The Nude Beaches of Fuerteventura

A long stretch of golden sand on the southeast coast, backed by small dunes that give natural shelter from the wind. Naked visitors consistently outnumber clothed ones on a normal day. The combination of easy access from Costa Calma, calm water, and an established clothes-free atmosphere makes this the most practical starting point for a nude beach day on the island.

A smaller beach immediately north of Playa Esmeralda. At low tide, the receding water opens access to a run of quieter coves that are rarely busy. It suits those wanting more privacy than the main beach offers without needing to drive further. The clothes-free character is consistent with the rest of the Costa Calma stretch.

One of the more visually distinctive beaches in the Canary Islands. At low tide, a shallow lagoon forms along the coastline, creating an unusual landscape of still water and white sand. Windsurfers use the lagoon for training and competition, which adds activity to the setting without displacing nude sunbathers. The beach is long enough that quiet stretches are easy to find.

A calmer section of the Costa Calma coastline where the water is shallow enough to wade comfortably. A beach bar operates nearby, which is unusual for this part of the coast. The atmosphere is relaxed and the clothes-free presence is consistent. The name translates roughly as Bad Name Beach, which tells you little about what to expect.

A three-kilometre stretch of coastline between Costa Calma and Morro Jable with a semi-urban character. Apartment buildings are visible from the beach in places. Nudity is accepted throughout the stretch but is more concentrated in certain sections away from the main hotel frontages. The beach is wide and sandy along the full length.

The southernmost section of the Costa Calma beach corridor, continuing toward Morro Jable town. This is the far end of the nude beach walk that runs the full length of the Costa Calma coastline, one of the longest clothes-free coastal walks in Europe. Nude walking and sunbathing are common all the way to the edge of the town.

A wide, cliff-backed beach just outside La Pared village, at the narrow isthmus that connects the Jandía peninsula to the rest of the island. The cliffs give the beach a dramatic scale that the Costa Calma beaches do not have. Clothes-free visitors concentrate at the southern end. No facilities of any kind.

A rocky, pebbly cove on the southwest coast with high cliffs on both sides that block the wind effectively. The setting is intimate and the beach is consistently quiet. The surface is not comfortable for lying on without a firm mat, but the shelter and near-certain solitude compensate for that. A consistent clothes-free spot away from the Costa Calma crowds.

A black sand beach on the west coast near Ajuy village, shaped by the island’s volcanic geology. The main section near the village is generally clothed. Nude visitors tend to move toward the edges, away from the busier central area. The sea caves at the north end of the beach are worth visiting for the landscape alone, regardless of clothing status.

A beach on a different scale from the rest of the island. Towering cliffs run the full length of the coastline and the sand stretches far in both directions. The Atlantic here is rough and swimming is not safe. Clothes-free visitors can have large sections of the beach entirely to themselves. Reaching it requires driving a rough 8.5-kilometre dirt track from the end of the paved road near Morro Jable, which takes 50 to 60 minutes at a safe speed.

A small, quiet cove south of El Cotillo town. Not the same beach as the Esquinzo-Butihondo stretch near Costa Calma: this is a different beach on the west coast with a different character entirely. The cove is sheltered, the atmosphere relaxed, and nude visitors consistently outnumber clothed ones. No facilities.

A golden sand beach south of El Cotillo, accessed by a steep staircase cut into the cliff face. The descent gives the beach a secluded character that is hard to find elsewhere on this stretch of coast. Nude visitors use it regularly. The critical practical point is the tide: at high tide the sandy beach disappears beneath the water entirely. Check tide times before visiting.

The largest and most accessible beach near El Cotillo, running for more than 1.5 kilometres along the coast. Surfers and clothes-free sunbathers use the beach without friction. The atmosphere near town is more mixed. The further along the beach you walk from El Cotillo, the more consistently nude and peaceful it becomes.

The stretch of coastline running north from El Cotillo town beach past La Concha and toward the lighthouse is not a single beach but a linked series of tidal pools, small coves, and stretches of sand separated by rock. Nudity is common throughout and the atmosphere is calm. The reward here comes from exploring rather than arriving at a fixed point. It is probably the most distinctive clothes-free landscape on the island.

A large coastal nature reserve just south of Corralejo town, where white dunes run down to water in shades of blue and green. Clothing-optional access covers almost the entire reserve. The only exceptions are the sections immediately in front of the two large Riu hotels. Natural dune formations act as windbreaks across the beach. On busy days, a short walk along the dunes is enough to find personal space.