Sotavento Beach (Fuerteventura)
Sotavento Beach Windsurfing
Sotavento Beach is a 1km long sandy beach and one of the world’s most iconic windsurfing locations. It is effectively a windsurfing resort, as not only does it possess excellent wind and water conditions, but the world’s largest windsurfing centre attached to two very well equipped hotels, the Hotel Melia Gorriones, and the Sol Beach House Melia.
A key feature that enhances the allure of Sotavento beach is its protected 4km long and 200m wide training lagoon. This is a tidal lagoon that fills up with enough water to windsurf for approximately half the days in every month. Each cycle is about six days long, Therefore the lagoon is usable for six days before it becomes dry for six days before refilling again. The lagoon provides the ideal training ground for beginners and improvers, while the more experienced use the open sea on the other side of the protective sand bar.
On the open sea side the huge 1km long white sandy beach has plenty of room for windsurfers and kiting. There are separate zones for both sports as well as for swimming, so as to ensue order and safety. The windsurfing centre is ideally located on the beach, where it has direct access to the open sea as well as the lagoon. The centre is only 200m from the hotels resort.
The sailing conditions are excellent. The prevailing north-east trade wind receives a double acceleration effect from the hills making the wind substantially stronger and therefore creating a superb freestyle, speed and slalom spot. Generally the winds are lighter in the morning before picking up midday or early in the afternoon.
The water in the open sea is flat at low tide with a small chop at high tide. There can be a small shore break, and occasionally waves up to 2m depending on the sea swell, with the water surface in between the waves smooth. The training lagoon is always flat.
Annually the PWA slalom racing World Cup comes to Sotovento Beach in July where the world’s best racers compete at the very highest level and provide a terrific spectacle.
ABILITIES:Beginners and improvers in the mornings. Intermediate and advanced freeride/slalom/freestyle in the afternoons on the open sea
POTENTIAL HAZARDS:It can get very windy, and the wind is cross offshore. The wind is often gusty.
Sailing Centres
Kitesurfing Centres
- Services Overview:
- Premium Gear Rentals
- Adults Lessons
- Safety Observers
- Rescue Craft
Location of centre:- Beachfront
Facilites:- Showers
- Changing Rooms
- Shady Seating Area
The ION CLUB Risco del Paso is located right in the middle of the bay and to the left hand side of the parking area. Equipment Rentals: The centre is equipped with the latest Duotone boards and kites, and shares the premises with the windsurfing rental. Lessons: The centre provides kitesurfing tuition and courses for all levels, including private as Read more... - Services Overview:
- Premium Gear Rentals
- Beginners Gear Rentals
- Walk-Up Rentals
- Hourly Rentals
- Advanced Booking Rentals
- Adults Lessons
- Kids Lessons
- Safety Observers
- Rescue Craft
- Kitesurfer Storage
- Parking
Location of centre:- Walk from accommodation
- Beachfront
Facilites:- Food
- Beach Bar
- Lockers
- Shady Seating Area
- Sun Beds
The Rene Egli centre is one of the biggest and best stocked kitesurfing centres in the world! It is located directly beside the tidal lagoon in the palm tree garden of the Hotel Meliã Gorriones. Rental Equipment: The centre is always stocked with the newest Cabrinha Kites & Boards; with no less than 350 kites and 120 kiteboards. All setups Read more...
Windsurfing Centres
- Services Overview:
- Premium Gear Rentals
- Beginners Gear Rentals
- Kids Gear Rentals
- Adults Lessons
- Kids Lessons
- Safety Observers
- Rescue Craft
Location of centre:- Beachfront
The ION CLUB Risco del Paso is located right in the middle of the bay. Equipment Rentals The centre is located on the left hand side of the parking area. The centre is equipped with the latest Fanatic freeride, freestyle and wave boards, as well as a variety of Duotone Sails. For beginners there are fifteen Fanatic Viper school boards Read more... - Services Overview:
- Premium Gear Rentals
- Beginners Gear Rentals
- Kids Gear Rentals
- Walk-Up Rentals
- Hourly Rentals
- Advanced Booking Rentals
- Adults Lessons
- Kids Lessons
- Safety Observers
- Rescue Craft
- Parking
- Photo Service
Location of centre:- Walk from accommodation
- Beachfront
Facilites:- Shady Seating Area
- Sun Beds
- Equipment Washing
The Rene Egli windsurfing centre is now the biggest windsurf centre in the world with over 450 boards, and over 1000 sails, all current models. Located on the 1km beach, the centre is just 200m from the Meliã Gorriones Hotel and the Sol beach House Melia. It is also the venue for the World Cup which takes place in July Read more...
Sotavento Accommodation
There are two excellent 4 star hotels at Sotavento Beach, the Hotel Meliá Gorriones and the newly opened Sol Beach House Fuerteventura Resort with its unique beach-house ambiance. Both hotels are right at the windsurfing and kitesurfing locations.
The other option is to stay in one of the many hotels in Costa Calma. The Rene Egli centre runs a regular shuttle service to and from Costa Calma.
Featured Properties
- Star Rating:
- 4-star
Beach Access:- Beach-front
Room Types:- Single
- Twin
- Double
- Triple
Room Facilities:- Views
Property Facilities:- Adults Only
- Restaurant(s)
- Bar(s)
- Outdoor Pool
- Fitness Centre
- Car Parking
Activities:- Bikes
Sol Beach House is a brand new complex in 2019 offering a variety of studio-style rooms for 1 – 3 guests. The hotel is located right next door to the Melia Fuerteventura and has direct beach access. Rooms have satellite TV, terrace and private bathrooms. The hotel has an outdoor pool and guests have access to all of the facilities Read more... - FEATUREDStar Rating:
- 4-star
Beach Access:- Beach-front
Room Types:- Single
- Twin
- Double
- Triple
- Quad
- Family
Room Facilities:- Private Bathroom
- Balcony or Terrace
- Views
- Non-Smoking
Property Facilities:- Child Friendly
- Restaurant(s)
- Bar(s)
- Outdoor Pool
- Day Spa
- Fitness Centre
- Communal Lounge Area
- Street Parking
Activities:- Entertainment
Melia Fuerteventura is located absolute beachfront on Sotavento Beach so it is ideally located within walking distance to kite & windsurfing zones. The hotel is family friendly and offers single, twin & double hotel rooms as well as family rooms for up to 2 adults plus 3 children. All rooms are air-conditioned and have a private balcony. There is a Read more... - Star Rating:
- 4-star
Beach Access:- Beach-front
Room Types:- Single
- Twin
- Double
- Triple
Room Facilities:- Private Bathroom
- Balcony or Terrace
- Views
- Non-Smoking
Property Facilities:- Adults Only
- Restaurant(s)
- Bar(s)
- Outdoor Pool
- Indoor Pool
- Day Spa
- Fitness Centre
- Communal Lounge Area
- Car Parking
Activities:- Entertainment
- Tennis
This hotel is located right on Costa Calma beach with spectacular views. Rooms cater for 1 – 3 guests and vary from twin/double and a variety of suites with separate sitting areas right up to a presidential suite. All rooms have private bathroom facilities; some with a bath. All rooms have a balcony or terrace and some rooms have ocean Read more... - Star Rating:
- 4-star
Beach Access:- Beach-front
Room Types:- Single
- Twin
- Double
- Triple
- Quad
- Family
Room Facilities:- Private Bathroom
- Balcony or Terrace
- Views
- Non-Smoking
Property Facilities:- Child Friendly
- Restaurant(s)
- Bar(s)
- Outdoor Pool
- Fitness Centre
- Communal Lounge Area
- Car Parking
Activities:- Bikes
The SBH Fuerteventura Playa Hotel is located right in the beach in Costa Calma and only 300 m from the main shopping area. This family friendly hotel offers twin, double and triple rooms all with private bathrooms complete with a bathtub. Rooms have a terrace/balcony and a seating/tv area. The hotel represents good value as all meals and selected beverages Read more... - Star Rating:
- 3-star
Beach Access:- 0-5 mins walk
Room Types:- Single
- Twin
- Double
- Triple
- Quad
- Family
Room Facilities:- Kitchen or kitchenette
- Private Bathroom
- Balcony or Terrace
- Non-Smoking
Property Facilities:- Child Friendly
- Bar(s)
- Outdoor Pool
- Street Parking
Bahai Calma Beach offers studio, 1 & 2 bedroom bungalows & apartments catering for 2 – 5 guests. They are ideally located only 200m from the beaches of Costa Calma. All apartments are self-cater and have dining and living areas with seating & television The complex has 2 swimming pools and a terrace ideal for lounging around on those lazy Read more...
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- Flat Water Blasting
- Bump and Jump
- Foiling
- Longboard Cruising
- Intermediate Wave Sailing
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Flat Water
- Small Waves
- Chop
- Open Sea
- Lagoon
- Warm Water
- Salt Water
- Sand
- On-site Parking
- Free Parking
Sotavento
Fuerteventura
Spain
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1 Review on “Sotavento Beach (Fuerteventura)”
I went to Sotavento with very high expectations and whilst it didn’t disappoint there were a few things that weren’t up-to-scratch.
THE WIND
The wind was a typical cross off-shore and whilst it was reasonably strong I was surprised how gusty it was. I found that I was off-the-plane about 50% of the time as the wind dropped intermittently. The land mass has a bit of height to it blocking the clean wind.
THE WATER
The water was a lovely turquoise & deep blue colour and perfectly clean. The water temp was around 22 deg C making it very bearable in a rash top. The shore break certainly sorted out some of the Euro sailors not used to sailing in the ocean.
One of the disappointments to me was that the water was quite choppy the further you away from the land. Unfortunately that was where the cleanest wind was and closer to shore where the water was relatively flat the wind speed was quite variable.
I was also under the impression that the lagoon would be a great place for speed sailing however it was really just a great spot for people learning to sail.
ACCOMMODATION
If you like resort-style accommodation; you will love this place. The Melia Fuerteventura is fabulous and located right on the beach just a few minutes walk to the Windsurfing & Kitesurfing sailing spots.
SERVICES
There is no doubt that Rene Igli has a well-oiled machine with both its Windsurfing & Kitesurfing centres. Apart from high-performance race gear, these centres pretty much have every other type of device you could dream of. The prices were definitely up there compared to other centres around the Canaries particularly if you wanted quality gear.
BEACH
The launch area to the ocean and the lagoon in front of the Rene Igli Windsurfing Centre gets pretty busy so don’t expect and serenity here; it’s elbows out at the launch area to get started.
The beach immediately in front of the Windsurfing Centre had some chairs and a bit of shade and had a pretty good vibe.
Overall it was quite the pinnacle of windsurfing I was expecting but some of the best windsurfing I had ever done in my life to date.