What to do in Playa Blanca

There’s plenty to do in Playa Blanca, Lanzarote, to keep you entertained if you want to explore beyond the beautiful beaches and poolside views. While I love lounging around by the pool, it’s not really Hayden’s thing, so we challenged ourselves to plan a week of activities in a place renowned for its sun and sea.

We didn’t go to the beach once during our time in Playa Blanca. Instead, we spent some afternoons lounging on the terrace or going out for drinks to unwind after action-packed days.

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We went on a three-hour Maverick RZR tour with Aventura Lanza Buggy, costing €210 with a free transfer. It’s more of a driving experience than an informative tour, but it’s still fun. The buggy is easy to drive without gears; you brake and accelerate as required.

We stopped at two points: an off-road segment for photos and Casa Museo del Campesino for a quick refreshment break. Our guide explained the connection to César Manrique, a Spanish artist and sculptor.

I highly recommend taking a buff or scarf to cover your nose and mouth, as it can get dusty. Towards the latter part of our tour, the vehicles in front were kicking up so much dust that it was difficult to see, just something to be mindful of!

It’s worth noting that the company modifies the Maverick RZRs to cap their horsepower, despite promoting them as having 173bhp. This is understandable, as it prevents reckless driving on the tour. However, it can feel a bit misleading, and I believe they should advertise the capped horsepower instead.

Overall, a fun experience and a unique way to see some of the island.

The Marina Rubicón Market takes place every Wednesday and Saturday from 9am until 2pm. It takes about 30 minutes to walk there from the main Playa Blanca strip.

I love watching products being made before my eyes; it demonstrates that the items are handcrafted and not mass-produced. One of my favourite stalls at the market had an abundance of glass figurines and earrings, some of which were crafted right before our eyes.

There are some amazing finds, but be prepared for a busy day with large crowds.

We decided to go to Dive College Lanzarote and visit the Museo Atlántico as part of their beginner’s course.

When we arrived, the staff informed us that it was not possible to go to Museo Atlántico due to the visibility (going between May and October would have provided better conditions); they gave us the option to dive in the sea at another location or try again another day. We opted to go that day.

Following a briefing where all the rules and hand signals were explained to us, we got suited and booted (flippered seems more appropriate). We then walked down to the shore and swam a short way out to dive.

Hayden went under first to a depth of 6m; when it was my turn to go under, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I was managing to breathe through my mouth, and I’d had my face in the water practising my breathing, but when it came time for the instructor to guide me below the surface, I found myself panicking, and I had to withdraw.

Obviously, it’s not the story you want to hear if you’re planning on diving for the first time! But the instructors were so wonderful and understanding. Will I give it another go in the future? Absolutely! However, I will make sure to try it in a contained environment like a pool first.

In the end, Hayden ended up having a private diving session, which he loved!

After being picked up at a nearby hotel, we were transferred to a restaurant in Yaiza. Here, we queued to verify our tickets, pay any monies due, and wait for what felt like an age for our bus to arrive.

Our first stop was at El Golfo to see Lago Verde, the famous green lake. We had around 25 minutes here, which was plenty of time to walk the short footpath to the viewpoint. The lake is certainly unusual, but once I’d seen it and taken a few photos, I was ready to move on; it’s essentially a small patch of vivid green water without much context.

An information board explaining what causes the lake to be green would have added a bit more interest, as opinions seem to vary: some say the mineral olivine causes it, while others credit a type of algae in the water.

The nearby coastline is beautiful, though, with waves crashing against the black volcanic rocks, creating a striking contrast beside the lake.

After El Golfo, we stopped within Timanfaya National Park for an optional camel ride, which cost €11 per person for a 20-minute ride. The other option was to go into the museum to learn about the history of camels in Lanzarote.

We opted for the camel ride, a first for both of us. As we got seated on Mateo, I felt excited but unbelievably nervous.

The ride was quite an adventure; however, it was a rather bumpy journey. In reviewing the footage we captured on our GoPro, I couldn’t help but laugh at the top two quotes from me: “This is scary” and “I feel sick”.

So, consider a camel ride through Timanfaya National Park if you want a thrilling new adventure. While you may experience some jostling, the ride provides some stunning views. However, if you are prone to motion sickness, this may not be for you.

After the ride, we bade farewell to our new pal, Mateo, and hopped back on the bus, ready to see what Timanfaya had to offer.

Onto Timanfaya National Park, we parked up in the visitors centre where our guide took us around three different “experiments” relating to the volcanic environment.

We then took a quick break to see how the heat of the volcano is used to cook food for the El Diablo restaurant, which is quite impressive.
As part of the tour, we had about 15 minutes of free time to explore, which unfortunately was not enough time to have a meal there!

We hopped back on the bus and drove around the Ruta de los Volcanes, a 14km route which showcases an array of craters and lava fields narrated by an audio track describing what we were seeing before us.

Learning about the eruptions that shaped the landscape and the ongoing scientific research conducted in the area was fascinating.

We stopped at several viewpoints along the route, which allowed us to take in the scenery. However, it’s worth noting that you can’t leave the bus to protect the landscape.

Eventually, our tour of the Ruta de los Volcanes ended, and we left the national park for lunch.

As part of the tour, we stopped at Los Dolores Restaurant, where we had the option to have a buffet lunch for €10/person, which we chose to do.

Our final stop on the South tour was at the Bodega Barreto for a wine tasting.

We were given a choice between samples of a dry white or a sweet red produced in this volcanic terroir. I opted for the white, and Hayden opted for the red. While we enjoyed our respective wines, you won’t be tearing me away from my Australian Yellow Tail any time soon!

If you opt to go on a tour that stops here, don’t go straight into the winery; take the opportunity to go down the path between the winery and neighbouring bodega to get some pictures with the vineyards free from the hustle and bustle of everyone else! Once the crowds have died down inside, you can enjoy your sample without queuing.

One thing to keep in mind is that the tasting pours are fairly small. Some reviewers have mentioned this, but considering how many tour groups pass through, it’s understandable – larger pours would be tricky to manage and likely costly for the vineyard.

One day, we decided to go for a walk to the lighthouses at the southwestern tip of the island, Punta Pechiguera.

The walk was probably about 4km from where we were staying, but we took our time, stopped for drinks and little breaks to take in the scenery, and it took us maybe about an hour to walk there.

It was pretty cool to see the old vs the new, and it made for an interesting walk.
We also loved the surrounding scenery; there’s just something about waves crashing against rocks that is so therapeutic.

Despite not spending any time on a beach or by a pool, we weren’t constantly on the go; we spent time on our terrace or in bars. We needed to take time to relax at some point!

Whether you’re someone who loves to be on the move or you want to mix a little adventure with some downtime, Playa Blanca in Lanzarote has plenty to offer. We may have skipped the beach entirely, but our days were filled with exploring, tasting local wines, and discovering the island’s unique landscapes, and we still found time to relax on the terrace or enjoy a drink after our adventures.

If you’re planning things to do around Playa Blanca, it’s worth browsing Viator for tours and experiences. They offer many of the same excursions you’ll find through hotels or kiosks, but booking online in advance saves time and guarantees your spot.

I hope this post has given you some ideas for planning your own action-packed yet relaxing Lanzarote escape.