La Isla y el Mar vs Secrets Lanzarote: Which Adults-Only Hotel Is Better?

Choosing between La Isla y el Mar and Secrets Lanzarote is not simply a question of which five-star hotel looks better in photographs. It is a choice between two different versions of an adults-only Lanzarote holiday. La Isla y el Mar puts you above Puerto del Carmen's old-town side, with unusually large suites, independent restaurants nearby and Playa Chica within reach. Secrets Lanzarote is a much larger oceanfront resort beside Puerto Calero, built around heated pools, spa time, organised activities and an all-inclusive stay that can make the hotel itself the destination.

For most first-time visitors who want beaches, diving, evenings out and the freedom to change restaurants, La Isla y el Mar is the more flexible base. For couples who want to unpack once, spend long days by the pool and keep most meals, drinks and entertainment inside one polished resort, Secrets Lanzarote is the stronger package. Neither is automatically better value: the right answer depends on how much room space matters, how often you plan to leave the hotel, and whether "adults only" means intimate quiet or full-service resort convenience to you.

Quick verdict: which hotel should you book?

• Book La Isla y el Mar for a smaller boutique atmosphere, a 50 m² entry suite, Puerto del Carmen restaurants, Playa Chica diving and a holiday that mixes hotel time with independent evenings.
• Book Secrets Lanzarote for four heated pools, an extensive resort programme, spa facilities, all-inclusive dining and Puerto Calero marina without needing to plan every meal.
• Choose La Isla y el Mar for room space. Its Classic Suite is published at 50 m², whereas a standard room at Secrets is around 30 m² and its Junior Suite is 37 m².
• Choose Secrets for facilities. With 335 rooms and suites, multiple restaurants and bars, tennis, padel, fitness, cycling facilities and a hydrotherapy spa, it operates on a different scale from the 81-suite La Isla y el Mar.
• Choose La Isla y el Mar for a short first visit. Puerto del Carmen makes it easier to combine Playa Chica, the old harbour, seafront dining and nights out without turning every outing into a taxi journey.
• Choose Secrets for a relaxation-led week. Puerto Calero is quieter, marina-centred and better suited to couples who regard a day spent entirely inside the resort as time well used.

Important booking note: hotel inclusions, restaurant opening patterns, spa access and package rules can change by season and rate. Compare the exact room name and board basis on your dates rather than relying on a generic hotel description.

The real difference: Puerto del Carmen or Puerto Calero

The location decision matters more than the star rating. La Isla y el Mar is on Calle Reina Sofía, above the old-town side of Puerto del Carmen. This is not the flat, immediate beachfront position that some hotel photographs may suggest. You gain an elevated Atlantic outlook and can walk towards the harbour, the old fishing quarter and Playa Chica, but there are gradients. Couples with limited mobility should look carefully at the route and budget for occasional taxis, especially after dinner.

Puerto del Carmen is Lanzarote's most useful all-round resort when you want choice outside the hotel. The old harbour brings restaurants and boat activity; Playa Chica is a key diving and snorkelling base; Playa Grande and the long Avenida de las Playas add a broader sandy-beach day, shops and a wide dining range. La Isla y el Mar therefore works well as a sophisticated base rather than a self-contained compound. You can book breakfast, decide where to eat later and still have a substantial hotel suite to return to.

Secrets sits at the western edge of Puerto Calero, an upmarket marina development rather than a conventional beach resort. The marina has restaurants, boutiques and yacht activity, but the choice is smaller and the evening mood is calmer. There is no broad sandy beach immediately in front of the hotel. The appeal is the oceanfront resort setting, pools and the ability to walk to marina dinners or book boat trips without going into Puerto del Carmen.

Puerto Calero and Puerto del Carmen are close on a map, yet the holiday rhythm is different. From Secrets, a taxi is the practical answer when you want Playa Chica, the old harbour or Puerto del Carmen nightlife. From La Isla y el Mar, those outings are part of the local routine. Conversely, guests at Secrets have more reason to stay in: the dining programme, heated pools and activities are already built into the price.

Rooms and suites: boutique space versus resort upgrades

La Isla y el Mar room choices

Space is La Isla y el Mar's clearest advantage. The hotel publishes 81 suites, and its entry-level Classic Suite is 50 m² with a terrace and partial sea view. It is open plan: the sleeping area has no door, while a separate living zone includes a sofa. For a couple staying seven or ten nights, that extra floor area can matter more than a long list of resort facilities. There is room to unpack, read, work briefly or spend an evening in without feeling confined to the bed.

The 50 m² Junior Pool Suite trades the partial sea outlook for a view towards the adult pool area. It can be attractive if pool atmosphere matters, but couples who prioritise privacy should consider whether facing a shared leisure zone is the upgrade they actually want. The roughly 51 m² Excellence Atlantic Suite is the more logical view upgrade, with a furnished balcony and a more direct Atlantic and Fuerteventura outlook.

The 64 m² Deluxe Suite has two bedrooms and a published capacity of up to four. That makes it unusual in an adults-only boutique hotel and potentially valuable for two couples or an adult family travelling together. Check the layout carefully: the hotel describes one bedroom with a door and another without a door, so it does not provide equal privacy to both couples. The 74 m² Premium Suite is the special-occasion choice, designed as an open-plan loft with a dining area, king bed, living space and a private Jacuzzi. Deluxe Suites are also described as having a private Jacuzzi.

Do not assume that the word "suite" guarantees a closed bedroom. Most categories here are generous open-plan spaces. That is excellent for one couple, but the Deluxe layout needs a closer look when four adults are sharing.

Secrets Lanzarote room choices

Secrets offers far more categories, which creates opportunity and confusion. The standard Double is approximately 30 m², while a Junior Suite increases that to 37 m². All rooms and suites are promoted with a private balcony or terrace, but the view wording is crucial. "View varies," "pool view," "ocean view" and "frontal ocean view" are not interchangeable. If sitting outside with an uninterrupted Atlantic outlook is central to the trip, pay for wording that explicitly confirms it.

The resort's main upgrade structure is Preferred Club. Published benefits include rooms in preferred locations, personalised check-in and checkout, a concierge, an exclusive lounge with continental breakfast and afternoon refreshments, a dedicated sun terrace, upgraded amenities and additional designated areas. The room list includes Preferred Club doubles, Junior Suites, larger suites and swim-up options.

A swim-up category can turn the terrace into the best part of the room, but verify exactly what "swim-up" means. It normally indicates access to a shared pool lane or pool area rather than a completely private pool. Ask about terrace sun exposure, privacy from neighbouring rooms and whether the water is heated on your dates. A romantic photograph taken at one time of day does not reveal how shaded the terrace may be in winter.

Preferred Club is most compelling when you will use several benefits every day. A couple who values a better room position, quiet sun terrace, lounge drinks and concierge support may justify the premium. If you expect to hire a car, tour the island and return mainly to sleep, a standard ocean-view category can be the more rational purchase.

Pools, beach access and winter swimming

Secrets has the decisive facilities advantage. The hotel currently describes four heated pools overlooking the Atlantic, with pool hours published as 09:00 to 20:00. A poolside lunch venue, Bali-bed style relaxation, fitness facilities and daily activities make it easy to build a full resort day without leaving Puerto Calero. This is particularly valuable from November to March, when choosing a hotel with explicit heated-pool wording removes some of the uncertainty around winter swimming.

Heating does not mean bath temperature, and weather still affects comfort. Lanzarote can be breezy, so ask which pools are heated, whether all remain open throughout your stay, and whether wind shelter differs around the complex. Resort facilities and opening hours can also vary with maintenance, weather and occupancy.

La Isla y el Mar has a much more compact pool experience, including an outdoor pool, hydrotherapy elements and a pool bar. The mood is quieter and the architecture feels more private, but there is less room to change scene. It suits couples who want a few slow pool hours before going out, not travellers seeking a different pool, restaurant or activity every few hours.

Neither property should be booked as a classic toes-in-the-sand beach hotel. From La Isla y el Mar, Playa Chica is the most characterful nearby option and particularly useful for snorkelling and diving, while Playa Grande provides the wider sandy-beach experience farther along Puerto del Carmen. The walks involve distance and, from the hotel, some slope. Secrets is oceanfront but not fronted by a broad bathing beach; a beach day generally means travelling to Puerto del Carmen, Playa Quemada, Playa Blanca or the Papagayo area.

If a sandy beach every morning is non-negotiable, compare these hotels against a genuinely beachfront Puerto del Carmen option before booking. If pools, views and atmosphere matter more than immediate sand, both remain sensible.

Food and board basis: where the value calculation changes

La Isla y el Mar is the better fit for travellers who enjoy making dinner part of the destination. Its main restaurant serves breakfast and dinner with local and international dishes, while Kentia Gourmet Club provides a more theatrical à la carte setting with creative cooking and live music on selected evenings. Pool and chill-out bars complete the hotel offer. Puerto del Carmen then adds enough independent choice to prevent a week from becoming repetitive.

Breakfast is often the sweet spot here. It keeps mornings simple and leaves evenings open for the old harbour, the Avenida, Puerto Calero or a special meal elsewhere. Half board can still make sense in winter, for a short restorative break or when the rate difference is modest, but compare what is included at dinner and whether drinks are extra.

Secrets is designed around its all-inclusive Unlimited-Luxury concept. The resort promotes multiple restaurants and bars, premium beverages, activities and entertainment as part of the experience. Dining ranges from an international buffet to grill, Asian and other à la carte formats, although individual venues and schedules may rotate. This matters: a hotel can advertise a large total number of restaurants while not opening every venue every night.

Before paying an all-inclusive premium, check five things on the rate you are offered: whether à la carte meals require reservations; which drinks are included; whether room service carries a delivery charge; whether spa hydrotherapy is included; and which venues are restricted to Preferred Club guests. Official descriptions can use broad brand language, while the operational details on a particular date are what determine value.

Secrets wins on predictable total spend if you expect lunch, cocktails, dinner and evening drinks at the hotel most days. La Isla y el Mar can win on value for couples who eat lightly at lunch, prefer local restaurants and do not want to pay in advance for drinks they may not consume.

Atmosphere, privacy and what “adults only” really feels like

La Isla y el Mar feels more intimate because it is. Eighty-one suites create a boutique scale, and the architecture uses dark volcanic stone, stepped terraces and contemporary spaces to separate guests visually. It is well suited to honeymoons, anniversaries and couples who notice design, room proportions and calm more than a packed entertainment schedule.

The tradeoff is that all guests share a relatively small set of common spaces. If the pool atmosphere or restaurant style does not suit you on a given day, the answer is to go into Puerto del Carmen. Fortunately, that is precisely why the location works.

Secrets is adults only on a resort scale. With 335 rooms and suites, the atmosphere changes by zone and time of day. One pool may feel sociable, another quieter; activities and live entertainment give guests more to do; Preferred Club areas add another layer of separation. This is better for couples who want choice and energy without children, but it is not the same as a tiny silent retreat.

For the quietest stay at Secrets, prioritise room location over a decorative upgrade. Ask whether the room is near evening entertainment, service areas, lifts or high-traffic paths. At La Isla y el Mar, ask about the relation between the terrace and pool or road. A good room assignment can matter as much as the nominal category.

Spa, fitness, cycling and active holidays

Secrets is the stronger wellness resort. Its spa has ten treatment rooms and an indoor hydrotherapy circuit, while the 24-hour fitness centre, tennis, padel, classes and bike station support a holiday that alternates exercise with pool time. Spa treatments and hydrotherapy should not be assumed to be included simply because the room is all inclusive; verify access conditions before booking.

La Isla y el Mar offers wellness treatments, gym facilities and cycling-friendly services on a smaller scale. Its advantage for active travellers is location. Playa Chica is one of Lanzarote's established shore-diving areas, and Puerto del Carmen has multiple dive centres. The hotel also works well for couples who want morning rides or hikes followed by independent evenings rather than a resort programme.

Serious cyclists should ask both hotels about secure storage, workshop facilities, hire partners and whether bikes are permitted through guest areas. Secrets explicitly promotes a bike station with rental, maintenance and storage facilities; that can outweigh the distance from Puerto del Carmen if cycling is a major part of the trip.

Airport transfers, buses and whether to rent a car

Lanzarote Airport is close enough to both hotels that a taxi or pre-booked private transfer is normally the easiest start, especially with checked luggage or an evening arrival. La Isla y el Mar is the simpler public-transport destination because the official Line 161 connects the airport with Puerto del Carmen before continuing towards Puerto Calero and Playa Blanca. The nearest stop still needs to be matched against the hotel's elevated position, so public bus is best for light luggage and confident walkers.

Line 161 also serves Puerto Calero, making Secrets reachable by bus in principle. The practical question is the walk from the stop to reception and whether the timetable matches the flight. A private transfer is often the better-value comfort decision for an all-inclusive luxury stay, particularly when two people can split the cost. Always confirm current schedules with IntercityBus Lanzarote close to travel.

You do not need a rental car for either hotel if the plan is pool time plus one or two organised excursions. Puerto del Carmen is more naturally car-free because beaches, restaurants, diving and boat trips are distributed around the resort. Secrets also works without a car when guests are content with Puerto Calero and use hotel pickup or taxis.

Rent a car when the island itself is a major reason for travelling. Timanfaya, La Geria, Famara, Haría, Jameos del Agua and Mirador del Río are far easier to combine efficiently by car. A sensible compromise is to book the airport transfer, settle into the hotel and hire locally for two or three days. That avoids paying for parking days when an all-inclusive pool is the actual plan.

For Timanfaya's Montañas del Fuego, current official guidance requires advance online booking for a dated time slot; tickets are not sold at the entrance. Build the drive around the reserved admission rather than assuming you can arrive whenever you like. Couples who prefer wine tasting in La Geria should book a guided tour or private driver instead of self-driving.

Best excursions from each hotel

From La Isla y el Mar

Playa Chica diving or snorkelling is the most natural local activity. Beginners can compare introductory dives, while certified divers should ask operators about sites, equipment, insurance and shore versus boat departures.

Puerto del Carmen boat trips suit couples who want dolphin-search cruises, sailing or sunset time without crossing the island. Confirm the departure harbour and transfer arrangements before booking.

Timanfaya and La Geria make the strongest first-time island day. A small-group tour removes the driving and wine-tasting conflict; a car gives more control but requires a timed Timanfaya ticket.

From Secrets Lanzarote

Puerto Calero sailing and catamaran trips fit naturally with the hotel's location. The marina setting makes a premium or small-group boat day a more coherent splurge than an excursion requiring a long coach pickup.

Puerto del Carmen for an evening is worth treating as an excursion rather than a casual walk. Take a taxi to the old harbour or Playa Chica area, reserve dinner and return without worrying about bus frequency.

Southern Lanzarote by car can combine Timanfaya, the salt pans at Janubio, Los Hervideros, El Golfo and La Geria. Do not overload the route; two or three substantial stops make a better day than racing through every viewpoint.

Which hotel is better for different couples?

For a honeymoon or anniversary

La Isla y el Mar's Premium Suite is the more distinctive private-space purchase, especially if a large loft, private Jacuzzi and boutique mood matter. Secrets becomes more compelling when the celebration is about service and facilities: book a clearly described ocean-view Preferred Club room or suite and use the lounge, dedicated areas and resort dining.

For a first trip to Lanzarote

La Isla y el Mar has the edge. Puerto del Carmen provides an easier introduction to beaches, restaurants, diving and boat trips, while a two- or three-day car rental covers the volcanic interior. You are less likely to finish the week feeling that you saw only the hotel.

For a winter escape

Secrets is the safer facilities choice because it explicitly promotes four heated pools and offers more indoor and active alternatives if the wind picks up. Choose a sheltered room terrace rather than assuming the most open ocean-facing position will always be comfortable.

For food-focused travellers

La Isla y el Mar is better when "food focused" means trying different local restaurants. Secrets is better when it means enjoying varied meals and drinks with almost no planning. Compare the real weekly restaurant schedule before deciding that one model is superior.

For couples with limited mobility

Neither choice should be made from photographs alone. La Isla y el Mar's elevated Puerto del Carmen position introduces slopes; Secrets is a large resort where distances between room, pool, spa and restaurants can be significant. Contact the hotel with specific needs, request an appropriately located room and ask for step-free route details. Secrets may reduce the need to leave the property, while La Isla y el Mar may require more taxis despite its town location.

For a long stay

La Isla y el Mar's 50 m² standard suite and independent dining options are persuasive over ten or fourteen nights. Secrets works for a long stay when the all-inclusive package, activities and multiple facilities justify the cost, but confirm restaurant rotation to avoid repetition.

How to compare prices properly

Do not compare the cheapest visible totals without normalising what they buy. Build a simple trip budget for the same dates and cancellation terms.

• At La Isla y el Mar, add airport transfers, lunches, dinners, drinks, taxis and any spa visits to the room-and-breakfast price.
• At Secrets, check whether the quoted rate is genuinely all inclusive, then add Preferred Club, spa treatments, off-site dinners and taxis.
• For both, compare the exact view, terrace, bed type and refund conditions.
• Add a short car rental only if you have a realistic touring plan; an unused car is not convenience.
• Check direct-booking benefits against package-holiday protection and flight-inclusive value rather than assuming one channel is always cheaper.

A lower La Isla y el Mar rate can disappear quickly if you order cocktails, take taxis and eat elaborate dinners every night. A higher Secrets rate can be poor value if you skip lunch, avoid alcohol and spend three days touring. The best-value hotel is the one whose included services match how you actually travel.

Final booking recommendation

La Isla y el Mar is our stronger all-round choice for independent couples and first-time Lanzarote visitors. Its 50 m² entry suite is a meaningful advantage, Puerto del Carmen supplies beaches and restaurant variety, and the hotel remains special enough for a romantic trip. Book the Classic Suite for value, the Excellence Atlantic for a more convincing sea-view upgrade, or the Premium Suite for a private-space celebration. Accept that the hotel is elevated and plan taxis if hills are a concern.

Secrets Lanzarote is the better choice for a resort-first, all-inclusive adults-only week. Four heated pools, broader dining, spa, sports and Preferred Club options create a holiday with fewer decisions and more on-site variety. Book an explicitly named ocean-view category, and pay for Preferred Club only when the lounge, location and exclusive spaces will be used. Accept that Puerto Calero is not a sandy-beach resort and that trips into Puerto del Carmen usually need transport.

The shortest useful rule is this: choose La Isla y el Mar when you want Lanzarote outside your door; choose Secrets when you want most of the holiday inside the resort.