The Best Beaches in Lanzarote
Lanzarote is like no other island, and its beaches are no exception. Here the sea laps between black lava, sand that is sometimes golden and sometimes white, and a landscape that César Manrique taught people to look at without spoiling it. In half an hour by car you go from a sheltered cove of turquoise water to a wild six-kilometre stretch of sand beneath a cliff, and from there to natural pools so calm they seem made for children. There are postcard beaches where you never have to move, windswept beaches for those chasing a board, and rough beaches for facing the Atlantic head-on. We’ll tell you the best ones by type of day and, at the end, how to choose yours and swim sensibly.
Golden coves: the postcard ones
The jewel of the south is the Playas de Papagayo, a cluster of golden-sand coves with turquoise water tucked between cliffs, inside the Los Ajaches natural monument. The most famous one gives its name to the whole group, but right next to it you have Playa de Mujeres and the Caleta del Congrio, more hidden and almost always quieter. The water is calm, clear and sheltered from the swell: about the best you can ask for a long swim. A stone’s throw away, in the village of Playa Blanca, you have total convenience: Playa Dorada and Playa Flamingo are urban stretches of sand, sheltered and shallow, with a promenade, lifeguards and everything at hand. They’re the safe bet if you’re with small children or want to walk down in flip-flops from the hotel.
On the tourist coast of Puerto del Carmen, Playa Grande links an easy swim with the liveliest promenade on the island. It isn’t the wildest or the prettiest beach, but it delivers when you want sand, terraces and service without complicating your day.
Sand and lava: the authentic north
When you want the real Lanzarote, head north. Near the fishing village of Órzola, in the badlands left by the La Corona volcano, lies Caletón Blanco: a string of natural pools of turquoise water among tongues of black lava and very pale sand. The contrast of white, black and blue is one of the most photographed landscapes on the island, and because the water stays sheltered and shallow, it’s an ideal spot for a calm swim and for little ones. One detail makes all the difference: its look changes a lot with the tide. At high tide the pools fill with clear, warm water, perfect for bathing; at very low tide the water pulls back and mostly damp sand and volcanic rock remain, so check the tide tables before you go. Along this same north coast you can string together several small coves of the same kind, almost all calm when the sea isn’t running high.
A local tip: even though the northern pools look tame, they’re open to the Atlantic. With a ground swell or choppy sea, the current rushes in and out of the pools with force. If it’s breaking hard, you look and enjoy it from the shore.
Wild beaches: room to breathe
The most impressive is Playa de Famara, a stretch of sand more than six kilometres long at the foot of the imposing Risco de Famara, the cliff that closes off the northwest of the island. It’s pure wind, waves and space: a paradise for surfing and windsurfing, and one of the spots that shaped César Manrique, who grew up looking at this beach. But be warned, you don’t come here for a calm swim: the currents are strong and the red flag flies often, so bathing can be dangerous even when the water looks calm. Come to walk, to watch the sun drop behind the islet of La Graciosa and, if you know how, to catch some waves. To get in the water safely, better stick to the sheltered coves.
For wind lovers
Lanzarote is a land of trade winds, and you feel it in the water. Besides Famara, the epicentre is Playa de las Cucharas, in Costa Teguise: the island’s go-to windsurfing beach, with schools for beginners and top-level international events behind it. The east and south coasts gather more open, windy stretches where sail and board rule almost all year. Even if you don’t get on anything, watching the kites and sails cross the water at full speed is a show in itself, and a good excuse for a cold beer by the beach while the wind does the rest.
Did you know? Papagayo isn’t just any beach: it’s part of the Los Ajaches natural monument, a protected area, which is why car access is regulated. You enter along a dirt track from Playa Blanca and in high season you pay a small fee per vehicle (about 3 euros, card only) at a control booth. Parking is limited and fills up early, so the locals go first thing. On foot or by bike entry is free: it’s about five and a half kilometres of track from the village.
How to choose your beach (and a few tips)
South or north. The south (Papagayo, Playa Blanca, Puerto del Carmen) is drier, sunnier and has calmer water: the safe bet for swimming and for going with children. The north is rougher and more spectacular, with Famara, the Caletón Blanco pools and that volcanic feel found nowhere else. If the south is packed, the north almost always breathes easier.
Papagayo, with a catch. For the Papagayo coves, go early: parking is small, the fee is card only (no cash accepted) and the dirt track clogs up by mid-morning. Watch out with the rental car: almost all Canarian companies exclude unpaved roads from the insurance, so if you get a flat or damage the underside on this track, the repair is on you; drive very slowly. A great alternative is to leave the car in Playa Blanca and walk along the coastal path that starts next to the Castillo de las Coloradas. Bring water and food, because services are minimal.
Famara, with respect. It’s one of the most beautiful beaches in the Canaries, but not for a calm swim. Strong currents and a frequent red flag: here you stroll, surf and watch the sea, you don’t swim recklessly.
Getting there. By car you reach them all. On public transport, you can check bus routes and timetables on the official website of Intercity Lanzarote (Arrecife Bus), which connects Arrecife with Playa Blanca, Puerto del Carmen and the north.
Check before you set off. Many of these areas have a live camera: a quick look tells you how the sea, the wind and the crowds are before you get in the car. Playa Blanca, for example, can be seen on live webcam sites.
Safety. The Canarian Atlantic is not the Mediterranean. On the open beaches of the north and west, the currents and swell can be strong. Always watch the flags and, if in doubt, stay where it’s shallow. We cover it in detail in our guide to currents and undertow in the Canaries.
On islas24 you’ll find each of these beaches with its location, how to get there and its services, so you can choose yours depending on the day. Golden cove or lava pool, calm or wild: in Lanzarote there’s almost always a different beach less than half an hour from wherever you are. You just have to decide what kind of day you’re after.