Playa del Matorral, Fuerteventura
The verdict
- Best for: Travellers who want space, the lighthouse and the wild saladar wetland over sunbeds and bars, with a naturist friendly stretch towards the far end.
- Best spot: Walk out towards the lighthouse for the emptiest sand and the boardwalks over the salt marsh, with the town end for the easier family stretch.
- Know this: This is the natural, exposed end of the long southern beach, so come for the wildness rather than facilities, and Morro Jable is next door for food.
Published 13 March 2026. Last reviewed 14 April 2026
Playa del Matorral is the wild edge of the south, the stretch where the long southern beach loosens its grip on the resort and turns to nature. It carries on from Morro Jable towards a slim white lighthouse, and behind it lies the Saladar de Jandia, a protected salt marsh of international importance where the tide floods a flat of low salt loving plants and wading birds work the shallows. Boardwalks let you cross the wetland without harming it. This is not the beach for sunbeds and bars, it is the beach for space, big skies and the sense that the island has gone quiet.
The honest read is to match your patch to your mood. The end nearest Morro Jable behaves like a regular town beach, busy and easy, while the longer walk towards the lighthouse leads to emptier sand that has been a relaxed naturist beach for many years. The change is informal rather than signposted, so walk on for solitude and clothing optional sand, or stay near the town for the family friendly stretch. As all along the south, the afternoon wind freshens on the open shore, so swim in the morning, keep an eye on the flags, and treat the calm as typical rather than promised.
For a wanderer, Matorral is the nature half of a southern day, and the food half is right next door. Morro Jable holds the best fish restaurants in the south, gathered around the port and the old town, where the catch is grilled simply and served with the island's nutty Majorero goat cheese. The rhythm is unhurried and a little wild. A morning on the open sand, a slow walk along the boardwalks over the saladar with the lighthouse ahead, then a long port side lunch in town. It is the south stripped back to sand, salt marsh and a good plate of fish, which is exactly its charm.
Bars and tables nearby
Matorral is a wild, protected beach rather than a club scene, so the food and drink is in Morro Jable next door. Compare the island's venues in our Fuerteventura beach clubs directory.
Morro Jable port restaurants
A short walk from the town end of the beach, the fishing port and old quarter of Morro Jable hold the best seafood tables in the south, serving the day's catch and the local Majorero cheese. These are independent restaurants rather than a beach club, and names, hours and prices are to be confirmed, so book ahead in the busy season.
Morro Jable promenade bars
The seafront promenade where the town meets the beach has relaxed bars and terraces for a cold drink and a casual bite after a morning on the wild sand, the nearest easy refreshment to the saladar end. The specific venues, opening hours and any minimum spend are to be confirmed, so ask when you enquire.
Playa del Matorral runs along the southern tip of the Jandia peninsula beside Morro Jable, around an hour and a half drive from the airport at Puerto del Rosario down the fast main road. Access and parking sit near the town and at the lighthouse end, and the beach simply continues the long southern sand, so you can walk straight on from Morro Jable. The wild stretches and the saladar boardwalks lie towards the lighthouse, away from the busier town end.
Bring water, sun cover and a light windproof layer, since the open shore freshens in the afternoon and there is little shade on the wild sand. Keep to the boardwalks across the protected salt marsh and take your litter with you. Swim in the morning for the calmest water, walk towards the lighthouse for solitude, then head into Morro Jable for a long fish lunch. Watch the flags, mind the afternoon chop and keep children close.
Reserve a day near El Matorral
Tell us the date and party and we will match you to a venue near El Matorral and Morro Jable and pass on your request. No obligation, and we reply within 24 hours.
Common questions
What is Playa del Matorral known for?
It is the wilder, nature minded end of the long southern beach beside Morro Jable, marked by the white Morro Jable lighthouse and backed by the Saladar de Jandia, a protected salt marsh and wetland reserve crossed by boardwalks. The far stretches are a long standing naturist beach. Come here for space, wildlife and the wild edge of the south rather than sunbeds and bars.
Is El Matorral a naturist beach?
The longer, quieter stretches towards the lighthouse have been a relaxed naturist beach for many years, while the end nearer Morro Jable is a regular town beach. The change is informal rather than signposted, so walk on for the naturist sand and stay near the town for the busier family stretch. Conditions and customs are typical rather than guaranteed.
Can you swim at Playa del Matorral?
Yes, the warm shallow water is the same that runs along the Jandia and Morro Jable sand, gentlest near the town end and more open further out towards the lighthouse. The southern afternoon wind raises a chop on the exposed stretches, so swim in the morning, watch the flags and keep children close. Lifeguard cover varies by season and stretch.
What is the Saladar de Jandia?
It is a protected salt marsh behind Playa del Matorral, a rare coastal wetland of international importance where seawater floods a flat of low salt loving plants on the tides. Boardwalks let you cross without disturbing it, and it draws wading birds. It is the reason this end of the beach feels wild, so tread lightly and keep to the marked paths.
Where do you eat near Playa del Matorral?
Morro Jable is right next door and holds the best fish restaurants in the south, clustered around the port and the old town, serving the day's catch and the island's Majorero goat cheese. Walk in from the town end of the beach for a long lunch. Pair the wild sand and the saladar in the morning with a port side meal afterwards.
