Last Updated on September 10, 2026 by Henry @ The Getaway Lounge
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If you’re thinking about booking Fuerteventura, you might be wondering whether to choose Costa Calma or Corralejo — two of the island’s most popular resort areas.
Well, here’s the key differences between the two, so you can make an informed decision on which one suits your next holiday.
| Category | Costa Calma | Corralejo |
|---|---|---|
| Atmosphere | Quiet and purpose-built, designed for relaxation over nightlife | Lively, characterful old-port town with a surf scene and more going on |
| Nightlife & dining | Low-key – a modest choice of restaurants and bars spread around the resort | One of the island's best dining and nightlife scenes, particularly around the old town and harbour |
| Beaches | Long sandy beaches with generally sheltered swimming, plus the huge Sotavento beaches and lagoon nearby | Small sheltered town beaches, plus miles of dunes and sand at Corralejo Natural Park |
| Getting around | Walkable within the resort, but fairly isolated if you want to explore elsewhere | Very walkable around the centre and old town, but similiarly tucked away on the opposite side of the island |
| Distance from airport | ~65km (50-60 minute drive) - the furthest south of the island's main resorts | ~40km (35-45 minute drive) - one of the most northern spots on the island |
| Accommodation mix | Hotel and resort-led, with very little apartments / self-catering | Broad mix of resort hotels, apartments and independent self-catering |
| Best overall for | Couples and families wanting a quiet, beach-focused resort, plus windsurfers and kitesurfers | Families, couples and friends wanting more restaurants, activities and things to do beyond the beach |
| Price Level | More hotel-led, so fewer budget options to choose from | Wider price range, with considerably more budget-friendly choice |
| Browse Holiday Deals | See deals to Costa Calma | See deals to Corralejo |
More detail on each of these is below the table — jump to whichever section interests you most.
Atmosphere and nightlife.
Costa Calma is a purpose-built resort, and it’s ideal if what you want is peace and quiet. There’s no real seafront promenade or town centre, evenings are low-key, and the whole place is built around wide beaches and calm water rather than entertainment.
Corralejo is a different proposition entirely: a working port town with a genuinely large expat and surfing community, an Italian-influenced dining scene and a proper old town. Plaza Félix Estévez and the surrounding streets are packed with restaurants and bars that keep going well into the evening.
Beaches.
Both resorts do beaches well, just very differently. Costa Calma’s main beach is a calm, pale-sand stretch that’s ideal for families and non-swimmers. Just south of the resort is Playa de Sotavento, a world-class windsurfing and kitesurfing lagoon that hosts international championships.
Corralejo’s beaches are more varied within the town itself, with sheltered coves for general sunbathing, and the resort is also the gateway to the Corralejo Natural Park, nearly nine kilometres of dramatic sand dunes and open beach backing onto it.
Getting around and airport distance.
Corralejo is arguably the more convenient of the two – it’s roughly 40km from the airport (about a 35–45 minute drive), and its old town is very compact and walkable.
Costa Calma sits further south, roughly 65km from the airport and around 50–60 minutes by road, making it the more remote of the two, also walkable around the resort.
Accommodation mix.
We’ve based this section on TUI’s complete hotel listings for each resort – as one of the biggest UK operators, their range gives a good, representative read of what’s readily available.
Costa Calma’s list is strongly hotel-led: 16 of its 17 properties are hotels, resorts or suite-style stays, with just a single self-catering aparthotel among them. There’s just a single adults-only property, and no family-branded resort.
Corralejo’s list is far more varied: a proper run of independent, self-catering apartments sit alongside a strong showing of recognisable big-name chains, several five-star or top-rated properties, and noticeably more options, with multiple adults-only-branded resorts.
Price.
Corralejo tends to work out better value overall, with a wider range of properties to choose from.
Costa Calma tends to be the pricier choice, partly because its accommodation leans more heavily towards hotels and all-inclusive resorts rather than budget apartments.
Both resorts are well worth considering, and a lot comes down to what kind of holiday you’re looking for.
If you want a quiet, beach-and-wind-sports-focused break with fewer distractions, it’s worth checking out some Costa Calma TUI deals here.
If you’d rather have a livelier resort with plenty of dining, nightlife and accommodation options on your doorstep, we’d suggest browsing some Corralejo TUI deals here.
We hope you found this useful, and enjoy your holiday!
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