Lanzarote is the easternmost of the Canary Islands and is only 15 kilometres away from the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura. Lanzarote owes its dramatic landscape to its volcanic origins, but despite that, it is also a fantastic destination for a beach holiday.
There is no shortage of beautiful beaches here. The island has more than 100; some of them silky and smooth and some black and volcanic. The best beaches on the island can be found on the southern tip of Lanzarote. There, in Los Ajaches Natural Park, you´ll find an amazing collection of pristine beaches that should rank high on your must-see list of Lanzarote. Welcome to Playas de Papagayo.
These silky beaches are famous in Spain and they are often ranked as some of the best beaches in the whole country. The Papagayo beaches are intimate and surrounded by calm, turquoise waters and sheltered by cliffs. From these beaches you can also clearly see across the water to Fuerteventura´s sandy dunes on the horizon. The island´s tourism has not ruined the sense of unspoilt paradise here and a lot is owed to its protection status as a natural park.
Papagayo beaches are the perfect escape from noisy tourist areas and some of the best day trip destinations in Lanzarote. We´ll now share with you the best tips for spending an unforgettable day on one or more of these beautiful beaches.
Playa de las Mujeres
Playa de las Mujeres is the biggest of Papagayo´s beaches and it´s the first one you´ll see on the right hand side of the road. Playa de las Mujeres means "Women´s Beach", but there´s also space for male beach-lovers. The beach is more than 400 metres long and very wide, so you don´t have to fight for some space in the sun.
If you are feeling energetic, you can climb up to the cliffs next to the beach. There, you´ll see the other Papagayo beaches to the south and also the famous Playa Blanca resort on the other side. The high cliffs offer protection from strong winds and the sea here is fairly shallow which makes this beach perfect for families. Unfortunately, this beach is very open and doesn´t offer much in the way of shade, so be sure to bring umbrellas and sunscreen with you.
Playa de la Cera
When you continue south from the crossroads of Playa de las Mujeres, you´ll end up in a large parking area where you can park for free. When you head down to the beach, you´ll see the gorgeous Playa de la Cera on your right.
During low tide, you´ll be able to walk from Playa de la Cera to the other beaches on the northern side. After Playa de la Cera, you´ll find small, intimate coves tucked between the cliffs as well as bigger beaches such as Playa de las Ahogaderas and Playa de las Coloradas. The further you walk, the more you´ll notice the absence of swimming apparel. So, if you are aiming for an all-over tan rent a beach villa in Lanzarote, as a good place to start.
Papagayo Beach
Although this collection of beaches in the Los Ajaches Natural Park are called Papagayo beaches, there is only one that is actually called Papagayo Beach. Papagayo is the last one on this stretch of beaches on this tip of the island. Many say that this is the most beautiful and popular beach in the area and its definitely the most crowded on sunny days.
Papagayo is a very sheltered beach, its surrounded by steep cliffs that catch most of the winds and is also the best place to find some shade from the burning sun. Be sure to save some time to climb the cliffs on the left-hand side. You´ll be rewarded with an amazing view of all the Papagayo beaches.
The only chiringuito (beach-side seafood restaurant) in the park is situated right next to this beach and you can enjoy a lovely meal or some tasty refreshments here. Prices are higher in comparison to the rest of Lanzarote, but the view from the restaurant is worth every penny. A pint costs about 3€ and meals around 10€ - 25€.
When you walk around the left-hand side of Papagayo Beach, you´ll can see another carpark on the left. In front of the carpark you´ll see two more beaches - Playa Muerto Muelas and Caleta del Congrio. Locals come to these beaches to spend a relaxing weekend by the sea.
Getting to the Papagayo Beaches
The Papagayo beaches are located on the southernmost tip of Lanzarote. You´ll find numerous signposts directing you to the beach from the Playa Blanca holiday resort. The road is rocky and rough and it will take about 15 minutes to get to the first beach from Playa Blanca. You can get here by car, but be aware that it´s rare that the insurance of your hire car will cover accidents that take place on these remote roads. You´ll also have to pay the entrance fee to Los Ajaches Natural Park, which is 3€ (2016) but the money goes towards park maintenance.
Adventurous individuals can rent a bike or walk to the beaches. Walking takes about 20 - 40 minutes from Playa Blanca, depending on which beach you´re going to. But, keep in mind that during high tide walking on the beach can be difficult and even dangerous. Bikes can be rented from Playa Blanca and prices are around 12€ per day.
There are also a few tour operators that organise guided boat trips to the Papagayo beaches. A four-hour tour costs around 45€ and usually includes lunch and beverages.
If you´ve enjoyed reading about the Papagayo Beach collection, you´ll also love the postcard-perfect scenes of the amazing La Graciosa island which is right next to Lanzarote. Find out more about this smaller Canary Island here.
Or, if you fancy reading about some of the best activities to do on this glorious island, take a look at our article of 10 reasons why Lanzarote is the best Canary Island for an activity holiday.
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