Lanzarote's lunar coastline hides some of the most photogenic natural pools in the Canaries. On an island built from black lava and framed by turquoise sea, the charcos here have a colour palette all their own: inky rock, pale sand and water that glows an almost tropical blue. Some are wild and unmarked, reached down a rough track; others are calm, easy dips beside a quiet beach. Together they're a brilliant, free alternative to the resort sands — and a lovely way to explore the coast of Lanzarote beyond the sun loungers.
Los Charcones, Playa Blanca — the island's most Instagrammed swim
On the southern tip near Playa Blanca, Los Charcones is a string of natural pools in low black rock, filled and refreshed by the Atlantic. When the light is right and the sea is calm, the water turns an extraordinary jade-green against the dark lava, which is why it's become one of the most photographed spots on the island. It's a wilder place than it looks in the pictures, though — reached by a bumpy track and with no facilities at all, so come prepared and self-sufficient.
Los Charcones is exposed and can be dangerous in swell. The pools sit on an open, rocky coast with no lifeguard, no shade and no railings. When there's any size in the sea, waves surge right through the basins and over the rocks — people have been swept in and hurt here. Only swim on a genuinely calm day, watch the water for several minutes first, wear reef shoes on the slippery lava, and keep children well away from the ocean-facing edges. If in any doubt, don't get in.
Caletón Blanco — the family-friendly one
For an easier, gentler experience, head to Caletón Blanco on the north coast, near the ferry port of Órzola. Here, drifts of soft white sand sit between fingers of black lava, forming a series of shallow, sheltered pools that warm in the sun and stay calm in most conditions. The contrast of white sand and black rock is stunning, and the shallow, clear water makes it a favourite with families and less confident swimmers. It's altogether more relaxed than Los Charcones, with space to spread out and paddle — read more on our guide to Caletón Blanco.
Caletón Blanco pairs perfectly with a north-coast day. It's right by Órzola, where the little ferry crosses to the tiny island of La Graciosa. Swim in the morning, then hop over for lunch and a bike ride on car-free lanes — one of Lanzarote's best days out.
North-coast charcos and the wild Atlantic
Lanzarote's rugged north and west, where the trade winds and swell hit hardest, hide more charcos for the adventurous. The dramatic coast below the cliffs near Mirador del Río and the wave-lashed shore around Famara have wild rock pools, but this is serious-swell country — these are for calm days and confident swimmers only, and many are better admired than entered. Ask locally before committing to any unfamiliar spot, and always let the sea decide for you.
By contrast, the sheltered east and south — around Costa Teguise and Playa Blanca — offer calmer, more protected dips. Wherever you go, the reward is the same: clear Atlantic water in a setting that could only be Lanzarote, all volcanic drama and impossible colour.
Why Lanzarote's pools look the way they do
Lanzarote's coast owes its otherworldly beauty to relatively recent volcanic activity — the great eruptions of the 1730s that created the Timanfaya badlands also poured fresh lava into the sea, sculpting the low reefs and hollows that today hold the pools. The rock is younger and sharper than on the older islands, the sand often startlingly pale, and the water — with little sediment to cloud it — remarkably clear. It's a landscape the artist César Manrique spent his life celebrating, and swimming here you feel exactly why.
Practical tips
A hire car is essential for the best pools, several of which lie down unmade tracks. Pack for self-sufficiency:
- Reef shoes — non-negotiable on Lanzarote's sharp young lava.
- Plenty of water, sun cream and a hat; there's rarely any shade.
- A mask and snorkel for the clear water, and everything you need for the day, as most pools have no shops or toilets.
- A swell forecast check before you set off — it's what keeps you safe.
Choose a calm day, treat the ocean with respect, and Lanzarote's charcos will give you a swim you'll remember long after the tan has faded. For pools on the other islands, see our overview of the natural pools of the Canary Islands, or browse more things to do across the archipelago.
Jade-green water in a bowl of black lava — Lanzarote turns a simple swim into a work of art.