LUXURY SWIMMING IN TOUCHING DISTANCE OF PLANES

Easy to get to, in an urban setting close to the tourist town of Playa Honda and with Lanzarote Airport almost encroaching on the sand, this small beach is unique in the Canaries as it offers the spectacular possibility of a swim in the Atlantic while watching aircraft just metres from touching down, a stunning sight that may spark a little apprehension in some. Despite being usually windy, this is a quiet spot that is rarely busy, has fine golden sands, generally calm waters and a nudist area, with dogs allowed also. The perfect blend for a few wonderful and memorable hours.

If adrenaline rushes and thrills are your thing, even on a golden beach with calm waters, Lanzarote offers the perfect spot. It is called Guacimeta and is located in the municipality of Tías, very close to the tourist town of Playa Honda. Despite being in a relatively urbanised area, you can often feel you are somewhere secluded were it not for the presence, just a few metres above your head, of planes of different sizes and sounds, all travelling in the same direction and producing one of the most impressive in-water experiences anywhere in the Canaries. Indeed, few swimmers are intrepid enough to contemplate, in middle of the Atlantic, how one of these planes gradually comes closer, descending all the time with their roaring engines, until you see its underbelly and, almost instinctively, turn your head and watch open-mouthed as the plane lands right beside you at Lanzarote Airport. For this reason alone, even if you watch from a safe distance rather than in the water, it is worth visiting to spend a few hours here. Guacimeta is much more, however.

Location: in the municipality of Tías in east Lanzarote, next to the island’s airport and the tourist town of Playa Honda in the direction of Arrecife, the capital.

Lifeguards: no.

Surfing beach: yes (although surfing is quite rare because, despite being a windy spot, the waters tend to be quite calm).

Nudist beach: there is a zone for nudism, although not the whole beach.

Restaurants: an extensive and varied range nearby, but not close to the beach.

To begin with, it is one of few beaches in this highly built-up area to allow dogs and to have a nudist area also. To get here, you can drive from the centre of Tías and along Avenida de Playa Honda or from Play Honda itself, a popular tourist spot. The road to look out for is the LZ-504 and finding somewhere to park is easy, although unattended.

It is one of few beaches in this highly built-up area to allow dogs and have a nudist area also

Situated in a conservation zone, the beach is around one kilometre long and fifteen metres wide on average throughout the year. It is mostly covered in fine sand and the waters are generally calm year-round, although care needs taken with the currents and the conditions on the day of your visit in case of possible changes. Getting to the beach on foot is easy and five of the island’s bus routes also stop here. The beach has also been adapted for disabled access. No matter how you get here, it is a very imposing spot due to the constant presence of low-flying planes.

The beach has a long and quite high metallic structure which guides inbound aircraft and is lit up at night so the pilots can line up for landing. The most intrepid swimmers wait in the sea here for a plane to pass overhead, some of them with their waterproof camera at the ready. The experience is awesome and, even though the chances of a giant object crushing you are virtually nil, our minds are not prepared for the experience of a contraption weighing many tons passing so close to your little body.

If, for whatever reason, you prefer to witness this spectacle from a safer distance, the beach has more than enough attractions to make a visit worthwhile on any trip to Lanzarote. Near-guaranteed sunshine, calm swimming in other parts of the beach, attractive sand, a nudist zone and dog-walking possibilities are all sufficient attributes, although the presence of the planes is really what sets it apart. There are a number of beaches of different kinds near Guacimeta so there are alternatives on its doorstep if you want something less challenging for your eyes and eardrums. That said, even if just momentarily, watching an actual big plane passing so close as to almost touch you while you savour the salt of the Atlantic is highly recommended.

Toilets: no.

Showers: no.

Sunbeds and umbrellas: no.

Adapted for the disabled : yes.

Parking: yes, large areas.

Public transport : five bus routes, taxis also.

Dogs: yes; it is the most popular beach for dogs in this part of the island.

Interesting facts: some firsttime or occasional visitors take to social media with best pictures of the planes about to land in full view of the sea.

By Cristina Torres Luzón Illustrated by Ilustre Mario