As a relatively new resort Playa Blanca has little to offer in the way of historic buildings. Although this stretch of coastline around the southernmost resort on the island is in fact steeped in history.
As it was here that the Spanish conquistadors gained their first firm foothold in the Canary Islands back in the early 1400´s. See Playa Blanca Background .
Castillo de las Coloradas
The one partial exception is the small Castle – the Castillo de las Coloradas – which sits outside the resort, to the east, as you walk towards the beaches at Papagayo.
The current construction dates from 1769. But there has been a fortress on this spot ever since the arrival of the Norman noble Jean de Bethencourt. Who built a castle here to help defend the Guanche inhabitants – and the island – from pirate attacks.
The castle itself is named after the colourful – coloradas in Spanish – rocks that are found along the coastline here.
Faro de Pechiguera
Playa Blanca´s other main landmark is the lighthouse – the Faro de Pechiguera – which lies to the west of the resort. The lighthouse itself is not that spectacular a building – as it is of recently modern construction, built in 1986 under the aegis of the ubiquitous Cesar Manrique.
But the coastal walk to the lighthouse is great – taking about forty minutes to an hour or so from the centre of resort – and offering wonderful views over to the neighbouring islands of Los Lobos (the wolves) and Fuerteventura.
Montaña Roja
Playa Blanca has its own volcano – Montaña Roja (the red mountain) right on the doorstep of the resort. So many visitors choose to climb the 194 metre high peak – which takes around half an hour or so and which affords great views back to the resort as well as down into the crater of the volcano itself.
See our selection of Guided Walks