Getting to know Playa Blanca

01. December 2020 Category: Lanzarote Playa Blanca

Playa Blanca is one of the most popular resorts in Lanzarote, a large affluent town, known for having a little bit of something for everyone.

Playa Blanca is divided into three sections, the Montana Roja area towards the south west, the main town centre and Las Coloradas towards the south east. Without a doubt, all of these areas can be considered self-contained “mini towns” as they all offer a wide range of dining options, activities, shops and they all have their own unique character and ambience.

The Montana Roja area is built around the “Red Mountain”, a 195 meter high inactive Volcano that you can climb and from the top, you’ll see the most stunning view of the whole of Playa Blanca! This Volcano can be seen from most properties in this area. It’s not very often you can say “I can see an inactive Volcano from my house!”.

Aside from Montana Roja, this area can also be known as “El Faro” meaning Lighthouse, which is located at the most western point of the island and is well known for the large natural rock pools that surround it and are very popular amongst those sea lovers.

As with all areas of Playa Blanca, Montana Roja is extremely popular with tourists that prefer to be set back from the main town centre, but with the ease of being able to travel to it, thanks to the areas being extremely well connected by a regular bus route that operates daily and every half an hour. Bus stops are dotted all around Playa Blanca and it costs under 2€ per person.

Dining options in this area are varied and there is something for every taste, restaurants ranging from burgers and fast food to traditional British meals, delicious patisseries, Spanish tapas restaurants and other fine dining options too.

A various range of sports and activities are also offered in this area, there are lots of hotel gyms, a fantastic sea front promenade ideal for leisurely walks or even bike riding.

Moving onto the town centre, this is where you will find all the main shops and commercial areas, originally this main area of Playa Blanca was known as a small fishing village made up of a few houses, a local church and a beach. It has now become a major economic driver in the Yaiza municipality and welcomes thousands of tourists every year that flock to Playa Blanca for its fantastic beaches, climate and dining.

Although the town centre of Playa Blanca is still home to many locals, there is an element of holiday homes here and also expats who are happily welcomed into this multi-cultural community. Playa Blanca itself offers an array of shops and bars that are dedicated to the tourism industry but there are also some equally fantastic places to head to that are also frequented by many locals too!

  Playa Blanca, 1960’s

The Lanzarote to Fuerteventura ferries operate from the Playa Blanca port here, they take approximately 20 minutes to get to Corralejo and prices start from 27€ for non-residents and 7€ for residents. There is also the option to take a car on board so you can explore Fuerteventura by road too!

The local town beach is always frequented by the locals who launch themselves into the water when the ferry pulls into the harbour as it brings huge waves, and also beaches such as Playa Flamingo and Playa Dorada that are great for swimming and enjoying the sunshine!

There are also plans in place to build a sports centre here in Playa Blanca and will consist of a main building with enough space to house three multipurpose courts (basketball, football, volleyball and handball), as well as a gym and stands for 1,040 spectators. It will also have another adjacent building that will have three covered pools, one of them being 25 meters long, a shallower 12-meter long pool for teaching and a smaller pool for physiotherapy and rehabilitation.

For sports enthusiasts, there is currently a bike lane for cyclists, many gyms, a skate park and council organised sports such as traditional Canarian Beach Wrestling, football and many others.

In the town centre you will find the local post office, various bank branches, vets, pharmacies, the local doctors surgery, travel agents, the local church, police station, council office and bus station. There is also a primary school and a secondary school that is currently under construction.

Again, this area is extremely well connected via the Playa Blanca bus route and you can also hop on public transport to the other island resorts from the centre, such as the 161 bus to Puerto del Carmen and the airport or the number 60 bus to Playa Honda.

Last but not least, the Las Coloradas area. Mostly known for the Papagayo Beaches that attract tourists far and wide with their golden sand and camping facilities.

Las Coloradas has recently become a favourite amongst expats and has gained more recognition over the years leading to more shops and bars opening, meaning it has now become a fantastic and peaceful area with everything you should need within a very short distance.