Sotavento Beach (Playa Risco del Paso and Playa Barca)

Situated on the “Calma Costa” which runs along the south east coast of Fuerteventura is Sotavento beach. A vast tract of golden, windswept beach this stretch of coast is about one of the most remote areas on the island.

Sotavento is a collection of beaches which together create a virtually unbroken stretch of sand from Playa Barca right down to Morro Jable on the southern tip. That’s 25 km of beach! With this much beach no one is going to complain if you take all your clothes off, or even notice. In fact nudism is pretty much the accepted norm along many stretches of this huge beach.

This side of the Fuerteventura is a little more protected from the powerful Atlantic swells as it faces towards Africa. However, there is plenty of wind blowing straight off the Sahara desert making it a well known windsurfing / kite-boarding spot. For sunbathers this isn’t such great news although there is plenty of shelter to be found amongst the small dunes to the back of the beach.

Generally the water is quite safe here as it the beach slopes gently making for shallow, and warm, water. In fact the sea temperature here rarely drops below 20°C (68°F).