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Rafa Nadal and Meliá Hotels International are bringing the ZEL brand to Fuerteventura next month, with a new hotel due to open on Sotavento Beach in the municipality of Pájara. The launch marks the brand’s first move into the Canary Islands and adds another high-end option to one of the island’s best-known coastal areas.

 

The new ZEL Fuerteventura hotel will open in May with 142 rooms and suites, direct beach access and an infinity pool. It sits near Sotavento Beach, an area known for its long sandy coastline and water sports, and within a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The setting is central to the brand’s idea of relaxed luxury, inspired by Mediterranean living and designed around open-air spaces and connection with the landscape.

 

Dining will also be a key part of the offer. Guests will be able to choose between Café de Finca, which specialises in speciality coffee, the PARDA restaurant serving Mediterranean dishes with local produce, a beach club area for lighter meals and the Voltaje bar for drinks and cocktails.

 

Wellbeing and activity are at the heart of the concept. The hotel will offer running, cycling and group fitness classes, including barre, HIIT and POUND, as well as diving and other water-based activities with local professionals. Social events and group activities are also part of the experience, giving the brand a more active feel than a traditional luxury resort.

 

ZEL was created by Nadal and Meliá and now has four hotels in operation. Previous openings include Mallorca, the Costa Brava and Punta Cana. The brand is still expanding, with future openings planned in Madrid, Cozumel and Crete.

 

The area around Sotavento is already well known for outdoor sports, with the René Egli by Meliá school offering windsurfing, kitesurfing and wing foiling nearby. Golf, running and diving are also among the activities available in the area, which is often described as the island’s “windsurf destination.”

 

The new hotel is expected to give tourism in the south of Fuerteventura another lift, while adding a fresh lifestyle-focused choice for visitors looking for something a little different on the island.

 

 

Image: wikicommons