Playa del Matorral

Playa del Matorral is the wide pale crescent that Morro Jable is built along, on Fuerteventura's south coast. It runs several kilometres east of the old fishing village, with a protected saltmarsh reserve behind it — the matorral that gives the beach its name — and the low-rise hotels and apartments of Avenida del Saladar behind that.

The sand is soft and pale, somewhere between white and gold, and shelves gently into the sea. It is far calmer here than on the wind-exposed beaches of Corralejo or El Cotillo, and the beach is reliably Blue Flag certified, which makes it about as safe as swimming gets with young children. The Faro de Morro Jable lighthouse at the eastern end is the natural place to turn round on a walk.

The beach changes character along its length, which is why it stands up to daily visits. The western end nearest the old village is the liveliest and has most of the beach bars. The central section in front of the hotel strip is the busiest and best kept, and where the sunbathers go. Head towards the lighthouse and you can walk for an hour without passing many people.

The central section has the full set: sun loungers and umbrellas to hire (around 15 euros for a pair and a parasol for the day), public showers and toilets, and lifeguard towers through the summer. Restaurants and beach bars are a few steps away on the promenade.

That promenade — paved, palm-lined, several kilometres long — is one of the best seafront walks on the island, good for an early-morning run, an evening stroll, a pushchair or a bike. You can hire bicycles at the bus station and ride east to the lighthouse and back inside an hour.

Behind the central beach lies the matorral saltmarsh, a protected reserve with the status of Sitio de Interés Científico. Short paths run through it and a small information board explains the habitat. Egrets, plovers and the occasional flamingo turn up, and you can hear them at dawn from the apartments along Avenida del Saladar.

The gentle conditions make this a good place to try paddleboarding or a kayak. Schools at the western end of the beach rent by the hour.

Parking is easier here than at most Spanish beaches: several free car parks along Avenida del Saladar, each with direct access to the sand. If you want paid parking, the nearest is at the shopping centre at the western end of the strip.

The beach stays impressively wide at low tide, so even a busy day rarely feels crowded. At high tide the upper sand narrows noticeably, particularly in front of the main hotels. The tidal range here is significant, so check the times if you plan to walk the full length.

March to June and September to November are the pick of the year — comfortable temperatures, fewer people than midsummer. Winter is mild and popular with long-stay European visitors; summer is hot, and August is the busiest month of all.

On a windy day the southern end by the lighthouse is more sheltered than the open central stretch. On a hot one, the western end has more shade, between the promenade's palms and the beach bars.