Kitesurf hotel · Fuerteventura, Spain
Paradisus by Meliá Fuerteventura: All-Inclusive Kitesurf Resort on Sotavento
The former Meliá Fuerteventura, reopened in 2025 as a 5-star all-inclusive resort, with René Egli's kite centre in its palm garden about 110 m away.
- Kite centre about 110 m away
- 5-star, all inclusive
- Kids club and slide pools
- Adults-only area, The Reserve
In short
Paradisus by Meliá Fuerteventura is the former Meliá Fuerteventura on Sotavento beach, built in 1978 as Hotel Los Gorriones and reopened in October 2025 after a €32 million refurbishment. It is now a 5-star all-inclusive resort with 363 rooms and suites, a saltwater lake-style pool, children's pools with slides, a kids club, and The Reserve, an adults-only (16+) area with its own pool and restaurant.
René Egli runs its kite centre in the palm garden in front of the hotel, about 110 m from the main building, and is the only school licensed to teach in the lagoon. Good to know: lessons and rental are not part of the all-inclusive, the wind is side-offshore and often strong, and the lagoon fills only around full and new moon. More in our Fuerteventura kitesurf guide.
At a glance
Kite Fit
- Distance to the spot
- About 110 m from the main building to René Egli's kite centre
- School
- René Egli by Meliá (IKO), in the hotel's palm garden
- Wind
- Side-offshore NE trade wind, strongest June to September
- Water
- Lagoon 35–85 cm deep around spring high tides; chop at sea
- Level
- Beginners in the lagoon with lessons; intermediate to advanced at sea
- Family
- Kids club, children's pools with slides, all inclusive
- Airport
- Fuerteventura (FUE), 65 km, about an hour by car
- Guest rating
- 4.4/5 on Google (321 reviews), 4.0/5 on TripAdvisor (208 reviews)
Verified with the official sites of Paradisus by Meliá Fuerteventura and René Egli, Meliá's opening announcements, Sportif, Planet Kitesurf Holidays, Google Maps, Trip.com and TripAdvisor · Updated October 2026
See the place
Video and Instagram
Paradisus by Melia Fuerteventura – All inclusive | Fuerteventura, Spain | Hotel Review 🏩
A two-minute slideshow of photos of the renovated resort, its rooms, pools and beach, with a voice-over, from a hotel-review channel.
Video: Spain Hotel Vibe on YouTube
Wind forecast
7-day wind forecast at Sotavento (René Egli)
Updated 2 Nov, 11:47
GO16–24 ktsOK12–15 ktsSTRONG25 kts and moreLIGHTunder 12 kts
Strongest wind and gusts of the day, in knots. Kite sizes are a rough guide for a rider of about 75 kg. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com.
Where you sleep
Rooms and suites
The resort has 363 rooms and suites, renovated in 2025, looking out over the Atlantic or the surrounding natural park. The Reserve rooms and suites, on the upper floors, are for adults only and come with their own pool, lounge, restaurant and concierge.
- Free WiFi throughout the hotel; check-in from 15:00, check-out by 12:00
- Bali beds cost extra
| Type | What you get | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Premium rooms | Contemporary rooms; some have a double sofa bed | A family or friends sharing |
| Ocean-view rooms | Atlantic views, some with a private balcony | Couples who want the sea in sight |
| Suites | More space, with ocean views | Families who want more room |
| The Reserve rooms and suites (16+) | Upper floors with lagoon and ocean views; the top suites add a terrace with a private hydromassage bathtub | Couples and adult groups |
The spot
The kite spot in front of the hotel
Walk through the palm garden in front of the hotel and you reach René Egli's kite centre, about 110 m from the main building. You rig on the wide sandy beach with launch helpers, lifeguards watch from supervision towers and jet skis handle rescues, and there are a compressor, lockable storage boxes, showers and a beach bar. The north-east trade wind is accelerated between two ridges behind the beach, so it is often stronger here than elsewhere on the island; it blows side-offshore, so ride only when the rescue service is on duty.
Around full and new moon, high tide floods the lagoon behind the sandbank for a couple of hours either side of high water: up to 4 km long, 200 m wide and 35 to 85 cm deep. René Egli is the only school licensed to teach there and runs a shuttle to its deepest part. On other days, lessons and sessions happen on the open sea in front of the centre.
Families
For families and non-kiters
Children have a kids club with activities and their own pools with water slides, and the whole family shares a saltwater lake-style pool, a tropical lake-style pool and a heated pool. Dining is all inclusive across several restaurants and bars: a grand-café, an Italian trattoria with a wood oven, a sea-view Nikkei bar, a restaurant mixing cuisines from around the world, and a poolside restaurant. The signature restaurant, Mahos, led by chef Germán Ortega and built on local produce, is for adults only (16+).
Every all-inclusive stay includes a local attraction, and The Reserve guests also get a Destination Inclusive experience, such as an introductory windsurf session next to the René Egli centre or a tour of the Jandía peninsula and Cofete beach, depending on room type and length of stay. When the lagoon fills, its water is shallow and calm; the open beach is windy in the afternoon, so plan swims for the morning.
Lessons
The kite school in the garden
René Egli, on Sotavento since 1984 and teaching kitesurfing since 2000, runs the kite centre in the palm garden in front of the hotel; its windsurf and wing foil centre is about 200 m along the beach. Semi-private courses start at €205 per person for 3 hours (prices on the school's website in October 2026), from 15 years and 50 kg.
Travel
Location and getting there
The hotel stands at Playa Barca on Sotavento beach, about 3 km south of Costa Calma, inside a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Fuerteventura airport is 65 km away, about an hour by car. Next door is ZEL Fuerteventura, the adults-only sister hotel, about 200 m from the kite centre. A car helps for Costa Calma's shops, Cofete beach and the north of the island. More about the spots and the season in our Fuerteventura kitesurf guide.
Honest notes
Good to know before you book
- Kite lessons and rental are paid separately to René Egli: the all-inclusive covers the hotel.
- The lagoon fills only around full and new moon, for a couple of hours either side of high tide.
- The wind is side-offshore and often strong: beginners should learn with the school and its rescue cover.
- With 363 rooms, the walk depends on where your room is: the 110 m is measured from the main building.
- The hotel is on its own: Costa Calma is about 3 km away, so plan a car or taxis for trips.
Our take
Our verdict
Great for
- Families who want an all-inclusive resort with a kids club next to the kite centre
- Kiters who want to walk to René Egli's centre in about two minutes
- Couples who want an adults-only area, The Reserve, without leaving the spot
Think twice if you are
- Anyone looking for a small, quiet hotel: it has 363 rooms
- Beginners hoping for the lagoon every day: it fills only around spring tides
- Travellers who want a town on the doorstep
Book
How to book
Book direct with the hotel
Rooms, suites and The Reserve on Meliá's official website.
Book lessons and rental
René Egli sells courses, rental and storage; paying a week before arrival saves 5% on the on-site price (school's terms).
We are not a travel agency: you book directly with the hotel, the school or Booking.com.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Paradisus by Meliá Fuerteventura
How far is Paradisus by Meliá Fuerteventura from the kite centre?
About 110 m from the main building. René Egli's kite centre is in the palm garden in front of the hotel, at the edge of the Sotavento lagoon, and the school gives the hotel as its address.
Is Paradisus Fuerteventura the old Meliá Fuerteventura?
Yes. The hotel was built in 1978 as Hotel Los Gorriones, later ran as Meliá Gorriones and Meliá Fuerteventura, and reopened in October 2025 as Paradisus by Meliá Fuerteventura after a €32 million refurbishment.
Is Paradisus by Meliá Fuerteventura all inclusive?
Yes. It is a 5-star all-inclusive resort, and every all-inclusive stay includes a local attraction. Guests of The Reserve, the adults-only area, also get a Destination Inclusive experience such as an introductory windsurf session.
Is Paradisus Fuerteventura good for families with children?
Yes. It has a kids club with activities, children's pools with water slides, a saltwater lake-style pool and a heated pool. The beach is sandy and the lagoon shallow when it fills, but the open beach is windy in the afternoons.
Are kitesurf lessons included at Paradisus Fuerteventura?
No. Kite lessons and rental are booked with René Egli and paid separately; its website lists semi-private courses from €205 per person for 3 hours (October 2026). Students must be at least 15 years old and 50 kg.
Does Paradisus Fuerteventura have an adults-only area?
Yes. The Reserve, on the upper floors, is for adults only (16+) and has its own pool, lounge, restaurant and concierge. The signature restaurant Mahos is also adults only.
How far is Paradisus Fuerteventura from the airport?
The hotel puts Fuerteventura airport 65 km away, about an hour by car. Costa Calma, the nearest town, is about 3 km north.
Sources
Last checked October 2026
- Paradisus by Meliá Fuerteventura (official site)
- Paradisus by Meliá Fuerteventura: Destination Inclusive (official)
- Hospitality ON: Meliá unveils Paradisus Fuerteventura (October 2025)
- Hospitality Net: ZEL debuts in Fuerteventura (Meliá announcement)
- René Egli: kite centre (official)
- René Egli: location (official)
- René Egli: the Sotavento lagoon (official)
- Sportif: Sotavento lagoon spot guide
- Planet Kitesurf Holidays: South Fuerteventura
- Google Maps: Paradisus by Meliá Fuerteventura
- Google Maps: René Egli Fuerteventura
- Trip.com: Paradisus by Meliá Fuerteventura (nearby landmarks)
- TripAdvisor: Paradisus by Meliá Fuerteventura
We only publish facts we could confirm with the official website or two independent sources. Spotted something out of date? Write to info@kitesurf.holiday.