The 24 Best Lanzarote Beaches
Lanzarote combines a beach-lovers paradise with a unique volcanic landscape that is UNESCO-protected.
As a result of the island's unique makeup, you'll find a decent number of black sand beaches here too. El Golfo is the best known of the bunch - it's also home to the famous green lagoon, and the mix of emerald green lagoon and black grainy beach make for some truly top photos.
For beaches that are better suited to catching the rays and taking a dip, head to Puerto del Carmen. Lanzarote's liveliest resort, it comes with three sandy beaches, which all come with a thriving watersports scene.
For a Blue Flag beach, Playa Blanca's the place to head to, and if you're after secluded and secret, then El Papagayo is the ideal spot. It's a protected national park on Lanzarote's most southerly tip, and the only ways of getting there are by hire car along the rugged mountain access road, or a water taxi from Playa Blanca.
Whichever beaches in Lanzarote you decide to visit, there's never a bad time to go. The island's subtropical-desert climate means the temperature very rarely drops below double figures, so it's a great destination for year-round sun.
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1. El Papagayo Beach
© Tono Balaguer / 123RF Set in Los Ajaches Nature Reserve near the southern tip of Lanzarote is El Papagayo beach. Actually there are four beaches collectively termed the Coasta de Papagayo but it is Playa de la Cera that is the best known. Frequently described as the most beautiful beach on Lanzarote Papagayo comprises a small crescent of white sand protected by cliffs to either side. Unlike many of the islands beaches Playa de… read more »
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2. Playa de Las Conchas
Gonzalo Serrano Espada Playa de las Conchas lies on the northwest coast of the little island of La Graciosa, five kilometres along a gravel road from the ferry departure point back to Lanzarote. Its almost white sand stretches for 600 metres beside shallows the colour of turquoise. Reaching a maximum width of around 100 metres, Playa de las Conchas is surrounded by the red-tinted foothills of the volcano Montana Bermeja.
Meaning "mussel beach" because… read more »
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3. Playa del Reducto
© Alfred Derks Great for:- Snorkeling
- Swimming
Immediately to the west of downtown Arrecife, the beautiful white sands of Playa del Reducto circle around shallows sheltered by a natural reef. Suitable for children to play in the gentle waves as a result, it has a Blue Flag award for its cleanliness and range of facilities.
The recently-renovated promenade behind the beach is the home of most of these facilities, including changing rooms, showers, bars and restaurants. Its right-hand… read more »
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4. Playa Famara
Victor R. Ruiz Great for:- Surfing
- Kitesurfing
Playa Famara faces out into the waters of Bahia de Penedo on Lanzarote's northwest coast. Part of the Chinijo Archipelago Nature Park, it offers excellent views of La Graciosa island, which sits off Lanzarote's northern tip.
Stretching for an incredible five kilometres, Playa Famara's yellow sands never get crowded, though in places they are mixed with ancient volcanic pebbles from the massif of rock that overlooks the shore.
Sometimes called the Hawaii… read more »
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5. Playa de los Clicos
Victor R. Ruiz Surely one of Europe's most unusual natural spectacles, Playa de los Clicos consists of black volcanic sands backed by a lagoon of vivid green. This is in turn edged to one side by the caldera of a volcano now partially lost to the sea.
Thankfully the green of the lagoon isn't the result of some terrible nuclear accident, but the natural algae that found the mineral-rich waters so agreeable. Part of… read more »
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6. Playa del Jabililo
Frank Vincentz Great for:- Snorkeling
- Swimming
A popular beach on the Costa Teguise, Playa del Jablillo occupies the western side of a cove protected by sea walls. These ensure few heavy waves make it to shore, and the resulting calm waters are ideal for both swimming and snorkelling.
Predominantly made up of sand with some low, smooth rocks protruding through it in places, Playa del Jablillo has a family feel. Roughly 350 meters in length, most visitors… read more »
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7. Playa Francesa
© Lapping Set on the little island of – La Graciosa, Playa Francesa, or Playa de la Francesa, has a fine expanse of sand offering excellent views towards the northern coastal cliffs of Lanzarote. Split into two parts by a rock breakwater, the beach's white sand runs for a total of around 450 metres alongside turquoise waters.
Free of facilities and amenities, visitors come to enjoy its nature, but this does require beachgoers… read more »
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8. Playa Chica
Frank Vincentz Great for:- Swimming
This cosy little beach is the Southernmost in Puerto del Carmen, just along the coast from the harbour in the old town.
It's one of the more secluded beaches you'll find in the area, and is somewhat off the beaten track compared to its bigger neighbours up the coast, like Playa Grande. It's also a pretty snug spot, which is great when it's quiet, but as a result, it doesn't… read more »
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9. Playa Flamingo
kspltj .Polen Great for:- Swimming
This 200-metre stretch of ice white sand is pulled right up to the calm, crystal clear sea on Lanzarote's southern tip.
It's particularly popular with families, partly due to the breakwater in place, which helps to keep the waters calm, and partly due to the number of facilities and family-friendly amenities nearby.
Showers and sunbeds are just a couple of the nice-to-haves you'll find at this beach, and there's a lengthy palm… read more »
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10. Playa de los Pocillos
Katie Belle Great for:- Swimming
- Surfing
This laid-back Lanzarote town sits on the island's east coast, just a 15-minute stroll away from the much livelier, Puerto del Carmen.
Unlike many other parts of the island, Playa de los Pocillos doesn't have a long history of tourism, with most of the town's development taking place in the early nineties. As a result, despite being relatively busy, it remains one of Lanzarote's lesser-trodden resorts.
As for the beach, it's a… read more »
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11. Playa de La Cantería
MoveinBlue Great for:- Surfing
Facing north, Playa de la Cantería is Lanzarote's most northerly beach and has something of an edge of the world feel to it. Located close to the village of Órzola, it is a beach made of pale yellow sand, although at high tide it can look black because of a ribbon of loose volcanic rocks further back.
Surrounded by a typical Lanzarote landscape of steep, bare cliffs, it is around 300… read more »
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12. Playa de los Charcos
Frank Vincentz Great for:- Swimming
A short drive north of Arrecife, Playa de los Charcos is jujst one of a string of semi-circular bays on this part of the Lanzarote coastline together known as the Costa Teguise. Protected in part by artificial sea walls, it is close to several accommodation options and a good choice of bars and restaurants.
At low tide swapping the sand for the water requires crossing some rocks, but that shouldn't stop… read more »
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13. Playa de Matagorda
Luis Miguel Bugallo Sánchez Great for:- Swimming
Perhaps the first beach anyone sees when arriving into Lanzarote because of its proximity to the island's airport, Playa de Matagorda flies a Blue Flag as it winds along the southeast coast in a tempting string of dark sand.
Paralleled by the Avenida de las Playas promenade for its entire length of approximately 850 metres, Playa de Matagorda is at the northern end of the resort town of Puerto del Carmen.… read more »
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14. Playa de las Cucharas
© Lapping Great for:- Kitesurfing
If you're after a lively swathe of shoreline with something for everyone, then Playa de las Cucharas will tick all of the boxes.
This 650-metre stretch of golden sandy beach is the largest and busiest in Costa Teguise, on Lanzarote's east coast.
The beach is effectively split into three smaller beaches, with vast differences between the two opposite ends. The northern end of the beach is a family favourite, where a breakwater… read more »
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15. Caletón Blanco
Dario Garavini Great for:- Swimming
This rocky and sandy spot means ‘big white cove beach' in English, and it's another of Lanzarote's best family-friendly beaches. It's on the island's northern tip, just a couple of minutes' drive away from the fishing village of Orzola.
In terms of facilities, there's not much to speak of by way of bars and restaurants, so you're best bringing your own food and drink if you're settling down for the day.… read more »
