Discover Fuerteventura’s Beaches: A Complete Guide to the Island’s Coast
Last Updated: November 11, 2024
Welcome to the stunning beaches of Fuerteventura, where golden sunlight and adventurous waves create an unparalleled seaside experience. As the second-largest of the Canary Islands, Fuerteventura is famed for its breathtaking coastlines that stretch across the island like a sunlit tapestry. Here, each beach offers a unique escape, whether you’re seeking solitude, surf, or sunbathing with family. These shores are not just scenic spots but sanctuaries for relaxation and recreation under the endless blue sky.
A Diverse Coastal Paradise
The beaches of Fuerteventura provide a diverse array of experiences, from the tranquil waters of the east coast to the wild, untouched beauty of the west. The island’s unique geographical features have shaped various beach types, offering everything from long sandy stretches perfect for leisurely walks to secluded coves ideal for peaceful retreats.
A Haven for Water Sports
Known globally as a water sports haven, Fuerteventura attracts windsurfers, kite surfers, and sailors from around the world. The consistent winds and challenging waves make the island a premier destination for thrilling water sports, with vibrant events and competitions held throughout the year.
Conservation and Natural Beauty
Commitment to conservation is strong in Fuerteventura, where efforts to preserve natural landscapes are paramount. Many beaches serve as protected areas, hosting diverse wildlife and plant species that thrive in the island’s arid climate, thus offering visitors a chance to connect with nature in its purest form.
Join us as we explore the best beaches in Fuerteventura, each with its own story and charm. Whether you’re chasing the perfect wave, longing for moments of serenity, or eager to capture a picturesque sunset, the beaches of Fuerteventura promise a memorable journey into the heart of the Canary Islands.
Beaches in Fuerteventura
El Matorral Beach
Playa del Matorral is also known as Playa de Jandía, Playa de la Solana or Playa del Saladar. It is located on the Jandía Peninsula, an extensive sandy area with 70 kilometres of beautiful beaches that make up the list of the most famous beaches in the world.
It is a semi-urban beach with diverse activities and an enchanting natural environment. It is almost unspoilt, has fine golden sands and is very beautiful and attractive for bathers and water sports enthusiasts.
It stretches for 4 kilometres with wide spaces to rest and enjoy the sea in peace and quiet. Along the promenade you will find restaurants, shops and places to enjoy and have fun.
Location
It is located on the outskirts of Morro Jable in the municipality of Pájara in the south of the island of Fuerteventura. Specifically it is on the eastern coast of the Jandía peninsula, a place known as Sotavento.
Village of Morro Jable
This is the most populated village on the island. Nowadays, it is a tourist reference for its beaches of calm turquoise waters, old town and excellent gastronomy.
Since the 1970s it has been developing in terms of tourism and today it has a wide range of hotels, restaurants, shops and various leisure options. It is the town with the most tourist services on the island and, of course, the most radiant and fabulous beaches.
What can you do in Playa del Matorral?
There are so many activities on the beach that you won’t be able to enjoy them all in one day. Apart from the usual lying on the sand and enjoying the scenery, you will find a variety of activities to satisfy your desire to enjoy the sea.
Family atmosphere and sporting activities
In the part closest to the promenade you can go with the family and children, it is an area of calm waters and family atmosphere to rest and relax. Here you will find places to rent surfboards and kitesurfing boards, and if you wish, you can take lessons to get you started in this exciting sport. You can also rent paddle boards and canoes, weather permitting. In this area you can also play beach volleyball thanks to the nets provided for the enjoyment of visitors.
Nudist area
At the end of Matorral beach is the Morro Jable lighthouse, a landmark for visitors. It is 60 metres high and overlooks the entire coastline. To the north of the lighthouse is the Saladar wetland, a larger area where visitors can be more spread out and nudism is allowed.
Extreme surfing
For surfing enthusiasts, there is the area around the lighthouse, an area considered a surf spot due to its ideal conditions. This is where the famous Red Cross wave is formed, which brings together many surfers to enjoy what they do best, surfing.
Diving
There are also two areas ideal for exploring the seabed. The first is known as El Veril Grande, on the coastal part in front of the lighthouse. The other area is known as Veril Chico and is about 200 metres away.
Services
Being an accessible beach, it receives many visitors and offers everything the bather needs to enjoy a fantastic day at the beach. In Playa del Matorral you will find:
Rental of umbrellas and chairs
Public toilets
Beach bars
Lifeguards
Accessibility for people with reduced mobility
The beach has the Blue Flag distinction, which means that it has excellent conditions for bathers and has all the services that tourists need.
Parking
The beach has a parking area nearby. You can leave your car in peace and quiet and walk to the beach, the distance is short.
How to get there
To visit the Playa del Matorral you can arrive by boat in Puerto del Rosario or you can get there by plane. Once in the port, take the road to the south of Fuerteventura (FV-2) towards Morro Jable. The drive from Puerto del Rosario takes about an hour and 15 minutes, but we assure you that it’s worth the drive to the beach, as you’ll feel like you’ve arrived in paradise.
Costa Calma Beach
Today we want to tell you about the main beach of Costa Calma, a beautiful urban beach that stretches for 2 kilometres in length and can be up to 60 metres wide. You will always find a place to lie on the sand and enjoy with your family and friends.
On this beach we can observe marine fossils and enjoy some cetaceans that come very close to the coast. The luckiest tourists will take home the memory of a dolphin that comes to the beach to greet and delight visitors with its wild charm.
Location of Costa Calma Beach
Costa Calma Beach is located in the municipality of Pájara in Fuerteventura, specifically in the town of Costa Calma, which is a very attractive tourist centre on the island. Every year tourists come from all over the world to enjoy the sea, the sun and the sand.
It is surrounded by hotels and belongs to the Jandía Natural Park. It is the most accessible of the beaches that make up the Sotavento group and has everything the holidaymaker needs to enjoy the sea.
It is easily accessible through the different paths and roads that are found between the hotels.
Type of sand
The sand on the beach of Costa Calma is very fine and has a beautiful whitish tone. It is composed by the decomposition of volcanic substrates in combination with organogenic sands.
Services
This is an ideal beach for those looking for quality in a natural environment of great beauty. Here you will find:
Beach bars
Toilets
Showers
Foot wash
Sunshades, deckchairs and boats for hire
Children’s area
Sports area
Lifeguard and lifeguard post
Enjoy with the children
The wind that caresses the beach helps to form a calm swell for the whole family to enjoy. You can take the children with you so that they can play in peace and quiet and swim in the sea.
Sports
Here you can enjoy different activities for all tastes and ages:
Windsurfing and Kitesurfing
This beach is favoured by the trade winds, which help to form a perfect environment for windsurfing and kitesurfing. You will find schools that will instruct you in the water sports and offer you everything you need to practice them.
Diving
The crystal clear waters of the Costa Calma beach and the seabed combine to form a magnificent environment for diving and exploring the seabed.
Jogging
This is one of the most popular beaches for walking and jogging. This is one of the most popular sports on Fuerteventura’s beaches, and one that has been gaining more and more followers in recent years.
Hotels
Near the beaches of Costa Calma you will find a wide range of high quality hotels. The hotels in this bay have earned the recognition of enjoying the highest financial return thanks to their high quality services. Of these we would like to mention Crystal Beach, Taro Beach and Monica Beach among many others, all with first class services.
The Great Beaches of Corralejo
Some say that Las Grandes Playas de Corralejo have earned the title of being the best in the entire Atlantic Ocean. This is due to their sheer beauty and excellent facilities for visitors.
You will find paradisiacal beaches with turquoise waters that intermingle with the white sand providing a perfect environment for enjoyment and relaxation.
Beaches that make up the Great Beaches of Corralejo
All the beaches that make up this natural complex have their own names, but together they are known as the great beaches of Corralejo.
To the north is Playa del Burro, a wonderful natural environment with a family atmosphere. It has all the beach services and lifeguards for the safety of visitors.
You should also visit Bajo Negro beach, with plenty of sunbeds and umbrellas for you to relax and forget the stresses of everyday life.
El Médano beach, the closest beach to Corralejo, is for those seeking adrenaline with water sports. It is ideal for kiteboarding and windsurfing.
Playa del Pozo is windy but very quiet. It has many corralitos for nudism. The corralitos are small circles of rocks that protect from the wind and provide an intimate atmosphere for nudists.
Some of Corralejo’s beaches are part of the Parque Natural de las Dunas de Corralejo, a natural wonder with beautiful scenery.
If you want to spend the day on a quiet beach, you should look for the ones furthest away from the hotels and accessible through the dunes.
Location
This group of beaches is located on the east coast of the municipality of La Oliva on the island of Fuerteventura. It stretches from the Tres Islas hotel to the beach of La Barreta below.
The beaches that are closest to the hotels are known as hotel beaches, located very close to the Riu Tres Islas and Oliva Beach Hotels.
Sand
Here you will find a type of sand known as jable sand. This means that it was formed from the erosion of thousands of seashells. This type of sand has exfoliating properties, so the beach is considered a natural Spa where you can cleanse your skin and free it from impurities.
Services
Here you will find everything you need to enjoy the sea with your family and friends. You can rent sunbeds and umbrellas to relax and release stress. For your safety, there are lifeguards and lifeguards on duty.
Sports
The wind and waves of the beach make it ideal for practising different water sports.
If you love diving, surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing, the great beaches of Corralejo are waiting for you. Visit the different water sports schools where you can find the necessary equipment to surf and learn with the professionals. Take the opportunity to practice fun water sports.
Safe beach for children
It offers calm waves due to the absence of strong winds. You can go with the children and let them play on the shore in peace and quiet. Don’t miss the opportunity to go with the whole family to spend a wonderful day at sea.
Sea port
In the harbour you will find pontoons for pleasure boats and ferries. You can take a ferry to the islet of Lobos and the island of Lanzarote. You will also have several options for boat trips to enjoy a wonderful day at sea.
Nudist coves
In the south you will find some small coves where you can practice nudism. They offer comfort and privacy. Although nudism is permitted on the large beaches of Corralejo, it is not recommended in the areas near the hotels.
Accessibility
There are access ramps to facilitate access for people with reduced mobility. Everyone is welcome to enjoy the beauty of this beautiful beach.
Restaurants
Very close to the beach you will find many restaurants with delicious dishes for discerning tastes. Let yourself be enveloped by the charm of the island’s gastronomy and try new flavours from the hand of passionate chefs.
How to get there
If you are travelling by car, take the FV-1 road. You will find different places for parking. You can get there on foot and by public transport on line 06 Puerto del Rosario.
Fuerteventura
If you go to Fuerteventura, you can’t miss the village of Corralejo, one of the most attractive tourist spots on the island. The village is surrounded by sand dunes and more than 100 kilometres of beautiful white sandy beaches. Many of the beaches are surrounded by rocks that protect them from the wind, making them a paradisiacal place to relax and sunbathe in peace and quiet.
In addition to the beauty of the Great Beaches of Corralejo, in Fuerteventura you will find extinct volcanic cones, dark earth plains and the dunes of Corralejo that remind us of the deserts of the Sahara.
Butihondo Beach
Welcome to Butihondo, a beach that has everything you need to spend a wonderful day at sea with total comfort and diverse services for every taste. It is also great for liberals who enjoy sunbathing on every inch of their skin.
Butihondo attracts hundreds of tourists for its beauty and splendour. Lie on the golden sand and enjoy the brightest sunshine on the island with a very gentle wind. Its calm and crystal clear waters invite you to swim and enjoy fun water sports with friends. It has a perfect location in a semi-urban environment, for those who want to enjoy the sun and sand without leaving the city.
Location of Butihondo beach
You can find it in the south of the island of Fuerteventura in the municipality of La Pájara. In this locality you will find many paradisiacal beaches and natural surroundings of incalculable beauty.
It is located specifically in the tourist complex Morro Jable and next to the urbanisation Esquinzo Butihondo. As it is located next to the Esquinzo ravine, it is also known by some as Esquinzo beach.
Morro Jable is a pretty village on Fuerteventura that used to be known as a quiet fishing village. It has now evolved to offer the world a number of tourist services and has become a tourist resort that receives thousands of visitors every year.
Services
Here you will find everything you are looking for in a beach to enjoy the sea in comfort, we have the following services:
Sun loungers and parasols for hire
Showers
Toilets
Beach bars
Sun loungers
Sports
You will find different establishments that will help you to practice water sports. The most popular activity is windsurfing, which you can enjoy with family and friends. Lifeguards are on duty to ensure the safety of visitors.
Nudist beach
Butihondo is a three-kilometre beach that is divided into three areas. One of these areas is set up for nudism, it has an excellent location to enjoy the beach and sand in privacy and away from tourists.
Family atmosphere
Of the entire length of the beach, only one part is for nudism and the rest is for the whole family to enjoy. You can bring the kids and let them play on the beach thanks to the calm waves all year round.
Parking
You don’t have to worry about where to leave your car. Around the beach you will find plenty of places to park your car.
Hotels and Restaurants
Very close to the beach you will find many hotels, flats and restaurants so you can stay in comfort. You will find different options for all tastes and budgets. You can choose from the Jandia Princess, Fuerteventura Princess, Magic Life and many more.
These hotels offer all the services so that you lack nothing. The gastronomic offer is very varied and you will enjoy exquisite dishes to delight your palate.
How to get there
You can take the bus line that goes to the village of Morro Jable.
If you go by road, take the FV-2, also known as the Butihondo turnoff. After parking, take the dirt road between the hotels.
Recommendations to the holidaymaker
If you visit Butihondo beach we ask you to follow the following recommendations to preserve the integrity of the beach:
Avoid shouting and loud music.
Use environmentally friendly sunscreens.
Do not use soap in the showers on the beach.
Do not move rocks around or take them home.
Don’t leave litter or food leftovers
Beaches of El Cotillo
The beaches of El Cotillo are for many, the best beaches in Europe and here we will tell you why. We are talking about a set of beautiful beaches, with calm waters of an intense turquoise colour that caress the shore of fine white sand.
For their beauty and charm, these beaches have nothing to envy to the beaches of the Caribbean. Get ready to spend a day in paradise, you will live a unique experience with a feast of senses and a mosaic of sensations.
El Cotillo Village
This is a small fishing village in the northwest of Fuerteventura with great tourist value. It is located in the northern municipality of La Oliva and is surrounded by beautiful unspoilt beaches and crystal clear lagoons that fascinate visitors. It also has many restaurants with excellent gastronomy where you will taste the authentic flavours of the sea. If you are lucky enough to go to Fuerteventura, you must get to know the charms of El Cotillo.
The sunsets in El Cotillo are spectacular, enjoy the most beautiful sunsets from the beach or during a boat trip. This is a magical spectacle in which the sky is tinged with various shades of orange, pink and violet.
Of all the beaches in El Cotillo, most are small coves with few visitors, ideal for those who like to enjoy the sea away from the crowds. The beaches with little waves are perfect to spend a day with the family and share with the children.
El Cotillo Small Beaches in the North
The northern beaches are those to the right of the Tostón lighthouse. Here you will find special beaches to enjoy with the whole family, offering calm waters, white sand, reefs and volcanic rock to enliven all the senses.
La Concha Beach
This is the best known of the beaches of El Cotillo. Its beauty is striking, turquoise waters with many reefs that protect it from the strong waves. It also has a very diverse underwater life, appreciated by divers. If you like to explore the seabed, Playa de La Concha is waiting for you.
Although it’s the most popular, it doesn’t get too crowded, so it’s still perfect for enjoying and relaxing. It has beach bars for eating and relaxing. When you want to eat, you can also go to the restaurants which are close by and await you with delicious food.
The Lakes
Los Lagos is a group of small coves which, like their neighbours, display white sands and crystal clear waters. They are surrounded by reefs that protect the beach from the strong waves. They are perfect to go with the children and bathe in the natural pools formed in the rocks.
Los Charcos
Los Charcos is the name given to the group of beaches that stretch for 4 kilometres at the foot of the Faro del Tostón lighthouse. This lighthouse stands on a group of volcanic rocks that form small natural pools.
It offers white sands and extremely white waters for all those who want to relax and enjoy the marvellous coastal landscape of Fuerteventura.
Large beaches in the south of El Cotillo
In the south we find long beaches, some of which are unspoilt and surrounded by steep cliffs. Here the wind is stronger and creates a wild environment, perfect for water sports. Swimming is allowed but care should be taken. If you prefer a calmer environment, we recommend the northern beaches.
El Caletón
This is on the outskirts of the municipality and is surrounded by beautiful white sandy coves.
This beach depends on the tide. When the tide is low it is not suitable to visit it as it is difficult to enter the sea because of the volcanic rock. On the other hand, when the tide rises the beach becomes a paradise for swimming, snorkelling and exploring the seabed with many reefs and diverse marine fauna.
Piedra Beach
Also known as El Aljibe de la Cueva. It is about 1 kilometre long and offers soft white sands next to large volcanic rocks. It is far away and can only be reached via dirt tracks, so you can enjoy it without the hustle and bustle of the busier beaches.
It is characterised by wild waters in an unspoilt environment, ideal for surfing and other nautical activities. You will find many surfers and windsurfers who come to enjoy the sea in a true paradise.
Aguila Beach
This is also known as La escalera. It is located between the cliffs so you will have to go down to reach it. A particularity of this one is the staircase that connects the road with the shore, after parking you must go down each step to finally touch the fine sand and start enjoying a great day at the beach.
How to get there
If we have convinced you and you want to visit the beaches of El Cotillo, all you have to do is take the road to the Faro del Tostón lighthouse and park nearby. You will arrive without difficulty and you can enjoy a magnificent day at the beach that you will never forget.
