| Playa
Blanca. Formerly
a Canarian fishing village, Playa
Blanca is a tasteful resort on the southern tip of Lanzarote, about a
30-minute drive from the airport in Arrecife.
Although quieter than some of the larger resorts such as Puerto del
Carmen, there is certainly no shortage of things to do. There are great
beaches, bars, restaurants & loads for the kids. It also has stunning views over to Fuerteventura, which is only 11km
away, and which is easily accessible by ferry. There are several ferry
crossings each day from Playa Blanca's harbour, that take you over to Correlejo, which is another
very pleasant, traditionally old Canarian town.
Beaches.
There
are three main beaches in Playa Blanca itself, all of which are suitable for
families and couples alike. From East to West, the first is Playa Dorada,
with pedalos and banana boat rides. It also has a couple of small beach
/ snack bars.
Playa Dorada
The second, Playa Blanca beach, is in the centre, in front
of some of the main bars and restaurants. This is a small beach and from
where Playa Blanca gets its name, and is a favorite with the
sand-sculptors. Finally
there is Playa Flamingo beach, situated about a
five-minute walk to the West of the harbour. This beach is especially safe for
young children as it is a horseshoe
shaped cove, and the water is always beautifully calm, like a millpond.
It also has palm trees surrounding it, and at the back of the
beach there are a couple of bar/restaurants.
Playa Flamingo
There
are also the famous Papagayo beaches situated to the East of
Playa Blanca. These are a short drive along dusty tracks (or a 10 minute
walk over a hill from the Rubicon marina area to the first beach). There are
about six sandy bays, with beautiful white sand.
Building
here is prohibited to keep it unspoilt. Well worth a visit!
A short stroll away from the main
resort along the pretty seafront promenade is the newly built Marina
Rubicon , said to be the most beautiful in the Canaries. There is a
selection of restaurants and snack-bars set in picturesque and tranquil
surroundings.
Eating
out. There
are many lovely restaurants in Playa Blanca, most of which are on the front
overlooking the sea. It is a lovely walk along the front, as there are no cars,
its very peaceful.
The
restaurants are mainly traditional Spanish & Canarian, and all offer great food and a very warm
welcome. Among the ones we'd
recommend are Rincon Playa, La Vaca Tijuana/Grill-on-Stone,
Varadero, Rocamar, L'Artista (Italian) & Gran Mundo (Chinese);
although there are many we haven't been to!
There is also the new Rubicon Marina -
a stylish addition to the village with a handful of restaurants at the
waters edge.
Entertainment.
Playa
Blanca also offers a number of bars - Spanish, English and Irish. Many
have music & entertainment, whilst some are more low-key. For a
great party atmosphere, check out "Roof Tops" by the harbour- a lively,
friendly music bar where everyone is welcome - fantastic views & great
nightlife. Also there's the Old Mill - a British pub with regular entertainment.
There
are also many hotels & apart-hotels that have regular entertainment
- shows, dancing, kids entertainment, etc. Just walk in!
For children, there
is a play park in the centre, next to the church, and a
mini/crazy golf course (with a bar!) which a short walk from the centre
or about 10 mins walk from our apartment. Look out for Salon
London on the sea front - an amusement arcade with a bar &
snack-bar. With a
nightly happy hour you can enjoy a beer while the kids play on the
machines.
Taxis.
There
are two main taxi ranks, one at the harbour and one in the centre. Taxis
are very cheap, usually 2.50 to 3 euros back to our
apartment.
Shopping.
The
main shops are in the centre, again where no traffic is allowed.
There is a variety of souvenir, clothes and duty free shops.
Playa Blanca Harbour
There are many things to do in
Playa Blanca. It is a
lovely resort, and it is in as good a position as any for exploring
the rest of the island.
|
| The
Timanfaya National Park is the scene of the Montañas de Fuego (Fire
Mountains), the volcanoes. Being only
15 minutes away by car, you can drive through the spectacular lava
fields to the top of a volcano. Here
you can see live demonstrations at the volcano, as well as a large
natural "barbeque" which uses the volcano's natural heat, a
souvenir shop, and a large restaurant with amazing views. They also take you on a short coach trip
around the volcanic area. A truly spectacular experience!
Camels
– there a camel rides in the Timanfaya National Park on the way to
the Volcano. They are
cheap, and are most certainly an experience not to be forgotten!
Puerto
Calero – A beautiful marina on the main road before you get to Puerto
del Carmen from Playa Blanca. Ideal
setting for the perfect
lunchtime meal in the sun.
Green
Lagoon at El Golfo – only 15 minutes from Playa Blanca.
Visit the Green Lagoon, it’s a natural lagoon in the small
village of El Golfo. Take
the camera. There are many specialist fish restaurants in the village
offering the local catch of the day.
Golf
- There is an 18 hole golf course at Costa
Teguise (30-40 mins away), which has been built
at the foot of a volcano. There are stunning views from the greens, the
course is set amongst palm trees, lava and cacti. Clubs are
available for hire from the reception. Note that there are at least 2
golf courses planned for Playa Blanca - so watch this space!!
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