To the amusement of many residents and regular visitors to Lanzarote Playa Blanca is still often described as a sleepy little fishing village in the south of the island. This holiday brochure hype is hollow though, as Playa Blanca has, in truth, long since outgrown this tag and is now emerging as the island’s fastest growing hot spot.
General Information
Development has been especially rapid here in the last few years, with the whole coastline from Pechiguera to Papagayo now commandeered by luxury hotels and a vast array of villas.
This modern architecture belies the town’s hidden historic past. As Playa Blanca’s seen all this before. It’s used to greeting invaders and is in fact one of the most historically important towns in the whole of the Canary Islands, if not Spain itself.
For it was here, back in the early 1400´s, that the Spanish began to establish their first ever successful perch in the Canaries.
The islands, known then as the Fortunate Islands (an early nod to the semi tropical climate of the Canaries) went on to be of enormous importance to the creation of the Spanish empire, as they provided a vital strategic and trading platform for the discovery and exploitation of the New World and funneled vast wealth back into the Old.
Ironically, for a holiday island, it all started with a warm welcome from the locals.
A Norman noble, Jean de Bethencourt, had been hired by the King of Spain to explore and secure the islands (he was, by the way, traveling with someone called Lancelot, believed by many to be the island’s real namesake). Bethencourt was so pleased with the peaceful reception that his expedition received from the native Guanche inhabitants that he thought he´d stay on – and even helped them by building a castle to repel pirate attacks on the Rubicon, the large plain in the south of the island, just outside Playa Blanca.
Sadly there´s no real evidence of this history today, although Playa Blanca does have one historic building, the Castillo de las Coloradas, which dates back to 1769 and is named after the colorful rocks found along this part of the coastline.
But plenty have followed Bethencourt´s lead since the 1400´s and Playa Blanca now boasts a beautiful new marina, aptly named The Marina Rubicon along with probably the best selection of luxury hotels on the island. Major hotel chains have backed the resort heavily and in fairness Playa Blanca’s development has been well planned, due largely to the fact that tourism reached this part of the island some years after the initial explosion in Puerto del Carmen.
Playa Blanca’s growth over the last decade really has much more to do with geography than history. Seen from above, Playa Blanca is really just one large bay, measuring about 9-10km, sheltering lots of smaller bays of various sizes. As a result the resort has arguably the best and safest beaches on the island.
Whilst this sort of claim is hard to qualify and many have their favourites elsewhere nobody can dispute the fact that Playa Blanca provides more immediate choice for beach lovers than any of the other resorts. Right on your doorstep you’ve got a wide range of choice, from the man made but beautiful Playa Flamingo, through the still pretty little town center beach to the unforgettable beaches at Papagayo.
Playa Blanca can also boast a better microclimate than the other resorts on the island. It’s a good 60 km south of the most northerly beaches and can certainly at times provide more reliable sunshine as a result, especially in the winter months.
In reality the town has always been ripe for growth as it is the gateway to Fuerteventura via the local ferry port – making it an obvious conduit between the two islands and an excellent base for those interested in a spot of island hopping.
Despite the past decade of development the town itself retains a lot of charm especially along the sea front where there are plenty of good restaurants, many offering views across to the shimmering lights of Fuerteventura.
Facilities and infrastructure are also improving rapidly, with the relatively new Marina Rubicon offering an attractive alternative to the main seafront promenade for atmospheric bars and restaurants, among them Lanzarote´s very own branch of the Café del Mar.
A new golf course and large sports complex are also planned, in the hope of drawing more moneyed tourists to the area.
As a result, Playa Blanca is emerging as an attractive and more up market alternative to Puerto del Carmen and offers a better climate and newer, plusher hotel accommodation than it’s other main resort rival, Costa Teguise.
All images copyright © Marina Rubicon 2006