Lanzarote Walk - Playa Blanca to Punta del Papagayo 

Starting point: Playa Blanca – Car park at Rubicon Marina		Map I have found this to be the best map for both walking routes and driving, from Discovery Walking Guides Ltd Lanzarote Tour and Trail Map 1:40,000 scale
Distance: 6.3 miles
Traffic light rating:     (For explanation see My Walks page) More great Lanzarote Walks	Click the PDF logo above to give a printable version of this walk without the photos.

Introduction: This “there and back” walk from Playa Blanca takes you via the best selection of beaches on Lanzarote to Punta del Papagayo. The beaches are popular with naturists, so, if you are offended by naked naughty bits, prepare to avert your eyes!

Just before reaching the point (Punta), a bonus is the lovely horseshoe shaped bay at Playa del Papagayo where there are bars looking down at the beach and which provide a welcome shaded refreshment spot. This beach is great for swimming although I have experienced some strange currents there.

Overall, the walk is a fairly dry, dusty affair but with gorgeous blue sea on one side and vistas of the Los Ajaches mountains on the other. The start through the rear of the marina and along part of the long promenade of Playa Blanca, is actually very pleasant.

On the edge of Playa Blanca you pass the old round fortress of Castillo Coloradas (I have never seen it open to the public) and some strange archaeological remains at the back of Playa del Pozo. Judging from a plaque on the white base of a nearby cross (at least there used to be a cross!), these seem to be connected with a cathedral which was founded here in 1496. The remains are protected by white concrete structures topped by sturdy grilles but there is little to see.

Getting to Playa Blanca is a simple matter of following the LZ-2 main road from Arrecife. Turn left at the roundabout with the anchor in its middle, in the centre of Playa Blanca, and follow the signs for Marina Rubicon.

Start: Facing seaward in the car park head to the left and work your way through to the waters edge. Continue left and follow the marina round until you reach the end of it. Climb a few steps and follow the paved promenade. You will soon come to the Castillo Coloradas.

Continue to follow the promenade until it runs out at a beach next to a small white house in front of a large hotel complex. It looks very much as though the owner refused to move out when the area was redeveloped and the complex was built around the house!

Walk across this beach (Playa del Afe) in front of the house and climb the bank at the other side. There is a mutitude of paths from now on and it is a case of picking which you want to follow the coast. You do not have to cross the beaches but it is rather a nice thing to do and gives you an opportunity to paddle and cool heated feet!

The first and largest beach is Playa Mujeres, the next, slightly smaller is Playa del Pozo and the last the horseshoe bay of Playa Papagayo, with its bars. The Punta is a short distance further on. From here, there are further beaches visible and how far you want to go is up to you.

Return to Playa Blanca by the same route.

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