This island paradise is home to over 100 beaches, ranging from popular resort beaches to secluded coves and black sand beaches. With so many options to choose from, where do you start when looking for the best beaches in Lanzarote?
This article highlights the top 10 beaches in Lanzarote, covering everything from the best beach for families and surfing to the most beautiful golden sand beaches the island has to offer. Read on to discover the beaches you can’t miss in Lanzarote!
What makes the beaches of Lanzarote so special?
Lanzarote’s beaches are characterized by their incredible natural scenery, with beaches often surrounded by volcanic rock formations and mountains that slope down to the golden sand or even black volcanic sand on some beaches.
The island’s beaches also boast extremely clear, calm waters in stunning shades of blue and turquoise, thanks to the Canary Current that sweeps in from the coast of Africa.
With a sunny climate all year round, the beaches of Lanzarote allow you to enjoy beach days even during the winter months.
Do you have to stay in a resort to access Lanzarote’s best beaches?
While many of Lanzarote’s most famous beaches are located near popular resorts such as Costa Teguise and Playa Blanca, the island does not have any private beaches. This means that you can access even the most stunning beaches on Lanzarote without having to stay at one of the nearby resorts or hotels.
Renting a car in Lanzarote gives you the freedom to beach hop from one spectacular beach to the next and discover some of Lanzarote’s hidden gem coves and seaside villages.
Which are the best beaches in Lanzarote for families?
When it comes to the best beaches in Lanzarote for families, Playa Blanca tops the list thanks to its calm, shallow waters, perfect for children to splash around in. This beautiful white sand beach has all the amenities, with plenty of restaurants and shops nearby.
Other top family-friendly beaches include Playa Flamingo, with its golden sand lined with cafés and ice cream parlors, and the sheltered coves of Playa Chica and Playa Grande, located in the heart of Puerto del Carmen resort town.
Which are the best beaches in Lanzarote for surfing or windsurfing?
With offshore winds almost all year round, Lanzarote offers excellent conditions for surfing and windsurfing. Famara Beach on the north coast is considered one of the best surfing beaches in Lanzarote with powerful Atlantic swells.
Playa de la Garita, near Arrecife, is another top windsurfing and kitesurfing spot on the island, thanks to the strong winds that blow along this stretch of coast.
Ready to discover Lanzarote’s best beaches?
From golden sand resort beaches to black sand oceanfronts with incredible cliffs, read on for the inside scoop on the 10 best beaches you must visit in Lanzarote:
1. Playa de Papagayo
Consistently ranked as one of the most beautiful beaches in Spain, Playa de Papagayo on the southern tip of Lanzarote boasts over a kilometer of powdery golden sand sandwiched between lava fields and azure waters. Thanks to the surrounding cliffs, this beach is sheltered from the wind, making it one of Lanzarote’s top beach picks.
As one of the most famous beaches of Lanzarote, Papagayo is very crowded during the high season. Visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon to enjoy more space on this spectacular beach.
2. Playa Dorada
Just down the coast from Playa Blanca, Playa Dorada truly lives up to its name as the “Golden Beach” with sparkling golden sands and postcard views of the island of Fuerteventura. In addition to beautiful scenery, this family-friendly beach offers calm, clear waters for swimming as well as full services with resorts, restaurants and beach equipment rentals nearby.
3. Playa de Famara
Located on the wild north coast of Lanzarote, Playa de Famara feels a world away from the bustling southern resort beaches. With over 6 kilometers of beach backed by spectacular cliffs, Famara Beach offers sensational ocean scenery.
This secluded beach with pounding surf attracts surfers and bodyboarders from all over the world to ride its powerful waves. With few facilities, it’s best for those who prefer beautiful nature to creature comforts.
4. Playa Quemada
Nestled at the base of towering black and red cliffs, Playa Quemada offers a secluded setting surrounded by volcanoes and green valley views. In addition to the beautiful scenery, this small fishing village hides one of the best beaches in Lanzarote, with golden sands and cerulean waters.
One of Lanzarote’s lesser known beaches, Playa Quemada offers a peaceful escape from the larger resort beaches. After enjoying this hidden gem of a beach, stop for fresh seafood at one of the small restaurants in town.
5. Playa de Janubio
Located just north of Playa Blanca, Playa de Janubio is one of the few black sand beaches on Lanzarote. This stunning beach gets its dramatic color from grains of black volcanic sand mixed with sparkling olivine crystals eroded by volcanoes.
In addition to its unique sand, Janubio Beach features reddish cliffs rich in iron oxides that rise behind the beach. You’ll often find local Canarians frequenting this beach thanks to its magnificent raw natural beauty.
6. Playa Blanca
It’s easy to see why Playa Blanca translates to “White Beach”. This southern resort beach boasts over a kilometer of fine powdery white sand lapped by shallow, calm turquoise waters, making it one of Lanzarote’s best beaches for swimming and water sports.
Surrounded by shops, restaurants and hotels, Playa Blanca has everything you need for a complete beach vacation. Take a break from the beautiful beach and charter a boat to the nearby Isla Lobos nature reserve.
7. Playa de la Cera
Located in the old port town of Arrecife, Playa de la Cera feels like a slice of the Caribbean on Lanzarote. This urban beach boasts sugary soft golden sand complemented by azure waters that make it tempting to sip piña coladas under the sun all day.
As one of the few beaches in Arrecife, Playa de la Cera understandably gets crowded on weekends when local families flock to enjoy some beach time. Midweek visits mean fewer crowds at this beautiful urban beach.
8. Caletón Blanco
Located on the northwest coast of Lanzarote, Caletón Blanco boasts over a kilometer of blond sandy beach in a crescent-shaped bay in the fishing village of Órzola. The natural rock barrier that surrounds the bay keeps the water calm, making it one of Lanzarote’s best beaches for young children.
In addition to family-friendly swimming and lounging on the soft sand, Caletón Blanco offers incredible coastal scenery with views of the uninhabited island of La Graciosa and the Chinijo Archipelago Marine Reserve.
9. Charco del Palo
Just north of the resort town of Costa Teguise, Charco del Palo is known for its nudist beaches, which are rare in the Canary Islands. In fact, Charco del Palo first developed as a nudist colony.
While you don’t have to go all the way bare, you can ditch your swimsuit at the black sand beach of Los Charcones, nestled beneath volcanic cliffs, or the tiny fishing harbor beach of La Garita, where local fishermen still launch their boats through the surf.
10. Playa Mujeres
Rounding out our list of Lanzarote’s top beaches, Playa Mujeres is located just south of the island’s capital, Arrecife. As the name “Women’s Beach” suggests, this sparkling white beach was once reserved for women only.
While everyone is welcome today, Playa Mujeres remains a local favorite thanks to its sugary sand, calm sheltered waters and incredible views across the Strait of El Rio to Fuerteventura.
Start planning your beach vacation in Lanzarote!
With breathtaking scenery, sugar-sweet golden and white sands, and vibrantly colored waters, Lanzarote offers stunning beaches that are sure to make any beach lover swoon.
From the family-friendly resort beaches of Costa Teguise and Playa Blanca to the secluded, rugged beaches backed by volcanic cliffs in the north and east, Lanzarote’s beaches offer incredible diversity and natural beauty.
Which of Lanzarote’s spectacular beaches tops your must-visit list for your next Spanish island getaway?
