A ghostly reminder of a failed tourist development, the abandoned hotel north of Punta de Pechiguera lighthouse, known as ‘Atlantis del Sol,’ stands silently after 50 years.
The dream of German financier Erich Becker envisioned five hotels, 25,000 beds, and an investment of twelve billion pesetas (72million euros at the time). Unfortunately, this ambitious project never materialised, leaving behind a deteriorating structure on the island’s coastline.
In 1973, the ‘Costa Canaria’ magazine enthusiastically sold the project, describing it as a vast tourist development covering almost 2.2 million square meters, featuring five hotels, an apart-hotel, bungalows, and villas. However, the dream turned into a nightmare, and the abandoned hotel now faces an uncertain fate.
Biosferadigital recently reported on the abandoned hotel in Los Charcones, advocating for its potential conversion into a social and health centre. Despite a proposal from a local company, the 1991 Insular Planning Plan currently prohibits such transformations, making demolition the likely outcome.
The four-story hotel, with a capacity of over 500, obtained a municipal license in 1972 but is now situated on rustic land under natural protection. Attempts to reclassify the land for a health facility were rejected due to existing facilities in the municipality.
The ‘Atlantis del Sol’ project, led by Erich Becker, aimed to create a vast tourist complex complete with infrastructure, green spaces, and cultural facilities. However, it faced challenges, including the 1973 oil crisis, which likely contributed to its demise. The 1991 PIOT now restricts construction in the area, estimating the demolition costs at over one million euros.
In the early ’70s, ‘El Eco de Canarias’ and ‘Costa Canaria’ reported on the project’s progress, attracting German tourists interested in Lanzarote’s potential.
Despite initial enthusiasm, the hotel never opened its doors, becoming a haunting relic of an unfulfilled dream.
Theories about the hotel’s demise range from the lack of water supply for the proposed golf course to unpermitted construction and even supernatural factors. The abandoned site, open to exploration but rife with hazards, has attracted Urbex enthusiasts and tourists eager to uncover the mysteries behind its deserted halls.
For those daring enough to embark on the journey, the Atlante del Sol is a tangible piece of history, echoing the grand ambitions and unforeseen challenges that marked an era of tourism development in the Canary Islands.
