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Looking for the best beach in Lanzarote? Then look no further than Playa del Papagayo! This guide will tell you everything you need to know about this beautiful beach!
This might sound like hyperbole, but I honestly think Playa del Papagayo might be one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever been to. I know, I know – it’s a strong opening statement, but I’ve said it now.
It’s just one of those places that has everything. Golden sand for digging your toes into, glistening turquoise water to cool off in, a couple of bars nearby for a cold drink with a view. Oh, and there’s even a volcano looming in the background giving the most amazing views. I mean, what more could you want!
When I was on the island, I made it my mission to find the best beaches in Lanzarote. Well, Playa del Papagayo is right up there with the best in the Canary Islands.
In this guide, I’m going to tell you all about Papagayo beach. From how to get here to other things to do in the area, I really hope you find this guide useful for planning your trip here.
Need more advice for planning your trip here? Then check out the best boutique hotels in Lanzarote, and my guides to an amazing buggy tour and visiting Cueva de los Verdes.
Are you planning an amazing holiday to Lanzarote? If so, you may want to book your hotels and tours asap to ensure availability. Here are some links to quickly help plan your trip!
Best hotels and apartments in Lanzarote:
- Secrets Lanzarote Resort & Spa (top rated 5* hotel)
- Hotel Boutique Palacio Ico (top rated 4* hotel)
- Club del Carmen (top rated 3* hotel)
Best activities and tours in Lanzarote:
Quick overview
- Location: Southern tip of Lanzarote, in the Monumento Natural de Los Ajaches
- Access fee: €3 per vehicle per day for non-residents. Free on foot.
- Drive time: About 25 minutes from Playa Blanca, 35 to 40 minutes from Puerto del Carmen
- The road: Around 15 minutes on an unpaved, potholed track
- Parking: Free dirt car parks at five of the six beaches
- Food and drink: Two bar-restaurants above Papagayo beach. No shops.
- Best for: Swimming, snorkelling and coastal walks
What is Playa del Papagayo?
Located in Los Ajaches Natural Park on the very southern tip of Lanzarote, Playa del Papagayo is in one of the most untouched parts of the island. This is the oldest territory on the island which formed around 14 million years ago, so expect rocky barren landscapes.
Even though Papagayo beach is the poster boy of this area, Playa del Papagayo is actually made up of 6 beaches in total.
These are (from north to south on the map):
- Playa Mujeres – One of the largest beaches in the area. Because it’s closest to the resort town of Playa Blanca, it is often quite busy with locals.
- Playa del Pozo – The next beach along. This is often a lot quieter than Playa Mujeres. The walk between these two beaches is lovely.
- Playa de la Cera – This is a small secluded beach in a very sheltered spot. Well worth visiting if you’ve got time.
- Playa del Papagayo – This is the most well-known beach in the area. Because of its cove shape, it’s actually well protected from the wind.
- Playa Caleta del Congrio – Just around the corner from Playa del Papagayo is Playa Caleta del Congrio. This beach looks to the east and if often really quiet.
- Playa Puerto Muelas – Also faces east and has very few people there. A bit further out the way than the other beaches.
| Beach | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Playa Mujeres | Families and long walks | The biggest at around 400m, with its own car park. Busy with locals. |
| Playa del Pozo | Peace and a bit of history | No car park, so walk over from Mujeres or La Cera. |
| Playa de la Cera | Sheltered swimming and snorkelling | Small and secluded, a minute from the bars. |
| Playa del Papagayo | The classic view | Protected from the wind, with bars on the clifftop. |
| Puerto Muelas | Hot, still days | Faces east, so it’s more exposed to the wind. |
| Caleta del Congrio | Escaping the crowds | My favourite. No bars, and often empty. |
Getting to Playa del Papagayo
Located on the southern tip of Lanzarote, Playa del Papagayo is a bit of a trek to get to. From Playa Blanca it is 11km, and from Puerto del Carmen it is around 28km.
No matter where you come from though, getting to Playa del Papagayo means driving along an unpaved dirt track for 15 minutes. This is a pot-holed roller coaster ride that will test any car’s suspension. Even though it looks like a car wrecker, the road isn’t too bad as long as you take it slowly. And unless you’re in a rally car, you have to take it slowly.
Papagayo sits inside the Monumento Natural de Los Ajaches, the protected area that covers the southern tip of Lanzarote. If you’re driving in, non-residents pay €3 per vehicle for the day. The booth is a few minutes after you turn onto the dirt track, and residents of the island get in for free.
The booth isn’t always staffed, especially early and late in the day, so you might drive straight through. That’s what happened when I visited in December, but have €3 ready just in case.
Hiring a car is easily the best way to get here, and my Lanzarote road trip guide covers everything from car hire to where to stop along the way.
Driving from Playa Blanca:
From Playa Blanca, you head east along on to Calle de Papagayo, and at the roundabout take the second exit onto Avenida de Papagayo. In total, the drive will take you around 25 minutes.
You’ll find some guides saying you can walk from Playa Blanca to Papagayo beach, but I think that’s crazy. Even though it’s only 10km along the coast, it would take a fair few hours to do without any protection from the sun, so you’d fry pretty quickly. Even the walk to Playa Mujeres would take about 90 minutes, so it’s something to bear in mind.
Driving from Puerto del Carmen:
The drive from Puerto del Carmen is a little further. The route starts following the LZ-504 out of town, along the LZ-2, then you take a left following the LZ-702 south. You’ll eventually get to a roundabout where you turn left along the infamous dirt track to Playa del Papagayo.
The total journey time is around 35-40 minutes. As you’ll find driving around Lanzarote, nowhere is far away. It’s one of the reasons I love the island so much!
Parking at Papagayo beach
There are dirt car parks at Playa Mujeres, Playa de la Cera, Papagayo, Puerto Muelas and Caleta del Congrio. Playa del Pozo is the only beach without one, so park at Mujeres or La Cera and walk over. Your €3 covers parking all day, and even in high summer you can usually find a space somewhere.
Getting to Papagayo without a car
There’s no bus to the beaches themselves, so the closest you’ll get by public transport is Playa Blanca. The 161 runs here from the airport via Puerto del Carmen and Puerto Calero, while the 60 comes down from the bus station in Arrecife.
From Playa Blanca you can take a taxi, or walk in. Where you start makes all the difference. From the centre of town it’s a long, exposed walk with no shade at all, and you’d fry pretty quickly in the summer heat.
The better option is to start at Las Coloradas, at the eastern end of Playa Blanca. From here, the San Marcial del Rubicón trail is a wide coastal path that gets you to Playa Mujeres in about 10 minutes. Explore all the coves and it’s around 5km each way, so take plenty of water.
You can also arrive by sea. Several companies run guided kayak and snorkelling trips from Las Coloradas to Papagayo beach. They take three to four hours and cost around €50 to €75 per person, with snacks usually included.
Things to do at Playa del Pagagayo
Head out to Mirador Papagayo
I had such giddy excitement when walking down from the car to Papagayo beach. That first glance of the beach just makes you want more.
Before heading down to the beach itself, I recommend walking over to Mirador Papagayo. This is a little viewpoint overlooking the beach with the volcano in the background. For me, this is one of the best viewpoints on the island!
Go swimming in the turquoise waters at Papagayo beach
Obviously you can’t come all this way to the beach and not take a dip in the water. I visited Lanzarote in December so the water was super refreshing, but I still went in! I don’t know why, but the water seemed so much brighter and more vibrant in the south than anywhere else on the island.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for something a little more adventurous, this Papagayo kayak and snorkeling tour comes really highly recommended and looks incredible.
Walk around the cliffs to Mirador de la Punta del Papagayo
One of the best things to do at Playa del Papagayo is walk around the cliffs at the top. Here you get the most magical views along the coast to all the different beaches.
Even though the beaches are usually sheltered from the wind, it can be very windy up on the cliffs themselves. There are lots of different paths to follow though.
Visit the old wells at Playa del Pozo
Playa del Pozo looks like just another pretty cove, but this is where the European story of the Canary Islands began. In 1402, Jean de Béthencourt and Gadifer de La Salle landed here and founded Rubicón, the first European settlement in the archipelago.
Just back from the sand are the old wells, and a cross marking the site of San Marcial del Rubicón. This was the first cathedral in the Canaries, until English corsairs destroyed it in 1543. Archaeologists from the islands’ two public universities are still excavating the site, so please treat it with respect.
Go on a catamaran cruise to the Papagayo beaches
Another really fun thing to do in Lanzarote is go on a catamaran cruise to Papagayo beaches. On this tour you’ll get picked up from your hotel, have lunch, an unlimited bar including sangria, and watersports activities too.
On this 4-hour excursion, the I Love Papagayo catamaran will sail southwest to the southern tip of Lanzarote. It leaves Puerto del Carmen at 11am and costs €74 for adults and €45 for children aged 2 to 11, with hotel pick-up, lunch and an open bar included.
Walk along Playa Caleta del Congrio
My favourite beach in the area was Playa Caleta del Congrio, partly because it was empty. This is such a beautiful stretch of sand, and it’s well worth visiting while you’re here.
Grab a drink with a view
There are two bar-restaurants on the headland above Papagayo beach, Casa El Barba and Be Papagayo. They sit side by side, but Casa El Barba is the more popular and has the better sunset view.
Just bear in mind both keep daytime hours. Casa El Barba opens every day from 10:30 to 18:30, while Be Papagayo opens Monday to Saturday from 12:00 to 18:00.
In midwinter the sun sets just after 6pm, so you can squeeze in a sunset drink at Casa El Barba. The rest of the year, I’d go for a late lunch and then watch the sun go down from the cliffs. Opening hours can change, so check before you go.
What should you take to the beach?
It’s worth noting that there aren’t any shops at Playa del Papagayo. What you take with you is what you’ve got for the day.
That’s why it’s a good idea stocking up the car with food and water if you plan on spending the whole day here. If you do fancy eating, the two bars serve food. Saying that, it’s super important that you take all your rubbish with you when you go. Leave only footprints!
Is Playa del Papagayo worth it?
Absolutely, yes. This is arguably the best beach in Lanzarote for its seclusion and beauty. The thing about Lanzarote is a lot of people just stick to their resort towns of Playa Blanca, Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise. They’re happy sitting doing nothing by the pool.
Lanzarote is such a beautiful island though. For those of you who like a little adventure, you’re rewarded with breath-taking landscapes and experiences you can’t get chilling by the pool. It’s a beautiful world out there – you’ve just got to explore it!
Are you thinking of visiting Playas de Papagayo? If you have any questions at all, let me know in the comments below!
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