Playa Blanca is Lanzarote's smart southern resort — sunny, sheltered and grown-up. Once a tiny fishing village at the island's southern tip, it has become a stylish, low-rise resort of whitewashed promenades, calm town beaches and a chic marina, without ever losing its relaxed feel. It's the driest, warmest corner of a dry, warm island, the launch point for the ferry to Fuerteventura, and the closest base to the glorious wild beaches of Papagayo.
What it's like
Like the rest of Lanzarote, Playa Blanca is built low and white, hugging the coast rather than towering over it — a deliberate policy that keeps the island looking calm and uncluttered. It's the newest of the island's major resorts and one of the most polished, with a long, attractive seafront promenade linking the town's beaches, the old harbour and the marina. The overall mood is peaceful and a touch upmarket, popular with families and couples who want reliable sun and a quiet, tidy resort.
Tucked into the sheltered south of the island, Playa Blanca enjoys some of the calmest water and least wind you'll find in Lanzarote, which — along with the near-constant sunshine — is a big part of its appeal. The town has grown quickly in recent years, so you'll find a good spread of modern amenities — supermarkets, shops, a health centre and plenty of restaurants — while the strict low-rise rules keep it from ever feeling overbuilt. It's an easy place to settle into for a week or two.
The beaches
The resort's own town beaches are small, sheltered coves of pale sand with gentle, shallow water — easy and safe, if compact and busy in peak season. Our page on Playa Blanca's beaches covers them in detail.
The real prize, though, lies just to the east: the Papagayo beaches, a string of golden, unspoilt coves set within a protected natural park. Reached by a rough track (a small fee applies) or by boat from the marina, these are among the finest and most beautiful beaches in the Canaries — undeveloped, clear-watered and wonderfully wild. Browse more of the island's coast in our beaches section.
The easiest and most scenic way to reach the Papagayo beaches is by boat from Playa Blanca's marina — no dusty track, and you can pick a different cove each time. Bring water and shade, as facilities out there are minimal.
Rubicón marina and the ferry
The Marina Rubicón is the resort's stylish focal point — a smart harbour ringed by boutiques, cafés and restaurants, with yachts, dive boats and excursion craft, and a popular weekly market. It's a lovely spot for an evening stroll or a long lunch by the water.
Playa Blanca is also the ferry gateway to Fuerteventura. Fast and conventional ferries make the short crossing across the strait to Corralejo on Fuerteventura several times a day, making an easy day trip — or a genuine two-island holiday — very doable. For routes and timings, see our ferries between the islands guide.
Things to do
Beyond the beaches, Playa Blanca is a comfortable base for exploring the island's famous sights, most within an hour's drive. The scenic coastal walk along the promenade towards Papagayo is a lovely way to start the day, and boat trips, dive schools and watersports all operate from the marina. Younger children are well catered for too, with a small water park nearby. For anyone drawn to island holidays elsewhere, our things to do section and the wider guide have plenty more to plan around.
Where to stay and who it suits
Accommodation leans towards comfortable four-star hotels, well-run aparthotels and apartment complexes, generally low-rise and spread along the coast — a smarter, calmer offering than the busy resort strips elsewhere. It's a natural fit for families, couples and older travellers who want sunshine, good beaches and a peaceful base.
If you want more of a resort buzz and nightlife, Puerto del Carmen up the coast is livelier; for a purpose-built family resort, there's Costa Teguise. Our where to stay guide compares the island's bases.
Eating and evenings
Dining centres on the promenade and the Marina Rubicón, ranging from fresh fish and Canarian cooking to Italian, international and family-friendly menus. Seek out local specialities like papas arrugadas with mojo and a glass of Lanzarote wine, grown in the island's striking volcanic vineyards. Evenings are relaxed — a good meal, a wander round the lit-up marina, a quiet drink — rather than a big night out, which suits the resort's laid-back character.
Getting there and around
Lanzarote Airport (ACE) is a straightforward drive north of Playa Blanca. The resort's long promenade makes it walkable end to end, and taxis and local buses cover longer hops. To explore the rest of the island — Timanfaya, the Manrique sites, the northern villages — a hire car gives you the most freedom. Our getting around guide has the details, and viamo's route guides help with transfers and the ferry hop to Fuerteventura.
Nearby
Beyond the Papagayo beaches, Playa Blanca is within reach of the whole island: the fire mountains of Timanfaya National Park, the volcanic vineyards of La Geria, and the remarkable art-and-nature sites created by César Manrique. Across the water lies Fuerteventura and the dunes of Corralejo. Start with our Lanzarote hub to plan the rest of your trip.