Playa Blanca is the southernmost resort in Lanzarote, Canary Islands, and enjoys its own weather microclimate. Because of its eternal spring like weather, its stunning Marina, and varied shopping opportunities, Playa Blanca is an extremely popular resort for visitors... bringing people from the UK, Ireland, mainland Spain, and all over Europe.
Playa Blanca is around 40 minutes drive from Arrecife airport, and is well signposted. If you are driving yourself then follow the signs out of the airport to Yaiza, until you see signs for Playa Blanca, and then follow those. The roads are well maintained, and fairly wide - just please do use extra care as we drive on the right here. Petrol stations are a mix of self-service and staff-serviced. Fuel is fairly inexpensive here. To ask for fuel - simply say "Diez, por favor" - pronounced DEE-ETH POOR FAVOOR. That will get you ten euros worth of fuel, so adjust the number for whatever amount you would like. Do remember to check what type of fuel your car takes... "Sin Plomo" is unleaded, and most hire cars (if not all) are unleaded.
We can put you in touch with our favoured, licensed, airport transfer company (www.t4you.eu), leaving you to worry about nothing but what shoes to pack.
Beaches
At the eastern end of the resort are the breathtaking Papagayo Beaches, voted amongst the best in Spain. Access to these is either on foot from the Los Coloradas area of Playa Blanca, or by road from the carriageway that joins Playa Blanca with Femes.
There are a number of beaches in the resort, with Playa Dorada and Playa Flamingo being the most popular. At Playa Dorada there are various water-based activities available, as well as sun bed hire, and a bustling commercial centre just behind. Playa Flamingo is protected by an almost enclosed sea wall. making it perfect for families. There are a number of cafes and restaurants just behind the beach itself.
Eating and Drinking
Throughout the town are many restaurants, with many of these located along the beautiful promenade which stretches between the two ends of the resort. If you love your seafood or steak - then you are in for a treat... with most of the Spanish restaurants catering for this with the freshest of ingredients. However, there are also many Italian and Chinese restaurants, with Indian and Greek thrown in for good measure.
At the plush Marina Rubicon are even more eateries, as well as a bowling alley, and plenty of designer shops. It is here, every Wednesday and Saturday mornings, that the busy and popular market takes place - selling all those gifts for you to treat your families and friends to. Look out also for the wine seller, a Canarian gentleman who sells a variety of Lanzarote wines, including the extremely popular Bermejo.
At the other end of the resort, in the Faro Park area is one of our favourite haunts - Le Moka. Much must be said about their pastries and snacks available, cooked on the premises. Their Leche Leche Coffee is amongst the best in the resort, and the owners Dave and Marion are extremely friendly, and on hand to make you feel welcome. Also in this stretch of eateries and shops is the Port of Call, which does an excellent Sunday Roast, and The Lighthouse Cafe - perfect for fish and chips and home cooked fayre. If you fancy a drink during the evenings, there is also The Snug - a friendly pub, frequented by many residents of the area.
There are a large number of bars in playa Blanca, from Irish pubs such as the Irish Anvil at Punta Limones (great cooked breakfast!) to chill out bars like Manea by the Natura Palace hotel, to Sports bars such as Wax Bar at CC Papagayo. Entertainment is pretty varied, with plenty of live acts each evening.
Supermarkets
In the centre of the town are a number of supermarkets. Spar is located at Punta Limones, there are two Hiperdinos (one in the town centre, and one at the Eastern end of Playa Blanca). There are also smaller supermarkets around, as well as fruterias. Shopping in Playa Blanca is varied and fun - with everything from gifts to clothing and jewellery to tobacco shops. We would however, warn you not to try to pick up an electrical bargain, such as cameras and their accessories, as the electrical shops are renowned for bad practice - you are much better sourcing those online or in the UK and Ireland.
Transport
There is a bus that goes between the two ends of the resort every half an hour during the day. The cost is €1.15 regardless of distance. You can also get a bus from the Bus station to Puerto del Carmen and Arrecife - which then links to the other resorts. The buses are clean and air-conditioned, and very reasonably priced.
Taxis are plentiful and reasonably priced. The rough cost for a taxi from Villa Azul to the town centre should be around €4 each way. Do ask for an estimate before you book a taxi. You can call them by phone on 0034 928 524 222. They speak Spanish - but are very helpful, and taxis are extremely prompt... so don't book it until you are ready to go. If in doubt, just give us a call and we will sort it for you.
Everything Else
One of our favourite websites is www.canarynightlife.com - and you will often find us lurking in the forum there, chatting to likeminded people about all things Lanzarote. There are a large number of Playa Blanca visitors and residents posting in this friendly and chatty forum. The owners of the site (Elle & Alan) are Playa Blanca residents themselves - so head over and join in! Here you can ask any questions you like about Playa Blanca - and you will be very well looked after. Our username in there is "smokie" - so do come and say hello! A direct link to the forum is here: www.canarynightlife.net/forum
We hope that you find the map below useful, as it marks some specific areas in the town that you may find of help.
Playa Blanca is around 40 minutes drive from Arrecife airport, and is well signposted. If you are driving yourself then follow the signs out of the airport to Yaiza, until you see signs for Playa Blanca, and then follow those. The roads are well maintained, and fairly wide - just please do use extra care as we drive on the right here. Petrol stations are a mix of self-service and staff-serviced. Fuel is fairly inexpensive here. To ask for fuel - simply say "Diez, por favor" - pronounced DEE-ETH POOR FAVOOR. That will get you ten euros worth of fuel, so adjust the number for whatever amount you would like. Do remember to check what type of fuel your car takes... "Sin Plomo" is unleaded, and most hire cars (if not all) are unleaded.
There are a number of beaches in the resort, with Playa Dorada and Playa Flamingo being the most popular. At Playa Dorada there are various water-based activities available, as well as sun bed hire, and a bustling commercial centre just behind. Playa Flamingo is protected by an almost enclosed sea wall. making it perfect for families. There are a number of cafes and restaurants just behind the beach itself.
Throughout the town are many restaurants, with many of these located along the beautiful promenade which stretches between the two ends of the resort. If you love your seafood or steak - then you are in for a treat... with most of the Spanish restaurants catering for this with the freshest of ingredients. However, there are also many Italian and Chinese restaurants, with Indian and Greek thrown in for good measure.
hour during the day. The cost is €1.15 regardless of distance. You can also get a bus from the Bus station to Puerto del Carmen and Arrecife - which then links to the other resorts. The buses are clean and air-conditioned, and very reasonably priced.