Fuerteventura

Sotavento Beach stretches for 9 kilometers along the southern coast, and honestly, it's hard to believe a place this good exists just four hours from London. The shallow lagoons here warm up like bathtubs, perfect for families with small kids. But walk 500 meters east and you'll find the deeper waters where kitesurfers launch into the trade winds. Corralejo's town beach gets busy, but for good reason - it's walking distance from restaurants and bars, plus the sand is that fine, white stuff that doesn't stick to your feet. Head north to the Corralejo Dunes Natural Park and you'll find beaches that feel more like the Sahara than Spain. The contrast is wild: golden dunes rolling into turquoise water. Cofete Beach on the western coast is where you go to feel small. This 12-kilometer stretch of black volcanic sand faces the full force of the Atlantic, so swimming isn't always wise. But the isolation is complete - just you, the waves, and maybe a few surfers in the distance. The drive there alone, through the Jandia Peninsula's lunar landscape, is worth the trip.