A guide to the best beaches in Fuerteventura

Plenty of Blue Flag beaches

The majority of Fuerteventura’s beaches run along the east coast. Seven Blue Flag stretches are included in the line-up – given the award due to their cleanliness and range of facilities. Many of these are mentioned in our guide to the beaches of Fuerteventura below.

It may be worth considering that naturism is acceptable all over Fuerteventura, but with so much sand available nudists tend to use the quieter stretches of beach outside of the main tourist resorts.

The grand beaches of Corralejo

Corralejo is a popular spot for cheap holidays to Fuerteventura, and its beaches include a small area close to the heart of the resort known as Corralejo Viejo, as well as the rustic, 300-metre long El Caseron. Grandes Playas, translated to Big Beach, is the star attraction here, though.

Often simply known as Corralejo beach, Blue Flag Grandes Playas goes on further than the eye can see, running for 10 kilometres along the northeast coast of the island. The beach is so big that in parts you can feel like you’re the only one there. The dunes beyond are a nature reserve and extend a further 1.5 kilometres inland, meaning that in every direction is either blue sea or white sand. The gently sloping sand make the shore ideal for paddling and, as with most beaches on the island, watersports are aided by the warm wind. If you want to sunbathe, then the dunes provide some shelter.

City sights and sand

The capital, Puerto del Rosario, has its own white sand stretches. Playa Blanca, which has Blue Flag status, and Playa Chica are both popular with the locals and perfect to relax on after you’ve had a hard day shopping.

Lounge beside El Cotillo's lagoons

Due to the strong current on the west coast of the island, many of the beaches in the west are best for walking or admiring the view rather than taking a dip. El Cotillo is the exception to this rule. On the northwest tip of the island, the area has a series of bays separated by rocks, which create calm lagoons away from the waves. El Cotillo beach offers white sand with rocky areas that collect seawater, ideal for rock-pooling.

A brilliant bay

The tourist resort of Caleta de Fuste was built on a giant horseshoe-shaped bay. The tide ebbs and flows here quite dramatically each day. When the tide is out, Caleta de Fuste beach is a great place to look for shells or crabs. When it’s in you can swim or snorkel alongside fish and marine creatures in their protected habitats. If you don’t want to get wet, catch the Oceanarium Explorer boat where you can go below deck to look through the glass at the marine creatures around you.

Calm black and gold shores

Costa Calma has beaches that extend for 20 kilometres or more and some so shallow they’re still only waist-deep at 50 metres out. The gentle waves make the area ideal for a family splash about. The main Costa Calma beach is set in a beautiful bay with plenty of beach bars, sunbeds and umbrellas.

Heading north along this stretch of coast you can find many of Fuerteventura‘s black sand beaches, which offer a warm temperature underfoot. They include Las Playitas, Gran Tarajal and the Blue Flag Tarajalejo. In contrast, the wild and beautiful Esmerelda beach has gold sand and an excellent beach bar. Tucked out of the way it is best accessed by car along a dirt track.

Quiet sunbathing stretches

Beaches run virtually non-stop between Costa Calma and the unspoilt Jandia area. Between Sotavento and Jandia you can stroll all the way along the 20-kilometre coast passing endless lagoons and dunes.

Jandia and Morro Jable have endless beaches on which to lounge while watching the fishing boats come and go. At the Blue Flag beach of Playa del Matorral, also known as Playa de Jandia, take to the seas yourself in a hired sailing boat or join in with the watersports. The pretty white Jandia lighthouse can be reached by a walkway across the dunes and also acts as a marker between the naturist and clothed areas of the beach.

In the far south of the island is the perfectly isolated Cofete beach. You may have to journey for 20 kilometres along a dirt track but it’s well worth it when you get there to enjoy the silence and views of the Jandia Mountains.