They say that, if you go on vacation in Fuerteventura, you’ll need at least one week to be able to enjoy it, and even then, you still won’t have enough time to see all the best places on the island.
In 2009, this island was declared a UNESCO biosphere reserve, with an African ambience on its grounds (it is, after all, less than 100 km from the northeast coasts of Africa). It’s a peaceful place in harmony with nature. Here, we’ll share with you the 15 things that you simply must do on your visit to Fuerteventura. That way, you won’t feel like you’re missing out on anything on your holiday!
Visit Isla de Lobos
Even though this will require you to leave the island of Fuerteventura, it will be a real adventure that you’ll want to repeat. You will need to take a ferry from Puerto de Corralejo port to visit this small island, just 4 square kilometers with a unique natural beauty.
A truly singular destination, with a volcano, a small fishing village, natural lagoons, Playa de Lobos beach and the lighthouse (in Spanish, el faro). Plus, it’s impossible to get lost, so long as you follow the trail marked with gray stones. Along the way, you can see the Caldera volcano, standing 127 meters tall, the turquoise waters of Playa El Puertito beach, and the small houses in the village.
Península de Jandía
Wait, there’s a peninsula on Fuerteventura? Indeed there is, it’s the Península de Jandía, which is separated from the island by the Istmo de la Pared isthmus. One of the must-see spots on the island thanks to its gorgeous morphology, which includes a system of fossil dunes.
There are two distinct sides: first, there’s the Barlovento, which is not visited as often because there is limited access to it. You can only go on foot or in a 4×4 vehicle. Even so, your effort will be rewarded with Playa de Cofete beach, with 9 kilometers of unspoiled beach that are perfect for surfing or any other water sport.
The other side is the Sotavento, which is located in Morro Jabe, one of the main tourist towns on Fuerteventura, with a total of 26 kilometers of white sand beaches. That being said, this is a place where the wind can be quite strong. In fact, it’s the headquarters of the world champions of windsurfing and kitesurfing.
Montaña de Tindaya
The mountain is near La Oliva, on the northeast of the island. It was considered sacred by the island’s indigenous population. Its stone walls, standing 400 meters tall, still display some 300 engravings that are hundreds of years old. An arid landscape that is a protected natural area of great archaeological value, which means you aren’t allowed to climb it.
But that doesn’t really matter, because you can appreciate it in all its majesty from afar and enjoy the area at the base of the mountain. Definitely a must-see on the island!
Calderón de Hondo
This can be found in the town of La Oliva and is one of the island’s biggest attractions: volcano tourism. El Calderón de Hondo is a series of aligned volcanoes that were formed some 50,000 years ago.
This is perhaps the best preserved one, and you can climb to its reddish peak 278 meters above sea level, with a trail that is very easy to hike. It will only take you 45 minutes to reach the top. Once you are there, you’ll be able to enjoy views of its crater and the other volcanoes, not to mention the entire northern part of the island. And if you like interacting with wildlife, be prepared for a squirrel or two to come up to you looking for food.
Puerto del Rosario
If you are visiting the island’s capital, take advantage of the chance to enjoy a bit of sightseeing in its expansive towns, with friendly islanders and plenty of options to have fun day or night. Plus, in the capital, you can try your hand at surfing or windsurfing on Playa Los Pozos or Playa Blanca beach.
Do you like shows? Because you could also go to the Auditorio Insular auditorium to see their events, or go to Casa Museo de Unamuno museum, Ecomuseo La Acogida museum, or the outdoor sculpture park where you can find diverse works from prestigious Spanish artists.
Museo de la Sal Salinas del Carmen
Now that you’re exploring the island, are you going to leave without visiting one of its most famous museums? It’s situated in a restored saltworks in the heart of a fishing village, where you can see the process of salt formation from sea foam. In the 19th and 20th centuries, this was the typical way of life for the islanders, and this museum will explain the entire process and its history.
But if what you really enjoy is birdwatching, you should know that the Salinas del Carmen saltworks are a place where you can find several species as they migrate from northern Europe to Africa, using this spot as a rest stop along their journey.
Acua Water Park
Everyone knows that kids love going to water parks, especially in the summer. Here’s some good news: there’s a terrific water park in Fuerteventura!
Located in Corralejo, it’s the only water park on the island, but it can definitely hold its own compared to the ones you’ll find elsewhere. With a total area of 25,000 square meters where you can enjoy water slides, kids’ play areas, solariums, bars and restaurants. It’s the best place on the island to spend the day with the family and tire out the kids while you’re at it.
Parque Natural de Corralejo
If there’s one place you could define as the flagship of the island, it would be the Parque Natural de Corralejo, home to the most important dune system in the Canary Islands.
These dunes were formed by the disintegration and pulverization of mollusk shells and other sea life with a rigid exoskeleton. It takes up 2700 hectares and is situated in the northern part of the island.
A spectacular landscape to explore on foot, with incredible beaches where you can do kitesurfing practically all year round.
Playa del Matorral
This beach is also known as Playa de la Solana or Playa del Saladar. It is possibly one of the most popular among the tourists who come to the Jandía peninsula, boasting 4.5 km of soft white sand.
Because the sea here has a bit of surf, it’s the perfect place to try windsurfing, kitesurfing or scuba diving, although the latter is only allowed in designated areas. Plus, there are two zones separated by the lighthouse on the beach: the nude side, and the non-nude side.
The Saladar area of Playa del Matorral beach has a protected area of 115.6 hectares. This part of the beach is subject to periodic flooding during high tide. For those who like getting to see the local wildlife, among the bushes you can find Atlantic lizards and certain nesting birds, like the Canary Islands stonechat.
Casa de los Coroneles
Why not do a bit of history tourism while you’re on the island? The Casa de los Coroneles should be on your list of things to do in Fuerteventura if you like history and art.
This peculiar house with a square layout was built at the center of the island in the 18th century and was the residence of the colonelcy, the official who exercised his military power over the island. Nowadays, it is used to host art exhibits and to tell the history of the island.
Playa de Garcey
Perhaps one of the most interesting places to visit on the island. You might even recognize the name Garcey, which would make sense, because in 1994 the transatlantic American Star shipwrecked here, and it was stuck on the beach for years.
However, today only a small part of the ship remains. The beach is some 10 km from Pájara and is a very peaceful beach with a beautiful sea and shallow water.
Jardín Botánico de Fuerteventura
Do you like botany? Or experiencing the local flora of the places you visit? You won’t want to miss the Fuerteventura Botanical Garden, found inside the complex of Oasis Park!
The 160,000 square meter complex is home to different species of plants divided into five separate spaces, representing the five continents. Here, you’ll find more than 3000 species of cactus, a greenhouse for orchids, the Canary Islands dragon tree garden, and a collection of palm trees with more than 3500 specimens from all over the world. A perfect place for plant lovers.
Oceanarium Explorer
This is a perfect place to interact with marine life, all thanks to the experiences offered by the company Oceanarium Explorer.
A place where you can swim with sea lions, interact with dolphins, whales and explore the bottom of the bay with the submarine. You can also go on catamaran or deep sea fishing outings or take a ride on a jet ski, kayak or paddle boat.
Villa Winter
A little historical tourism never hurt anyone, right? So, why not visit the house that was ordered to be built by German general Gustav Winter, near Playa de Cofete beach? It’s one of the most interesting places to visit in Fuerteventura.
They say that the German general ordered it to be built as a vacation home. Although, it’s hard to believe, considering how difficult the place is to access. Construction was finished in 1946, giving the building the appearance of a fortress, which gave rise to many legends. According to some, the house was used as a landmark for German submarines and airplanes, or to hide Nazi soldiers after World War 2. There is actually support for the second one because of the house’s complex system of underground caves.
Playas de Costa Calma
Are you only in Fuerteventura to enjoy its beaches? Then you’ll have to go to the beaches at Costa Calma, one of the four main touristic centers of the island, with a beach 2 km long.
But, of those 2 km, 1.5 correspond to the main beach, and the remaining 500 meters to two smaller beaches. The perfect place to take a dip while enjoying the local cuisine.