Lanzarote · North-west coast
Caleta de Famara
Six kilometres of sand under the cliffs
Famara’s beach runs from a fishing village of sandy lanes to the foot of El Risco, the cliff that shapes the island’s north. Come for the surf, the wind and the sunsets, and keep the bus back in mind.
Photo: GerritR, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped
- Come for
- Surf atmosphere, broad landscapes and sunsets
- Make time for
- Half a day
- By bus
- Reached by a published bus line or ferry
The journey is part of the day
Getting to Caleta de Famara
Use Intercity line 20 from Arrecife to Caleta de Famara, or line 31 from Costa Teguise through Tahiche and Teguise, which ran on every date we checked, more often at the weekend. Pick the return you intend to catch from the board on this page before leaving the city. This guide does not infer extra beach stops or a frequency beyond what Intercity publishes for your date.
Checked Sources: Intercity Lanzarote
Bus guides
Lines from this site’s guides. Times are in this page’s timetable.
Before you settle in
Keep the way home in mind.
Return towards Arrecife on line 20, or to Costa Teguise on line 31. Recheck the departure while you still have connectivity, save the stop location, and be back in the village with a margin rather than timing the walk from the far beach edge too tightly.
See the next busesA little introduction
Get to know Caleta de Famara.
Caleta de Famara feels shaped by scale: a long golden beach, the immense wall of El Risco and a small fishing settlement on Lanzarote's north-west coast. Official tourism describes a six-kilometre beach associated with surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing, while the village adds sandy lanes and places for a simple meal. This is an exposed Atlantic landscape, not a sheltered resort swim. Visit for space, movement and late light, and make the return timetable part of the plan before leaving Arrecife because line 20 is the specific public-bus link.
Why go
-
The scale of it
Six thousand metres of beach end at the cliffs, with part of the Chinijo archipelago in view from the shore.
-
A real surf village
Caleta de Famara has numerous surf schools and shops that hire equipment.
-
A sunset beach
Turismo Lanzarote counts it among the best beaches for sunset, and suggests a walk when low tide meets dusk.
Checked – 2026 Sources: Turismo Lanzarote
Make a day of it
What to do in Caleta de Famara
- Walk Don’t miss
Take in the beach beneath El Risco
The cliff backdrop is the defining view, changing with cloud and late-afternoon light. A long shoreline walk can be the main event, but judge distance against wind, tide and the time needed to return to the village stop.
- Activity Don’t miss
Watch the surf culture
Surf, windsurf and kitesurf activity gives Famara its energy. Treat conditions seriously: strong waves and wind are characteristic here, so follow local flags and qualified advice and never assume the water is suitable for casual swimming.
- Food & drink Don’t miss
Slow down in the fishing village
Caleta's low streets and food stops make a useful counterpoint to the wide beach. Leave time to eat before sunset rather than walking so far along the sand that the return becomes rushed.
- Activity
Book a first surf lesson
Learn with one of the village’s surf schools rather than paddling out alone: the waves here are strong.
Show all 7 Show fewer
- Food & drink
Fresh fish in Caleta
The tourism board sends you to the village’s eateries for local fresh fish and seafood.
- Walk
A low-tide walk at sunset
When low tide coincides with sunset, walk the wet sand under the cliffs. Line 20 home still comes first.
- Culture
A film-maker’s beach
Pedro Almodóvar shot scenes of Los abrazos rotos here, and the village keeps its unpaved, sandy streets.
Checked – 2026 Sources: Turismo Lanzarote, Intercity Lanzarote
A day here
How a day in Caleta de Famara feels
A plan built on the buses this guide already names. The departure times are in the board on this page; choose your bus back before you set out.
-
Morning
Out on line 20
Take line 20 from Arrecife to Caleta de Famara, and choose your return on this page's board before you leave the city.
-
Middle of the day
Lunch out of the wind
Eat fish in the village and give yourself an hour away from the open beach.
-
Afternoon
The beach, then line 20
Walk the sand or watch the surf schools at work, and be back in the village with time to spare for line 20.
Asked and answered
Questions people ask about Caleta de Famara
Is there a bus to Famara?
Yes: line 20 from Arrecife to Caleta de Famara, or line 31 from Costa Teguise through Tahiche and Teguise, which ran on every date checked, more often at the weekend. Pick your return from the board on this page before you leave.
How do I get back from Famara by bus?
On line 20 towards Arrecife or line 31 to Costa Teguise. Recheck the departure while you still have a signal, save the stop, and be back in the village with a margin rather than timing the walk from the far end of the beach.
Checked Sources: Intercity Lanzarote
Good to know
Small details. Better days.
Show 3 local tips Show fewer
-
Pack for exposure
Bring sun protection, water and a layer for wind. Shade is limited on the open beach, and blowing sand can make a long stay less comfortable than the temperature alone suggests.
-
Keep swimming expectations conservative
Official guidance highlights waves and water sports. Read flags and local advice on arrival; enjoying the landscape from shore is a complete visit when conditions are rough.
-
Step-free access is limited
Turismo Lanzarote notes the beach has no facilities for people with reduced mobility, though parking sits a few metres from the sand along most of it.
Checked – 2026 Sources: Turismo Lanzarote, Ayuntamiento de Teguise (tourism), Ayuntamiento de Teguise +4
Photos and film
Caleta de Famara in pictures
-
Watch before you go
Exploring Europe Plays through YouTube’s privacy-enhanced player; nothing loads from YouTube until you press play. -
The beach under El Risco. Line 20 is the bus from Arrecife; be back in the village in good time for it. Photo: Enric, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Make room for something memorable
Book something around Caleta de Famara
Affiliate links: we may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. Selected activity links open GetYourGuide; destination photos are illustrative. Check the date, current price, meeting point and what is included before booking.
-
GerritR / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 Lanzarote
Lanzarote full-day island highlights tour
An organised overview of Lanzarote's volcanic south and northern sights, useful when you want to cover places that do not form one simple public-bus day trip.
Why consider it Choose it for a first-day island overview or for Timanfaya and northern attractions without piecing together separate transport.
View experience: Lanzarote full-day island highlights tour on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)Meeting point & getting there: Lanzarote full-day island highlights tour
Pickup options are listed for several resorts, including Arrecife, Puerto del Carmen, Costa Teguise and Playa Blanca. The provider confirms the exact point and time the day before; itineraries can change.
Current experiences on GetYourGuide
Tours and activities on Lanzarote as GetYourGuide lists them today, with current prices and reviews.
There’s more around the corner
Where next?
-
Dguendel / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0 -
Frank Vincentz / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 -
Oliver Gargan / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 North-central interior
Villa de Teguise
Historic architecture, local crafts and unhurried café stops
-
H. Zell / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 South-west interior
Timanfaya National Park
Volcanic geology, immense landscapes and a signature island day
Guide checked · How we check · Suggest a correction
Sources for this page
The sources this page cites, each with the date we checked it. Two dates mean the facts that cite it were checked on different days.
Intercity Lanzarote
- Line 20: Arrecife – Caleta de Famara Checked – 2026
- Line 31: Costa Teguise – Caleta de Famara Checked
Turismo Lanzarote
- Teguise and Caleta de Famara Checked – 2026
- Playa de Famara visitor guide Checked – 2026
- Official Lanzarote island map and visitor guide Checked
- Lanzarote's top beaches Checked
- Teguise: history in the shadow of El Risco Checked
Ayuntamiento de Teguise (tourism)
- Playa de Famara Checked
Ayuntamiento de Teguise
Gobierno de Canarias, Servicio Canario de la Salud
Gobierno de Canarias, 1-1-2 Canarias
Gobierno de Canarias, Dirección General de Emergencias
Cabildo de Lanzarote, Consorcio de Seguridad y Emergencias
Plan Caleta de Famara in the app. Take the bus.
Lanzarote Bus plans your journey on the island’s published bus lines, with every stop on the way.
- Day tripsVillages, beaches and sights, with the way back planned before you leave.
- Stops in orderEvery stop on the line, so you get off at the right one.