La Playa de la Barca (which in English means “Beach of the Boat”) is one of the tourist spots that mixes modernity and unspoiled nature. It is the beach which is located towards the north of the beaches of Sotavento. It belongs to the municipality of Pajara on the island of Fuerteventura and lies on the east coast of the Pajara peninsula.
This beach is world famous, because, since 1986, the World Championship of Windsurfing and Kiteboarding event is organized here. It takes place at the end of July (sometimes also at the beginning of August) and lasts about a week. Windsurfers and kitesurfers from all over the world attend the event. The sailors who participate, need to keep adding points to win the championship at the end of the year, and have to participate in events around the world. During the championship, cultural events are organized. The main event, with live music, is called “La Carpa Fuerteventura,” and thousands of people attend.
To reach Playa de la Barca from Morro Jable, in the south of the island, you can drive on the main road FV-2 . It takes about twenty minutes, and the distance is 20 kilometers. There is a proper road which takes you to the beach, not a dirt road like other beaches, although you may have to use a small dirt road if you reach the beach from another direction. When you reach the roundabout of the Barranco de la Barca , take the first exit to the right towards the tourist resort, and then drive further on, till you reach the parking area of the beach. You can also get from Costa Calma, which is located more towards the north. If you choose this option, you will need to use backroads such as the streets of Punta Junquillo and avenida Jahn Reisen, towards the south, and reach your destination when you see the parking lot of Playa la Barca.
The north of the Sotavento beaches has soft white sand, which is easy to clean off from the skin, when the beach day ends. The beach is over 6 kilometers long. This side of the Fuerteventura coast is fairly flat and quite wide (several hundred meters). Natural lagoons are formed during low tide, thanks to the shape of the coastline. You can practice paddle surf in these lagoons, if you are a newbie, and you want to learn without going out in the open sea. If you like romantic walks on the sea shore, this is the right place, and you can walk on and on.
During most of the year, this beach is windy, except for a few weeks in September and October. This is great for those who want to do windsurfing and kitesurfing. Regarding the sea, its got few waves during most of the year. They are generally calm waters, and only the wind breaks the stillness. Thanks to the whitish sand, the sea bottom looks turquoise blue with tones of ligh green. It is a great beach to take photos. It is also a great idea to take a dip during a morning walk or when you feel like it after surfing there.
In the hilarious video below, you can see a tourist feeding the squirrels, who love to eat Pringles.
Our site receives no government funding. Please support it by booking with any of our travel partners:
New! Comments
Have your say about what you just read! Leave us a comment in the box below.