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Kate

Los Charcones: Natural Pools in Lanzarote

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Let’s discover the natural pools of Lanzarote: Los Charcones
When we talk about Lanzarote, we immediately think about fantastic golden beaches or with the finest black sand, and the impetuous ocean that surrounds the island. However, the big waves and the strong currents along the coast often prevent us from diving into the ocean and enjoying a nice, refreshing bath. One solution might be to spend a day at Playa Papagayo, where ocean currents are usually weaker. But if we want a bit of peace and relax, especially during the summer months, this solution may not be the best for us. 
Recently, while looking at some photos of Lanzarote on Instagram, I discovered a fascinating place I had never heard of before. This amazing place was called Los Charcones.
Los Charcones (from Spanish: the big ponds) are just “puddles”. They were created by the proximity of the rocky coastline to the ocean, creating beautiful natural pools.

Here, we can dive without the fear of waves or strong currents, as if we were in a pool!

This phenomenon occours in several parts of Lanzarote, but the most famous Charcones are those located on the southwest coast. From the far west end of Playa Blanca, for several kilometers to the north, we can find several natural pools.

Reaching this place isn’t very easy. I personally managed to find Los Charcones only at the third attempt! But if it were so simple, it wouldn’t be so quiet and without any crowd.

How to get there

There are two ways to reach Los Charcones.

• From Playa Blanca: Go to the west of the city and then head north along the coast. It’s very risky to drive on this road if you don’t have a SUV or 4x4. I suggest to park the car just as soon as you realize that the condition of the path is too poor to continue. Then just go ahead walking.

• From the north: get to Las Salinas de Janubio and take the Via Ciclista that leads to Playa Blanca. You’ll be on the parallel path to the main road. Pay attention to your right, because at some point you’ll see a small sign saying PLAYA. Here you have to turn. If you fail you have to arrive until Playa Blanca and come back!
So take this road, get to the proximity of the coast and you’ll see the Water Station on the right. At this point you can decide whether to park the car and walk for a few kilometers or, if you have a car that has no problems on the dirt road, drive to the path on the left.

Unfortunately, I can’t tell you exactly where to stop, because there aren’t many landmarks on the dirt road. I suggest you to stop every now and then to go and have a look on the coast to see if you are near any Charcones.

Be very careful: some natural pools are really beautiful to see from above but impossible to reach! (Unless you have a helicopter 😃.) If you see that there is literally nobody and the descent seems too difficult, just keep walking! You’ll surely find other Charcones with an easier descent.

So, after discovering that Lanzarote isn’t just made up of golden or volcanic beaches but also by beautiful natural pools, we can thank Mother Nature for the wonderful work it has done and enjoy our well-deserved relax!

WATCH MY VIDEO DISCOVERING LOS CHARCONES:

PIN IT!

Categories: Lanzarote Guide
Kate:

View Comments (28)

  • I have never heard of this place. But the pictures show the place to be really beautiful. Are they really puddles? They look like large water bodies!!

  • Beautifull place. Already been in Lanzarote but don´t know this place. Great post and good video too :)

  • Wauw! I never knew these natural pools where there. The reason why I've never been to Lanzarote is the "black beaches" - I saw them on Tenerife and they're just not my thing. After reading your blog I might actually reconsider as the pools are stunning! And, well, a nice challenge! Thanks for blogging :)

  • Oh wow! This looks like an amazing day out, so peaceful to relax without lots of other beach goers around!

  • I remember visiting Lanzerote a long time ago, aged around 9 – this post brought back lots of great memories!

  • How beautiful! Love that you brought your own floatie! Perfect way to relax and enjoy the natural pools.

  • Talk about an off-the-beaten-path find! I don't know much about Lanzarote, and I had no idea that the natural pools existed. It's fantastic that you can take a dip without having to worry about the crazy currents. So gorgeous, and I don't know too many natural pools with those kinds of views. So, while the journey to find them might have been tricky, it seems to be so worth it! Pinned!

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