Planning your trip to Lanzarote? Wondering what to do in Playa Blanca?
Here’s our complete guide to all the best places and things to do in the area, so you can make the most of your stay:
- the most beautiful beaches in Playa Blanca
- Places to see in town
- boat tours
- excursions around the island
- fun activities in the water or on land…
This is our personal selection of 15 must-do activities in Playa Blanca.
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
1. Enjoy Playa Flamingo, our favourite beach in Playa Blanca
Playa Blanca has 3 main beaches. Our favorite beach is Playa Flamingo, a little west of downtown. It’s just a few minutes’ walk from the center, and there are plenty of hotels around.
We find it the most beautiful in terms of scenery, with its palm tree, the elevated view on one side, and the Montana Roja volcano in the marvelous background.
The beach is very well equipped with showers and a restaurant.
It is rather long with fine sand.
Thanks to two dikes, the water is calm. And as everywhere around Lanzarote, the water is crystal clear and invites you to cool off.
Our favorite car rental platform: DiscoverCars
2. Choose Playa Dorada, the largest
The best-known and largest beach is Playa Dorada.
It’s right in the heart of Playa Blanca, right next to the famous Princesa Yaiza hotel.
It’s rather long (300m) but still a little wide. The sand is fine. And once again, the water is magnificently transparent, with variations in turquoise color.
There are showers, bars and restaurants.
The beach also has plenty of sun loungers and parasols for hire.
See more photos.
4. Stroll along the waterfront, spoon and crabs
What we love most about Playa Blanca is the very long seafront promenade. It offers beautiful views all the way along and is in very good condition.
Walking south, you can see Montana Roja, walking north, you can see Papagayo in the distance.
And looking south, you can see the island of Fuerteventura on a clear day.
Along the way, you can look for the spoon in the cement.
We recommend that you use Google Maps to find out which corner of the boardwalk it’s in, and then look for it.
Because if you had to search the whole length of the boardwalk, it would take quite a few days…
It’s fun. It keeps kids busy, and for adults, it gets you into meditation. But people around you might wonder what you’re up to!
In the same area of the spoon (next to the anchor), look also at the rocks below. At certain times of the day and tide, you may see huge red crabs scuttling around on the black rocks.
WHERE TO STAY IN Playa Blanca
Our favorites: neighborhoods and hotels
Centrally located, close to beaches and activities.
We like: Hotel Princesa Yaiaza, a must-see resort – see prices, photos and availability
On the quieter Montana Roja side.
We like: Hotel Kamezi villas, with private pools – see prices, photos and availability
Near the Marina and Papagayo beaches.
We like: Hotel CalaLanzarote, boutique-hotel for adults – See prices, photos and availability
See our complete selection of the best hotels in Playa Blanca
5. Admire the Castillo
Many stop at the Marina, but we recommend you continue walking along the promenade further east.
You’ll find the tower: El Castillo o Torre del Aguila.
It was designed by engineer Claudio L’Isle in 1741 to defend Lanzarote’s south coast from pirate attacks.
It was built in 1769.
The tower has a small drawbridge and could house soldiers.
The army stopped using it in 1936.
5. Explore the wilder Papagayo Beaches
Papagayo and its neighboring stretches of golden sand are considered Lanzarote’s best beaches and form one of the island’s main attractions.
Their large sandy stretches have remained mostly untouched, with no paved roads leading to them.
There are a few buildings, only at the last cove which is Papagayo beach.
These beaches are located on the Macizo de los Ajaches (Natural Monument), the island’s oldest territory formed around 14 million years ago (hence the rounded peaks and deep ravines).
There are no roads to get there, only a very bumpy track. Your options for getting there are
- walk from Playa Blanca to Papagayo (along other beaches) a very pretty hike (but without shade): 2km each way if you go all the way.
- take the car with the bumpy track and pay parking at the end (beware, you’re generally not covered by car insurance)
- Take a boat trip to see them from the sea. The views are magnificent, but please note that you will not be able to go on the beach – see details and availability.
See our complete guide to Papagayo beaches.
OUR ADVICE FOR RENTING A CAR IN Lanzarote
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- A small car is all you need.
- But you can also choose a larger one if you wish, as the parking spaces are rather large.
- Demand is high, so book early.
6. Fun at Aqualava water park
If you want to refresh yourself in a different way, Aqualava is a water park that has the advantage of being open all year round.
It highlights the volcanic character of the island.
They even use a geothermal system to heat the pools.
We liked the design of the park, which is not too big, which is nice for staying together as a family.
Here you’ll find..:
- The Aqualava lagoon pool, which regularly becomes a wave pool
- Timan Fire with 5 winding slides
- The Magma River for float trips
- Corsario Bay for the little ones with a giant octopus
- Deckchairs
- free wifi
- Please note that many attractions are not accessible to children under 1m20.
- Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in summer, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in winter
Buy your ticket to get in line faster
See our article on water parks in Lanzarote.
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7. Go underwater: snorkeling or diving / Atlantico Museum
If you love discovering the seabed, Playa Blanca is a great destination.
The beaches to the west of Playa Blanca: Playa Flamingo, Playa Montana Roja and Playa Natura Beach, offer great snorkeling opportunities.
But Playa Blanca is best known for its underwater museum: Museo Atlantico.
Lanzarote is a superb destination for divers.
Even if you’re a beginner, you can manage to see it with a professional diver.
See details and availability – and book!
8. Hike to the summit of Montana Roja
This volcano is located right next to the resort, but few people climb this mountain to enjoy the view!
Overlooking Playa Blanca, Montana Roja (the red mountain, because of its color) is a volcanic crater that rises to 194 m. A beautiful walk takes you to the top and around the rim with superb views of the southern tip of Lanzarote.
A beautiful walk takes you to the top and around the rim with superb views of the southern tip of Lanzarote.
On a clear day, you can also enjoy views of Lobos Island and the north coast of Fuerteventura.
- 1h15 round trip from the last houses (including 20min around the crater)
- 2.6km walk – 150m ascent from Playa Blanca town
More photos and tips in our article on Montana Roja.
9. Enjoy the Canary Islands at Kamezi Deli & Bistro
After all that swimming and hiking, you deserve some good food.
Playa Blanca has many restaurants, and some very good ones.
But if you’re looking for a unique, gastronomic experience, we recommend the Kamezi Deli & Bistro.
We loved our experience.
To begin with, the setting is magnificent, with a décor that blends in perfectly with nature and the view.
And then the discovery menu lets you sample local produce and traditional dishes revisited.
We had some very nice surprises throughout the meal.
See our selection of the best restaurants in Playa Blanca.
10. Visit the old town: beach, stores…
In the center of town, you’ll find the oldest part.
It doesn’t have the cachet of Teguise, but it’s a pleasant place to walk around.
You’ll find it here:
- the church: Parroquia Nuestra Señora del Carmen
- pedestrian streets with lots of stores
- The liveliest part of the promenade with a wide choice of restaurants
- another small beach called Playa Blanca
The beach in the center is called Playa Blanca, which gets complicated.
It’s a small beach, not very long and not very wide. But it’s right next to stores and restaurants.
11. Seeking thrills on land or at sea: kayaking, quad biking, etc.
As one of Lanzarote’s main resorts, there’s plenty to do at Playa Blanca.
You’ll find a wide choice of activities on the water. Note:
- Kayaking to explore the coast – see availability and make a reservation
- Paddleboarding for balance training – see availability and book now
- Parasailing, an activity we love and which offers superb views – see availability and make a reservation
- Jet-skiing, if you’re looking for speed – see availability and make a reservation
And on land, you can also go on an adventure. Note:
- Quad biking tours in desert landscapes – see availability and make a reservation
12. Relax at Marina Rubicon
On one side you have the old center, and on the other the Marina Rubicon.
Here you’ll find a covered shopping mall, the marina, restaurants and bars with a very different atmosphere from the rest of the city.
There’s a market here on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.
13 à 16. See our favorite places around Playa Blanca
We all love the island of Lanzarote, but close to Playa Blanca, we particularly like 3 places.
13. Los Hervideros
One of our favorite landscapes on Lanzarote is Los Hervideros. We really enjoyed the mix of turquoise water, dark basalt columns and the little red volcano behind. We just sat there and watched, fascinated by the intensity of the colors.
A path has been set up to explore these cliffs and even to go down and look under one of the arches. The walk is short but fun and easy.
- Driving time from Playa Blanca = 20min
- If you don’t want to drive, organized tours combine Los Hervideros with a visit to the famous Timanfaya National Park. See the program
14. Salt marshes (Salinas de Janubios)
We’ve always loved salt marshes: their shapes, colors and little cones of white salt. On the west coast of Lanzarote, you can find the Janubios Salinas. In this volcanic landscape, it’s quite a sight!
- Driving time from Playa Blanca = 20min
15. El Golfo and the green lake
Off to Charco Verde, to see what’s left of the volcano by the sea, and the formation of the green lake at its center. There’s a mix of red, yellow and black rocks that have been beautifully shaped by erosion. What’s more, all this is combined with a black beach and a very well-located viewpoint.
Lago Verde is green due to the combination of sea grass algae and sulfur.
- Driving time from Playa Blanca = 20min
16. Los Charcones natural pools
Los Charcones are a series of magnificent natural pools that appear at low tide.
However, they are not easy to access. The road is unpaved and with very sharp rocks. So you’re taking a risk if you go by car. Alternatively, you can walk a few kilometers.
Sorry, we don’t have any photos yet.
17 à 19. Excursions from Playa Blanca
Of course, you can explore the whole island of Lanzarote from Playa Blanca.
But if you only have a few days, here are our favorite excursions.
17. Timanfaya National Park
It’s a must-see. Timanfaya National Park is the best excursion in Lanzarote. It’ s absolutely breathtaking!
It’s a national park and you can’t walk around on your own. But even in a group, it’s fantastic to see the colors and power of the Earth.
Timanfaya National Park is located on the west coast of the island and consists entirely of volcanic soil.
It is protected. Next to the restaurant, you can see the water projected from the Earth and touch the hot rocks. After that, you board a bus to visit the park on the unique route they’ve created.
This route offers fantastic panoramas of the many volcanic craters (formed mainly between 1730 and 1736), different types of lava and incredible colors.
- Driving time from Playa Blanca = 30min
- If you don’t want to drive, there are group excursions combined with other Lanzarote attractions – see tours that include Timanfaya
18. Works by César Manrique
Lanzarote is also famous for being the home of the architect and artist César Manrique.
Above all, he liked to integrate architecture with the natural environment. It’s thanks to him that there are no major developments on the island and that it retains so much charm with all its little white houses.
One of our favorite places of his was the cactus garden, but there’s also a foundation, his house, the viewpoint over La Graciosa (Mirador del Rio) and Jamaeos del Agua.
See the different tour options around Manrique’s works
19. Lobos Island / Fuerteventura
For a complete change, you can also head south by boat to explore the island of Lobos and/or the island of Fuerteventura.
It’s so close and yet so different.
The landscape is more mountainous and less volcanic.
It has better beaches but not the same charm as Lanzarote.
So it’s a great way to experience something different in the Canary Islands.
Note that Fuerteventura is a larger island and you can only see a snapshot on a day trip from Lanzarote.
- Discover the dunes of Corralejo and the picturesque village of El Cotillo
See prices, photos and availability - Dolphin-hunting trip in a small boat on the way to Lobos Island. Descend to discover a small part of Lobos
See prices, pictures and availability
20 à 21. Activities with children in Playa Blanca
And finally, if you’ve got kids with you, here are two more options to keep your days busy.
20. Minigolf
Next to the Marina Rubicon shopping center, you’ll find a colorful miniature golf course, ideal for children.
Some hotels also have their own miniature golf courses.
21. Arcade games
And in several places, you can find small areas with arcade games.
Practical tips for visiting Playa Blanca
Where Playa Blanca is – map
Here is a map to help you find your way:
The town of Playa Blanca is very easy to reach, in the south of the island.
- Lanzarote Airport (ACE) to Playa Blanca = 30min drive
- Playa Blanca to Puerto del Carmen = 30 min
- Playa Blanca to Costa Teguise = 45 min
Getting around Playa Blanca
It’s easy to get around the city center on foot.
Electric scooters are also available if your hotel or accommodation is further from the waterfront.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO Lanzarote
- Best of
Most beautiful landscapes
Best things to do in Lanzarote
Most beautiful beaches
Most beautiful villages
Best boat tours
César Manrique’s attractions
Secret places, off the beaten track
Most beautiful hikes
- Practical advice
25 tips for a successful trip to Lanzarote
How to get around
How to rent a car in Lanzarote
Driving tips
Where to stay in Lanzarote
Best hotels in Lanzarote
Best excursions
Itineraries: 3 days – 4 days – 5 days – 1 week – 10 days
