This Surreal Seaside in Spain Has ‘Popcorn Sand’—Learn how to Go to

You’ve heard of white-sand seashores, black-sand seashores, and even seashores coated in pebbles or rocks—however do you know there’s a seashore in Spain coated in popcorn-like “sand”? For those who enterprise to Playa del Bajo de la Burra (which loosely interprets to “seashore of the donkey’s underbelly”) on the northern coast of Fuerteventura, the second largest of the Canary Islands, you’ll get to expertise this pure phenomenon in individual. Notably, there are additionally different seashores close by, like Playa del Hierro, which have comparable “popcorn” options.

Generally known as “Popcorn Seaside,” Playa del Bajo de la Burra has repeatedly gone viral for its photo-worthy sand, which, at first look, appears to be like identical to the enduring movie show snack, albeit and not using a hearty dose of butter. Not like the edible model, nevertheless, this popcorn shouldn’t be eaten. And as tempted as you might be to deliver a little bit of it residence as a memento, it’s greatest to go away it the place (and the way) you discovered it.

Popcorn Seaside’s Well-known Sand

Playa del Bajo de la Burra’s popcorn sand isn’t your typical sand. In line with Canary Islands Tourism, it’s manufactured from a mix of “calcareous algae and white sand over a interval of at the very least 50 years.” These formations are also called rhodoliths, which, because of weathering and the solar, are porous and comparatively arduous. The positioning additionally notes that rhodoliths develop underwater at a charge of 1 millimeter per yr, and a few are over 4,000 years outdated.

A 2022 scientific examine that appeared in Frontiers in Marine Science defined their look within the following means: “Rhodoliths happen extensively across the shores of Fuerteventura Island within the Canary Archipelago, with Lithothamnion cf. corallioides being essentially the most outstanding species. A lot of rhodoliths find yourself washed onshore, the particles from which contributes to the formation of sediments constituting trendy seashores.” The authors additionally added that “the expansion, geographic distribution, and sustainability of rhodoliths are managed by a number of components, of which mild, temperature, sedimentation, hydrodynamic regime, existence of marine limitations, and abundance of corals are very important.”

And keep in mind, there’s an important cause why you shouldn’t take away any of the sand from the seashore. “Rhodoliths are essential for the institution and upkeep of biodiversity and, thus, contribute to main ecosystem features,” the examine states, and the authors request “a conscientious effort within the safety and upkeep of those helpful organic assets.” The examine additionally cites the “substantial quantity of rhodoliths” which are “faraway from the seashores,” inflicting a “menace to those ecosystems, because the particles of lifeless rhodoliths contributes tremendously to the sediments that type the modern seashores.”

So be at liberty to take loads of images, however not the rhodoliths themselves.

Visiting Popcorn Seaside

Playa del Bajo de la Burra isn’t the kind of seashore the place you go to sunbathe and swim. There aren’t any loungers or umbrellas, and the water isn’t recognized to be notably nice for a dip; previous vacationers share that the waves might be tough and “too harmful” for swimming. As an alternative, you’re restricted to walks, scenic picnics, and, in fact, capturing all of the content material. When you’ve checked seeing the popcorn sand off your listing, spend your time exploring the remainder of  Fuerteventura—or retreat to the tiny adults-only Casa Montelongo (a 30-minute drive from the northern coast).  

There’s technically no unhealthy time to go to Playa del Bajo de la Burra, nevertheless it’s advisable to make the trek to the seashore within the early morning if you wish to keep away from different vacationers. The months of April to June and September to November are additionally while you’ll usually expertise good climate within the space. 

Learn how to Get to Popcorn Seaside

Corralejo, situated within the municipality of La Oliva, is the closest city to Popcorn Seaside. You possibly can attain the seashore on foot, and the journey will take you at the very least an hour, if no more. There’s additionally the choice to drive to Popcorn Seaside, though many vacationers who’ve accomplished the drive share that it’s “only a dust street, so [it] is likely to be slightly bumpy journey till you attain the seashore,” and “entry is tedious.”