Famara Beach

The track section of Famara beach looking towards Caleta de Famara in the distance

Playa de la Montana Bermeja beach  ratings:-

8/10 – Overall rating

8/10 – natural beauty
4/10 – swimming safety
7/10 – access and parking
8/10 – water quality and clarity
5/10 – local amentities
7/10 – entry and exit from water
5/10 – crowd factor
4/10 – Marine life and snorkelling

Drive times

30 minute drive time from Costa Teguise
30 minutes drive time from Puerto del Carmen
40 minutes drive time from Playa Blanca

Overview of Famara Beach

Famara beach is the longest beach in Lanzarote. Famous for its beauty, surf, huge cliffs and relaxed feel.
If you want to enjoy unspoiled nature, the sea and learn to surf Famara is the place to go.

Getting to Famara beach

Famara beach is on the North West Coast of Lanzarote.
Take the LZ 402 off the LZ 30. Drive through the town of Teguise heading South and turn right at the large roundabout. Keep going for 6 kilometres and you arrive at the beach.
There is lots of parking on the road adjacent to the beach.

About Famara Beach

Famara beach is located alongside the town of Caleta de Famara. Caleta de Famara was originally established as a fishing village because of its natural harbour. Now Famara is popular with travellers, surfers and lovers of beautiful beaches and nature.

Famara beach consists of five kilometres of golden sand beach. Behind the beach are the large and dramatic cliffs called ’Risco de Famara’ that rise up almost vertically for 600 meters.

Famara beach faces North West into the Atlantic Ocean which means it receives waves and swell for most of the year.

Surfers and those wanting to learn surfing visit the beach all year round with the best waves arriving in Winter. The wind from Winter storms tracking the Gulf Stream create waves that eventually arrive at the beach for ideal surfing conditions.

Famara beach can be split into several sections all of which can be enjoyed for there own characters

Advisory Warning of water safety on Famara beach:

Famara beach receives waves, on some days these waves can be very large and powerful. Large waves create dangerous currents or rips. These currents can sweep you out to sea even from waist deep. Waist deep can suddenly become over head high deep when large waves wash in. Take great care in the sea on Famara beach. If there are large waves take greater care or do not enter the sea.
On the central section of the beach where the road runs parallel to the beach and the cars park there is a lifeguard hut. Even if you swim near the lifeguard hut still take great care as there can be many people in the sea.

About Rip currents on Famara beach and all beaches:

Rips currents are created by the white water from waves. The white water washes into the beach then flows back out. The flow of white water back out to sea after a wave breaks creates the rip currents. Rip currents become more powerful the larger the wave that created them was. Even on small wave days a rip current can wash you out to sea.

Rip currents are usually only a few meters wide and dissipate once they move into deeper water.

The best way to avoid dangerous rips is to stay in the shallows below waist height. If the waves are big do not enter the sea. Large waves can roll in and take the depth of water from waist high to way over head.

If you do find yourself in a rip DO NOT swim against it. Rips and powerful and relentless, struggling against one will cause tiredness and even panic.

The way to escape a rip current is to swim across and out of it then back in. If you are not sure just swim towards shore at a 45 degree angle. Once you are out of the bad current returning to shore will be much easier.

Strong rips suppress waves from breaking so can seem like a safe place to swim, the reality is the opposite of safe. The areas where the waves are breaking is where the white water the eventually creates the rips is flowing towards the shore.

Descriptions of the different sections of Famara Beach from Caleta de Famara to the end at Papaillos:

El Codito (The Elbow)

This part of the beach is right next to Caleta de Famara. If you accommodation is in the town this will be the closest part of the beach to you.

El Codito is a 40 meter wide stretch of sand in between town and a stretch of rocks.
There are some rock pools and rocks to explore and enjoy. The town and some rock shelters can give shelter on windy days.

Entering the sea at high tide is across sand but beware of some flattish rocks below the surface. At low tide entry to the sea is across rocks and down a rock shelf so take care.

Do not swim near the rocks on the town side of the beach as dangerous currents and rips exist here.

The Beach road section of Famara beach

There is a road that parallels Famara beach where many people park their cars. The road is also the access road to the Famara bungalows, an urbanisation just outside Famara town.

The beach road is a convenient place to park your car next to the beach. The beach road section is the most popular part of Famara beach. On nice days and weekends this part of the beach can get busy

Even on busy days there is still plenty of space to enjoy the beach, lay out your towels and have a good day.

The lifeguards and life guard hut is located at one end of this part of the beach.

There are lots of surfers and surf schools that also enjoy this area.

The bunker

After the beach road section the urbanisation of the Famara Bungalows fronts onto the beach. To access this part you will need to park on the beach road and walk.
A few hundred meters along is an old World War bunker, thus the name of this part of the beach. The further you walk along here the less people you will find as the only access is from walking or via the Famara Bungalows.
Entry to the sea is good and over sand.

The Flag

This section of the beach becomes accessible again for cars. The driving route is by following the beach road up along the right hand side of the Famara bungalows. At the top of the hill you take a left turn onto a dirt track. Follow the dirt track across and back down to the beach, you will not get lost as there are not other turns. Take some care as the track can be uneven and rocky. After about two kilometres the road has gone back down the hill and to the beach. The road then parallels the beach for around three kilometres.

There are parking bays all along the beach to the end from ‘The Flag’. Entry to the beach and sea is across some difficult to navigate small sized boulders.

When the track returns to the beach there is a lifeguard flag that is always red. This is because swimming in the section can be dangerous and the lifeguards are not close by.

This is a good part of the beach for surfing and many more advanced surfer can be found enjoying the waves here.
On windy days you will also see kite surfers at ’The Flag’.

The beach is sandy and water entry good. At some times of the year there can be less sand and high tide can cover all the sand up to the small boulder shaped rocks.

Track Section of Famara beach

The track section of Famara beach looking towards Papallios in the distance

After ‘The Flag’ the track continues towards the end of the beach. All along this stretch of the beach there are lots of parking bays. At different times of year and different tides the sand can change and move. At lower tides small lagoons can be created where swimming is safe and fun, but beware the incoming tide.

At the high point of the beach there are lots of boulders between where you can park and the sand, these can be tricky to cross. In some parts of the the track section of Famara beach at high tide there is no sand. Take care that your belongings to not get washed away if you go away for a while.

All along the track and for much of the whole of Famara beach people have built stone shelters with the boulders strewn across the beach. On windy days these shelters can create a lovely warm place to relax and sunbathe.

Surfing in this part of the beach can be excellent which lots of peaks forming at different stages of the tide.

Papalios

The track running parallel to the beach finishes in a parking area. The final part of Famara beach furthest from the town or Caleta de Famara is known as Papalios.

This is a pretty part of the beach with some powerful waves. At high tide there can be little or no sand uncovered by the sea.

This can be a nice quiet place to relax and enjoy nature tucked under the imposing cliffs just behind the beach.

Walking on Famara beach

Famara beach is a great place to take a walk. The beautiful clear water, golden sand and dramatic cliffs create an impressive environment for a walk or run. Best time to walk along Famara beach is low to mid tide, at high tide parts of the beach have no sand and you have to struggle along the rocks or go inland.

A walk along the full length of Famara beach from Caleta de Famara to Papalios and a little beyond is 4.6 kilometres.

Learning to Surf on Famara beach

Surfable waves in the track section of Famara Beach

In the town of Famara there are some very good surf schools where you can sign up for surf lessons. The surf schools in Famara supply everything you need to learn the sport of surfing. They will give you a wetsuit, surfboard and all associated equipment. From the surf school you will be driven to the beach then given detailed instructions on surfing. You will also be advised of safety procedures, any dangers and how to avoid problems. The qualified surf instructors will enter the sea with you. The instructors will give advice, assist and make sure you are not in any danger.

Most people having a surf lesson on Famara beach will get standing up on the board on surfing on the first day.

Water sports on Famara beach

Surfing – Famara beach has consistently good surfing waves all year round. Winter brings larger and more powerful waves with lighter winds creating the best surf conditions. If you wish to learn to surf contact one of the many surf schools in the town of Famara to book your lessons. Surfing can be practiced at any part of Famara beach.

Wing Foiling – Famara beach on windy days has great conditions for wing foiling. Most wing foilers start from the harbour in Caleta de Famara as the waves breaking on the beach can be difficult to pass. When wing foiling in Famara its best to stay further out and not get caught by the waves breaking next to the sure. Always beware of any swimmers or other water users nearby.

Kite surfing – Famara beach is a great location for kite surfing with waves. Kite surfing on Famara beach is only permitted on the track section on the beach. Access this area by taking the road that goes up the right side of the Famara bungalows, follow the road left at the top then all the way back down to the beach.

Best time of year go kite surf in Famara is Summer when the consistent North Easterly trade winds set in. Mid to low tide is best for kite surfing as higher tides often leave little to no beach and not much room to set up and launch.

Winds can get very gusty and create dangerous conditions. If the surface of the sea is patchy with light and dark areas this means gusts. If no one else is out kite surfing there is normally a good reason to take great care or do not enter the sea.

Famara places to eat

After a great day at the beach there is nothing better than sharing a great meal and recounting the days fun. There are some great Famara Restaurants that best lend themselves to relaxation and good food, one such restaurant the the La Mar Cafe.

Summary of Famara Beach

Famara beach is a beautiful and wild five kilometer long beach. The huge cliffs towering up behind the beach and the large waves in the sea give Famara beach a unique atmosphere.

On Famara beach you can walk, run, swim, snorkel, sun bathe, surf, kite surf, wing foil and have a great day.

Remember to respect the power of the sea and the potentially dangerous currents. If no one else is in the sea its probably for good reason.