Playa Blanca
The southern most resort was originally a fishing village but now is best known for its diverse beaches and superb new marina. In the mid 80’s Playa Blanca still had a sleepy village feel to it although you could see that the infrastructure meant there were big plans for the area. It has generally benefited from the massive expansion that has occurred although, as with most radical change, some heart and soul was lost in the process.
With stunning views across to the golden beaches of Fuerteventura Playa Blanca is one of the best places on the island to take in a glorious sunset. Along with sunset lovers this is a great place to unwind on holiday if you haven’t been to Lanzarote before, want a modern villa, pool, beach and don’t necessarily want to hire a car. It’s not pulsing and oozing with culture, and local history, but it doesn’t pretend to be – it’s a big, well-designed holiday town with all the amenities and facilities you want on holiday.
There is plenty to do, restaurants and bars galore and a good bus and taxi service around the town and beyond. With more 5* hotels here than any other location on the island there is a swanky modern vibe here and it deserves the status of most popular tourist resort on Lanzarote.
Beaches
There is an array of beaches in and around Playa Blanca and most definitely something to suit everyone’s beach tastes. The two quirkiest are Papagayo and the rock pools of Los Charcones. Papagayo is probably the most “legendary” beach in Lanzarote, although it’s actually formed from 5 small coves and beaches – Mujeres, El Pozo, Caleta del Congrio, Puerto Muelas and Papagayo beach itself. It’s accessible by a dirt track that is decent enough for hire cars to manage. The first bay can be busy as there’s a campsite there, but don’t let this put you off. The further coves are generally quieter. On a sunny day with the backdrop of Fuerteventura and a couple of yachts anchored off the bays this is real picture postcard stuff! There are no bars, restaurants or facilities there so take everything you need for the day. There’s a 3€ charge for driving to Papagayo.
There is also a dirt track along the cliffs closer to the beach if you feel like hiking to Papagayo from the town. You can find the path quite easily as it is signposted just before Hotel Papagayo Arena in Calle las Palmeras, which is the last hotel on the shoreline before the cliffs leading to Papagayo. Los Charcones are natural rock swimming pools at the furthest end of Playa Blanca on the coast 2 km north of the Lighthouse (Faro de Pechiguera). From the roundabout by the petrol station take Avenida del Faro Pechiguera and continue along as it turns into Calle Bajamar. There are a few different tracks that will take you down to the pools. There are the ruins of an ugly hotel complex that would’ve ruined this beautiful unspoilt area of the coast. The ruin isn’t a pretty sight, but the completed structure would have been far worse.
Back to the pools… they have been hollowed out of a lava platform through the action of the waves and the tides bring fresh seawater into the pools. Some of the pools are fairly deep and others are shallow and, when the sun warms them, like getting into a bath. A word of advice, the dirt roads are tricky after dark and we wouldn’t recommend this area if you have small children.
Between these two beaches at the polar ends of Playa Blanca you can find the more obvious archetypal beaches of Playa Dorada, Playa Blanca, Playa Flamingo and Playa Gorda. As previously mentioned, something for everyone!
Best Hikes
Asides from the cliff top hike to Papagayo, other walks or hikes that we think are terrific are, “Along the prom, prom, prom…” no big brass band, just the ocean to one side of you and any number of bars and restaurants to keep you hydrated en route. The beachfront prom extends from Las Coloradas at one end all the way to the lighthouse at Pechiguera Point. The most spectacular views can be seen from the top of Montaña Roja – quite handy that there’s a dirt path running the full way up.
Marina Rubicon
Lanzarote boasts two top-level marinas, Puerto Calero and Marina Rubicon. Between the two Lanzarote has developed a reputation for hosting some of the best regattas and sailing events in Europe. The spin off is that there are many sailing activities you can take part in from chartering your own yacht for the day, to big game fishing, to glass bottom boats, through to catamaran and submarine excursions.
The easiest way to see all that’s available in Marina Rubicon is to check their website Marina Rubicon it gives up to date info about all events and happenings in the marina and it’s adjacent commercial area.
There are many bars and restaurants in the marina zone, not all of them live up to expectation (i.e. quality vs. cost) and the pricing can be higher than in other areas of Playa Blanca, so have a quick scan of the menu or peek at other guests plates before you place your order.
Restaurants and Bars
We are not saying that they have the best prices but two places stand out because of their location and because they offer something different. Restaurant El Mirador Both the position and the concept are great as the place has a chameleon like ability to change what it offers from the daytime, through the evening to late at night. In the daytime there’s a snack-tapas low-key feel, turning to an exclusive evening gourmet experience to a late night chill out zone. During the day El Mirador offers a variety of snacks and tapas from terraces overlooking the islands of Lobos and Fuerteventura. The interior is stylish, yet comfy at the same time. For the evenings the owners – the Navarro family originally from Barcelona – offer Mediterranean cuisine with wonderful recipes using fresh fish from the Atlantic and meat from northern Spain. As night begins the atmosphere changes again – it’s time for cocktails, dancing, chill out areas and DJ’s playing ambient music. If you plan to celebrate a special event it would make a great choice.(Tel: 0034 928 519 427). If you simply fancy a drink in a stylish environment head for the mini lighthouse in the marina and you’ll find ONE, an edgy little sailor’s bar.
Asides from the marina the centre of town is pretty vibrant. There are many bars and restaurants along the seafront promenade and also along the Avenida de Papagayo and the pedestrianised street of Los Limones. Once again lots of options although it can be luck of the draw in finding the good ones.
Another restaurant that is always good is. Casa Pedro Avenida Maritima 17 on the promenade (shut Thursdays otherwise open 12:00-22:00). This is a true classic Lanzarotean restaurant located in an old seafront house with traditional architecture. The interior is simple and subtle and you can choose to dine on the outside terrace or the interior salon. The food is fresh and their fish and seafood dishes are superb. They also have rice dishes including an excellent paella and make delicious, individual Spanish Omelettes. This restaurant is old school, with attentive staff and nice small touches. Although Playa Blanca has changed around them they have continued with the same solid approach for years. Good choice for a romantic meal. (0034 928 517965)
Good Bits for Happy Kids and Chilled out Parents
If your children are feeling a bit beached-out, two fun options for entertaining them are bowling and Kikoland Play Park. Upstairs in the Rubimar Shopping Centre in Marina Rubicon is the Playa Blanca Bowling Club. Open from 10am until 2am every day. There are 10 lanes, and a number of options for how you want to play (i.e. bumpers up or down). The staff speak good English and there is a bar and food service. Prices are reasonable so it’s a really fun way to spend some family time. Kikoland is adjacent to the Princesa Yaiza Hotel in Avenida Papagayo and offers supervised entertainment for children. It is a pay-to-enter play park with over 10,000m² of children’s and sports facilities, open to children from 0 to 16 years old with different areas for the different age groups. Take swimming things, as there are pools there suitable for different ages. There is also a snack bar where parents can relax while the kids are playing. Kids have a hoot there in a secure and fun environment.
The Port & Day-Tripping
The best day trip from Playa Blanca has to be to hop on one of the two ferries going across to Corralejo in Fuerteventura – one holiday, two islands! The port was the original centre of Playa Blanca, and many small fishing boats still moor there. Every morning fresh fish is brought in to supply the restaurants and it’s now possible to buy fresh fish from the shop beside El Galeon. The port is where you catch the ferry across to Fuerteventura. There are 2 ferry companies with many crossings daily, Fred Olsen and Lineas Naveira Armas. Fred Olsen has the much newer hydrofoil and prices are more expensive but the journey is faster – usually less than 15 minutes. You can go either as a foot passenger or take your car if you want to explore the island.
The port and town of Corralejo in Fuerteventura, where the ferry docks, is fun if you want to shop and see some different scenery. Two good reasons to visit Corralejo are the stunning beaches laying 10 minutes away from the town by taxi or the Baku Water Park (which whoops Lanzarote’s tired old version by miles). Baku Water Park . If you travel as a foot passenger and take either the bus or a taxi to the water park or beaches then it doesn’t make the day trip so expensive.
The trip is well worth it just for the ferry trip alone. You pass the islet of Los Lobos before reaching Corralejo and we’ve often had dolphins riding the ferry bow waves alongside us – unforgettable. You also get another perspective of Playa Blanca on the return journey and see a panoramic view from the Papagayo beaches to the lighthouse. * Top tip – don’t book a return ticket, if you book one way you can go home on whatever ferry suits your schedule with either Fred Olsen or Armas.
Good Bits Commercial Centre La Mulata
If you continue past the port area you arrive at Playa Flamingo beach. In 2005 a storm destroyed the barrier wall here, washing much of the imported sand away, despite this it’s still a popular beach. Not far from here (between the Natura Palace and Rubicon Hotels) is an ugly looking commercial centre called La Mulata. That is, ugly from the back parking area, but quite a little treasure trove with fabulous views from the front.
Luna Rossa is a new Italian restaurant plonked right next door to another Italian restaurant. After hearing great things we adventured upon a little well deserved lunchtime treat. The terrace has perfect panoramique sea views, without being so vast that it loses its ambience, and the traditional interior decor is cosy and inviting. The chef and owner a young guy with his humerous side kick waiter were delightful and a breath of fresh air from the formal serious service you get in most restaurants.
Having learned to cook from his grandmother, he steered us directly into a mountain of creamy mozzeralla salad with an amazing secret dressing, fresh squid ink pasta and the lightest aubergine lasagne and fresh juicy tomato bruschetta with a hint of garlic. Just enough for it to be moorish so that we polished off the lot, but not so much that you daren’t talk to anybody for the rest of day. Washed down with probably the most reasonably priced and refreshing Pinot Grigio. Lanzarote produces some amazing white wines, and there’s an abundance of Spanish, but there is not so much good and well priced choices for other European wines. Change is as good as a rest – so they say. The portions were enormous it has to be said…(Tel 0034 928 519457)
Downstairs you can find what we reckon is the best chill-out / disco bar in the whole of Lanzarote. La Marea is a super modern bar with a massive, stylish terrace overlooking the ocean. It’s open from 10:00 to 03:30 each day and one of the best places we know to get a hand mixed cocktail or perfectly made G&T. They have an extensive cocktail, beer and even speciality tea list. During the day it’s a mellow place to lounge around on day beds and comfy chairs in the sun, or on big, squishy sofas in the shaded area. The interior area of the bar is minimalist and it’s a groovy place to be on a night. The prices reflect that it’s a classy joint but the type of clientele, high level of service and unbeatable views make this more than acceptable.
Scuba Diving
Dive College Lanzarote is an international PADI dive centre and the only beach situated dive school in Playa Blanca. They offer dive introductions for people first-timers and all PADI dive courses as well as guided boat and shore dives to various sites. They also offer a pick-up service. What we really like about this setup (and there are a zillion dive schools in Lanzarote) is that they have their own learning pool on site – with a glass section so that your family can watch you – and the equipment is new and modern. They also have a “Bubble-maker” specialist who can teach children the basics of scuba diving.
Gold Medal Excellent Good Bit
Yoga Gill, Goddess of Yoga in Lanzarote! Gill is based in Playa Blanca but holds Yoga classes all over the island – either privately or as part of a group. We wouldn’t dream of striking the Warrior pose with anyone else. Not only is she a superb Yoga teacher, but she’s funny as hell as well. Yoga, Buddhism, anecdotes from her various incarnations in this lifetime (professional dancer to presenter for a children’s TV programme and nearly everything in between) mean that a session with Gill is always fascinating. You can have your Yoga as pure or as pithy as you want it. For lessons and sessions call Gill direct. (0034 696 585 118)
