Find your perfect beach…
Lanzarote is famous for its amazing beaches and crystal clear waters. Volcanic, lava stone or white sandy beaches, the island has them all. With our recommendations you can be sure to find your perfect beach!
TIP We have conveniently embedded the Google Maps location on the beaches which opens by clicking on the name.
PAPAGAYO BEACH
Papagayo is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the Canary Islands. Situated within the Los Ajaches Natural Park, it’s easy to see why this is one of Lanzarote’s best beaches. The sheltered bays have beautiful clear waters making it perfect to snorkel. The natural park is made up of 7 baches in total, Papagayo beach being just one of them.
To access the beaches you need to pay a small entry fee per car and you can take your pick on which beach to enjoy. The ones with easiest access is Playa Mujeres, the first beach to the right. Its convenient parking areas give direct access to a good few kilometres of white beach.
The most popular of them, of course is Playa Papagayo. Its access holds a little stroll down a semi steep hill. There are two restaurant-bars in Papagayo, situated overlooking the Papagayo Bay. These are the only two places in the park with services. Food at the Chiringuito Papagayo is absolutely lovely and if you decide to have lunch there we suggest you try the local “lapas” a typical Canarian seafood dish. If you value a good sunset, this is definitely the place to be.
HOW TO GET THERE.
PLAYA BLANCA
A small beach in the very centre of Playa Banca. Great for families with children, it proudly flies the European Blue Flag for cleanliness, pristine waters and excellent facilities. It is located close to the harbour where you will also find a great selection of restaurants, cafes and bars.
West of the town is another attractive, golden, sandy beach with beautifully calm, warm waters with plenty of shops and facilities nearby.
At the foot of the prestigious five stay hotel Princesa Yaiza, lays Playa Dorada, with its clean, white sands. A real hotspot for sunbathers and swimmers with excellent facilities and a comfortable parking close by.
Playa de las Coloradas is a cosy, intimate beach with volcanic sand and pebbles, just around the corner from Marina Rubicon. At just over 400 metres long, the stretch of sand is a good place for children to play or for a romantic stroll along the shore.
Castillo de las Coloradas, which sits on a clifftop above the beach was originally built in the 18th Century to stop pirates raiding the south coast of the island, this castle is a fine example of traditional Canarian military architecture.
PUERTO DEL CARMEN
One of the most favourites, also with the locals! Playa Chica is a small, sheltered volcanic rock cove situated in the old town of Puerto del Carmen. With plenty of colourful marine life to see, it provides fantastic snorkelling and scuba diving. To the right is a quay for boats, divers and excursions and a restaurant.
The water is warm and safe and great fun for all the family. It is a bit tricky to get there and park, THIS is the exact location, but we recommend to park HERE and enjoy a lovely 10 minute seafront walk.
Playa Grande is a calm golden sand beach stretching over a kilometre long and surrounded by palm trees and volcanic rocks, located on Las Playas avenue (the Strip) it provides showers, lifeguards and lots of sunbeds and umbrellas for hire. Above all, it is a beach with easy access for those with reduced mobility as it has got aquatic chairs, floats and nets.
This is a long wide and sandy beach, less busy and great if you want some space to relax or for the family to play. It’s within walking distance from Puerto del Carmen, along the promenade north towards Matagorda and Arrecife. There are sun loungers and umbrellas available for hire, showers and toilets, nearby parking and the beach is accessible for wheelchairs.
Shops, bars and restaurants can be found at the northern tip, across the road.
FAMARA
This is, without a doubt, one of the most spectaculair beaches of Lanzarote. The beach stretches from Caleta de Famara village for kilometres up to the “Risco de Famara” cliffs. The fine sand forms some sand dunes and towards the back you will find some “zocos” to find some shelter and soak up the sun.
Famara beach is a real haven for water-sports lovers such as Surf, KiteSurf, bodyboarding or windsurf and hosts anual surfing competitions know across Europe.
On the withdrawal of the high tide, the water remains to dance on the sand providing a fairy-tail like scenario reflecting the cliffs like a mirror on the still water. Especially when you manage to combine this with a sunset, the colour-sceme will be breath-taking. This beach is not to be missed by those whom visit the island of Lanzarote.
HOW TO GET THERE.
COSTA TEGUISE
Playa Cucharas is the central beach in the resort with golden sand, perfect for families. There are many facilities and is a stroll away from shops and restaurants in central Costa Teguise.
This beach is also a favourite for windsurfers whom are conveniently corded off to separate them from the swimmers. Parking is relatively close-by, best to park close to the commercial centre “Las Cucharas”
Just passing the Gran Melia Salinas hotel and you will find Playa Los Charcos. It does not offer any facilities but has a large convenient car park.
The perfect beach if you love to swim. You can nearly call it a large swimming pool as it is protected from the sea by a wall of volcanic rocks. Playa Jablillo offers some facilities such as loungers and bars and restaurants are just a stroll away.
Playa Bastian is definitely one of the favourites for the locals. It offers many facilities and it is a fairly large beach. The highlights are the “zocos” which are low hores-shoe shaped walls by lava stone which are fabulous for shelter from the wind making them perfect for sunbathing.
There is also a fun climbing area for the kids, right next to the beach. The only downside it that there are many rocks which might make it a bit more tricky to get in and out of the water.
Another real favourite for the locals being it very close to central Costa Teguise and towards the capital Arrecife. Again it is absolutely perfect for swimming as, just like Jablillo, it has large stone walls providing a great “pool”. No facilities are available here though.
OTHER HIDDEN GEMS…
Just before arriving to Orzola, the northern fishing village, you will come across Caleton Blanco, an area of beaches and coves in the north of Lanzarote.
Caletón Blanco stands out by its perfect white and clean sand, decorated by black lava stones. A natural pool with crystal clear waters makes it a special place for a visit.
Some parts are perfect for children as other parts are deeper and perfect for swimming, however best to go at high tide. Parking is convenient and you will recognize when you get there as the pure white sand brushes over the road.
Also in the north you will find the amazing natural pools in the small town of Punta Mujeres. All along the coastline you find puddles created in the lava stone which is perfect for swimming with the whole family. Access is easy and some of the larger pools even provide stone steps.
The natural pools are well worth a visit and if you like snorkelling don’t forget your goggles, the water is crystal clear and there is much marine life to be discovered!
This natural beach offers a large number of services and has very calm waters due to the reef that protects it, making it perfect for a swim. The beach is usually very quiet and kept very clean with golden sands. It is decorated with some palmtrees giving it an exotic look.
If you like this area, the Playa del Reducto is right at the doorstep of our luxury apartment Ocean View.