
Pocillos Beach
Golden sand, trade winds, and world-class water sports






About
Playa de los Pocillos stretches along the sun-baked coast of Lanzarote, its broad, flat expanse of golden sand meeting open blue water under near-constant trade winds. The beach sits within the Tías municipality, connecting seamlessly to neighbouring Matagorda beach and forming one of the island's longest resort shorelines. It's a lively spot — kite lines arc overhead, windsurfers carve through the chop, and water sports schools line the back of the beach with kit and instructors. The wind is the defining character here: it keeps the air fresh and the flags snapping, but it also shapes how you use the beach. Come for the action, not the stillness.
How to get there
From Puerto del Carmen, it's a five-minute drive or a 14-minute bus ride with services every 20 minutes. From Arrecife, both car and bus take around 13–14 minutes, with buses running every 30 minutes. Parking is available in a mix of street spaces and small car parks along the resort road — no specific paid system is documented, but spaces fill quickly in peak season. There is no entry fee.
Who it's for
For couples
Good for couples who want activity over tranquillity — take a joint windsurfing lesson, then walk the connecting stretch to Matagorda beach as the wind drops toward evening. It's not a quiet retreat, but the energy is infectious if you lean into it.
For families
Families with older, water-sports-keen kids will find plenty here, but the strong afternoon trade winds and equipment hazards in the water mean it's not ideal for young children who just want to splash around. The flat beach surface and easy access make arrival straightforward, and the bus connections from Puerto del Carmen are simple to navigate.
Our take
Feet in the sand, eyes on the screen
Playa de los Pocillos is an honest beach — it doesn't pretend to be a secluded cove, and it's better for that. The trade winds are relentless and real: they're the reason the water sports schools are here, and they're also the reason casual swimmers should think twice, especially on July and August afternoons when conditions peak. If you're here to windsurf or kitesurf, this is one of the best-equipped spots on the island, full stop. If you want a calm swim and a quiet read, the wind will test your patience. The golden sand is broad and the blue water is open and inviting, but respect the zone markers — the mix of fast-moving equipment and swimmers is the one genuine hazard that demands attention. César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport is just 3.6 kilometres away, which means you can be on the sand within minutes of landing. Skip July and August if swimming is your priority. Come in June or September for the sweet spot between good conditions and a more manageable number of visitors.
What to do
The beach itself is the main event, with windsurfing and kitesurfing schools on hand for lessons or kit hire. Two kilometres away, Puerto del Carmen's Old Harbour is worth an afternoon — a historic fishing port with seafood restaurants and dive operators that give you a sense of Lanzarote before the resorts arrived. If you want to go further, the Fundación César Manrique sits about 12 kilometres away, a remarkable museum built into volcanic lava bubbles that was once the artist's home. For dramatic natural scenery, the protected golden-sand coves of Papagayo are around 20 kilometres south.
The wide flat foreground of golden sand with kites stacked against a blue sky is the signature shot — position yourself low on the sand in the afternoon for maximum drama.
The point where Pocillos connects to Matagorda beach offers a long perspective line that works well in the softer morning light. The resort road backdrop, while not wild, frames the scale of the beach clearly from the northern end.
Where to eat
Sol y Mar and La Marisma are both within 300 metres of the beach and cover the resort staples well. For something different, Shahi Indian and Enyesque del Archipiélago — a Spanish kitchen — are also within easy walking distance at around 200–300 metres. Casa Luis rounds out the nearby options if you want a straightforward local meal after a long session on the water.
Where to stay
Several hotels sit within 500 metres of the sand. Playa Alhambra II, Lapa, Costa Marita, and the adults-only Apartamentos Flamboyant are all within 400 metres, making it easy to walk to the beach without needing transport. Las Mimosas is a short stroll further at 500 metres.
Photography
Shoot early morning when the golden sand is empty and the light is soft — the flat beach gives you long, uninterrupted lines toward the water. Late afternoon, when the trade winds are up and kites fill the sky against the blue, makes for dramatic action shots with natural backlighting.
Good to know
Water sports zones are officially designated — swimmers and kitesurfers do not share the same water, so pay attention to the zone markers before you wade in. Dogs are prohibited on the beach during peak season, so leave them at the accommodation. Strong afternoon trade winds from June through September make casual swimming genuinely uncomfortable — not just breezy, but disruptive. Kitesurfing and windsurfing equipment moving at speed creates real hazards for anyone in the water outside the swim zones; stay alert and stay in the right area.
Map
Nearby places
Sol y Mar
Shahi Indian
La Marisma
Casa Luis
Enyesque del Archipiélago
Playa Alhambra II
Lapa
Apartamentos Flamboyant (Adults Only)
Costa Marita
Las Mimosas
Puerto del Carmen Old Harbour
Fundación César Manrique
Papagayo Coves
Things to see around Tías
Puerto del Carmen Old Harbour
Historic fishing harbour with seafood restaurants and dive operators.
Fundación César Manrique
César Manrique's former home built into volcanic lava bubbles, now an art foundation.
Papagayo Coves
Series of protected golden-sand coves within the Monumento Natural de Los Ajaches.
Frequently asked
The information on this page is provided for guidance only and may evolve. Access conditions, safety and infrastructure can change without notice. Always check official sources before traveling.
Nearest beaches
Other lively beaches in Canary Islands
More beaches in Canary Islands
Reviews of this beach
- No reviews yet, what a shame — leave yours and share your experience.
Photo credits
Sources and licenses for the photos shown above.
- Photo 1 — Fulvio Barudoni · source · CC BY 3.0
- Photo 2 — Fulvio Barudoni · source · CC BY 3.0
- Photo 3 — Benutzer:Alinea · source · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Photo 4 — s1ng0 · source · CC BY-SA 2.0
- Photo 5 — s1ng0 · source · CC BY-SA 2.0
- Photo 6 — s1ng0 · source · CC BY-SA 2.0











