Sotavento, Shingle and nude beach in Fuerteventura, Spain

Sotavento is a beach on the Jandía peninsula in Fuerteventura, a broad strip of olive-toned sand mixed with shingle that widens considerably at low tide. The beach is divided into named sections, and its shallow shelf and steady cross-shore wind have made it a base for windsurfing and kitesurfing schools.

Sotavento's rise as a windsurfing and kitesurfing venue began in the 1980s, when its steady trade winds and shallow lagoon drew competitors to the Jandía coast. It has since hosted rounds of the PWA World Tour and the Fuerteventura Kiteboarding World Cup, held on the beach at Risco del Paso.

Sotavento's name means "leeward" in Spanish, referring to the shelter the beach gets from the prevailing northeast trade winds. The annual Windsurfing and Kitesurfing World Cup has been held at the beach since the 1980s, and the event draws competitors and spectators to the sand each summer. North of the beach, the village of Costa Calma was built in the 1970s around tourism.

Parking is available at beach entrances, and water sports equipment rentals and lessons happen regularly during the season. Plan your visit knowing that conditions shift with the season, as wind and wave patterns change throughout the year.

When the tide goes out, sandbars emerge to form a lagoon stretching up to three kilometers with shallow water perfect for wading. This daily shift reveals hidden geography that exists only part of the time, making each visit feel different.