A wide variety of watersports can be enjoyed in Matagorda along the beach, especially windsurfing for which the area is a famed spot. Alternatives range from banana boat rides and jet skiing to parasailing, scuba diving and deep sea fishing. Land sports facilities in the vicinity include tennis, squash, golf and horse riding. Rancho Texas Theme Park is a short drive from Matagorda and tourists wishing to get a real sense of Spain can opt to hire a car and explore the smaller villages inland. There are also several excursions on offer such as boat trips or visits to the dramatic Timanfaya National Park.

Spanish is the official language, but English is widely understood in areas frequented by tourists. Catalan, Galician and Basque are spoken in the relevant areas.

Spain's official currency is the Euro (EUR). One Euro is divided into 100 cents. Money can be exchanged at bureaux de change and major hotels, but banks give the best rates. All major credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted at most hotels, restaurants, and shops. ATMs are widespread and are generally the cheapest and most convenient method of obtaining money.

Holidaymakers seeking bargains in Matagorda in electrical and photographic goods must be cautious and check their purchases before leaving the shop/stall. Many visitors have been ripped off. It is prudent to ensure that the guarantee on electrical items is a Worldwide or European guarantee as unscrupulous shops may try to sell products with only Asian guarantees.

Holidaymakers will find that although Matagorda is not lacking in waterfront pubs and bars, most offering some lively evening entertainment, generally nightlife in Matagorda is rather low key. Younger visitors looking for a taste of nightlife in Spain or a more vibrant night out opt to travel a short distance to the rollicking clubs and bars of 'The Strip' in neighbouring Puerto del Carmen.

Most of Matagorda's restaurants are situated in the central commercial area around a square, where holidaymakers can browse the displayed menus before deciding on their preferred cuisine for the evening. The choice is wide, ranging from Chinese and Greek to British and Japanese, with the usual pizza, pasta and grill houses thrown in. Most visitors rate it as a plus that Matagorda lacks the presence of 'PRs', reps or touts trying to lure diners into their establishments. Those who want a more extended choice or a livelier dining scene can simply take a walk or taxi ride to explore the nightlife and restaurants of larger Puerto del Carmen.

Holidaymakers can take full advantage of the fact that Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote and the rest of the Canary Islands enjoy a special duty-free tax status. Cigarettes, alcohol, perfumes and petrol are much cheaper than in mainland Spain and the rest of the EU. Matagorda has a two-storey shopping centre containing a supermarket and souvenir stores, but for a real shopping spree holidaymakers prefer to descend on neighbouring Puerto del Carmen, which is bristling with a variety for shops from duty-free electrical stores and designer boutiques to stalls selling 'tourist tat' such as beach buckets, spades, umbrellas and souvenirs along the main strip. The nearby town of Teguise hosts a vibrant Sunday market, which is fun to visit.

Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 between the last Sunday in March and the Saturday before the last Sunday in October). The Canary Islands: GMT (GMT +1 in summer).