Driving to the Papagayo beaches may need some planning ahead in future. Nueva Canarias has proposed a daily limit of 500 cars for non-residents entering Los Ajaches, the protected area that includes Papagayo, with spaces booked online in advance.
At the moment, visitors pay €3 per vehicle by card at the entrance, while residents of Lanzarote and La Graciosa get in free. Under the proposal, residents would keep free access and the money raised would stay in Los Ajaches.
The pressure on the area is clear from the numbers. More than 103,000 non-resident vehicles went in during 2024, and 58,148 in the first half of 2025. On busy days, 1,200 to 1,500 cars use the dirt tracks, against a current maximum of 2,000. Yaiza council repaired the track to Playa Mujeres in July.
The proposal is expected to go to the Canary Islands Parliament's commission for ecological transition. Nothing has been decided, so the current system stays in place for now.
If you are heading down this winter, go early in the day to beat the busiest hours, or leave the car behind and take one of the catamaran trips to Papagayo from Playa Blanca. There is more on the beaches themselves in our guide to the beaches in Lanzarote.
Lanzarote has a warm, settled week ahead, with the AEMET forecast giving highs of 26 to 29°C from Monday through to Sunday and mild nights of 20 to 22°C.
Read MoreIf you like to have next year's holiday booked before this one is over, Jet2 has gone a step further. Its summer 2028 flights and holidays went on sale on 8 October, around a week earlier than last year, and Lanzarote is included from all 14 of its UK bases.
Read MoreThe 2027 Carnival season is taking shape, and it starts earlier than this year. Shrove Tuesday falls on 9 February 2027, so the first parades are in mid-February.
Read MoreFlying between the Canary Islands and the rest of Spain at Christmas or in the summer holidays could get cheaper for islanders, if a proposal in a new draft transport strategy goes ahead.
Read MoreRyanair is facing a court challenge that seeks to have its EU operating licence suspended, but anyone booked to fly to or from Lanzarote with the airline can carry on as planned. The court has not made any ruling, and flights are running normally.
Read More
Discover great excursions all over the island book online in advance so you don't miss out.
Check out the best places to eat and drink in Lanzarote.
Get amazing discounts all over the island by getting your FREE LanzaroteON Discount Card.
Check out the best beaches for families, couples, water sports, and more all over the island.
Lanzarote has some of the best beaches in Europe.
Check out the latest events and things to do in Lanzarote.
Lanzarote has always something to offer for the whole family.
Puerto Del Carmen is one of the main tourist resorts in Lanzarote, with a bustling promenade and a lively nightlife.
Playa Blanca is a place where you can have a little lavish holiday with a yacht ride or a ferry ride to Fuerteventura Island.
Costa Teguise is a popular coastal town with lots of British restaurants and pubs.
Puerto Calero is one the most luxurious ports in the Canary Islands with great restaurants and also some very popular boutiques.
