Lanzarote offers a wide variety of beaches such as white and black sand, placid and ruffled waters and they are, as you would anticipate distributed along the entire coast with the island.
Further articles posted by me discuss in more detail the best beaches in every of the seven municipalities (articles 11 to 17) and these form part of a a lot wider portfolio of info I’m supplying to help vacation makers.
So, where is the very best seaside then ?
As my ‘home-from-home’ is within the south with the island in Playa Blanca within the municipality of Yaiza, I’m somewhat biased as to exactly where the best seaside is and for me it’s without having doubt, Papagayo. Judging through the research I’ve done on the internet, I am not alone on this opinion, so regardless of exactly where you’re staying, I would suggest which you should not miss this a single out.
Punta de Papagayo (to give it its full name), is situated on the southernmost tip of Lanzarote. Having a surrounding landscape of volcanic ash, crystal clear drinking water and fine white sand, this stretch with the coast , with a number of small bays and coves is quite simply stunning. Access is gained by very first driving across a dirt track road (quite bumpy), then paying a toll (it’s that good, they charge you a little entrance fee), after which walking lower the sand banks towards the beach as there’s no man-made path.
Before you walk lower the banks, remember to obtain anything you need from the a single and only cafeteria in this area, when you won’t wish to maintain trudging up and down, trust me, I’ve done it. The difficulty in getting to the beach is really worth it. If you decide to walk along the beach to look at other bays, please bear in mind the truth that some visitors bathe nude at this area as it is permitted. You ought to not encounter this in the bay by the cafeteria.
If you research this beach on the web more broadly, you’ll read statements like ‘wild at times’ and ‘waves can be a small strong at times’, so your instinct will, quite rightly tell you to keep an eye on the children.
I want to devote the rest of this introductory sell timeshare for cash to a day time on Papagayo in the Spring of 2005.
On this specific trip, my wife decided to stay at the best of the cliff by the cafeteria, as we were not preparing to stay lengthy. I took my two sons down towards the immediate bay as the kids were pestering me to let them play in the sand and possess a dip in the drinking water (as kids do). I did what most mother and father do on holiday – I gave in to their demands for a peaceful existence.
My eldest son (who was 11 at the time) made the decision he’d like to become a little braver than the younger a single, who was 6 years old and who stayed in the ‘ankles only’ region with the sea with me. He wandered out to a point that each wave broke about the chest to neck area and if he jumped up since the wave broke to avoid obtaining a mouthful of salt drinking water.
All children do this and I’m sure by now, you realize what’s coming…. nicely he didn’t !
I could see a rather big wave behind him out at sea and started to shout towards him to arrive back again inside a bit. He never understood my gesticulations towards him, so I moved in the direction of him (instructing the more youthful one to go back again up the seaside instantly and ‘stay put’). For as soon as, the more youthful one did as he was told and as I got closer he heard me and moved towards me. I got to inside 5 metres of him before the wave crashed 15 feet above his head !
For what seemed an eternity at the time, I completely lost sight of him. He resurfaced, spluttering, along with a great 30 metres away from me, which ought to provide you with an appreciation with the waves energy. My son waited to see my reaction prior to bursting out laughing (I believe he thought I would be angry with him, as if !). He was covered from head to foot in sand, had drank a pint or more of salt water and in spite of his brave face, he was clearly shook up and to this day we nevertheless recall that wave at Papagayo, but he had learnt his lesson and he lives to swallow salt drinking water another day.
It’s really worth pointing out that both of my kids are very good swimmers, having attended swimming lessons from an early age. Their ‘reward’ for this, would be to be given more freedom when on vacation, particularly within the swimming pools, providing we can nevertheless see them. I did not for a single moment (you know I really mean that I did) believe that he would not arrive back again up, but please take my encounter into account should you go to Papagayo since the warning ‘strong waves at times’ is frequently dismissed through the occasional visitor.
But do not let this set you off, as this really is truly a wonderful area and we still go back on most visits to the island.
I will to bring this post to some close with an essential Security Message – Swimming & playing in the sea is great fun, but be aware of the dangers and act responsibly and look out for Flag warnings.
To this end, you ought to :
1. Swim parallel towards the shore ;
2. Swim inside your depth (it can frequently be difficult to swim back towards the Beach as currents can be strong) ;
3. In no way swim immediately after eating ;
4. In no way swim alone or at night ;
5. Be aware of local conditions (currents etc), seek advice if in doubt and beware of boats and jet skis if they are in the vicinity and please do not swim in areas allocated for their use ;
6. Keep in mind that a Red Flag means “Dangerous Conditions, do not enter the water” ;
7. Keep in mind that a Yellow Flag means “Dangerous Conditions, exercise caution” ; and
8. Keep in mind that a Green Flag means its “Safe for swimming”.
Oh… and in case you’re wondering, it was a Green Flag at the time of the incident with my son and it was altered to Yellow through the time we got back again to the best of the cliff.
Were we unlucky ? No we were lucky !