Best beaches in Lanzarote

Thousands of tourists come to the Canary Islands for its unbeatable climate. Like the rest of the archipelago, Lanzarote has very few rainy days and pleasant temperatures from January to December.

As a result, the beaches are among Lanzarote's best attractions. The coastline alternates between natural pools, black rocky shores, fine sandy coves and large shores with sun loungers and parasols. Read on and discover the 10 best beaches of Lanzarote.

A few kilometres from Playa Blanca is an unspoilt, rugged coastline characterised by basaltic rocks jutting out into the ocean. The area of the natural pools is on higher ground than the sea. As the waves break on the rocks, they fill the cavities with turquoise water.

If you want a tip, it is not the most advisable destination if you are travelling to Lanzarote with small children. Access is a bit tricky: you need to wear suitable footwear - crab booties prevent falls and sprained ankles - as well as the classic sun cream to avoid sunburn.

Practical information

• How to get there: from Playa Blanca, all you have to do is leave the centre and walk along Avenida del Faro Pechiguera to the end. You will arrive near the ruins of a hotel; once there, you should walk down the rocks towards the sea
• Where to eat: Los Charcones is in an isolated spot and there are no options for eating near the coast. You can buy something to take away at the nearby Playa Blanca
• Recommended for those who want to swim in a natural spot shaped by volcanic activity.

It is located to the east of the tourist centre of Playa Blanca and is made up of a number of different coves. You can go from one to another through the dunes or walk along the coastline (at low tide). Here are the main ones:

• Playa Mujeres, the closest to the town centre. It is characterised by its white sand and low waves. It has a car park a short distance from the coastline
• El Pozo, also known as Playa de La Cruz. Not far from the shore is the archaeological site of San Marcial del Rubicón. In fact, the first Castilian explorers settled here to hunt the seals of the island of Lobos
• Papagayo, sheltered by two black cliffs that isolate it from the trade winds. On the heights there are some small beach bars and a car park
• Caleta del Congrio, the privileged place for naturists
• La Cera, next to Papagayo Beach. During the summer it can get quite crowded
• Puerto Muelas, a favourite for camping lovers

Some of these stretches of coastline are difficult to access and it is preferable to visit them by hiring one of Lanzarote's boat trips, specifically by catamaran. If you are travelling by land, I recommend you wear comfortable shoes because you will have to walk along unpaved paths.

Practical information

• How to get there: not all the beaches have a car park but you can get there via Avenida de Papagayo. You will have to pay around €3 to get there
• Where to eat: Apart from the beach bars at Playa Papagayo, there are few places to eat. In nearby Playa Blanca I recommend Simple y Natural (Centro Comercial El Pueblo) and La Casa Roja (Puerto Deportivo Marina Rubicón)
• Recommended for those who want to see a stretch of unspoilt coastline.

A spectacular beach on the west coast of Lanzarote. A few metres from the sea there is an elongated, deep green lake.

It is the crater of an ancient volcano and its colour is due to the seaweed Ruppia maritima and the abundant sulphur residues. If you've seen it in Pedro Almodóvar's "Los abrazos rotos" (Broken Embraces), you might be familiar with it.

You can't go swimming, but it's not a problem, the sea is just a stone's throw away. Charco de los Clicos can be the last stop after a day in the nearby Parque Natural de los Volcanes. If you want more information, I recommend you read the post about the best excursions in Timanfaya.

Practical information about Lanzarote

• How to get there: you will have to leave your car on the LZ-703 road, just off the village of El Golfo. Then you have to go down a path
• Where to eat: to find something to eat you have to go to the nearby village of El Golfo. Here you will find a number of restaurants with excellent views. I recommend Casa Rafa ( Avenida Marítima 10) and Bogavante (Avenida Marítima 39)
• Recommended for those looking for a quiet place to relax.

One of the best nudist beaches in Lanzarote. It is located in the northern part of the island and faces the island of La Graciosa. It is not usually crowded as it is quite far away from the main towns and hotel areas.

Lanzarote and the other islands of the archipelago are famous for nudism. Bajo el Risco is not the only destination, you can also opt for:

• Playa de las Salinas de Janubio, beautiful as well as dangerous. The waves are very strong
• Barranco del Quíquere, a short distance from Puerto del Carmen
• Playa Guacimeta, very close to the airport
• Charco del Palo, a natural swimming pool in the town of the same name

There are also places dedicated to nudism on the Papagayo coastline. Specifically, Playa Mujeres and El Pozo.

Practical information

• How to get there: You should look for a car park along the LZ-202 road. To reach the coast, you must go down the Camino de los Gracioseros
• Where to eat: There are no beach bars or restaurants in the vicinity. You will have to bring something from the villages of Ye or Órzola (the closest ones)
• Recommended for those who want to sunbathe and swim without clothes.

Six kilometres of coastline within the Chinijo Archipelago Natural Park. It is characterised by golden sand and the constant action of the trade winds.

Bathing there can be a complicated task, but that changes if you are passionate about sports such as windsurfing, kitesurfing and surfing, as this is one of the best areas to enjoy these activities in Lanzarote.

On the beach itself there are at least two different areas:

• El Papelillo, located in the northern area and a privileged place to enjoy the waves and the wind
• El Molino, the area "destined" for surf schools. Here the current is less and therefore it is a good place to learn the discipline. Red Star Surf, Epica Lanzarote and other agencies organise classes for all levels

By the way, if you want to take advantage of your stay in Lanzarote to get started in this water sport, I recommend you read the post about the best surf lessons in Lanzarote.

Practical information

• How to get there: from Arrecife you just drive along the LZ-20 road and then take the LZ-30 and LZ-402 to the end
• Where to eat: the nearby village of Caleta de Famara is home to one of the best restaurants in Lanzarote, El Risco (Calle Montaña Clara 30)
• Recommended for those who want to surf, windsurf and kitesurf.

Lanzarote's coastline can be wild and, in some respects, inhospitable. However, some beaches stand out for their calm, shallow waters.

Caletón Blanco is one of these and, in fact, you could say that it is a natural swimming pool surrounded by clear sand. It is located in the north of the island, a short distance from the municipality of Órzola.

Fish and molluscs live among the black rocks; a mask and a snorkel are enough to enjoy the marine life. It is not very big but not as crowded as others. Another plus is the parking, which is easy to find and free of charge.

It is also a good intermediate stop if you want to visit La Graciosa. The boats leave from Órzola and reach the island in about half an hour. For more information, I recommend the article on day trips to La Graciosa from Lanzarote.

Practical information

• How to get there: Caletón Blanco is a short distance from the LZ-1 road. If you are arriving from Arrecife, you will have to take a detour before reaching Órzola
• Where to eat: There are no bars or restaurants on the beach, but Órzola is very close and has a few restaurants. I recommend Mirador del Roque (Calle Peña del Señor Dionisio 8) and La Nasa (Calle el Embarcadero 6)
• Recommended for those travelling with small children.

A comfortable beach, in an urban environment, but no less beautiful than the others. If you are planning a trip to Lanzarote with your children, you should consider staying here. The waters are calm and the fine sand is perfect for digging holes, building castles or setting up a marble maze.

Here you will find everything you could possibly need: shops on the promenade, showers, sun loungers, umbrellas for rent, small supermarkets and more. Also, being on the southern coast of the island, it is the starting point for many excursions to Fuerteventura from Lanzarote.

Practical information

• How to get there: if your B&B or hotel is in Playa Blanca, you can easily reach it on foot
• Where to eat: a few metres from the shore you will find two restaurants with sea views: Casa Joaquín (Calle Gran Canaria s/n) and La Bahía (Avenida Archipiélago 11)
• Recommended for those travelling with the family

A paradise for snorkelling and diving. You don't need to be an expert, the calm waters guarantee a peaceful swim. Once in the sea, you can admire the beauty of the local fauna:

• Guelde or Pejeverde, a colourful specimen that lives and feeds among the rocks. It can be recognised by its light blue snout with dark blue spots (the male) or its vertical bands of greenish blue (the female)
• Spider crab, the largest arthropod in the world. You will recognise it by its long legs
• Giant anemone, beautiful and with a large number of tentacles. They shelter small fish and crustaceans
• Moray eels, nocturnal animals that inhabit rocky bottoms. Although it is not known, it is part of the Canarian diet. In Lanzarote there are bars and restaurants specialising in this animal. One of these is the restaurant El Risco (Calle Montaña Clara 30 - Famara)
• Chucho, the endemic ray of the Canary Islands. It prefers sandy bottoms where it finds its favourite prey: crustaceans, molluscs and small fish
• Fula negra, with an oval body and large eyes. It is a very territorial fish and defends its habitat from any intruder

If you don't feel like renting diving equipment, you can enjoy the underwater spectacle with goggles, fins and snorkel. In case you don't have it, you can rent your equipment at the Jablillo Beach itself.

Practical info

• How to get there: If you are staying in Costa Teguise, you can reach this cove on foot. If you arrive by car, there is a car park on Avenida del Jablillo 15
• Where to eat: the nearest restaurants are Taberna del Mar and Doña Lola, both on Avenida del Jablillo
• Recommended for those who want to start diving.

A quiet stretch of coastline almost unknown to most tourists. It is located on the coast of Yaiza, a few kilometres from the exclusive town of Puerto Calero.

The Natural Monument of Los Ajaches, a volcanic massif of more than 3,000 hectares, protects it from the winds. As a result, the waters are usually calm.

This beach is also the ideal place for those who wish to take a jet ski to explore the area.

Practical info

• How to get there: from Arrecife, just take the LZ-2 road and then the LZ-706. The journey takes just over 20 minutes
• Where to eat: The nearby village is tiny, but you'll find good-value restaurants, such as Salmarina and 7 Islas, both on Avenida Marítima
• Recommended for those looking for a quiet spot. Playa Quemada is the perfect destination if you want to get a tan and read a book while listening to the waves.

The origin of Lanzarote tourism. The first hotels on the island were built on this stretch of coast. The promenade is flanked by a cycle path and numerous shops.

You can rent sunbeds, sunshades and sun loungers or take part in activities such as water skiing, wakeboarding or renting jet skis.

Practical info

• How to get there: If you are staying in Puerto del Carmen, you can easily get there on foot. If you have a car, you should look for a car park in the streets near the beach
• Where to eat: a few metres from the coast you will find traditional establishments such as Grill Tropicana (Avenida de las Playas, s/n) or Don Rafaél (Avenida de las Playas 29). You can also eat in Asian restaurants: Oriental World (Avenida de las Playas 18), Enjoy Asian (Avenida de las Playas 21) or Asia Garden (Avenida de las Playas 33)
• Recommended for those travelling with the family or interested in water sports.

If you stay at least four days in Lanzarote, I recommend you visit the island of La Graciosa. It is a paradise of practically untouched nature with an amazing coastline. Unlike the more famous beaches (Francesa and Salado) it is located on the opposite coast and faces the Atlantic.

There is usually no one here so you can enjoy an intimate swim in the turquoise waters. To get here from Caleta de Sebo (the main harbour), you'll want to book an off-road excursion. You can do this once you've disembarked.

Practical information

• How to get there: with a ferry from Órzola or with an excursion to La Graciosa from Lanzarote. The trip takes about half an hour
• Where to eat: If you want to eat here, you will have to buy something in the supermarkets in Caleta de Sebo. In case you want to sit at a table, there is no other option but to go back there. Personally, I recommend Casa Chano La Caletilla (Avenida Virgen del Mar 131) and Casa Enriqueta (Calle del Mar de Barlovento 6)
• Recommended for those looking for a place where peace reigns.

The Canary Islands are famous for their mild climate all year round and Lanzarote is no exception.

Temperatures are somewhat higher during the summer but, in general, you can go to the beach at any time of the year. Rainfall is more frequent between December and February, but this is not a problem either.

If you've come to the archipelago to enjoy the marine life, here are a few places to rent tanks, tanks, weights and anything else you might need for your dive:

• Liquid Planet (Hotel Hesperia Puerto Calero, Urbanización Cortijo Viejo s/n, Puerto Calero)
• Timanfaya Sub (Avenida de las Playas s/n, Puerto del Carmen - Tías)
• Aquasport Diving (Calle Tinguatón 5, Puerto del Carmen)
• Lanzarote Buceo (Calle Juan Carlos I 35, Puerto del Carmen - Tias)
• Safari Diving (Playa de la Barrilla 4, Puerto del Carmen).