La Concha is a beach of almost white sand beside El Cotillo, a former fishing village in the municipality of La Oliva on the north-west coast of Fuerteventura. A line of rocks and reef breaks the Atlantic swell, so the water inside stays calm and turquoise. Together with the neighbouring Los Lagos coves, it belongs to the group of El Cotillo beaches that ranked among the ten best in Europe in a 2016 TripAdvisor users' vote reported by the newspaper La Provincia.
La Concha Beach (El Cotillo)
Local name: Playa de La Concha
White-sand beach with turquoise water held calm by a reef of dark rock, at the edge of El Cotillo.
- Entrance
- Free; Spanish beaches are public.
- Parking
- Free car park about 170 m away in a straight line; a second free one about 790 m away.
- Difficulty
- Easy: the nearest car park is about 170 m away in a straight line, then you walk onto the sand.
- Transport
- Bus stop El Cotillo, about 1.1 km away in a straight line.
- Advance booking
- No booking needed; it is a public beach.
- Hours
- Open at any time.
- Address
- La Concha, Urb. los Lagos A11, 13, 35650 Los Lagos, Las Palmas, Spain
What makes it special
The water inside the rocks lies flat and turquoise while the Atlantic beyond keeps throwing up whitewater. Dark volcanic reef wraps the bay and splits the beach in two: one half open for swimming, the other studded with rock, where snorkellers find fish over the reef. Rock walls on the sand break the wind. Small pools form among the rocks, and hermit crabs pick along their edges.
On some high tides a lagoon fills at the back of the beach, and young children have it almost to themselves. The sand is so pale that the water looks brighter for it.
Good to know
- The beach is lifeguarded, with showers, toilets, a drinking-water point and a small beach bar.
- Bring a mask and snorkel: the rocky half of the bay is the best part of the visit.
- The lagoon at the back forms only on some high tides. Check a tide table if that is what you are coming for.
- The beach gets busy, though there is still room to find a spot on the sand.
- The reef is sharp underfoot, so water shoes make getting in among the rocks easier.
Getting there
The nearest free car park is about 170 m away in a straight line, and a second free one lies about 790 m off. From either, you walk out onto the sand. The beach can also be reached on foot. Buses stop in El Cotillo about 1.1 km away in a straight line, so arriving by bus means walking the rest of the way to the bay.
Best time to visit
Best: a sunny day near high tide, or late afternoon, when the sun goes down over the sea.
Avoid: low tide if you came for the lagoon, and the middle of a summer day if you want space on the sand.
The lagoon fills only on some high tides, and the coast faces west, so the evening light falls straight across the bay.
Sun & daylight
Nearby Places
Similar Places
Featured in our guides
La Concha Beach (El Cotillo) on the map
Beyond the reef the coast is open Atlantic, with strong surf and currents, so stay in the sheltered water inside the rocks. The rocks are sharp and slippery: tread carefully and wear water shoes.
Get directions
Your whole travel map in one place
Get inspired by new places around the world and find the ones worth the journey
Frequently asked questions
Is the water at La Concha calm enough to swim?
Yes. Rocks and a reef break the Atlantic swell, so the water inside the bay rarely has big waves, and the beach is lifeguarded. Stay inside the rocks: the open sea beyond them is rough.Can you snorkel at La Concha?
Yes. One half of the beach is open sand for swimming, the other is rocky, and that is where the snorkelling is, with fish over the reef. Bring your own mask.Is La Concha good for young children?
The calm water and the lifeguards make it one of the easier beaches for families. On some high tides a lagoon also forms at the back of the beach, which suits young children.What facilities are there?
There are showers, toilets, a drinking-water point and a small beach bar, with more places to eat nearby.