spreads across several stages in the old town and on the waterfront, with a street parade that moves the crowd from square to square. Dates and lineup change every year and are announced months ahead. History, awards and how to experience it, in our guide to Arrecife en Vivo.

Books, stories and stages: the cultural season

The autumn cultural season starts in October. The Cabildo, the island government, programs theater, music and talks at the El Salinero theater and the El Almacén island cultural center in Arrecife, and the municipal cultural centers restart their workshops and series.

Autumn is also festival season for books. The island hosts an international oral storytelling festival, with sessions spread across several municipalities and in several languages, and a literature festival with author talks. Most activities are free, though many require advance registration because space is limited.

Each month’s cultural agenda lists the specific program of fiestas, concerts, theater and exhibitions.

Ocean Lava: a triathlon in Puerto del Carmen

In late October, Puerto del Carmen hosts Ocean Lava Lanzarote, a triathlon with an open-water swim, a bike leg and a run, raced over the Olympic distance, a short format for first-timers and team relays. The finish line is in Plaza de las Naciones, on Avenida de Las Playas, and spectators can follow the race from the promenade.

Race day brings road closures in Puerto del Carmen and along the bike course. If you are staying in the area or need to cross the south of the island, check the closure times on the organizer’s website.

Nature: shearwaters and migratory birds

Between September and November, young Cory’s shearwaters leave their nests and make their first night flights out to sea. Artificial lights dazzle them and many end up grounded in streets, gardens, terraces and parking lots. Every autumn the Cabildo runs a rescue campaign under the slogan “Localiza, protege y avisa” (find it, protect it, report it).

If you find a shearwater on the ground, keep people and pets away, cover it with a cloth, place it in a closed cardboard box with air holes and leave it somewhere dark and quiet. Note where and when you found it and call 112 or the Cabildo’s environmental officers (928 598 548). Do not give it food or water, do not use a flash, and do not throw it into the air. It is one of the simplest ways to be a good visitor; there are more in our guide to sustainable tourism in Lanzarote.

October is also when the migratory birds that winter on the coast arrive. On the tidal flats of Arrecife, between the Castillo de San Gabriel, the La Cebolla pier and Punta de La Lagarta, you can see whimbrels, turnstones arriving from Greenland, and herons. At low tide, a pair of binoculars and a little patience are enough.

Halloween and the Noche de los Finaos

On October 31 two celebrations overlap. The resort towns and Arrecife host Halloween parties and children’s activities.

The same night, running into November 1, is the Noche de los Finaos, the Canarian tradition of remembering the dead. At home, the oldest woman in the family would tell stories and anecdotes about relatives who had passed away while everyone shared chestnuts, walnuts, almonds, sweet wine, anisette and honey rum, and the gathering often spilled into the street with guitars and singing. In recent years the Cabildo and the town halls have revived the tradition with storytelling, folk music and theater in several villages.

Volcanoes, trails and visits

With milder temperatures, there are more good hours for getting outdoors. Timanfaya still has no shade, but mid-morning no longer punishes the way it does in August, and hiking works for much of the day, always with water and sun protection.

It is a good month to take your time with the work of César Manrique and the island’s art, culture and tourism centers, with shorter lines than in summer. The markets keep their usual calendar and remain the best early-morning plan.

Key dates and bookings

October 12 and November 1 are national holidays in Spain and, when they fall near a weekend, create long weekends that bring visitors from the mainland. Book accommodation and car rental early for those dates.

On triathlon weekend, Puerto del Carmen fills with athletes and their supporters, so book early if you want to stay there. Outside those dates, the rest of the month is quiet.

Five tips for Lanzarote in October

1. Book early if your trip falls on October 12 or November 1.
2. Pack a light jacket for the evenings and a small rain shell in case the first showers arrive.
3. Pick your beach by the day’s wind and sea: south and southeast to swim, north and west to watch the swell or surf it with a school.
4. If you find a shearwater on the ground, do not release it: put it in a box and call 112.
5. Check the town hall website for wherever you are staying. Fiesta programs appear one or two weeks ahead and almost everything is free.

Before and after

If you are comparing months before settling on Lanzarote in October, September is warmer, with the sea at its peak and Los Dolores, the island’s biggest fiesta. November brings more rain and shorter days, with the sea still mild. For the full picture of the island, start with our guide to things to do in Lanzarote.

Published: Oct 1, 2026. Official sources: AEMET, Cabildo de Lanzarote, Ayuntamiento de Tinajo, Ayuntamiento de San Bartolomé, Ayuntamiento de Yaiza, Ayuntamiento de Haría, Ocean Lava Lanzarote.