I take a sip of water and when I look in front of me I see nothing but an empty asphalted road, golden sand, a small amount of vegetation and an impressive mountain in the distance. The sky is clear blue and despite the fact that there is a little breeze, it feels a lot warmer than the actual temperature of about 25 degrees. When I turn around, I see smooth sand dunes and a coastline which shows a beautiful contrast between the golden sand and the turquoise sea water. I do not see any people and I completely understand this place has been praised by many writers and poets that were in need of rest and inspiration. Miguel de Unamuno – the famous Spanish philosopher and writer – once called this place “an oasis in the middle of civilization’s desert” and I totally agree with him.

Before you think I am somewhere far away from Europe, let me tell you I am in Fuerteventura, which is part of the Canary Islands and therefore belongs to Spain. Fuerteventura is a volcanic island so it is absolutely amazing that this area – which is called the Natural Park of Corralejo – is covered by golden sand dunes. These dunes are formed by the disintegration of shells and marine organisms, that are layered on top of the typical volcanic soil of the island. Even though the sand sheets on top of the volcanic soil are more than 10 meters in thickness, there are still some volcanic rocks that appear, especially near the shore. It also fascinates me that the dunes in the Natural Park are active dunes that constantly renew and move due to the northern winds.

Before its declaration as being a National Park in 1994, two hotels were built in the northern part of this beautiful area. They benefit from a unique and wonderful location but if you prefer unspoilt nature and a quiet beach all to yourself, you can drive past these big resorts and get yourself another spot, which should not be difficult as the Natural Park of Carralejo (“Parque Natural de las Dunas de Corralejo”) covers more than 25 km2 and its coastline has an impressive length of around 10 kilometres. It provides habitat for various animal species, including the island’s largest colony of Houbara bustards. The Houbara bustard is a turkey-sized bird with a long neck and is an endangered species. It is usually found in arid habitats in North Africa and southwestern Asia but has a population in Fuerteventura as well.

The coastline of the natural park includes several beaches. The big beaches with light-colored sand are together referred to as “Grandes Playas” and are located on the northern side of the natural park. Close to the hotels these beaches can be filled with tourists but the more towards the south end you go, the more uncrowded – or even deserted – spots there are. The beaches are ideal for sunbathing or watersports and every now and then the municipality of Corralejo organizes beach festivities such as the Fuerteventura Kite Festival and music concerts. In addition, note should be made that Grandes Playas earned the iconic Blue Flag, which is the world’s most recognized voluntary eco-label that is awarded to beaches, marinas and boats. In order to qualify for the Blue Flag, a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety and accessibility criteria must be met and maintained. Another reason to visit this wonderful place, if you ask me.

The more towards the south end of the natural park’s coastline you go, the more secluded small coves there are. These coves are incredibly beautiful, provide wonderful sea views and enable you to fully disconnect from the outside world. The sand-covered surface gradually changes into volcanic, rocky soil, which makes the sea water look even brighter. I can sit for hours on places like this. The sound of the waves clashing against the rocks works extremely relaxing to me and makes me appreciate my life on this beautiful planet even more.