El Papagayo

Overview

El Papagayo is the name of the region where the seven beaches Las Playas de Papagayo are located. They are situated on the headland underneath the Ajaches Mountains in the far south of Lanzarote. Separated by lava rocks, the seven beaches lie next to one another along the coast. The island’s Capital Arrecife in the east of the island is approximately 40 kilometres away, while the popular tourist resort of Playa Blanca is only 8 kilometres away. When standing on the famous lookout Aguila in Playa Blanca, the beaches can already be seen from afar. The Papagayo beaches are known as Lanzarote’s most beautiful beaches, perhaps the most beautiful beaches of the Canary Islands. This is due to the crystal clear turquoise waters and the soft white sand in the midst of the idyllic rocky bays. Most of the time there is hardly any wind here and thanks to the sheltered location there are no dangerous undercurrents. These makes beaches here in Papagayo ideal for families, as small children can splash frivolously in the clear and shallow water. The region of the Papagayo beaches has been put under conservation and is now known as theMonumento Natural de Ajaches (Natural Monument of the Ajaches). Due to this, even greater importance is placed on water quality and the purity of the beaches.

How to get there

There are various options to get to the Papagayo beaches.

By Foot:
The beaches are about 1.5 hour walking distance from the holiday resort of Playa Blanca. The way leads from the end of the resort beach promenade along the coast. Unfortunately this path has come to be more and more difficult due to the increasing number of hotel buildings.

By Bus (then 20 minutes walk):
It is also possible to reach El Papagayo with bus number 30 from Playa Blanca. Request to dropped of at the last stop and from there, the Papagayo beaches are about 20 minutes walk away on a small path way.

It takes about 45 minutes to walk from the first to the last beach.

By Car:
Those travelling by car will need to go on a 5km long dirt road. This road starts at the roundabout on the LZ-705 between Playa Blanca and Femés which ends right above the beaches. Due to the unsurfaced roads, some car rentals companies advise against taking their cars to the Papagayo beaches.

The entrance to the dirt road is marked by a small cabin and a gate. An entrance fee of €3 per person is required. Some of the beaches like Playa de Papagayo or Playa de Muejers can be reached directly by car, because the parking space is situated close to the beaches.

By Bike:
Another option is to visit the Papagayo beaches by bike, driving along the coast line.

Activities

El Papagayo is a protected area of Lanzarote with very minimal facilities (no mass tourism!), but that doesn't mean you will have problem finding things to do in this natural playground. You can touch up your tan and read a book while laying on one of the fine white sands beaches, or swim and snorkel in the crystal clear waters. The rugged and wild landscapes of El Papagayo will tempt you for a wonder around, and for those wanting to linger a little longer, there is a camping zone in Puerto Muelas area.

Swimming and snorkeling

There are no better place than to swim or snorkel in one of the beautiful beaches in El Papagayo. Waters in the smaller beaches like Playa del Papagayo and Playa del Pozo are calm as they are sheltered from the wind by the rocks surrouding them.

Camping

A spacious camping zone can be found just behind the beach at Puerto Muelas.  The beach pleasant and the calm turquoise waters is often dotted with small boats brought by the enthusiastic campers, as a means of daily and fishing activities. There is a couple of small stalls selling drinks and snacks. Please note that this campsite is quite basic, do bring your own camping equipments and daily basic supplies like food and other necessities.

Hiking/ Mountain biking

The raw landscapes and breathtaking beaches of El Papagayo makes the area an ideal spot for walking, hiking and mountain biking. Do make sure to bring enough water and sun protection as there aren't many facilities available in this protected area. Bike hires are to be arranged in the nearby resort of Playa Blanca.

Catamaran

For those wishing to explore the beautiful El Papagayo coast in a different manner, there are catamaran excursions offering departures from Puerto Calero. Puerto Calero is located along the same coast northward of El Papagayo, and is only 5km drive away from Puerto del Carmen resort. Most excursions include drinks and meal onboard, and snorkelling in crystal clear waters of El Papagayo.

Beaches

The marvelous outlook from the Papagayo beaches is one thing that makes them so special. When the sky is clear the view even reaches the neighbouring islands of Fuerteventura and Isla de los Lobos.

All seven beaches are worth a visit. The most popular ones are:

Playa de Papagayo (beach)

Playa de Papagayo, named after the area, is located at the top of the headland. There used to be a village called El Papagayo above this beach but it has been deserted for over ten years now.

Very typical of this region is the half round shape of the picturesque bay leaning against the big black wall of rocks. This beach is often used as image subject for post cards. The fine white sand and the turquoise clear water are the reasons this beach is so popular, and often quite crowded. There is a restaurant and parking area nearby.

Playa de Mujeres (beach)

A length of 400 meters and width of approximately 90 meters make the beach Playa de Mujeres the largest of the Papagayo beaches. This beach is the most popular of the beaches due to its good location and size. Nevertheless, it is seldom overcrowded as visitors spread out over the whole area of the beach. One of the two parking spaces is located in the immediate vicinity of the Playa de Mujeres.

Playa de Puerto Muelas (beach)

Playa de Puerto Muelas is a small beach surrounded by rocks. This beach, just like the Playa Caleta del Cogrio, is situated behind the headland of the Punta del Papagayo.

Visitors will find a large campsite. There are a few small stalls selling drinks and snacks.

Restaurants

There is one restaurant located between Playa de Papagayo and Playa del Pozo. It has outdoor siting with fantastic view of the ocean. Given the lack of competition and facilities around the area, prices are understandably high. Cold drinks and ice creams can be purchased at the entrance of the restaurant.