Papagayo beach in Lanzarote is considered one of the most beautiful beaches on the island.
It’s located on a wild area on the southern tip, where you can find stretches of golden sand and turquoise water.
To enjoy the wild beaches of Papagayo, access is via a bumpy track, on foot or by boat.
Here’s our guide to planning your visit, with photos, tips and a map.
Our favorite car rental platform: DiscoverCars
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Why visit Papagayo beach in Lanzarote?
Is Papagayo worth a visit?
Absolutely. Papagayo and its neighboring golden sandy beaches are considered to be the best on Lanzarote and are one of the island‘s main attractions.
Their vast sandy expanses have remained largely untouched, with no paved roads leading to them.
Only at the last cove, Papagayo beach, can you find a few buildings.
See for yourself:
Papagayo area
Papagayo is the name of a specific beach. But it is also used to refer to the whole area east of Playa Blanca.
This is the Macizo de los Ajaches (Natural Monument), the island’s oldest territory, formed around 14 million years ago (hence the rounded peaks and deep ravines).
The area covers several beaches:
- Playa de Papagayo
- Playa de Mujeres
- Playa del Pozo
- …
It is also a historic site of the island’s conquest. You can find wells and a cross commemorating the history of the Norman conquerors (Jean de Bettencourt) who built a chapel and castle in the early 15th century.
Lots of photos after the practical info.
Tips and Map: Playa de Papagayo, Lanzarote
Where’s the beach? Map
- South of the island of Lanzarote,
- East of Playa Blanca,
- Here is a map to help you find your way:
How to get to Papagayo beaches by car
- There are no paved roads, but you can get there via a track to the Playa Mujeres parking lot or the Papagayo beach parking lot.
- Several km of bumps and holes (and an entry fee of around €3)
- Note that you are not normally allowed on unpaved roads with rental cars, even with four-wheel drive (check your contract). So, if you have a problem on these trails, you’ll have to pay for towing and everything else.
- Despite limited access, large parking lots fill up fast
OUR ADVICE FOR RENTING A CAR IN Lanzarote
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- A small car is all you need.
- But you can also choose a larger one if you wish, as the parking spaces are rather large.
- Demand is high, so book early.
On foot
Our favorite option is the hiking trail.
- 2km walk
- Generally easy to walk, just down to a beach and back up the other side, it’s sometimes harder to see (but not much).
- No shade – bring water and sunscreen.
- See photos below
By boat
Another option during the week is to admire these beaches from the sea.
You can for example:
Enjoy a Catamaran outing:
Admire Lanzarote from the sea, enjoy a paella in front of the magnificent scenery and swim in front of the volcanoes.
But beware, there’s no access to the beach. The boat stops off the coast. But it’s still very pleasant.
See program and availability from Puerto del Carmen.
See program and availability from Playa Blanca.
Kayaking:
Or explore this magnificent coastline by kayak, picnic on Papagayo beach, explore the seabed and take your time discovering the scenery.
See program and availability
Sleeping near the beaches of Papagayo
If you want to enjoy these beaches frequently, it’s best to stay in the nearby town of Playa Blanca. There’s a wide choice of accommodation, stores and restaurants.
Discover the best accommodations in Playa Blanca.
Or take a look at our guide to where to stay in Lanzarote .
WHERE TO STAY IN Playa Blanca
Our favorites: neighborhoods and hotels
Centrally located, close to beaches and activities.
We like: Hotel Princesa Yaiaza, a must-see resort – see prices, photos and availability
On the quieter Montana Roja side.
We like: Hotel Kamezi villas, with private pools – see prices, photos and availability
Near the Marina and Papagayo beaches.
We like: Hotel CalaLanzarote, boutique-hotel for adults – See prices, photos and availability
See our complete selection of the best hotels in Playa Blanca
Papagayo beach
Let’s start with the officially named Papagayo beach. It’s actually the last beach in the area, which is a beautiful cove that seems to close in, creating a protected area (which is great when it’s windy).
The great thing is that you can easily walk around to admire it from different angles.
East side view
And here are the views with the Los Ajaches peaks behind. We love it!
West side view
You can also walk on the other side, past the restaurant, for a better view of the sands of Papagayo beach.
And in the distance, you can even see the island of Fuerteventura, as you can see in the photo below.
On the beach
Then you can head down to the beach to enjoy the protection from the wind.
Unlike other beaches, the cliffs are very steep, so there are stairs to get down.
The sand is golden and the waters emerald green.
You can relax on the sand, take a dip in the bay or play on the rocks.
However, in high season, you may have trouble finding a place for your towel.
Tempting, isn’t it?
WITH OUR GUIDE PLAN YOUR DREAM TRIP TO lanzarote
All the information you need for your trip:
- 7 maps that make planning easier
- + 75 pre-selected locations
- Practical advice
- + 140 photos to help you choose
Bars and restaurants in Papagayo
There are no facilities on the larger front beaches, but at Papagayo you can find 2 buildings. These are snack bars.
The view is very pleasant, but the music in both establishments was too loud for our taste.
It was nice to enjoy a bit of shade and a refreshing drink.
Playa del Pozo, Papagayo’s neighbouring beach
Near Papagayo, Playa del Pozo beach is a large area of golden sand with beautiful rocks to photograph.
With steep cliffs at both ends, you can find an area to be protected from the wind and find some shade.
What’s a little different about this beach is that there are small sand dunes at the back. You can see them in the photo below.
And in front of you, you can see the white buildings of Playa Blanca and the volcano of Montana Roja.
Note that you may come across naturists here.
Playa Mujeres, beach closer to Playa Blanca.
Playa Mujeres is the second most famous beach in the region.
It’s a 400 m-long stretch of golden sand with turquoise water. A parking lot has been built right next to the beach.
And it’s the closest on foot to Playa Blanca. This is one of our favorite beaches in the resort.
Because it’s long and wide, there’s more space for everyone to enjoy the sand and sun.
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Papagayo hike
We think it’s really worth doing the hiking trail. The views along the water are superb, especially with the hills of los Ajaches behind.
Papagayo Lanzarote – Map
Near the last resort of Playa Blanca(the all-inclusive Sandos Papagayo Beach), the start of the trail is clearly marked by information panels with a simple map of the area:
Start of the walk
Below you can see the Sandos Papagayo Beach resort and the start of the promenade on the left.
Difficulty of walking
The trail is mainly gravel and sometimes sandy. We recommend wearing appropriate footwear for better grip.
As you can see from the photo below, there are numerous trails in all directions. But you can always see the direction you’re going in, so choose the path that seems most direct.
See below the transition from a sandy to a rocky trail:
But most of the time, the Papagayo hiking trail is like that, so quite easy and pleasant.
And along the way, you can enjoy beautiful views of the hills of the Los Ajaches natural monument:
Virtual visit – Video: walk + beach
As we said, there’s no paved road to get there. You can ride on a bumpy track, take a boat or enjoy the hiking trail. Here’s a video to give you an idea of what the walk to Papagayo beach looks like:
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO Lanzarote
- Best of
Most beautiful landscapes
Best things to do in Lanzarote
Most beautiful beaches
Most beautiful villages
Best boat tours
César Manrique’s attractions
Secret places, off the beaten track
Most beautiful hikes
- Practical advice
25 tips for a successful trip to Lanzarote
How to get around
How to rent a car in Lanzarote
Driving tips
Where to stay in Lanzarote
Best hotels in Lanzarote
Best excursions
Itineraries: 3 days – 4 days – 5 days – 1 week – 10 days
