Corralejo Sand Dunes in Fuerteventura: All You Need To Know About the Natural Park
A travel guide with tips to visit the sand dunes in Corralejo Natural Park | Hi! We're Alex & Victoria - a digital nomad couple from Copenhagen escaping 9-5 to chase adventures in our beautiful world. Learn more about us here. |
The largest sand dunes in the Canary Islands
Exploring the Corralejo Sand Dunes is definitely one of the best things to do in Corralejo and in the rest of Fuerteventura.
The dunes are known under many names: Parque Natural de Corralejo, Corralejo Natural Park, the Corralejo Dunes or Parque Natural de las Dunas de Corralejo – they are all the same sand dunes.
And you must come by this huge area covered in soft sand at least once during you stay in Fuerteventura.
We loved the natural park so much that we actually went there three times!
Not only is the small desert incredibly beautiful, but the Corralejo Natural Park also includes a coastline with kilometres of long white sand beaches that are perfect for sunbathing or water sports.
In this travel guide we will let you know where to find the sand dunes in Fuerteventura, how to get there and our best tips on when to visit.
Where to stay near the Corralejo Sand Dunes:
- Luxury: Secrets Bahía Real Resort & Spa.
- Value for money: Hotel Riu Palace Tres Islas.
- Budget: Island Home Fuerteventura.
Search for the best value accommodation in Corralejo here.
Table of contents
What to expect of the Corralejo Sand Dunes
Visiting the dunes of Corralejo is one of the most popular things to do in Fuerteventura – and with good reason!
You can walk around the dunes and enjoy the coastal desert for a few minutes or even hours!
The Corralejo Natural Park is a 26 km² area with rolling sand dunes overlooking the ocean in one direction and with views to several volcanoes in the other.
The Corralejo Dunes are the largest sand dunes in the Canary Islands and the area has been protected since it was declared a natural park in 1982 (together with the small Lobos Island).
The different areas of the Corralejo Sand Dunes
In the southern end of the park towards the Montaña Roja volcano, the road intersects the dunes and beach in a really cool way.
Stop in by the road here or at one of the parking spots around Playa del Moro if you want to see that or appreciate the view from the car and drive further north.
The dunes in the north near Playa Larga are a bit higher and here you have a better look over the beaches and the coastline.
But no matter where you stop, there will be plenty of beautiful dunes to discover and you can always go further away from the road to find new ones.
The beaches in Corralejo Natural Park
Apart from the dunes, there are a number of white sand beaches along the 10 kilometres of coastline.
You can surf or kitesurf if you’re into water sports (El Medano and Flag Beach are especially great for that) or simply find a nice spot on the beach to relax on and enjoy the incredibly turquoise waters.
Be careful if you go swimming as the currents are strong.
Price
The sand dunes of Corralejo and the beaches in the natural park are completely free to visit!
Opening times
Parque Natural de las Dunas de Corralejo is open to everyone 24/7.
Map
So where are the sand dunes in Fuerteventura?
The Corralejo Dunes in Corralejo Natural Park are found in the northeast of Fuerteventura just south of Corralejo town.
How to get to the Corralejo Sand Dunes
The best and easiest way to reach the sand dunes or the beaches in Corralejo Natural Park is to drive.
The area is big but luckily you can park your car for free almost anywhere along the FV-1 road (connecting Puerto del Rosario and Corralejo town). There are plenty of parking spots.
From wherever you park your car, you can explore the natural park by foot.
Park close to Playa del Moro if you want to see where the road is closest to the ocean (with dunes on the other side) or close to Playa Larga for easiest access to the biggest dunes.
Anyplace in between those spots are great as well as you can walk into the desert everywhere.
We didn’t try it ourselves, but there should also be a public bus (number 6) going there from Corralejo town. Check the route map here.
When to visit Corralejo Sand Dunes
Plan your visit to the Parque Natural de las Dunas de Corralejo on a sunny day for maximum visibility over the area and especially if you want to spend some time at the beach.
The first time we came by, the weather was a little grey and cloudy but it was actually okay since it made it pleasant and not too warm walking up and down the many dunes.
We visited the natural park twice more in the late afternoon until the sun began to set and we must admit that sunset was our favourite time to visit the Corralejo Sand Dunes.
The golden light shining on the endless rolling dunes was spectacular!
We can imagine sunrise would be magical too.
We would avoid going on days with very strong winds or if it rains (which is pretty uncommon).
Since it’s a huge area, it never felt crowded and you can easily escape other people by walking further away from the road. Just remember to bring a headlight or torch if you go far in and stay until sunset.
Where to stay near Corralejo Sand Dunes
Corralejo – Hip vibe & close to amazing attractions
Corralejo town is the most popular place to stay in Fuerteventura for a reason.
Staying here means you’ll be close to the small beaches of Corralejo, but also be just minutes away from the Corralejo Sand Dunes.
Also near Corralejo? The climbable Calderon Hondo volcano, the protected natural area Lobos Island as well as El Cotillo and lots of other beautiful beaches.
Corralejo itself is a cosy town with lots of great restaurants and supermarkets. If you’re looking for plant-based options in Fuerteventura, Corralejo is probably your best bet. We had amazing vegan ice cream from La Nativa when we visited.
Where to stay in Corralejo
- Luxury: Secrets Bahía Real Resort & Spa.
- Value for money: Hotel Riu Palace Tres Islas.
- Budget: Island Home Fuerteventura.
Search for the best value accommodation in Corralejo here.
What to bring to the Corralejo Sand Dunes
- Travel insurance (adlink). Never travel without it!
- A good camera – here’s a guide to the gear we use.
- Sunscreen (adlink). There’s little to no cover in the dunes and on the beaches.
- Water and snacks.
- Swimwear and a towel if you plan to swim at the beaches next to the dunes.
- Headlight or torch if you go far away from the road and stay until after sunset.
Minimise your impact
To minimise your impact on the dunes and beaches, follow these guidelines:
- Bring your own drinking water in a refillable bottle.
- Avoid single-use plastics, including straws.
- Dispose of waste properly. While putting your trash in a nearby trashcan is convenient, wrappers and other small items are prone to get taken by the wind and end up in the ocean.
- Check your sunscreen. Many brands contain oxybenzone and other chemicals that are harmful to corals.
- Take only photos, leave only footprints. Let shells and corals stay in their natural home on the beach and don’t take any sand from the dunes with you.
- Be considerate of other visitors.
- Respect wildlife. Don’t disturb or feed any animals.
Thanks for reading
Thanks for reading our travel guide to the Corralejo Sand Dunes in Fuerteventura. We hope it has been useful!
What do you think about this natural park?
If you’ve been to the Corralejo Sand Dunes it would be awesome to hear your best tips in the comments.
If you haven’t been yet, please don’t hesitate to ask us anything. We’re glad to help.
Our favourite travel resources:
- Booking.com for cheap hotels.
- Momondo for the best flight deals.
- SafetyWing for travel insurance. We also like World Nomads and True Traveller. All three compared here.
Our camera gear:
- Panasonic GH5. Used for all of our photos and videos.
- DJI Mavic 2 Pro. Best drone out there!
- Sirui Tripod. Lightweight and strong.
- See all of our camera gear here.
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