On the southwestern tip of Fuerteventura, where the JandÃa massif drops straight into the Atlantic, there are 14 kilometres of golden sand without a single building on the horizon. Cofete Beach is arguably the wildest corner of the island, and getting there — along a dirt track that winds through the mountains, past an isolated mansion nobody can fully explain — is already part of the experience.
Cofete sits inside the JandÃa Natural Park, the reserve that protects the entire south of the island. It's a long, dark-sand beach with heavy surf, backed by the cliffs of Pico de la Zarza, Fuerteventura's highest point (807 m). There are no resorts, no beach bars blasting music, no sunbed rentals — just dunes, wandering goats and the constant roar of the sea.
Important: the currents here are dangerous and there's no lifeguard service. Cofete is a beach for walking and taking photos, not for swimming.
Next to the tiny village of Cofete stands a house that doesn't fit anything around it: Villa Winter, built in the mid-1940s by German engineer Gustav Winter. Its total isolation — no paved road, no neighbours, an unobstructed view of the Atlantic — has fuelled decades of rumours: a secret Nazi base, a submarine refuge, hidden treasure. None of it has ever been proven, but the mystery is still part of the draw. The house is private and can't be visited inside, but you can see it from the outside as you pass through the village.
The paved road ends at Morro Jable. From there, a dirt track of around 20 km climbs to the mountain pass of Degollada de Agua Oveja before dropping down to the coast. It's driveable with care, but it's unpaved, full of bends, and many rental companies explicitly forbid taking their cars on it — go on your own and your insurance may not cover you.
The easiest, hassle-free way to see it is the Cofete and Punta JandÃa jeep safari: 5 hours in a shared 4x4 (maximum 6 people) with a local driver-guide, covering the Sotavento viewpoints, Cofete village with Villa Winter, the beach itself, the Punta JandÃa lighthouse and El Puertito. Pickup included from Costa Calma, Esquinzo, JandÃa and Morro Jable. It costs €85 per adult.
Can you drive to Cofete in a rental car? Many rental companies don't cover the Cofete track under their insurance. The safest, stress-free option is an organised 4x4 excursion with a local driver.
Was Villa Winter really a Nazi base? There's no evidence for it. It's a popular legend fed by the house's isolation and its owner's secrecy — German engineer Gustav Winter — but no historical document backs it up.
Can you swim at Cofete Beach? It's not recommended: the currents are strong and there's no lifeguard service. It's a beach for walking and photos, not for swimming.
Looking for more untouched beaches in Fuerteventura? Check out Isla de Lobos on the island's north coast, and all our things to do in Fuerteventura.
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