Lanzarote is enjoying something of a tourism revival of late, with the growth of small towns like Playa Blanca meaning that areas that were previously unexplored are now on the agenda, attracting new visitors to the island who are hungry for adventure, culture and sunshine.
In 2012, Lanzarote saw a 9% increase in visitors from the UK year on year, and this trend looks set to continue in 2013 as more and more people turn to Lanzarote when looking for cheap holidays that offer a range of activities combined with the lure of the beach for lazier days.
Playa Blanca started life as a small fishing village and went on to become a ferry port from which the boat to Fuertaventura can be caught. As the port attracted more and more visitors, the port turned into a harbor and now is home to a yacht marina. This sophisticated backdrop attracted tourists from across the world and, before long, became peppered with bijou bars and cafes for visitors to take in refreshments. This, combined with picturesque villas and hotels, makes Playa Blanca a pretty setting for a holiday.
What to do:
A visit to Playa Blanca can be as lazy or as action-packed as its visitors like. Sun-seekers can soak up the rays on the beach, whereas the more adventurous travellers can explore Montana Roja, or Red Mountain, which is the volcano on the island of Lanzarote. While the volcano now sits dormant, it still makes for an exciting trip, offering spectacular views across the coast from its rim. A walk up the volcano can take around 40 minutes and covers about three kilometers. Many local tourism offices offer guided tours that cover the history of the mountain as well as the geological significance of it.
Where to stay:
For those looking for a comfortable, relaxed base for their holiday in Playa Blanca, a cheap and cheerful option is the Iberostar Lanzarote Park. Travellers have the peace of mind of knowing they’re staying with a well-known name like Iberostar and the pools and the distance from the beach – just 300 metres – mean that it’s just as easy to have a lazy day as it is to go out exploring.
How to get there:
Cheap holidays to Lanzarote and Playa Blanca can be booked with holiday package operators, such as Jet2holidays. Playa Blanca is located around 33 kilometres south of the airport in Lanzarote, so it’s worth taking this into account and pre-booking a transfer to the hotel on arrival
