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Jandia in Fuerteventura generally refers to the far south Jandia Peninsula region of the island, including all the area south of La Pared which incorporates the bigger resorts of Costa Calma and Morro Jable. It's all getting a little confusing down here on resort names, as there's a fair bit of rebranding going on along the coast, along the lines of Costa Jandia, Playas de Jandia and Playa de Jandia. Indeed, there is considerable development going on in the area, and one suspects eventually that the coastline from Costa Calma to Morro Jable may soon become one big Costa Jandia - watch this space.
The protected far south Jandia Peninsula, however, is still pretty inaccessible, and its protected status (currently) means that no building can go on here. However, they are developing the harbour at Punta de Jandia to quicken the pace of ferries from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The Parque Natural de Jandia, with its stunning undulating mountains, contains Fuerteventura's highest peak - Jandia which rises up to 807m (2646ft) behind the now deserted Villa Winter.
The name for this region - Jandia - is a Guanche word. Jandia, the area south of La Pared on Fuerteventura, was one of two Guanche kingdoms on this Canary Island prior to Spanish colonialism. South from Morro Jable the region is still pretty wild, with a landscape of barren plains and mountains which contain Fuerteventura's highest peak. Just on the outskirts of Morro Jable the road marked Punta de Jandia detours off right. Four Wheel drives are recommended on this road, but to be honest motorhomes and normal cars come down here with no problems.
However, your car hire company may advise you that your car is not to be taken down here - if this is the case hook into one of the many jeep safaris that do the route, or ensure you hire a four wheel drive on Fuerteventura (four wheel drives are useful too in the north of the island for accessing some pretty remote good surfing beaches along the north coast and down around El Cotillo).
Some moderately challenging low lying mountain driving is in order if you're exploring the far south of the Jandia Peninsula, but oh boy is it worth the effort. The most striking landscapes and beaches are across to Cofete. As you turn off the road to Cofete you climb up the mountains, then at the top you arrive at spectacular panoramic views of Playa de Cofete and Barlovento, plus the highest peak of Jandia, with the deserted Villa Winter in the distance. It's one of the highlight landscape views across the Canary Islands and not to be missed if you're holidaying on Fuerteventura!
Playa de Cofete and Playa de Barlovento are popular Fuerteventura Naturist beaches - you have to put in a little effort to get over here, so it's not crowded, making it a good spot for naturism. Cofete itself is a tiny hamlet - not much down here apart from the stunning white sandy beaches, and the Restaurante Cofete (open 11am to 7pm, Tel: 928 17 42 43). A quick word of warning about swimming round here - the currents and swell on both Playa de Cofete and Playa de Barlovento are extremely strong, and not good for safe bathing and swimming, hence you won't see many people in the water over here! Excellent for secluded sunbathing and naturism, however!
Morro Jable, the furthest southern resort in Fuerteventura, competes well with its northern cousin Corralejo. Down from Sotavento, we're still in the land of stunning Fuerteventura beaches, and Playa del Matorral beach is the main hub with dividing lighthouse - naturists to the east or left and you look to the lighthouse from the promenade and non naturist to the right, unofficially speaking.
This Jandia resort is a long and pretty one, with a long promenade stretching the length of the beach lined with a huge choice of relaxing bars, cafes, shops and restaurants. Morro Jable, and indeed all of this southern area of Fuerteventura is very popular with German visitors, although there's a scattering increasingly of British visitors too. A pleasant, tasteful family or watersports resort, Morro Jable makes a good base for Fuerteventura beach family holidays, or for visitors looking for activity holidays and wanting to hook into the many catamaran sailing trips, watersports and excursions available here.
You're not likely to see Playas de Jandia or Playa de Jandia on any Fuerteventura map. There use is pretty new, and they signifying the newly emerging small luxury resort complexes springing up on the Jandia beach coastline between Sotavento and Morro Jable.
Moving down to the southern tip of Fuerteventura around Cofete on the Jandia Peninsula, there's a renowned villa down here, now deserted, with an element of mystery around it. Villa Winter and adjacent abandoned hamlet of Cofete (although there is one restaurant down here - Restaurante Cofete open 11am to 7pm) is a rather spooky and derelict sight today.
Once the home of Nazi sympathiser Gustav Winter, the section of land around Villa Winter was given to him by Franco for favours rendered. The area down here in far south Jandia has some rather dubious tales attached to it regarding World War II, submarines, underground bunkers and night landings, but firm evidence of all this seems not to be forthcoming?
Still it makes for a rather spooky attraction - from a distance Villa Winter sits below Fuerteventura's highest mountain, certainly a photo opportunity! Up close it's an ugly building, derelict and chilling. Four wheel drive is highly recommended to reach Villa Winter upclose (the road rapidly detiorates at the end of the line leading off to Playa de Cofete and Playa de Barlovento. Off road jeep safaria excursions also go all the way up here.
It's possible to get all the way down to the furthest southern point on the Jandia Peninsula, here at Punta de Jandia and the Faro de Jandia lighthouse (four wheel drive is currently recommended, although with work afoot on developing the harbour here at this far southern point, no doubt the roads are soon to be improved!)
The 20 kilometres of unsealed yet graded road winds it's way down from Morro Jable to Punta de Jandia and the lighthouse. Puerto de la Cruz, situated just a couple of km east of the lighthouse is currently still a small fishing settlement and popular with the locals, but this will no doubt change as it grows to accommodate the influx to the new harbour development here. For now though you'll find a couple of excellent fish restaurants down here, and some pretty coastal views. For the really dramatic scenery however, head over towards Cofete.
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