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a body of water with Playa de Las Teresitas in the background
Destination

Jandia

Treat yourself to a winter by the sea at the best price

Best hotels in Jandía

Fuerteventura, which is the second largest island of the Canary Islands and the closest to the Moroccan coast, is also one of the best places to unwind and relax. For this reason, it is rightly known as the Paradise Island. The Jandía Peninsula is highly regarded by tourists due to its location on the southern tip of the island and its excellent beaches. It is a magical place to be enjoyed in total comfort if you decide to stay at any of our Iberostar hotels in Jandía.

Located on the vestiges of a volcanic caldera, the majority of the peninsula belongs to the Jandía Nature Reserve, which occupies 144 km2 of the total 200 km2. This enclave of Fuerteventura is a perfect choice to enjoy a family holiday, a romantic getaway or a break with friends.

Jandía is located between the tourist areas of Costa Calma and Morro Jable. Within the peninsula is Fuerteventura's tallest mountain, Pico de la Zarza, which rises to a peak of 807 m, gorgeously surrounded by the most beautiful beaches in the Canary Islands. All these features make this destination an excellent choice for those who are looking forward to exploring this most fascinating Canary Island.

Things to see in Jandía

One of the most emblematic sights not to be missed is the isolated mansion of Cofete (Villa Winter) in the south-west of the peninsula. In order to contemplate it from a privileged perspective we advise you to go up to the lookout point of Degollada Agua Oveja, from where you will enjoy unbeatable views of the Atlantic.

The southernmost end hosts one of the greatest attractions in Fuerteventura: Morro Jable, a small fishing village which has managed to preserve a lot of the traditional way of life. Its surroundings will amaze you with notable sights and cosy neighbourhoods, such as Cañada del Río and the aforementioned Costa Calma, which hosts a lively flea market every Sunday, from 10 AM to 3 PM.

The impressive sand dunes of Jandía are also close by – just take a dirt road, and you will be there.

Another place to visit would be Gran Tarajal. Located in the north-east of the island and lost among the abundant tamarisk shrubs that gave it its name, this is one of the biggest towns in Fuerteventura. Take a local road and go straight to the beautiful Entallada lighthouse. Tarajalejo and La Lajita are two towns located in the vicinity, both of which have experienced major growth in recent years due to the boom in tourism.

And of course, don’t miss the hypnotic landscapes of Fuerteventura which are seen everywhere around Jandía. Although Fuerteventura no longer has any active volcanoes, it is still possible to see spectacular moonlike lava fields (malpaíses) that attest to the numerous volcanic eruptions that this soil once housed. This is one of the most particular features of this island with its almost flat surface and soft scenery, which is why the Romans baptized the island Planaria meaning flat.

Things to do in Jandía

It is well known that the extraordinary Jandía beaches are among the greatest hotspots for all those who decide to go on holiday to Fuerteventura. Miles and miles of white sandy beaches are waiting for you, perfect for bathing or water sports. What is more, this is a perfect destination for those travelling to Fuerteventura with children.

One of the most beautiful beaches in this area is Playa del Matorral. Located next to Morro Jable, it is 4.3 km long and 300 m wide and belongs to the municipality of Pajara. The strong wind that blows here makes it possible to practice windsurfing, and for the same reason there are several surf schools and companies renting boards here.

Other emblematic beaches are Costa Calma, a white sandy beach which is 2.1 km long with turquoise waters near the village of La Lajita, Sotavento, which is favoured by surfers, windsurfers and kitesurfers, Esquinzo-Butihiondo, to the north of Morro Jable and with hardly any urban areas, Cofete, which is 12 km long and offers incomparable landscapes and Barlovento beach next to that which is 5.7 km long and is less known by swimmers, which makes it an ideal spot to forget about the rest of the world.

There is also a sports marina near Morro Jable which is worth a visit too. From there, you can rent a boat, go sailing, and enjoy the Fuerteventura coastal landscape and the ocean.

Trekking enthusiasts also have the chance to go hiking in Jandía. The most popular route crosses Pico de la Zarza and Cofete beach, and shows you the best of the outstanding natural beauty of the Island.

And to give a finishing touch to any holiday spent in Jandía, we recommend turning your holiday into unforgettable gastronomic delight with all types of flavours and aromas offered by the Canarian cuisine. Majorero cheese, Canarian wrinkly potatoes (Papas arrugadas), mojo, Sancocho — a nutritious stew with meat and vegetables, Gofio — a flour created by grinding roasted sweetcorn and often added to the typical Canarian stew, are some of the typical dishes for you to try. Another gastronomic must is oven-roast goat meat which is a very typical speciality of the town of Pajara.

In the dessert section, have a look at leche asada (milk cake), carnival tortillas and pumpkin cakes.

Book your hotel in Jandía

At Iberostar Hotels & Resorts we made it our ultimate goal that all our hotels in Fuerteventura are in line with the outstanding natural beauty of this Island.

For example, both the Iberostar Selection Fuerteventura Palace and the Iberostar Playa Gaviotas offer the possibility to enjoy our exclusive Star Prestige facilities, the VIP area of these two four-star hotels.

The Iberostar Waves Gaviotas Park resort is an ideal choice for families since the hotel has a children’s pool. Moreover, both of them are beachfront hotels and offer all kinds of facilities, including a spa, for a fantastic getaway to Fuerteventura.

Aerial views of the hotel pool on the seafront

The beaches of Jandia

Jandía is a beautiful peninsula on the southern tip of Fuerteventura island. The beaches are wild, long white sands with a moderate swell and shallow waters. They are ideal for a sun and sand holiday with children, a relaxing couple’s getaway or a sports vacation with friends, surfing, scuba diving, sailing.

Main beaches in Jandía

  • El Matorral beach: This flour-like white sand beach of over 4.3km long. It lies just a pebble’s throw from the charming fishing village of Morro Jable, which makes it the main beach in Jandía. It is divided by the Morro Jable lighthouse into two distinct areas, one for nudist visitors (north) and one for non-nudists (south).
  • Sotavento Beach: This beach’s name has to do with its location, catching the winds that draw zillions of surfers, windsurfers and kitesurfers every year. With a moderate swell, this easily accessed beach offers a wide range of facilities and services. At low tide, the sea forms a lake where children love to splash around.
  • Costa Calma beach: 2.1km of white sand and crystal-clear water have turned this beach into one of the most popular in Fuerteventura. With a moderate swell, it has a nice sea promenade, flanked by palm trees. It is 40m wide and only mildly inclined, and has a family atmosphere.
  • Cofete beach: At the other side of the Jandía Nature Park mountains, this beach welcomes visitors with spectacular landscapes in golden, turquoise and light blue shades. It can be accessed via a hiking trail that also reaches Pico de la Zarza, the highest peak in Fuerteventura. It is the perfect choice for a full day outing.
  • Barlovento beach: Very close to Cofete, on the same side of the Jandía mountains, this 5.7km-long sand is the ideal place to get away from it all. Strong winds and powerful waves make it different from other beaches in Jandía.
a body of water with a mountain in the background

Activities in Jandía

Activities in Jandía range from art and the avant-garde, with fabulous museums and interesting art exhibitions, to genuine folk traditions celebrated on the narrow streets in the centre of town. The mix of past and present is captivating, wrapping visitors in one of the most exclusive atmospheres on the Canaries.

What to do and what to see in Jandía

  • El Saladar de Jandía (Salt Marsh): This protected natural area has a high environmental value. The vegetation gets flooded with the tides, and the salt accumulates in curious ponds. One of the largest salt marshes on the Canary Islands, El Saladar de Jandía offers limited access due to environmental reasons.
  • Port of Morro Jable: Morro Jable is a fishing village that opens up to tourists. The most charming area is the port and its surroundings, where inshore fishermen take their nets and falúas (barges) to sea. To the area’s natural beauty you should add the busy and colourful life of locals.
  • Lighthouse in Solana Matorral: Standing on the tip of the peninsula of Jandía, next to the part of Sotavento beach that is closest to El Matorral or Jandía beach, this modern lighthouse guides fishing boats and other ships sailing across the peninsula. It is set against a heavenly landscape.
  • Jandía Waterfront Promenade: Running from Jandía beaches to Morro Jable, past El Saladar and the lighthouse, this is charming and modern promenade features a comfortable and safe bike lane for family excursions by the sea. Many of the restaurants in Morro Jable have terraces facing it.
  • Aloe Vera Visitor Centre: Located in Morro Jable, it offers all the information available on this succulent plant growing in Fuerteventura, with amazing skin care properties.

Experiences in Jandía

Jandía is a great place to unwind with your family or partner and be in contact with nature. In Jandía, outdoor adventures like a sunset or a day on the beach can become unforgettable memories. Eating fish right from the port of Morro Jable, walking down quaint alleyways, mingling with locals at the busy market… You can have a thousand and one different experiences in Jandía that will make your trip unique – always.

Experiences in Jandía: What to do

  • Street markets in Jandía: On Thursdays, from 9am to 2pm, the streets of Jandía get filled with colours and people. The weekly market offers golden opportunities to find that little something to take back home: crafts, clothes, accessories, toys… Another market is held on Wednesdays in Morro Jable.
  • A day at the Jandía zoo: The Stella Canaris Zoo in Jandía is one of the most popular attractions with families with kids. In addition to seeing all kinds of animals (parrots, alligators, etc.), visitors can attend shows and educational workshops.
  • Dinner in Morro Jable: A traditional fishing village, Morro Jable boasts some of the best fish restaurants in Fuerteventura. Some of them, like La Laja o El Clavijo (on Avenida del Saladar) are more than 30 years old. Tuna salad, shrimp, papas arrugás with mojo sauce... Many of the restaurants have terraces overlooking the sea, which makes them ideal for a snack and a drink at sunset.
  • Camel back ride: Camels used to be a usual means of transport in Fuerteventura. Now there are companies organising camelback tours of Jandía and the beaches – an exciting family experience. El Oasis Park, on the general road to Jandía, is a themed tropical park featuring the largest camel population in Europe. It offers safaris for visitors of different ages.
  • Kites on Jandía beach: The winds rocking the southern coast of Fuerteventura are perfect for a fun afternoon with kids on the beach. One of the most popular activities on Jandía beach is kite running – an original way of taking advantage of the mild weather in the area.

Events in Jandia

The festive calendar in Jandía is packed with events, festivals and popular celebrations that make a unique fun and entertainment offer. Tradition, novelty and sports come together in a high number of festivals inviting visitors to spend time in the company of locals, sharing a table, an activity and an environment in a friendly and joyful atmosphere.

Main events in Jandía

  • March – Carnival in Morro Jable: Toy Carnival in Morro Jable is one of the most popular carnival celebrations in Fuerteventura. It is not held in February like most carnival events but rather in early March. Fancy dresses, parties until the small hours and processions of floats fill the streets with joy, so that the whole town seems to be celebrating for several days.
  • 23 June – Saint John’s Eve in Cofete: The Feast of Saint John is a major event in Cofete, an area of wild beaches in Jandía Nature Park. There is magic, there is fire, and there are traditional activities like the striking procession from the Great Valley to Cofete, with pilgrims wearing traditional garments.
  • July – Windsurf World Cup: For more than 30 years, Barca beach in Costa Calma has played host to the Fuerteventura Windsurfing and Kitesurfing World Cup. In July and early August, the world’s best windsurfers and kitesurfers gather here.
  • 2 July – Feast of Our Lady of the Rule: Our Lady of the Rule is the Patroness of Pájara, a municipality in the peninsula of Jandía. Her feast includes a procession and an offering with everyone wearing traditional garments, standing on floats and carrying typical products. The religious activities are followed by street parties and traditional taifas dancing.
  • 16 July – Feast of El Carmen: The feast, paying tribute to Our Lady of El Carmen, the Patroness of Fishermen, is a big event in Morro Jable. The village gets filled with colours and flavours, and visitors from all over the world mingle with the local population. Most activities take place in the port area, where barges get all dressed up for the procession.
  • September – Octopus Festival: In the neighbouring district El Puertito de la Cruz, very close to Jandía, they hold a festival in early September featuring curious activities like an octopus competition and a race between the lighthouses in Punta de Jandía.
  • October – Feast of Saint Martha in Costa Calma: This little village and its neighbour, Cañada del Río pay tribute to Saint Martha with a programme of recreational activities to suit all tastes and ages. There are children’s workshops, football matches, street markets, concerts and DJ sessions in the open air.

Doing sports in Jandia

Sports in Jandía are closely related to the sea and its natural environment. The most popular are windsurfing, sailing, surfing in spectacular wild beaches like Sotavento, and diving in specific spots where the safety of divers is well taken care of and the underwater world is wonderful. Other sports like golf or hiking can also be played in Jandía, with facilities and activities designed for sportspeople of all ages.

Sports in Jandía

  • Windsurfing in Jandía: Jandía is the Mecca of surfers, windsurfers and kitesurfers in Spain. The huge Jandía beach and Sotavento are two of the best surfing spots for beginners, while Barca beach plays host to one of the Earth’s leading windsurfing competitions.
  • Hiking up Pico de la Zarza: Jandía Nature Park is an extraordinary natural area for hikers. A very popular loop hike leads up Pico de la Zarza, the highest peak in Fuerteventura. The route takes five hours to complete, but it affords great views of the park and the peninsula. Its terminus comes as a reward to tired feet: Cofete beach.
  • Golf in Barranco de Vinamar: One of the best places on the Canaries for a day playing golf is the golf club in Barranco de Vinamar, in the peninsula of Jandía, a pebble’s throw from El Matorral beach. It is the second in Fuerteventura to offer an 18-hole course for golfers of all levels of skills.
  • Sailing on Jandía beach: Catamaran or sailboat rentals, intensive courses, lessons for beginners… The beaches in Jandía welcome visitors who want to try their hand at riding a boat or who already enjoy this activity. Sailing in this part of the Atlantic coast can be a great experience, for you can ride the waves alongside dolphins or sperm whales.
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