The Popcorn Beach in Fuerteventura: What Is It and How To Find It?
Have you ever heard of Fuerteventura’s Popcorn Beach? Located near the town of Corralejo on the island of Fuerteventura, in the Canary Islands, this isn’t a beach covered in sand but covered in what appears to be tiny pieces of popcorn. We’ve visited the Popcorn Beach in Fuerteventura three times now, and each time is as magical as the last.
But finding this perfect beach the first time was hard work! It’s one of those places that so many people have heard of, but far fewer people visit thanks to its remote location. It’s not signposted, and aside from the beach there’s nothing else there: no café, no toilets, no other facilities. Which is why I thought it would be useful to write a post sharing everything you need to know about the beautiful Popcorn Beach:
What Is The Popcorn Beach?
First thing’s first: Despite its name, Popcorn Beach isn’t actually covered in popcorn! When you touch these kernals they feel hard like rock, but they’re white, calcified algae (rhodoliths). These are fossilized algae fossils that have washed ashore, and the Canary Islands (especially Fuerteventura) are famous for them. Some of these fossils are more than 100 years old.
You can find ‘popcorn beaches’ elsewhere in the world, but nowhere has a higher concentration of this phenomenon than Fuerteventura. And one beach in particular.
📢 The beach is an AMAZING place to visit, but PLEASE don’t remove the popcorn pieces from the beach! This is a real problem in the area and thousands of kilograms were previously taken annually, resulting in a much smaller volume of popcorn on the beach AND damaging the ecosystem here at the same time.
Where Is The Popcorn Beach in Fuerteventura?
The good news is that the Popcorn beach is relatively easy to find: the bad news is that it’s pretty hard to get to.
Popcorn Beach (Playa del Bajo de la Burra) is located on the north coast of Fuerteventura, in the municipality of La Oliva, between Corralejo and Majanicho. The only way to access the beach is via car, as there is no easy walk way to the beach AND no public transport option to get you there. It’s gentle cove-like location means that it’s often covered in seaweed, so you won’t always get those picture-perfect snapshots you see in the brochures.
The beach is accessible via an unpaved track (sandy gravel road) that is drivable, provided you drive as carefully as possible. Because this is an off-road path, you also need to consider that your hire car insurance might not cover you driving this route (we always take the chance and take it slow).
.This isn’t a typical sunbathing beach. And you won’t need to plan a whole day trip here. It’s more of a tourist attraction that’s worth seeing, but an hour is plenty of time to explore and enjoy the popcorn.
FAQs
Can You Walk to Popcorn Beach from Corralejo?
Technically the answer to this question is yes. Walking to Popcorn Beach from Corralejo is possible but not easy, taking you alone a coastal hiking trail that will take more than an hour to complete. This is a great option if you’re an active adult, but I don’t think this is a good option if you’re travelling with kids. It’s a fairly intensive walk, and one that isn’t designed for little legs.
Is Popcorn Beach Worth Visiting?
It’s such a unique phenomenon that I think Popcorn Beach is well worth visiting! My boys had a lot of fun with it: pretending to eat the popcorn, playing in it, they even built little Popcorn kernal snowmen! I think that Popcorn Beach is best visited if you have a car, and for us it’s a fun interlude on our way to somwhere else. It’s not worth taking a whole day out of your holiday, and spending a significant chunk on private taxi transfers, just to see this beach.
Does the Popcorn Beach in Fuerteventura have Toilets?
No, the Popcorn Beach doesn’t have toilets or any of the other facilities that you might expect to find on a popular beach. There are no showers, toilets, beach beds, or anything else of that kind. If you’re planning to spend the day here, or travelling with kids, then please bring all of the snacks, water, and other amenities that you need. For toddlers, you might even want to carry a portable potty.
Can You Swim at the Popcorn Beach in Fuerteventura?
The water at the Popcorn Beach is calm, and it looks clear and pristine. However, unfortunately you can’t swim here Not only are there no lifeguards on this beach, there are also large signs pointing out that swimming here is strictly prohibited.
Final Thoughts and Further Reading
Because it’s such a unique and wonderful phenomena, the Popcorn Beach in Fuerteventura really shouldn’t be missed.
Want to carry on planning your perfect Fuerteventura holiday? Keep reading below:
👉 Looking For Winter Sun? Why Fuerteventura Is Our Favourite Winter Sun Destination
👉Protest Surf School Fuerteventura Review: An Incredible Experience, Perfect For Kids
👉 Lobos Island Canary Islands: A Beautiful, Untouched Escape (Worth the Trip?)
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