Some people think that Fuerteventura is nothing more than a desert island, made up entirely of resorts along its immense beaches.
There’s some truth in that, but in this article I want to show you that Fuerteventura is also full of treasures you shouldn’t miss.
So, as usual, here’s a map showing the different itineraries I suggest. Not everything is listed here, as this article is designed to give you a basic idea of what to see on the island, but I’d like to leave you with a bit of a surprise too!
The electric motorcycle I offer in Corralejo is also an excellent way to see the island off the beaten track, as the buggy is subject to too many environmental constraints. If this or other activities tempt you during your stay, you should know that I’ve tried them all myself, and as long as people come back super satisfied with the experience, they stay on my catalog! Find them all on
this page
.
Click on the trip you are interested in to discover the itinerary
:
– Trip 1: The South, its deserts and its secrets
– Trip 2: South Central, on the Pirate Trail
– Trip 3 : Le Centre. Comme un Air d’Afrique
– Trip 4 : Le Nord. Between volcanoes and surprises
– Trip 5 : Corralejo and the island of Los Lobos. The Caribbean in the Canaries
1) The South, the desert and its secrets.
COFETE / JANDIA POINT LIGHTHOUSE / SOTAVENTO BEACH
Cofete
is a must-see when visiting Fuerteventura, an almost completely deserted place where it’s sometimes hard to believe you’re in Spain, feeling rather as if you’re at the end of the world.
The debate over access is eternal…. Classic car, Jeep, organized tour? Everyone sees things in their own way…. I went with a Clio, and that was no problem at all, as long as you go slowly of course. Click here to locate Cofete.And if you’re so inclined, you can also take a detour to discover Villa Winter, a mysterious villa built by a German engineer and suspected of having been a secret base for the Nazi party – it’s right here.
2. Jandia lighthouse : another big feeling of being at the end of the worldThe lighthouse is home to a small free museum that tells you a little more about the flora and fauna you might encounter in this area. exceptional environment. Click here to find it.
3.
Sotavento beach
is one of the most beautiful on the island. absolutely magnificent, with a small sandbank that appears at low tide and draws a lagoon. Here you won’t find hotels as far as the eye can see, just a few small kite-surfing schools, etc. It’s the perfect place to get away from it all. here she is
2) Central South, on the pirate trail
LA PARED / LAS PLAYITAS / FARO DE LA ENTENDALLA / POZO NEGRO / MILLS INTERPRETATION CENTER
La Pared
far from mass tourism, this is a small village on the west coast of Fuerteventura, far from the noisy clubs and bars, where you’ll find nature, history and sports facilities.La Pared means “the wall” in Spanish, and is thought to have been built by Fuerteventura’s native Majoreros before 1402 to demarcate territories. Today, only a large part of the central section of the wall has survived, disappearing southwards into the area known as the Tablero de los Almacenes.
Take a stroll along the coast and enjoy the natural scenery the island has to offer .
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Las Playitas
far from its much more dynamic neighbor, Gran Tarajal, is a pretty little fishing village with a pleasant seafront promenade. It’s a great place to stroll and simply watch life unfold peacefully.
Built by the natives of Fuerteventura before 1400, the town is very picturesque, and lovers of fresh fish will be delighted!
This way!
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A small, winding but very passable road takes you to the
Faro de la entendella
where you can enjoy a magnificent view of the ocean.The third highest lighthouse in the Canary Islands, its construction was completed in 1955, incorporating elements of Moorish architecture in a unique design. Contrasting masonry and white mortar were used to produce a distinctive exterior façade. The colored stone comes from the village of Tetir, in the center of the island.
The lighthouse is considered the Canaries’ closest point to Africa, just 100 km to the east. It is here
4.
Pozo Negro
means “black well”, referring to the well formed in the black lava flow just beside the sea.
It is thought that the Norman conquerors landed here in the 15th century.
In the baranco, you’ll find the remains of a village built before the European conquest, consisting of around 115 small circular or semi-circular houses built of volcanic stone and half-buried to protect them from the elements.
You’ll find it here
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The mills interpretation center
is a tourist center where you can find out more about gofio, a staple food in the Canaries for centuries.You can also discover a fully renovated mill, observe different types of mills and the different stages in the Gofio production process.
The center is simple, but very useful for getting a feel for Canarian culture. There it is.
3) The center, like an African air.
ARCO DE LAS PEÑITAS/ FINCA PEPE / AJUY / BETANCURIA
1.
The Arco de la Peñitas
is a natural arch that natural erosion has carved out of the rock over thousands of years, and is now one of the Canary Islands’ most popular spots for a nice souvenir photo.
This photo loop is about 5km long and takes about 1h30 to complete…. Bear in mind that access is sometimes steep, requiring a slight climb in places, and the arch is a little difficult to find.
The hike is possible with children aged 6-7, but remember to bring good shoes, water etc…
There are no signposts, so take your phone with you and check often to make sure you’re on the right road (which we didn’t do the first time…).
And then you can be satisfied that you’ve reached this unique place!
*Crazy Canary tip: I’d advise you to go early in the morning, as the heat can increase as the day progresses, but also so that you can get to the next stage before noon.
The parking lot, which you can find by clicking here, is at the bottom of the map. Find your bearings by reference to the landforms and watercourses shown on the map (which are often dry).
Finca Pepe
visit an authentic Canarian farmhouse with friendly people who will be delighted to show you how cheese is made between 9 and 12 in the morning.The farm is also open every day from 8am to 8pm, where you can meet their animals, including goats of course, but also camels, donkeys, peacocks, etc., a free museum with a large rest room in the middle of the museum.
Cheese lovers beware, this is one place you don’t want to miss! And it’s right here!
3.
Ajuy
is also a very popular spot on the island, and while this small village and its inhabitants are already very welcoming, it is also known for its caves.
Its magnificent black sand beach is also known as the “beach of the dead”, a nickname given to it according to two hypotheses:
-Firstly, because the currents present on the beach often wash up anything that falls into the sea (including bodies).
-Because it’s said that pirates have long used caves to hide their booty, killing and pillaging everything in their path.
The macabre side aside, you’ll discover magnificent natural monuments and caves.
The oldest rocks in the Canary Islands are found here, in Fuerteventura, and here you’ll find fragments of the African continental plate.
Lime was manufactured and exported here until the 50’s. One of the caves was used to store lime, and before that, the others were used by pirates.
*Crazy Canary tips: bring good shoes and a 30-minute round-trip walk.
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Betancuria
is named after its founder, Jean de Béthancourt, an explorer from Normandy, who was one of the first to conquer the Canary Islands, much to the dismay of the Guanches. One of the oldest cities founded by Europeans on the archipelago, it was built far from the coast to avoid pirate attacks, but that hasn’t stopped it from suffering a few major ones.Here you’ll find a number of museums, including one devoted to handicrafts and another to the sacred arts, a monastery and a museum. charm in the historic centerThis is the perfect way to sit back on a terrace, sip a drink and reminisce about all the wonderful things you’ve discovered on the island of Fuerteventura today.
It’s easy enough to park in the city, which can be found here
4) The North, between volcano and surprise!
CALDERON HONDO / EL COTILLO / POPCORN BEACH/ CORRALEJO DUNES
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Calderon Hondo
is a volcano located next to the pretty little village of Lajares, and it would be a shame to be on an island like Fuerteventura and not admire the crater of a volcano!What’s more, it’s an easy 20-30 minute walk from the parking lot. From up there, the breathtaking view of its crater and the rest of the island will take your breath away.
You may also come across squirrels, which are very present on the island, but please don’t feed them to disturb their instincts.
I’d also suggest heading out here on an all-terrain scooter, a really great outing with a guide who speaks several languages and can tell you more about the island and its secrets. Click here for more details.
And to see where you park, click here!
El Cotillo
is a small village on the northwest coast of Fuerteventura, one of the most beautiful on the island, with its white houses and blue doors.
It’s great fun to stroll through the narrow streets, stopping here and there to visit craft stores and typical restaurants, and discover some of the historic monuments.
To the south, you’ll find a huge beach with equally huge cliffs.
In the north, beaches such as playa Caleta del Marrajo and Playas de Los Lagos are among Fuerteventura’s nicest sandy beaches.
El Cotillo is located right here.
- Popcorn beach is the beach the island’s most unusualits name is not insignificant, you have the impression of being on a huge popcorn beachThese are calcareous concretions formed by calcified red algae, which then turn white and take on this popcorn shape when pressed against the shore by the waves. Please, for the preservation of the island, don’t leave with any of them in your pockets.
This is the place to be!
4.
Corralejo dunes
Covering an 18km2 coastal strip, this dune system is larger than the Maspalomas dunes on Gran Canaria.
Home to many endemic species, getting lost in these lunar landscapes always gives you that feeling of being alone in the world and far from everything. This unique atmosphere has been captured in several films, and in many places you can take spectacular photos.
5) Corralejo and the island of Los Lobos, the Caribbean in the Canaries!
ILE DE LOS LOBOS / CORRALEJO
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It would be a shame to visit Fuerteventura without taking in the natural park
Los Lobos Island
!Easily accessible from Corralejo by cab boat, it will cost you around €16 for a return trip per adult. Remember to bring your identity papers, as the company will have to register you as there is a maximum number of visitors to be respected.
Los Lobos means “the wolves”, and owes its name to the fact that, in the past, the region was inhabited by monk seals, also known as sea wolves.
When you disembark on the island, you’ll find an information booth, and almost six square kilometers of spectacular wilderness await you.
You can choose to hike the trails, climb to the top of the volcano, discover the lagoons, the natural pool of El puertito, the old lime kilns, the lighthouse and much more…
I recommend a visit to the interpretation center at the pier before starting your tour of the island.
Go to the port of Corralejo to find a cab boat and embark.
2. Corralejo is clearly one of my favourite towns in the CanariesI like the atmosphere here, it’s relaxed, you can party without it feeling like Ibiza, I’m talking about a live music atmosphere in the bars, where it’s not like you’re in a bar. not difficult to meet people to chat over a drink.
But that’s not all you’ll find here: there are also some lovely popcorn beaches, and a place I discovered by chance that surprised me was the El Campanario shopping center, which means “bell tower”.
The latter, which you can access from the top, offers a breathtaking view of Corralejo, and in this shopping center, a colonial village has been reproduced, with cobbled streets, arcades etc…
There’s an area dedicated to traditional trade, and another to modern commerce.
There’s also a market on Thursdays and Sundays from 9am to 2pm.
The mall is right here!
To conclude :
Thanks for reading this article, I’ve been trying to make short and simple just to give you an idea of what to expect – of course, you’ll undoubtedly discover other wonders along the way! not mentioned in this articleThat’s why each itinerary can take from a few hours to a full day, depending on how your adventure unfolds.
In any case, have fun and be curious. At first glance, the island may appear to be just a big desert with tourist complexes, but that’s not the case when the thirst to discover a new culture and unique landscapes is there! I continue to discover new things regularly about this island, which I’m sure has many more secrets in store for us…
