Playa de Matagorda

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. A popular place to enjoy the warm waters of the Canaries, it sees a steady stream of visitors, giving it a positive, family-friendly atmosphere. It can mean parking spaces are difficult to find during the main holiday periods, although many hotels are just a stroll away.

Lifeguards keep an eye on proceedings throughout the year, although the lack of serious waves during peak holiday times makes Playa de Matagorda a good choice for even unconfident swimmers. However, surfers and water sports enthusiasts will need to head elsewhere.

Public showers will wash the salt off, while other facilities include toilets and changing rooms. The Avenida de las Playas has a good range of bars and cafes. There are also multiple spots where its possible to rent sun loungers and beach umbrellas by the day.