The Beautiful Beaches of El Cotillo, Fuerteventura

Beaches of El Cotillo – North of the village

The beaches of El Cotillo are very varied. To the north of the village, there are sheltered beaches, and to the south, there are more rugged (but more spectacular) beaches.

I started the tour to the north, near the Toston lighthouse, where the beaches lie among the lagoons. These are formed by large groups of rocks just off the coast, which take the brunt of the waves, leaving calm, sheltered water behind.

They are great for swimming and snorkelling. Naturists frequently use this area as the rocks provide plenty of privacy.

The next beach south is Caleton Beach, named after the apartments located on the beach. When the tide is in, it is particularly lovely for swimming and for children. When the tide is out, a rock pool is left, always with a shoal of fish in (shown in the video). This beach is used frequently by naturists.

Continuing south, the next beach is Playa la Concha, also known as Shell Beach. This is one of the most popular beaches in El Cotillo, as it has safe swimming and a beach bar.

To the right of the beach (looking towards the sea) is an area used by naturists. Whether you wear clothes or not anywhere is not an issue—everyone coexists quite amiably normally.

During the Spanish summer holidays, however, the beach is much less naturist.

Beaches of El Cotillo – South of the village

The other beaches of El Cotillo are all south of the village. The first, just a few minutes walk along the cliffs, is Piedra Playa (Stone Beach), also known as the Surfer’s Beach and sometimes the Wild Beach.

This beach is so popular with surfers, windsurfers and kiteboarders/kitesurfers. There are lifeguards on duty most days, and they fly the red, yellow or green flags. Care must be taken when swimming, as there can be quite an undertow.

Quite often, we get a big storm in the winter, and much of the sand gets washed off the beach. It then takes 4-5 months to magically rebuild itself.

The last beach I am covering in this video is Steps Beach, so called because a set of steps was built some years ago to give access to the beach. It is my favourite beach of all the beaches in El Cotillo.

About 12 years ago, Sue and I went there for the first time. After we got to the bottom, Sue took one look at the Heath Robinson-built steps and said she would never go down there again—and she hasn’t!

Steps Beach is often only used by 3 or 4 couples daily, except during July and August. I have been there in the winter (but still lovely weather) in an afternoon, and my footprints were the first on the beach since high tide.

I will make another beach video covering the next two beaches of El Cotillo going south – Esquinzo Beach and the very hard to find Tindaya Beach in the future.

Where to stay in El Cotillo

Hotels: There are only two –

Cotillo Beach Hotel – this is the largest hotel offering all-inclusive catering if required

Laif Hotel – a small hotel in the centre of El Cotillo with a rooftop pool

Apartments available for holiday lets:

1 bedroom apartments

2+ bedroom apartments

Villas/Houses in El Roque (just a short walk into El Cotillo) many with private pools

Villas/Houses in El Roque

More information on the El Cotillo Beaches can be found on this useful website – Elcotillo.net

Watch the El Cotillo Beaches video in Youtube