El Cotillo

El Cotillo on the northwest coast is Fuerteventura's anti-resort: a sleepy fishing village that has retained its rugged charm. There are no hotel complexes, no shopping centers, no animated pool bars — instead, a labyrinth of whitewashed houses, a handful of excellent fish restaurants at the harbor, and two completely different beach worlds.

Beaches in the North: The Lagoons

North of the village stretch the Lagunas de El Cotillo — a series of small, natural rock pools and bays with calm, crystal-clear water. The offshore reefs break the Atlantic waves, making the lagoons almost as still as swimming pools. Perfect for families with children and snorkelers. The most famous is the Playa de los Lagos, but it's worth walking further — the more remote pools are often deserted.

Beaches in the South: The Surf Coast

South of the village stretches the Playa del Castillo — a wide, open sandy beach with the full force of the Atlantic. Here, meter-high waves roll in, and the wind whips the sand across the shore. Swimming is only for the experienced — but for surfing, bodyboarding, and wave watching, it's a dream. At the end of the beach stands the Torre del Tostón, a watchtower from the 18th century (small museum, €2 admission).

The Village

At the old fishing harbor, fish restaurants line up: fresh fish from the boat, octopus, limpets, with Papas Arrugadas and Mojo — honest Canarian cuisine for €10–18 per dish. Highly recommended: La Vaca Azul directly on the cliffs above the sea (reservation highly recommended, especially at sunset).