Playa Blanca sits on Lanzarote's southern tip and is the quietest of the island's three main resorts. It grew up around a small fishing port, and the old harbour area still has some of that character — a handful of seafood restaurants line the waterfront, and the ferry to Fuerteventura departs from here.
The town itself is low-key and pleasant enough, but the real draw is what lies just to the east: the Papagayo beaches, a string of sheltered coves with white sand and clear turquoise water, backed by low volcanic cliffs. You reach them by dirt road (a small toll is charged) or on foot along the coastal path from the harbour. They are among the best beaches in the Canary Islands, and their slight inaccessibility keeps them from getting overcrowded even in high season.
Below the surface, the bay holds another draw: the Museo Atlántico, a collection of more than 300 concrete sculptures installed on the seabed 14 metres down. Accessible by snorkel or scuba, it is both an underwater art experience and a functioning artificial reef. To the east of town, the Castillo de las Coloradas, an 18th-century watchtower, overlooks the coast from a volcanic headland — the walk out to it is one of the better things to do on foot in Playa Blanca.
The Marina Rubicón on the western edge of town has most of the resort's restaurants and serves as the base for diving, fishing, and whale-watching excursions. Playa Blanca is also well-placed as a base for day trips to Timanfaya National Park and El Golfo.