Playa Blanca, Spain; one of Lanzarote's most popular resorts

Visit Playa Blanca

Playa Blanca is an attractive resort on the island of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. Playa Blanca is the most southerly town on the island of Lanzarote. Montana Roja, a dormant volcano, forms a brooding backdrop to the town and you can visit the crater.

Explore Playa Blanca

The Playa Blanca, meaning 'White Beach' is Lanzarote's newest resort and it is fast turning into its most popular. Simple but attractive white buildings, a pretty harbour and a position on a 9km long bay full of white sandy beaches makes the Playa Blanca an excellent holiday destination. It is quieter than the resorts of Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise both of which would be better choices if you are looking for a lively nightlife.

There are a number of beaches in the bay, all of which are quite sheltered. The best known and most beautiful is Papagaya which is a collection of small beaches backed by high cliffs situated in a National Park. This is a short drive from Playa Blanca town.

There is a small beach in the centre of town and half an hours walk to the west is the Playa Flamingo beach which also has a few shops and facilities. The Playa Dorado, or Golden Beach, is just 10km from the centre of town and is very sheltered as it is in a man made cove. It is just a ten minute walk from the town centre and is a popular spot with locals and tourists alike. The beach has lifeguards and you can hire pedalos and organise other water-based activities.

A new marina has been built in Playa Blanca, the Marina Rubicon which has excellent facilities and a new shopping centre. It has restaurants overlooking the yachts and the harbour and is an excellent spot for lunch or dinner or just to grab a drink and soak up the views. There are two markets a week at the marina and these are on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. The Marina Rubicon is an easy fifteen minute stroll from the centre of town.

Another 200 meters to the east and you get to an old lookout tower, the Castillo de las Coloradas which was built in the middle of the 18th century to warn of pirates who were a menace at the time. The Castillo de las Coloradas is topped with a bell that was rung when pirates were spotted.

Playa Blanca has proved popular with lots of nationalities and residents are a mix of Canarian, British, American, Canadian, German, Spanish and Irish.

Places to visit nearby

There are ferries to Fuerteoventura from Playa Blanca and these take just 20 minutes to cross to Fuerteventura. The sand dunes and beach at Corralejo on Fuerteventura are well worth making the trip to visit.

20km north of Playa Blanca is a beach which is within a partly submerged volcano cone! The El Golfo beach became famous briefly in the 1960s when it was used in the filming of "One Million Years BC". The water in the Lago Verde lake of the crater is bright green in colour.

You can find more local travel ideas in the Lanzarote guide and the Eastern Canary Islands guide.

Map of Playa Blanca and places to visit

Playa Blanca places to visit

Yaiza

Yaiza has been voted the prettiest village in Spain several times though lucky to still be here as it is very close to the volcanoes at Timanfaya.

Yaiza guide

Corralejo

Corralejo is a tourist resort built around a fishing village and with a long stretch of sand dunes.

Corralejo guide

Timanfaya National Park

The Parque Nacional de Timanfaya in the Mountanas de Fuego or Fire Mountains are eerily beautiful. At the entrance you can take a camel ride up a volcanic slope.

Timanfaya National Park guide