Storms and Wonders of Corralejo Sand Dunes

Corralejo Sand Dunes is a big natural reserve south of Corralejo and north of the capital city, Puerto del Rosario. The park covers an area of a couple of kilometers starting somewhere near Montana Roja volcano and spreading up to the Corralejo city.

How to get there

There are many options for how to get to Corralejo sand dunes. The easiest way is to rent a car. This option is great for everyone who wants to stop at different spots throughout the highway FV-104. 

You can also take a taxi. But it will cost you approximately 10 EUR or more, and similarly to the bus you will not the the option to stop where you want. If you decide to take the bus, then the number 6 goes from Corralejo to Puerto del Rosario. It stops at the Las Agujas where the park begins and later near the Hotel Riu. Next stop is Parque Holandes.

Another option is to rent a bicycle, or just go and walk around. Expect to walk around 2 hours from the bus stop Hotel Riu to Montana Roja.

Points of interest

Montana Roja

When you park the car near the FV-104 you can enjoy a short 30 to 40-minute long hike to Montana Roja volcano. The path uphill is made of small rocks so it can get a little bit slippery. It starts somewhere near the “no speed limit sign.” When at the top you can enjoy a great view of the Corralejo sand dunes and the beaches. It is also a suitable spot for landscape photography if you do not own a drone but you want to have some shots from above afar. The total ascend is approximately 312 kilometers. 

Ruinas de acueducto

The ruins lie near the volcano hill in Barranco de las Pilas. The place resembles a rocky fence and you can reach the FV-1 highway from it.

Bunker Operación Pilgrim

When you are coming to Corralejo nature reserve from Puerto del Rosario after you cross the Montana Roja you will enter the first wild beaches. One of them is Playita del Porís where the Bunker Operación Pilgrim is situated. The bunker was part of a defense program on the east coast of Gran Canaria. Operation Pilgrim was when Great Britain decided to attack the Canaries because it feared the Germans during WWII.

Búnker near Playa del Moro

Another bunker is half buried in the sand which prevents people from exploring it from within.

Beaches

There are many Corralejo Sand Dunes beaches to visit. Some of them are nudists. Some are intact and wild, while the ones near hotels have some amenities like toilets, changing rooms, lifeguards, restaurants, car rentals, or taxis waiting nearby.

Fuerteventura is known for strong windy weather, and all of these places have excellent conditions for windsurfing or kite surfing.

Playa del Pozo

Long beach that is best to experience during high tide. There aren’t any restaurants, or toilets, or many people. You can see Lobos Island and Lanzarote in the distance. 

Grandes Playas Corralejo

It is a stretch of 3 connected sand beaches and is home to the annual kite festival. Soft sands with little rock shelters. There are also lifeguards. The beaches go further south to Hotel Riu Resorts.

Playa Bojo Negro

Beach with shallow water, a little beach bar, chairs, tables, and lifeguards. Nearby Hotel Riu is a bus stop, parking lot, car rental, public toilets, and restaurants.

Playa Larga

Not suitable for swimming, but long, clean with plenty of places to park.

Some other beaches include Playa los Matos, Playa El Bajo Negro, Playa del Dormidero, Playa del Moro (great for surfing beginners ), Playa del Rosadero, Playa Alzada (suitable for kids, shallow entrance), Playita del Porís (not suitable for swimming).

When to visit sand dunes

Since the Canary Islands have nearly the same temperatures during the whole year, the only thing to look for is not very windy or cloudy weather. The best time of the day is probably sunset, or sunrise – especially if you want to do some landscape or portrait photography. But from my personal experience walking through the dunes in sunny and stormy weather, I like both. But the upcoming storm gives a more dramatic outline and it is more of a rarity to experience rain on the desert. Although it was like 5 drops. Although it was raining around the dunes stayed mostly intact. The only problem was the strong wind. 

The highest dunes lie near Playa Larga. But the rest of the park has also some other spots with higher dunes. If you want to enjoy the crossing of the road, beach, and dunes then try the beginning of the park when coming from Puerto. When you are nearing the beach the sand starts to reveal many small white shells or marine creatures.

The park is accessible for free and open 24/7. You have the opportunity to come there during the night and enjoy stargazing or try astrophotography. 

The dunes cover an area of mostly 10 kilometers and if you want to be alone you can always walk further away from the road and escape the crowds.