On Lanzarote’s southern coast is a beach of beauty and adventure. To get to Playa de Papagayo you can take many routes…
Drive the bumpy dirt road and pay 3 euro to park, rent a bike and take that same track on two wheels, hop on a boat and cross the bay, or hike in along the lovely path.
To get to the first beach it is a hilly 1.2 miles out on a sandy track, but there are seven coves in total and with additional exploration comes added mileage – of course remember to leave energy for your return trip. Find free trailhead parking by Sandos Papagayo Beach Resort. The scenery in Los Ajaches Natural Park is stunning, rounded peaks and open ravines behind you, turquoise water and white sands below.
One of the best things about this beach is the fact that there is no development, set away from the resorts and traffic noise that plagues many of the other Canary beaches.
Another wonderful element is the lack of wind that batters many other beaches on the islands, due to the sheltered location between high cliffs. Playa de las Mujeres is the first and the longest of the coves you will reach, over 1300 feet long and plenty wide.
You can clearly see across the water to Fuerteventura, and if you lounge long enough you can watch the ferry make its way back and forth. This is a historical site of the island’s conquest, where Jean de Bethencourt set up camp in 1402. A castle and chapel were built, but the only evidence left of the city are the wells – the existence of drinking water made it possible for them to occupy the area. Heading up the next hill and down onto the sand again, the next cove is Playa de la Cera, where it is possible at low tide to walk on the sand to further coves.
The farther you go, the less clothing people tend to wear. There is a single restaurant down this way for refreshments, and a campsite for those looking to spend the night.
Good to know:
+Make sure your car rental insurance covers dirt roads
+Visit nearby Montaña Roja de Playa Blanca for another great hike