Papagayo Beach, White sand beach in Yaiza, Spain.
Papagayo Beach contains seven distinct coastal sections with white sand stretches extending between 100 and 400 meters along the southern Lanzarote shoreline.
The area near Papagayo Beach marks the location of the first European settlement in 1402, including the remnants of the earliest cathedral in the Canary Islands.
The beach gained international recognition when it served as a filming location for the 1966 movie 'One Million Years B.C.' featuring actress Raquel Welch.
Access to the beach requires payment of a 3-euro toll for vehicles on the dirt road, while visitors can also reach it by walking or cycling from Playa Blanca.
The beach name originates from the local fish species Xyrichtys novacula, which inhabits the waters along this protected coastal area.
Location: Yaiza
Part of: Rubicón coast
GPS coordinates: 28.84778,-13.78944
Latest update: May 12, 2025 15:31
Lanzarote is an island in the Canaries shaped by its volcanic past. Timanfaya National Park spreads across a large part of the island, showing black lava fields, craters, and colored rock formations. Volcanoes like El Cuervo, Montaña Colorada, and Caldera Blanca can be hiked. Underground caves such as Cueva de los Verdes and Jameos del Agua lead through lava tunnels formed thousands of years ago. Along the coast, rocks and hardened lava shape coves like Los Hervideros and El Golfo with its green lagoon. Beaches range from the protected bays of Papagayo with pale sand to the long stretch of Famara Beach backed by tall cliffs. In La Geria, vines grow in small hollows covered with volcanic ash, a farming method adapted to the dry conditions. The Cactus Garden near Guatiza displays hundreds of species in a former quarry. Museums like the César Manrique Foundation and LagOmar merge architecture with the landscape. Museo Atlántico sits underwater off Playa Blanca. Traditional sites include Santa Bárbara Castle and San Gabriel Castle, along with the Janubio Salt Flats where salt is still harvested today.
Spain has more than 8,000 kilometers of coastlines home to hundreds of beaches with diverse characteristics. The Mediterranean, Atlantic, Balearic Islands, and Canary Islands feature contrasting marine scenery: coves sheltered between cliffs, extensive sandy areas, urban beaches, and protected natural zones. Each coastal region has developed its own identity influenced by local geology and climate. The Balearic Islands include bays like Cala Macarella in Menorca or Ses Illetes in Formentera, where white sand contrasts with clear Mediterranean waters. The Canary Islands display volcanic landscapes, with the Maspalomas dunes on Gran Canaria stretching over 6 kilometers, or Lanzarote’s red cliffs framing Playa del Papagayo. Along the Andalusian coast, the Cabo de Gata Natural Park houses Mónsul Beach with its black volcanic formations, while Bolonia near Tarifa features a 4-kilometer-long beach with Roman remains. The northern coast presents a different scene: La Concha urban beach in San Sebastián forms a 1.5-kilometer arc, the limestone cliffs of Asturias protect Playa del Silencio, and the Cíes Islands in Galicia are part of a marine national park.
Playa Blanca
4.2 km
Restaurant Playa Dorada
3.7 km
Aquafun Star Camp
4.9 km
Flamingo
5.2 km
Hacha Grande
4.4 km
Monumento Natural de Los Ajaches
5.7 km
Monte Roja
6.9 km
Museo Atlántico de Lanzarote
4.2 km
Castillo de las Coloradas
2.3 km
Mujeres
712 m
La Cera
374 m
Caleta del Congrio
895 m
Caletón de San Marcial
310 m
Parque acuático Dino Aquapark
5.6 km
Las Coloradas
1.6 km
Punta de Papagayo
1 km
Caletón del Cobre
416 m
La Fuentecita
4.2 km
Playa Blanca bay
4.1 km
Playa la casa
6.4 km
Church of Our Lady of Carmen
4.1 km
Playa Blanca Port
4.7 km
Playa del Papagayo
613 m
El Pasito
1.5 km
Caleta Larga
1.9 km
Tribute to the Canarian Wrestling School of Playa Blanca
4.3 km
Caleta del Fuego
5.1 km
Playa de los Boluditos
263 mReviews
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