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The Canary Islands are less than four hours flying time from the UK, with charter flights from most provincial airports. They are an ideal all year round choice for a relaxing break. Lying just north of the tropics, sharing a latitude with Orlando, Florida and Elat in Jordan, the Spanish owned Canaries promise as near to guaranteed year-round sun as you could find. Lanzarote (the Holiday Which? Spring 2005 favourite Canary Island) is just 100 miles from the Western Sahara coast of Africa and is less frenetic than either Tenerife or Grand Canaria. Lanzarote also boasts some of the finest golden sand beaches in the Canaries. Many of these are in the Papagayo National Park which is only a short drive, boat ride or, for the more energetic, walk from Playa Blanca. The wild empty sand beaches of the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura are only a 20 minute ferry ride away. Lanzarote is an island of contrasts; pretty white villages with an absence of high-rise, an artistic inheritance from its famous native Lanzarotean, César Manrique, and a unique landscape shaped by its explosive past. One spectacular sight is the Timanfaya National Park, a vast area of volcanic lava and rust coloured mountains only a 20 minute drive from Playa Blanca.
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Town Beach, Playa Blanca
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Playa Dorada, Playa Blanca
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Playa Blanca (see photo above) is a former fishing settlement nestling on a sheltered, south facing bay with views of the misty mountains of the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura across the strait. It has a traffic free, paved promenade lined with good quality al fresco restaurants, boutiques and gift shops and at its centre a small, sandy family beach. This paved promenade stretches some 10 km from El Pechiguera lighthouse at the southern tip of Lanzarote all the way to the fabulous new Rubicon Marina with its quality restaurants and designer shops surrounding floating jetties lined with yachts and motor cruisers of all shapes and sizes. A small port close to the Casas del Sol development is used by ferries sailing to Fuerteventura and Fred Olsen’s new hydrofoil makes the 20 minute crossing six times daily.
Although Playa Blanca has seen some dramatic changes over the past few years it still retains much of its original character and has become a prestigious ‘neon free’ family resort in a delightful setting. As well as the town beach there are two larger, sheltered sandy beaches a short walk away on either side of the town; Playa Flamingo, ideal for younger families and Playa Dorada for those looking for perfect swimming conditions. Both of these beaches offer water sports, all are well served with restaurants and beach facilities and all beaches are an easy walk from Casa Margarita.
Only a short drive away or a boat trip from the harbour are the amazing beaches of the Papagayo National Park. Whilst short on facilities and lacking in shade they are in a spectacular natural setting and well worth a visit.
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