Our Camel Travel guide to Playa Blanca includes all the information any first time visitors may find useful for holidays in Lanzarote.
The holiday resort of Playa Blanca was the last to be developed on the island of Lanzarote. It is considered the more upmarket of the three due to the many 5* hotels and villas, as well as bungalow complexes.
Camel Travel Guide to Playa Blanca
Guide to Playa Blanca beaches
There are two main beaches in Playa Blanca, the biggest and most popular is Playa Dorada. The second is Playa Flamingo. There’s a small beach in the centre of the town. Plus the fabulous natural beaches at Papagayo.
Playa Dorada
Dorada translates as golden, and fine golden sand is what you can find at Playa Dorada. This beach has the most facilities with sun beds, umbrellas and lifeguards. A water sports centre offers pedalos, kayaks and inflatable rides. There is a bar, with toilets available they are free if you purchase a drink, or 40 cents otherwise. There’s also a kiosk for drinks and ice creams at one end of the beach. Ramps lead down to the beach from the promenade, however there aren’t any boards or amphibian chair available for wheelchair visitors to this beach.
Playa Flamingo
The beach of Playa Flamingo is the main beach servicing visitors from the town centre to lighthouse section of Playa Blanca. This is a man made beach with concrete block breakwaters, it is still picturesque and tourists like this palm lined bay. This beach has a lifeguard service, sun beds and umbrellas, there are also a few daybeds for rental. Again toilets are via local bars and restaurants, there aren’t any public ones in this area. There are some boards across the sand on this beach. We’re unaware if an amphibian chair is available from the lifeguards.
Playa Blanca Town Beach
The small beach in the centre of the town is the most accessible with a ramp, boards and amphibian chair to access the water. Surrounded by a plethora of restaurants, this is a popular spot to take a dip. There are showers on the beach, and public toilets a short walk away (between the taxi rank and playground). This is the only beach in the resort to earn a blue flag. There is a lifeguard service, but no sun beds. The floating platform out in the bay is popular to swim out to.
Playa Las Coloradas
This is a pebble beach situated between Marina Rubicon and Papagayo. There is an inflatable pier during the summer months so that hotel guests in this area can easily access the water. The Museo Atlantico is located just off shore here. The underwater statues are not visible from the surface. This attraction is accessed in small groups accompanied by authorised scuba diving guides.
Papagayo
Papagayo is a collection of beaches situated at the base of the Los Ajaches and a protected area. There are two beaches with facilities, Papagayo is a small cove with 2 bar/restaurants. Puerto Muelas is a campsite in the summer months with toilets. Otherwise you have Caleta de Congrio which is a naturist and gay friendly beach. The main beach of Playa Mujeres, where the boat day trips tend to anchor off. Plus the smaller Playa del Pozo. There is a boat taxi service to access these beaches from the resort, departing from the harbour and calling at Marina Rubicón on route. Otherwise you can take the coastal footpath from the end of the promenade at Playa Las Coloradas.
Promenade
The promenade, known as the Avenida Marítima stretches 8km / 5 miles from the lighthouse Faro de Pechiguera, to Playa Los Coloradas. NB. Cycling is not permitted along the section in the town centre. Walking the promenade is a pleasant way to get around the holiday resort of Playa Blanca. The bay of Playa Blanca has 3 smaller bays within: Punta Pechiguera to Punta Limones, Punta Limones to Punta del Águila, and Punta del Águila to Punta Papagayo. The footpath surface is mainly block paved. Although not flat in places it’s not a strenuous walk and there are plenty of places along the way for refreshment.
Guide to Playa Blanca zones
Playa Blanca doesn’t have official areas within the resort, landmarks or villa communities are used for reference. The Faro de Pechiguera is the lighthouse at one end of the resort and the furthest southern point of Lanzarote. Montaña Roja is the prominent red volcano which offers a fabulous view over the resort. The proximity of the main beaches of Playa Flamingo and Play Dorada are key in planning your holiday accommodation if the beach is a key aspect of your stay. Marina Rubicón is a focal point, for many this is the furthest out from the town centre they want to be, if not driving. Las Coloradas is the other end of the resort past Marina Rubicón and before the beaches of Papagayo.
Guide to Playa Blanca Events
Although Playa Blanca is a tourist resort, the local council of Yaiza include the town in their local fiestas. There are lots of traditional and cultural events throughout the year.
Cabalgata de Reyes
A chance to see the 3 kings on camels, this procession is held on the 5th January
Carnival
Playa Blanca tends to be towards the end of the carnival programmes in Lanzarote, generally falling in March although sometimes late February, the date fluctuates depending upon Easter and council planning.
Feria del Queso
This annual cheese fair usually takes place in March, a fantastic weekend of cheese, wine and entertainment.
Fiesta del Carmen
Playa Blanca has a fishing port and the annual Fiesta del Carmen is in homage to Señora del Carmen the patron saint of fishermen. There’s a funfair, fun & sporting events, procession of boats and more. This fiesta is normally celebrated in mid July.
Navidad
There will be festive events in December for Christmas and New Year.
Guide to Playa Blanca shopping
The town centre of Playa Blanca has a pedestrian street, Calle Limones which has shops either side and streets leading off with more locals. The promenade in the town centre also has shops mingled amongst the restaurants. Marina Rubicón is a pretty location for a browse around the unique boutiques and designer label shops.
Playa Blanca Market
There’s also a weekly market at Marina Rubicón on Wednesdays & Saturdays from 09:00-14:00. Behind the marina is the Rubicon Shop and Fun centre, with a few familiar brands inside. Pueblo Coloradas still has quite a few empty locals, but is worth a wander through if you’re passing by.
Food Shopping in Playa Blanca
For food shopping SuperDino is the biggest supermarket in the resort, there are also smaller HiperDinos and Spars around. The fruteria Santo Zumo by the taxi rank in the centre has a great fresh fruit and vegetable range. For fish, buy direct from the fishermen at the Cofradía in the harbour, you can’t get fresher than that!
Guide to Playa Blanca boat trips
Ferry service to Fuerteventura
You can catch the daily ferry service from Playa Blanca to Fuerteventura if you fancy island hopping across to Corralejo in Fuerteventura. There are two companies Naviera Armas and Fred Olsen with several crossings per day. the first is a traditional car ferry, the second is a faster catamaran service, although both only take 20-30 minutes to cross the Bocaina Strait between the islands. Additionally, Lineas Romero offer a pedestrian service which operates 4 return crossings per day.
Water taxi (currently not operational)
We’ve already mentioned the water taxi service that operates from the harbour, to Marina Rubicón and beaches of Papagayo. There are 4 trips a day from 10:00-16:30.
Boat excursions
The majority of boat trips depart from the harbour by Punta Limones, these tend to cross the bay to anchor off Papagayo, offering food, drinks, water sports and entertainment. There are ticket offices in the harbour if you haven’t pre booked any excursions.
Guide to Playa Blanca restaurants
There are so many restaurants to choose from in Playa Blanca! We promise you won’t struggle to eat out somewhere different every night of your holiday. Here’s our tips of where to enjoy some good food in Playa Blanca:
- Tapas – Meson La Taberna in Marina Rubicón
- Italian – Casale Franco upstairs in C.C. Papagayo
- Asian – New Oriental Asiatico on the promenade in the town centre
- Indian – Indian Delights overlooking the promenade in the town centre
- Paella – Brisa Marina on the promenade in the town centre
- Steak – El Argentino in C.C. La Mulata
- Roast dinner – Lighthouse Cafe in Faro Park
- Greek – Sebastyan’s in C.C. La Mulata
- Fresh fish – Cofradía in the town harbour
- Mediterranean – Casa Carlos in Marina Rubicón
- Gluten free – Treat Cafe Bar in C.C. Punta Limones
- Vegetarian – Arabella’s At The Marina in Marina Rubicón
- Hidden Gem – Sergio on Calle Limones in the town centre
- Tasting menu – Kamezi Deli by the lighthouse
- Fine dining – Isla de Lobos in the Princesa Yaiza hotel
Guide to Playa Blanca bars
There isn’t a shortage of bars to enjoy a drink at during your holiday in Playa Blanca. It doesn’t matter if you want a British bar, Irish Bar, sports bar, chill out bar, Jazz bar or one with live entertainment, you can find them all here.
C.C. Papagayo has a good selection and this is right in the centre of town by Playa Dorada beach. C.C. Punta Limones is also another good drinking spot, as well as Marina Rubicón for a chilled drink with a view.
Guide to Playa Blanca buses
Playa Blanca has a circular bus service. The number 30 operates from 06:30-22:00 and takes around 60 minutes to complete the resort, the fare is €1 regardless of the distance.
The airport connects with Playa Blanca via the 161 service, the fare is €3.30 from 08:00-22:00 and earlier at 06:00 on weekdays.
If you want to visit Puerto del Carmen to explore that tourist resort, the 06, 161 or 261 buses cost €2.75.
The Estacíon de Playa Blanca bus terminal is in the centre of town, on Avenida de Las Canarias.
Taxi service in Playa Blanca
The main taxi rank is situated by the town beach in the centre of the resort. You can call 928 52 42 22 to summon a taxi within the municipality of Yaiza including Playa Blanca.
Things to do in Playa Blanca
There’s lots to do in the resort of Playa Blanca, here’s some of our suggestions:
- Dive the Museo Atlántico underwater museum
- Go indoor bowling at the Rubicón Shop & Fun
- Hire a bike and cycle to the Salinas de Janubio & El Golfo
- Hire a self drive boat from the harbour to explore the coastline
- Look for the spoon buried in concrete on the promenade!
- Snorkel at Playa Papagayo
- Take a day trip to Fuerteventura from the harbour
- Try free scuba dive at the Dive College C.C. La Mulata
- Try stand up paddle with Kaboti Surf
- Visit the Aqualava water park
- Walk to the natural beaches of Papagayo
- Watersports from Playa Dorada (parascending, jet skis & towed inflatables)
- Watersports from Marina Rubicón (sailing & diving)
We hope that you’ve found our guide to Playa Blanca helpful. We’re here to help you have the best time possible in Lanzarote, so do contact us if you have any questions or need help planning your next holiday in Playa Blanca.
