Lanzarote Beaches

Lanzarote is a only a small island and therefore naturally surrounded by water! There are many beaches on Lanzarote, spread around the coastline. These beaches range from Golden Sands to Black Volcanic beaches such as that found at Playa Quemada. This unique constract on beaches is something you will only find on Lanzarote.

Playa Blanca
Aswell as Playa Blanca being our favourite resort we also beleive it has the best beaches. Not far from Playa Blanca (a short walk or, if you prefer boat taxi) you can reach the Papagayo beach - a favourite with many tourists and some say it has the best sand on the island. The peaceful cove of golden sand beaches are a must for beach lovers and sun worshippers.

Playa Blanca also has two more beaches, closer to the centre of the town. These are Playa Dorada (our personal favourite) and Playa Flamingo. On our last visit Playa Flamingo was undergoing quite extensive reconstruction of its breakwaters which is due for completion August 2010.

Puerto del Carmen
The main beach in Puerto Del Carmen is Playa Grande. This long beach facing the busy resort has recently seen the sea front go through a major refurbishment, and it looks alot better for it! The main beach, although large, is often very busy on a hot summers day however there are other beaches that you can escape to on the stretch of coast between Puerto del Carmen and Arrecife Airport. Each beach offers its own characteristics, for example Playa Chica is popular with watersports enthusiasts as it offers diving, jet skis and snorkelling.

Famara and La Santa
It's always cloudy and very windy when we visit Famara! This makes it the ideal location for people who love surfing and Body Boarding. Famara is world famous for its surf but its strong currents make it unsuitable for bathing. Very often you will see the red flag waving at the back of the beach. Certain areas of the water can also be quite rocky - so take extra care!

La Santa Sports Complex is just down the road to the south of Famara and as well as being the training ground for international sports stars it is also surrounded by a beach and Wind Surfing lake.

Costa teguise
In the Northeast lies the Resort, Costa Teguise. The main beach here is quite large and known as Las Cucharas. Although not quite as windy as Famara the breeze is certainly strong enough to attract windsurfing enthusiasts. In fact it has been the breeding ground of international champions and host world championship events. As Costa Teguise is a popular tourist resort the beach can be found to get rather busy on a warm day.

Arrecife
Finally, Arrecife, Lanzarote's capital, has a wonderful golden beach lined with Coconut palms, El Reducto. This beach faces a number of Canarian bars where one can have traditional coffee (cortado), a beer or a relaxing cocktail. The beach, we have found, is often quite empty - perhaps due to it's size. The waters edge, like mos places in Lanzarote is crystal clear and a joy to bathe in!

Although we realise that many people go on holiday to simply lie around the pool, relax and soak up the rays it's often worth considering car hire for a few days. It allows you to get around the island (it doesn't take long) to sample some of the delights of the various towns, villages and beaches.