Playa Blanca

Playa Blanca (Spanish for “White Beach”) is the southernmost town of Lanzarote, Canary Islands. It is the newest resort on the island and is part of the municipality of Yaiza. It is just a 20 minute drive from Puerto del Carmen and 30 minute drive from Costa Teguise.

As the latest resort on the island, there are plenty of things to do and see in Playa Blanca: island-hopping to Fuerteventura, scuba diving lessons, visiting the Underwater Museum, the historic castle Castillo de los Colorados, etc. Also, you can take the coastal walk to the lighthouse, Faro de Pechiguera, where you will enjoy stunnings views of the Atlantic and Fuerteventura.

If you are more into shopping, Playa Blanca offers a main shopping area in the centre of the town, where you will find shopping outlets for a wide range of clothes, electrical goods, alcohol, etc. Also supermarkets, cashpoints, pharmacies and, of course, lots of bars and restaurants.

In Playa Blanca you have four beaches to choose from, which are: Playa Blanca, Playa Flamingo, Playa Dorada and Papagayo. Playa Blanca beach is based in the heart of the resort and proudly boasts an European Blue Flag for cleanliness, however it is quite small and can become quite crowded. Just a short walk away to the west, you’ll find Playa Flamingo beach and Playa Dorada if you walk to the east. Playa Dorada is probably the best of these two beaches and tends to offer a calmer sea. Located at the eastern end of Playa Blanca you will find the Island’s most spectacular beaches, called Papagayo, which form a protected national park. These beaches are accessed via dirt track and there is a small entrance fee. Note that here public facilities, such as toilets and refreshments are limited. The beaches are also reachable by water taxi from Playa Blanca harbour as well as excursions from Puerto del Carmen and Puerto Calero.

Playa Blanca is also home of the Marina Rubicon, where there is a big commercial centre, outlet shops offering clothing, handbags, shoes and the usual perfume shops. You will also find glamorous yachts, fine-dining restaurants and cafés. Marina Rubicon local market takes place every Wednesday and Saturday and offers many local souvenir stands, local wines, cheese, and many other vendors that provide a wide variety of products to choose from.

If you want to visit the neighbour island of Fuerteventura, there are three ferry lines to choose from: the Fred Olsen Express ferry, called the ‘Bocayna Express’ which makes the trip in 20 minutes, the second ferry is the Naviera Armas, called the ‘Volcan de Tindaya’, which makes 7 daily crossings each way, each one being of 35 minutes duration and the third is the ‘Princesa Ico Glass Bottomed Boat’.

If you have access to a car, and wish to escape Playa Blanca for the day, the old town of Yaiza, situated around 8 miles north, is certainly well worth a visit. The brilliantly white washed houses in the town have ensured the inclusion of Yaiza into the list of the most beautiful villages in the whole of Spain. Overall the municipal district of Yaiza is home to some of the most widely visited natural attractions on the island, including the cliffs of Los Hervideros, and the green lagoon at El Golfo.