La Garita Beach, Arrieta, Lanzarote
The verdict
- Best for: Families and easy swimmers who want calm golden sand and a seafood village lunch in the quieter north.
- Best spot: The sheltered middle of the bay for paddling, then a fish table on the Arrieta seafront behind it.
- Know this: This is a Blue Flag bay with real facilities, a rare sheltered family beach on a wild northern coast.
Published 16 January 2026. Last reviewed 18 April 2026
La Garita is the gentle surprise of the north. Most of this coast is wild, dark and wind raked, the kind of shore you photograph rather than swim, so to find a sheltered arc of fine golden sand at Arrieta feels like a small piece of luck. The bay curves below a mountain backdrop, the prevailing wind slides past rather than into it, and the water sits calm and shallow where the rest of the north pounds and churns. It is the one beach up here that simply works for a family day.
The honest read is that La Garita earns its Blue Flag and its loyal local following. Nearly a kilometre of soft sand, calm gently shelving water, rock pools at the edges for children to explore, and a proper run of facilities, showers, toilets, a play area and parking close by. It is not a dramatic beach and it is not a secret, so summer weekends bring island families down in numbers, but the scale absorbs them and the mood stays easy and unhurried.
What lifts a day here, for me, is that Arrieta behind the sand is a real working fishing village, not a resort strip. A short promenade of cafes and casual restaurants runs along the front, the village is known across the island for its fresh fish, and the blue and white Casa de la Playa standing on the shore is a landmark in itself. Swim, then take a table for the catch of the day with papas arrugadas and mojo. Add the Jameos del Agua, the Cueva de los Verdes lava tubes and the Mirador del Rio nearby, and the north opens up around a single calm beach.
Tables on this beach
La Garita is a family and fishing village beach rather than a club beach, so the life is at the seafront tables. Compare the island's beach bars in our Lanzarote directory.
Arrieta seafront restaurants
The promenade behind the beach holds a cluster of casual cafes and fish restaurants looking out at the bay, the village long known for fresh catch and an easy lunch. These are tables rather than daybed clubs, and any minimum spend is to be confirmed.
Casa de la Playa
The blue and white house standing right on the sand is the village landmark and a noted spot for fish with a view straight over the bay. Expect a seafood table and the daily catch rather than sunbeds and service, and confirm any details on the day.
La Garita lies in Arrieta on the northeast coast, in the municipality of Haria. By car it is an easy run up the eastern coast road, around 25 minutes from Costa Teguise and roughly 35 from Arrecife and the airport, with the descent into the village opening onto the bay. There are bus links along the coast, though a car gives you the freedom to pair the beach with the northern sights.
Park near the seafront and walk straight onto the sand, with showers, toilets and a play area on hand for a family day. Build the morning around a calm swim and a fish lunch in the village, then add the Jameos del Agua, the Cueva de los Verdes lava tubes, the Mirador del Rio or the Sunday market in old Teguise, all within a short drive.
Reserve a day near La Garita
Tell us the date and party and we will match you to a table or beach bar near La Garita and Arrieta and pass on your request. No charge to enquire.
Common questions
Is La Garita beach good for families and swimming?
Yes, this is one of the most family friendly beaches in northern Lanzarote. La Garita is a sheltered golden bay with calm, gently shelving water, a Blue Flag, and amenities including showers, toilets and a play area. It suits paddling, easy swimming, rock pools and snorkelling. Lifeguard cover varies by season, conditions are typical rather than guaranteed, so keep children within reach.
Where do you eat at La Garita and Arrieta?
Arrieta is a working fishing village, so the seafood is the draw. A short promenade behind the beach holds cafes and casual restaurants, and the village is known for fresh fish and the famous Casa de la Playa, the blue and white house on the sand. Order the catch of the day with papas arrugadas and mojo, then walk it off along the bay.
Does La Garita have a Blue Flag and facilities?
Yes, La Garita carries a European Blue Flag and is well equipped for a family day. There is parking close by, along with showers, dressing rooms, toilets and a children's play area, plus a small promenade of bars and shops behind the sand. That mix of clean golden sand, calm water and full services is what sets it apart on this coast.
How do you get to La Garita beach in Arrieta?
La Garita sits in Arrieta on the northeast coast, in the municipality of Haria, around 25 minutes by car from Costa Teguise and 35 from Arrecife and the airport. It is an easy run up the eastern coast road. Park near the seafront and walk onto the sand, arriving earlier on bright summer weekends when the closest spaces fill.
What else is there to see near La Garita?
The north is the richest corner of the island for a wider day. The Jameos del Agua and Cueva de los Verdes lava tubes are minutes away, the Mirador del Rio and the old capital of Teguise with its Sunday market are a short drive, and the Jardin de Cactus sits just inland, so a beach morning slots neatly into the Manrique sights.
