Cofete is the wildest view in the Canary Islands: more than ten kilometres of sand without a single building, the Atlantic crashing in and, behind it, the Jandía massif with Pico de la Zarza (807 m), Fuerteventura's highest point. Alone on the hillside stands Villa Winter, the house of German engineer Gustav Winter, wrapped in legends. Getting there is part of the adventure: there's no paved road, just a dirt track over the mountains from Morro Jable.
Book the essentials
| Activity | Rating | From |
|---|---|---|
| Cofete and Villa Winter tour from Jandía Book | 4.8★ (1,952) | €57 |
| Dolphin-watching boat from Morro Jable Book | 4.2★ (5,490) | €49 |
| Catamaran with food and drinks from Morro Jable Book | 4.4★ (1,786) | €79 |
Three ways to get there
| Option | Price | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your own or a hire car | Fuel | Your own schedule | Hire insurance, dust and a narrow track |
| 111 bus (Tiadhe) | About €8.70 each way | Cheap, no driving | Two departures a day, no booking |
| Tour from Jandía | From €57 | Stress-free, guided Villa Winter visit | About 35 minutes on the beach |
By car: the track and hire insurance
The track leaves Morro Jable heading west, climbs the massif and crosses to the north side at the Agua Oveja pass, where the whole beach suddenly appears below you: this is the Cofete viewpoint and the best photo of the trip. It's about 20 km of dirt in all; allow 45 minutes to an hour each way.
- Do you need a 4x4? Not necessarily: when dry, ordinary cars manage it slowly. After rain or when the track is rough, a car with more clearance helps.
- Insurance: many hire contracts exclude damage on unpaved roads, even with fully comprehensive cover. Read yours before you go; if it isn't covered, any puncture or underbody damage is on you.
- Driving: low speed, no overtaking on bends and never leave the track, which is prohibited.
- Before you set off: full tank, water and food. There are no petrol stations or mobile signal on the track; download an offline map.
- Parking: at the end of the track, on a dirt area by the beach. It fills up in high season: arrive before 10:00.
Without a car: the 111 bus
Tiadhe's 111 line links Morro Jable, Cofete and Punta de Jandía every day along the track. According to the published timetable:
- From Morro Jable: 10:00 and 14:15.
- Back from the Punta Jandía lighthouse: 12:15 and 16:15, passing Cofete about 30 minutes later (times at intermediate stops are approximate).
- Fare: about €8.70 each way.
- No booking: if it's full it may not stop. Get to Morro Jable bus station early and check the current timetable at tiadhe.com before you go.
If you want several hours at Cofete, take the 10:00 departure and come back on the afternoon bus. If you take the 14:15, the only way back is the last bus: don't miss it.
On a tour
The easiest option is the Cofete and Villa Winter tour€57 · 4.8: a group of up to eight, pickup in Jandía, the viewpoint, a 35-minute guided visit to Villa Winter and 35 minutes on the beach, for €57. Note: guides speak German, English or Polish.
Villa Winter
It was built by German engineer Gustav Winter in the mid-20th century; the exact date is disputed (official sources say 1946 and there are building documents from 1949). Its isolation and tower have fuelled decades of unproven legends about German submarines.
Today it's private property. The caretaker shows it in exchange for a donation: visitors in 2025 and 2026 mention about €5 including the basement. Respect the signs and any opening times posted at the gate.
What to see at Cofete
- The viewpoint at the Agua Oveja pass, with the whole beach below you.
- The beach: miles of sand for walking. To the right, less than a kilometre away, is the Cofete islet.
- Cofete cemetery, by the sand: look respectfully from outside.
- The hamlet, with a bar-restaurant that isn't always open.
- Puertito de la Cruz and the Punta Jandía lighthouse, at the end of the other branch of the track and the 111 route.
Swimming: better not
Cofete has big surf, very dangerous currents and no lifeguards, and people have drowned here. Walk, paddle and swim on Jandía's sheltered leeward beaches instead. Respect fenced areas: there has been a loggerhead turtle recovery project here since 2006.
Practical tips
- Best time: early morning, before 10:00, for parking and soft light.
- Season: all year; spring and autumn are the most pleasant. After heavy rain the track may close.
- Wind: it blows hard and whips up sand. Sunglasses and an extra layer.
- No facilities: bring water, food, sunscreen and a hat. There's no shade on the beach.
- Not allowed: camping, drones and taking sand, stones or shells.
What we DON'T recommend
- Taking a hire car on the track without reading the contract.
- Swimming in surf. It's the main cause of accidents at Cofete.
- Going without fuel, water or an offline map. There's no signal and no services.
- Relying on the last bus with no margin. If it's full, it may not stop.
- Going at midday in August. Heat, a full car park and flat light.
In one sentence
Read your hire contract, leave Morro Jable early with a full tank, stop at the viewpoint and walk Cofete without swimming: it's the beach that makes the trip to southern Fuerteventura worthwhile.
