Tourists enjoying their holidays in Lanzarote are often surprised to find that the majority of the island’s beaches are made of golden sand. As the volcanic history of the place often misleads people into thinking the beaches are black. In fact there are only one or two beaches that are formed by black sand. The rest tend to range between gold to white sand.

So which are the best playas to visit? It usually depends on the type of day by the sea you wish to have. The main beaches of Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise - home to the bulk of the best accommodation in Lanzarote - are all well equipped, with sun-loungers and shades, toilets and handily placed cafés for refreshments.

At the other extreme are the white sand beaches that fringe the coastline in the north of the island, just before the fishing village of Orzola. There are no facilities here, apart from what visitors bring with them. For that reason, many locals will take a full range of equipment with them, from portable barbecues, cool boxes, tables and chairs to campervans, giving them the option to spend the night.

The beaches at Papagayo at the island’s southern tip are a group of six coves and bays, only accessible by dirt track or water taxi. But there are a couple of restaurants reasonably close by. These particular playas are often cited as some of the most beautiful in the whole of the Canaries, as the water is exceptionally clear, the sand is very soft and they are great for snorkelling.

Famara is something of a byword in the surfing community, as the seven kilometre stretch of sand curves round in a horseshoe and is overshadowed by the striking cliffs of the Risco de Famara. The waves here provide excellent tubes for surfers and kite-surfers to ride, as the north western coast is buffeted by the Trade Winds as they come in off the Atlantic. This is a truly unique beach, but as there are no immediate facilities, visitors do need to come prepared.

Playa Quemada is one of the only places that has a black sand edging to its coast. The village is also possibly the last remaining example of what the island used to be like before Lanzarote became such a popular tourist destination. Whilst local residents flock to Arrieta’s Playa La Garita to sunbathe, as this is well served with two restaurants right by the beach, has facilities such as toilets and showers and is a pleasant place for swimming.