Things To Do in Playa Blanca

Timanfanya National Park is what happens when a pile of volcanoes let rip and leave a landscape that looks like it’s come straight out of a sci-fi movie. Take a coach tour around the place, and you'll get the lowdown on all of the history. Then you can pop to the resident café for lunch – the chefs barbecue your beef over a hole in the ground using geothermal energy.

When it comes to its carnival, Playa Blanca puts on a cracking show. The parade is one big mash-up of colourful costumes that channel the spirit of Rio. There’s a different theme each year – Venice and fairytales have starred in the past – so you might want to dress up. The whole package comes with live bands and dancing, and there’s a special kids’ carnival on the last day.

The marina’s fast become Playa Blanca's go-to eating place. It’s packed with restaurants serving rustic tapas and decent cuts of steak – all with a ringside view of the yachts. The beach promenade can still hold its own, though. Eating spots here do a good line in skillet-grilled sea bream, and you’ll be able to spot the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura, too.

With 300 metres of fine, honey-coloured sand, it’s easy to see why this Blue Flag number's known as Golden Beach. You’ve got a sheltered lagoon with water as calm as a swimming pool. And among the palms you’ll find eateries and shops, plus a few little rides for children, too.

When it comes to shopping, Playa Blanca just keeps on giving. First off, you’ve got the promenade with a stash of shops selling souvenirs, beachwear and jewellery. Then there’s the marina for upmarket boutiques along the shaded walkways. And if you like all things crafty, stick here for the artisan market on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

When it comes to nightlife, Playa Blanca has plenty of options. At the marina, the bars do sophisticated cocktails and laidback jazz. For livelier kicks that take in karaoke, quizzes and discos, head for the shopping centres – there’s CC Papagayo, close to Playa Dorada, and CC Punto Limones next to the ferry port.

The marina has a small but perfectly formed selection of boutiques and art galleries. And on Wednesdays and Saturdays, there’s a bijou market that crops up. It’s not about endless rows of stalls stocking identical souvenirs. Instead, what you’ve got's a line-up of brightly coloured Canarian tablecloths, smothered with local pottery and jewellery made from the island’s green gemstone, olivine.