El Cotillo

Another peaceful town unspoilt by tourism whilst accommodating the trade with its many restaurants and bars.

The church of this town is dedicated to the Virgin of the Happy Journey - probably named so as a good-luck charm for the locals who used Cotillo as a smuggler's harbour, shipping off goods to the neighbouring islands without paying tax or duty and smuggling other goods on to the island. The castle here was built in 1743 as a watch tower against attacking pirates, in particular the English.

As you walk along the sandy beach towards the lighthouse you will note the strong winds and surf here make it a paradise for windsurfing.

Rumour has it that this is the next part of the island to be developed for tourism, starting around El Aljibe de la Cueva.