Day 2: Tour through the Lonely South

The next morning, we got an early start with a lavish breakfast buffet.

There was really everything one could imagine: ham, cheese, salami, eggs, vegetables, fruit, yogurt, pancakes, and much more.

A variety of hot dishes rounded out the offerings.

Even churros with chocolate weren’t missing – I knew I wouldn’t be able to resist, as I absolutely love this greasy pastry.

To drink, there was tea, coffee, cocoa, the usual juices, and even sparkling wine!

Well-fed, we set off after breakfast in our rental car.

We wanted to explore the rugged, inaccessible south of the island, which begins right behind Morro Jable. Only unpaved gravel roads lead into this part of the island.

We stopped in the tiny hamlet of Puertito de la Cruz and strolled through the narrow lanes.

The wind was blowing hard, and high waves broke on the small stretch of coarse pebble beach.

Whitewashed houses stood close to the sea. The seagulls cried overhead.

In a small restaurant right by the water, we ordered coffee and enjoyed the view.

In the distance, we spotted a lighthouse on a headland. The scenery looked beautifully raw and wild.

Our journey continued to Punta de Jandía, the lighthouse we had seen from afar.

From there, we had a great view back toward Puertito de la Cruz.

The sea remained wild and stormy. I love weather like this – it makes me feel truly alive.

From there, we continued driving along the coast. Rugged, black rocks increasingly dominated the landscape, and the sea foamed below.

We felt like we were at the end of the world. There wasn’t another tourist in sight.

Now and then, we came across small coves with sandy beaches.

Unfortunately, it was much too windy that day to venture into the water. Given the rocks that kept jutting out of the waves, swimming would have been far too dangerous.

We stopped at a viewpoint, which offered a stunning panoramic view of the desolate landscape.

Eventually, we reached Punta Pesebre. While it may not have been the end of the world, it was the southwesternmost point of the island.

The next stage took us to Cofete, a tiny village in the hills.

After many tight curves, we reached the romantic spot via a gravel track.

Beautifully situated in a basin, the village is surrounded on three sides by high cliffs. On the fourth side, it opens out to the sea.

Cofete is really just a handful of very simple huts and homesteads and a restaurant that serves regional delicacies to the few visitors who venture into this remote area.

There we ordered – how could it be otherwise – beer and coffee and enjoyed the unusual surroundings.

Not far from Cofete lies the infamous “Villa Winter.” Numerous rumors and myths surround this two-story building, which stands completely isolated in the barren landscape.

It's said that there was a submarine base here during World War II. Toward the end of the war, high-ranking Nazis were supposedly hidden here and then smuggled to South America.

None of these rumors have ever been confirmed – but they haven’t been disproven either.

From Villa Winter, we had a breathtaking view over Cofete Beach, which is considered one of the most beautiful on the island. Due to the rough conditions, however, swimming here is considered too dangerous.

We then headed back to the hotel, where we had a late lunch at the pool bar.

We spent the rest of the day by the pool with a good book and some cocktails. We read, relaxed, and cooled off in the water. It was a wonderful afternoon.

In the evening, we had dinner at the hotel restaurant as usual. Afterwards, we took a short walk along the promenade and bought some first souvenirs for our loved ones at home.