Calm ‘popcorn covered’ beach right by one of Europe’s busiest seasides | Travel News | Travel

When it comes to beaches, the Canary Islands can pretty much offer it all.

I’ve sampled the unusual black-sand beaches of La Palma, formed by volcanic activity, spent days relaxing on the tourist-filled beaches of Gran Canaria, and stopped by the sprawling Caleta de Fuste in Fuerteventura (donkey rides and all).

It’s possible, too, to hire a car or catch a bus and look for somewhere a little bit more off the beaten track. But sometimes you get lucky and find a surprise out of nowhere.

Much of Corralejo, on the northeastern tip of Fuerteventura close to where I was staying, ticks the boxes of a Canarian resort town.

You’ll find lounger-laden beaches overlooked by bustling bars, many with live music throughout the day soundtracking your time on the sand, and the standard cornucopia of international cuisine on offer amid an array of shops offering everything from your expected holiday knick-knacks (yes, I do now own another fridge magnet) to higher-end outlets offering clothes, perfumes, and homeware.

It’s exactly what you’d expect – and indeed want – for a relaxed, easy-going holiday with near-guaranteed year-round sun and a flight time of under four hours.

But even amid the typical tourist trappings, there are hidden gems to spot – and the one I noticed was there in plain sight and within easy walking distance of the main town, yet felt slightly otherworldly.

Looking south down the coast from Playa de los Verilitos, itself a short walk south of the main town beach in Corralejo, your view is cut off by a small jutting piece of land at the edge of the bay.

After a sedentary afternoon in the sun (playing piggy in the middle counts as my daily exercise, right?) I decided to take a short stroll to see what lay around the bend and down the coast.

There is a convenient boardwalk at the top of the beach, which was being done up when we visited, and following its path, you can spot a small stretch of coastline that looks almost ice-white.

It looks further away than it is – from Playa de los Verilitos, if you head straight down the boardwalk, it’s around 800m, so probably 10-15 minutes or so, depending on how fast you stroll.

Either way, you’ll get your reward with Playa Vista Lobos, which is home to an incredibly rare natural phenomenon.

Known colloquially as Popcorn Beach, the shoreline is made up of what appears to be the favourite cinema snack.

In fact, this highly unusual beach is comprised of rhodoliths – tiny bits of rock covered by marine algae which, having broken up and turned white from their usual multicolored hues, perfectly resemble puffy pieces of popcorn.

After being pushed ashore, it makes for a bizarre and beautiful sight, and it’s strangely hypnotic to sit on the beach (which is surprisingly comfortable; walking barefoot is less advisable) and let it run through your fingers. It comes in a beautiful array of colors ranging from the natural purplish-red to deep greens and lemony yellows.

As with playing with the ‘popcorn’ on the beach itself, it’s pleasingly mesmerizing to sit and watch the lapping waves dance across the vibrant colours.

Just don’t take any home with you. Removing the rhodoliths damages the ecosystem and can also leave you liable to be fined, with penalties said to run up to thousands of euros.

And despite the obvious temptation, it would be a downright daft thing to do. Doing so risks depriving others of the chance to see this beautiful, highly unusual phenomenon up close.

It only occurs in a handful of places in the area. There is a bigger beach also known as Popcorn Beach, properly known as Playa del Bajo de la Burra, but that’s a significantly longer walk (more than an hour) out towards Majanicho, so it really depends on how much time you have and whether having facilities nearby, as Playa Vista Lobos does, is important to you.

Whichever you choose to visit, though, remember the same principle as when you’re at the flicks – don’t hog the popcorn and leave plenty for everyone else.

Book it

Ciaran stayed at the Corralejo, Fuerteventura. A seven-night break there, staying at the 4T Barceló Corralejo Sands on a half-board basis, costs from £847 per person.

The price is based on two adults and two children sharing a Suite with Balcony or Terrace departing with TUI Airways flights from Cardiff on June 6, 2026, with 20kg hold luggage per person and transfers included. To find out more about this holiday or to book go to tui.co.uk, visit your local TUI holiday store, or download the app.

If you fancy leaving later in the year the same trip can be booked for departure on September 19, 2026, from £871 on a half-board basis or £1,086 for all-inclusive.

TUI Musement offers a two-hour dolphin-spotting cruise from Corralejo along Fuerteventura’s north coast from £132 for a family of four. This price is based on two adults (from £40pp) and two children (from £26pp)