Playa de Butihondo is white sand without the crowds. This long, quiet stretch of the great Jandía beach unfurls along the sunny southeast coast of Fuerteventura, offering the same pale golden sand and turquoise water as its famous neighbours but with far more space and calm. Just south of the resort of Costa Calma, it forms part of the vast Jandía coastline — kilometre after kilometre of open beach backed by dunes and low cliffs. For anyone who wants classic Fuerteventura beach beauty with room to breathe, Butihondo is a quiet gem.
How to get there
Butihondo lies on the Jandía peninsula in the south of Fuerteventura, between Costa Calma and Morro Jable along the main southern road. It's an easy drive by hire car, with access points and parking near the hotels and dune paths that lead down to the sand. Regular buses run along this coast between the southern resorts, and once you're on the beach you can simply walk for as long as you like — the Jandía sands stretch far in both directions.
What it's like
Butihondo is a broad ribbon of soft, pale sand lapped by clear, bright water, backed by low dunes and cliffs rather than a wall of high-rises. It's part of the same magnificent Jandía beach system that includes the celebrated Sotavento to the north, but it tends to be quieter and more relaxed, with plenty of open space even in season. The scenery is classic Fuerteventura — big skies, turquoise sea and endless sand — and the mood is calm and unhurried. Because the beach stretches so far, you can always walk a few minutes to find an all-but-empty patch, and the light here at either end of the day, when the low sun turns the sand and sea gold, is something special. It's the kind of place where a planned hour easily turns into a lazy afternoon.
All the beauty of Jandía's famous sands, with the space and quiet that the big-name beaches sometimes lose.
Swimming and safety
The southeast-facing Jandía coast is generally gentler than the wild, wind-blasted west of the island, and on calm days Butihondo offers pleasant, clear swimming. That said, this is still the open Atlantic: wind, waves and currents can pick up, particularly when the trade winds blow, and lifeguard cover on the quieter stretches is limited. Check the conditions, swim within your depth, and keep an eye on children, especially when there's a breeze and a lively shore break.
The wind that Fuerteventura is famous for can pick up in the afternoon. Mornings are often calmest for swimming and sunbathing; bring a windbreak if you're staying all day.
Facilities
Butihondo strikes a nice balance between natural and serviced. Being close to the hotels of the Jandía strip, you'll usually find sunbed and parasol hire, beach bars and access paths near the developed sections, while a short walk takes you to wide-open, near-empty sand. It's more equipped than a truly wild beach but far calmer than the busiest resort strands. Bring water and sun cover if you plan to wander, as the natural stretches have little shade.
Best for whom
Butihondo suits beach-lovers who want the classic white-sand Jandía experience with more peace and space than the headline resorts — couples, walkers and relaxed families who value calm over buzz. It's ideal for long strolls along the sand and quiet sunbathing. It is less suited to those wanting a lively, fully serviced resort beach with lots of amenities right on hand, or dedicated windsurfers, who should head to the famous lagoon at Sotavento.
Nearby
The resort of Costa Calma just to the north makes a comfortable, laid-back base, while the celebrated windsurfing lagoon of Sotavento and the harbour town of Morro Jable are both close by along the same coast. The whole Jandía peninsula is one of the island's finest beach regions. To plan where to stay and how the coasts differ, see our full guide to Fuerteventura.