On the eastern side of Playa Blanca is the up market yacht harbour of Marina Rubicon. Opened in 2003, it is now a well established landmark in the resort and has a number of different attractions that make it worth a visit.
Designed to mimic a Canarian village, the architectural features of the marina include a replica chapel, while the remaining buildings are copies of the colonial styles that can be found in older houses all over the archipelago, with balconies, pan-tiled roofs, thick white washed walls and volcanic stone quoins used for archways and paving.
The marina has its own sailing school, RubiSail, so if you´ve ever toyed with the idea of learning how to sail, you can sign up for a course in lightweight sailing, kayaking or windsurfing. There are also courses tailor made for children so if your kids are keen to learn how to navigate and handle a boat, there is the Optimist course, designed for 8 to 14 year olds. One and two seater kayaks are available to hire for the day for anyone over the age of 8 so you could use these to explore the coastline surrounding Playa Blanca. Courses and training are also available.
In addition to the sailing activities you can get involved in, there is also a tennis court, padel court and freshwater swimming pool in the marina. So if you fancy a game of tennis, check availability at the harbour office and hire a court. For a small fee you can use the pool and adjacent sun loungers.
As you’d expect in an aquatic environment, there are several excursions and boat trips that run from the marina.
If you only want to get out to sea for the cooling breeze, the Taxi Boat Princesa Yaiza can take you to the beaches at Papagayo and back (Reservations: 0034 928 519 012). There is also the Sport Fishing charter with Rubicon Sport Fishing.
As a tax free haven, there are various boutique outlets offering leading brands at lower prices than you will find at home. This also includes perfumes and make up, which are similarly tax-free – head to Perfumeria Sabina for these products. For swimwear, visit Lady Russ, which stocks the latest beach fashions for both men and women. There is a Lacoste shop, San Babila Italian clothing outlet and Custo Barcelona for designer gear.
Souvenirs and presents can be found at Think Natural, which has a range of Aloe Vera products, sponges, jewellery and clothing. Arte de Lava stocks paintings, knick-knacks and gifts, as does the shop Butterfly. For jewellery, there is also Joyeria L’Ermitage, which has both brand name items and watches as well as more generic jewellery for sale.
Every Wednesday and Saturday, there is also a market in the marina. The stalls are set up between the restaurants and shops and cover a range of goods that would make perfect souvenirs or gifts for friends back home. Amongst the many items on sale are local wines, leather goods, craft items, linen and t-shirts. The market gets underway at 9.00 am and runs until 14.00.
The harbour makes a scenic backdrop for a spot of lunch or an evening meal, with many of the restaurants overlooking the water. There are plenty to choose from so you can have anything from a quick snack and a soft drink to a three course meal depending on your taste and requirements.
For snacks, sandwiches and drinks:
After dining in the marina you may fancy an after dinner drink. If so, there are a couple of venues you can head to. One is the Cafe del Mar, where the usual soundtrack is ambient, chill out music. Or you can head to the Blue Note Jazz Cafe where there is live music every night. The Blue Note is also a restaurant and bar, so if you prefer you can make it your evening´s destination.
For visitors who are staying near the marina, there are several additional services on offer which may make the port the nearest point of convenience. There is a supermarket, cashpoint and a petrol station. There is also a car rental outlet for the largest local company, Cabrera Medina, who offer some of the most competitive hire rates. Should you need to see a doctor there is a medical clinic, Deutsch Klinik, with staff who speak English. In addition there are two separate excursion operators, so if you wish to book a trip to explore some of the island’s other attractions you can do so here.