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Shopping: There are good supermarkets in Playa Blanca that sell all the well-known brands. Although the choice is not as good as in Puerto del Carmen, there are a fair number of electrical duty-free stores and other shops geared at tourists near the harbour. It is possible to get good bargains in the electrical duty-free stores, but shoppers should remember that they can't take purchases back to the shop once they've left the island. They should check everything works and that all batteries, cables and plugs are included; that there is a European guarantee, not an Asian one; and that all electrical items have a CE stamp. The busy Sunday Market in Teguise is worth the journey for the most dedicated shoppers; as well as the usual tourist tat a variety of locally produced goods are on sale, from pottery to tablecloths. Restaurants: There's a huge choice of restaurants on the main promenade in Playa Blanca, which at night bustles with activity. The promenade overlooks the beach and harbour and the lights of Fuerteventura can be seen on the horizon. Restaurants serve anything from Chinese, Indian or Italian to seafood and local dishes. Some restaurants will not accept credit cards. Nightlife: The nightlife in Playa Blanca is fairly limited, the entertainment is restricted to the shows organised by the hotels. There is a kids disco but those after something hardcore will need to head to Puerto del Carmen, half an hour away by car. Activities: Watersports can be organised by the beachfront and boat trips leave regularly for the Papagayo beaches – the views of the beautiful coastline are stunning and boats can drop visitors off at the beach to be picked up by a later cruise. The Timanfaya National Park is only ten miles (16km) away where visitors can admire the dramatic volcanic scenery and even ride a camel. Ferries depart regularly from the harbour to the nearby island of Fuerteventura, just six miles (10km) away. Negatives: Whilst water is safe for cleaning teeth and washing food, it is very high in mineral content and can cause bad stomachs. Bottled water should be used for drinking. There is a lot of development going on all over Playa Blanca, check if there is a building site outside your accommodation before booking. The resort is particularly popular with Germans; much of the entertainment is geared for them and they get up early in the morning to reserve the sun beds! Attractions Fuerteventura: If sand and sun is what you are after, then Fuerteventura, second largest island in the Canaries archipelago (but the most sparsely populated) is the place to go. Its whitewashed capital, Puerto del Rosario, is known as the place where goats outnumber its citizens by a long chalk. Other than that however there is not much to the place except for very bleak buildings, which only the most curious visitor may find interesting. What one will find when taking the ferry to Fuerteventura from Lanzarote, is a good beach. Giniginamar is a peaceful spot with black sand fringed by elegant palm trees. There is also a long stretch of golden sand at the mouth of the Juan Gomez ravine on the Jandia peninsula. La Pared in the south has a black pebbly beach with rough seas, and there is the secluded, scenic Ajuy beach near the fishing village of the same name. One can still explore Fuerteventura and find stretches of virgin sand, even in the height of summer. The name, Fuerteventura, most likely derived from the amalgamation of fuerte (strong) and viento (wind), describing the strong off-shore winds that offer cooling breezes for the sun-worshippers. Transport: Fuerteventura is an easy day-trip from Lanzarote. Ferries leave regularly from Playa Blanca, at the south of the islandLa Cueva de los Verdes : In the northern part of Lanzarote, close to the Monte de la Corona volcano, is a spectacular system of underground grottos known as La Cueva de los Verdes. This is one of the largest volcanic galleries in the world, at just over four miles (six km) long, formed approximately five thousand years ago in a prehistoric eruption when a massive stream of lava boiled down to the sea, hardening around the spaces inflated by gases. More than a mile of these grottos are accessible to visitors, and lighting effects have been added to accentuate the contours and colours of the weird shapes resulting from the lava flows. Telephone: 928 848 484; Opening time: Daily 10am to 7pm (last admission at 5pm); Admission: €8 Museum of Contemporary Art : Modern art in an old building works well in Lanzarote’s capital, Arrecife, where a collection of works by international artists is on permanent display in the Castle of San Jose, a fortress built between 1776 and 1779 by King Carlos III of Spain. Some of the artists featured are Bacon, Picasso, Miro, Botero, Damaso and Luis Feito. Telephone: 928 812 321; Opening time: Museum: Monday to Sunday 11am to 1pm; art galleries: Monday to Sunday 11am to 9pm; Admission: Free The Cactus Garden : Situated between Guatiza and Mala is an unusual sightseeing attraction that combines art with nature. Artist Cesar Manrique created a work of art in the form of a cactus plantation in an old quarry. The site also features a restored windmill. Telephone: 928 529 397; Opening time: Daily 10am to 7pm; Admission: €5 Timanfaya National Park : Timanfaya National Park is unique because it is the only national park in the world to have been developed by local residents. Also unique is what the park offers, which includes a volcanic field filled with a variety of geological and geothermic phenomena. In the restaurant visitors can end their guided tour of these wonders by enjoying a meal cooked on geothermal heat emanating from the steam vents and geysers exuding from the lava. The park also features 180 different plant species on its stark landscape. Telephone: 928 840 057; Opening time: Daily 9am to 7.45pm; Admission: €8 Activities Boat Trips : Boat trips and submarine tours can be organised from Puerto
Calero, just outside Puerto del Carmen. Catamarans sail along the
coast and drop anchor by one of the spectacular white-sand beaches
at the south of the island and offer snorkelling equipment and
lunch. Some boats also offer free jet ski rides. Visitors can also
take the Submarine Safari from Puerto Calero for a thrilling
close-up view of the island’s underwater world.
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Copyright © 2008 Globe Media Ltd. All rights reserved. By its very nature much of the information in this travel guide is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they're relying with the relevant authorities. Globe Media cannot accept any responsibility for any loss or inconvenience to any person as a result of information contained above. |
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