Things to do in Fuerteventura: 5 itineraries and the best activities
Looking for things to do in Fuerteventura? Some people think Fuerteventura is nothing more than a desert island covered in resorts along its huge beaches.
There’s some truth in that, but in this article I’m going to show you that Fuerteventura is also full of treasures you really shouldn’t miss.
As usual, here’s a map with the different routes I suggest. Not everything is listed – this article is meant to give you a starting point for what to see on the island, but I also want to leave you a few surprises!
Also, the electric motorbike tour I offer in Corralejo is another great way to see the island off the beaten track – buggies face too many environmental restrictions here. If this or any other activity tempts you during your stay, know that I’ve tried every one of them myself, and as long as people come back really happy with the experience, they stay in my catalogue! You’ll find them all on this page.
Click on the trip you’re interested in to see the route:
– Trip 1: The South, its deserts and its secrets
– Trip 2: The south-centre, on the pirates’ trail
– Trip 3: The centre, with a touch of Africa
– Trip 4: The North, between volcanoes and surprises
– Trip 5: Corralejo and Isla de Lobos – the Caribbean in the Canaries
1) The South, the desert and its secrets
COFETE / PUNTA DE JANDÍA LIGHTHOUSE / SOTAVENTO BEACH
- Cofete is a must when visiting Fuerteventura – an almost completely deserted place where it’s sometimes hard to believe you’re in Spain; it feels more like the end of the world.
The debate about how to get there never ends… Regular car, 4×4, organised tour? Everyone has their own view… Personally, I went in a Clio and had no problems at all, as long as you drive at a speed suited to the state of the road, of course. Every day, around a hundred regular cars use this road without needing a tow truck. Click here to find Cofete.If you fancy it, you can also make a small detour to see Villa Winter, a mysterious house built by a German engineer and rumoured to have been a secret Nazi base. Be careful, though, about what the owner claims: he came up with lots of theories to make his house more appealing, and they’ve been debunked many times by historians… On top of that, you’ll be asked for a sort of compulsory “donation” of €20 per person to visit – supposedly to maintain the building. Given the number of visitors it gets each day and the state of the villa, there’s no doubt that’s not where the money goes… It’s up to you whether you go; it’s right here.
2. Punta de Jandía lighthouse: another strong feeling of being at the end of the world. There’s a vast desert with a few houses and caravans at its tip, and the lighthouse houses a small free museum that tells you more about the wildlife and plants you might come across in this exceptional environment. Click here to find it.
3. Sotavento beach is one of the most beautiful on the island – very windy but absolutely stunning, with a little sandbank that appears at low tide and forms a lagoon. You won’t find endless hotels here, just a few small kitesurf schools and so on. It’s here.
2) The south-centre, on the pirates' trail
LA PARED / LAS PLAYITAS / FARO DE LA ENTALLADA / POZO NEGRO / WINDMILL INTERPRETATION CENTRE
- La Pared is far from mass tourism: it’s a small village on Fuerteventura’s west coast, away from noisy clubs and bars, where you’ll find nature, history and sports facilities.La Pared means “the wall” in Spanish, and it’s thought that a wall was once built here by Fuerteventura’s native people, the Majoreros, before 1402 to mark out territories. Today, only a large part of the central section survives, fading out to the south in the area known as Tablero de los Almacenes.
Take a walk along the coast and enjoy the natural scenery the island has to offer – it’s this way.
- Las Playitas, a world away from its much livelier neighbour Gran Tarajal, is a pretty little fishing village with a lovely seafront promenade. It’s a nice place to wander and simply watch life go by.
The village was built by Fuerteventura’s native people before 1400. It’s very picturesque, and fresh-fish lovers will be delighted!
It’s this way!
- A small winding road – but perfectly drivable – takes you to the Faro de la Entallada, where a magnificent ocean view awaits.
The third-highest lighthouse in the Canary Islands, it was completed in 1955 and incorporates elements of Moorish architecture in a unique design. Contrasting masonry and white mortar give it a distinctive exterior. The coloured stone comes from the village of Tetir, in the centre of the island.
The lighthouse is considered the Canaries’ closest point to Africa, just 100 km to the east. It’s here.
4. Pozo Negro means “black well”, after the well formed in the black lava flow right next to the sea.
It’s thought that this is where the Norman conquerors landed in the 15th century.
In the ravine, you’ll find the remains of a village built before the European conquest: around 115 small round or semicircular houses made of volcanic stone and half-buried to protect them from the elements.
You’ll find it here.
- The Windmill Interpretation Centre is a visitor centre where you’ll learn more about gofio, which was the staple food of the Canaries for centuries.
You can also see a fully restored windmill, different types of mills, and the various stages of how gofio is made.
It’s a simple place, but very useful for getting a feel for Canarian culture. It’s here.
3) The centre, with a touch of Africa
ARCO DE LAS PEÑITAS/ FINCA PEPE / AJUY / BETANCURIA
1. The Arco de las Peñitas is a natural arch carved into the rock by erosion over thousands of years, and today it’s one of the most popular spots in the Canary Islands for a great holiday photo.
The loop shown in the photo is about 5 km and takes around 1h30 on foot… Bear in mind that the path is steep in places, with a bit of scrambling here and there, and the arch is a little tricky to find.
The hike is doable with children aged 6–7, but make sure you bring good shoes, water and so on.
There are no waymarks, so I’d recommend taking your phone with you and checking regularly that you’re on the right track (which we didn’t do the first time…).
And then you can enjoy the satisfaction of reaching this unique place!
*Crazy Canary tip: go early in the morning – the heat builds up during the day, and you’ll also be able to reach the next stop before noon.
You’ll find the car park by clicking here; it’s at the bottom of the map. Use the terrain and the watercourses shown on the map (often dry) to get your bearings.
- Finca Pepe: visit an authentic Canarian farm run by incredibly friendly people who’ll be happy to show you how the cheese is made, every morning between 9am and 12pm.The farm itself is open every day from 8am to 8pm. You can meet their animals – goats, of course, but also camels, donkeys, peacocks and more – and there’s a free museum with a large rest area in the middle.
Calling all cheese lovers: this is a place you really can’t miss! It’s right here!
3. Ajuy is another very popular spot on the island. The little village and its people are very welcoming, but it’s best known for its caves.
Its magnificent black-sand beach is also called the “beach of the dead”, and there are two theories behind the nickname:
– First, because the currents here often wash up just about anything that falls into the sea (bodies included).
– Second, because pirates are said to have used the caves for a long time to hide their loot, killing and plundering everything in their path.
Macabre side aside, you’ll discover stunning natural monuments and caves.
The oldest rocks in the Canary Islands are found here in Fuerteventura, including fragments of the African continental plate.
Lime was produced and exported here until the 1950s: one of the caves was used to store it, and before that the others were used by pirates.
*Crazy Canary tip: wear good shoes and allow about 30 minutes’ walk there and back.
- Betancuria is named after its founder, Jean de Béthencourt, a Norman explorer who was one of the first to conquer the Canary Islands, much to the despair of the native islanders. It’s one of the oldest towns founded by Europeans in the archipelago, built inland to avoid pirate raids – though that didn’t stop it suffering a few big attacks.
You’ll find several museums, such as one on local crafts and another on sacred art, a monastery, and a charming historic centre that will make you want to settle on a terrace with a drink and look back on all the great things you’ve discovered on Fuerteventura today.
Parking in town is fairly easy – you’ll find it here.
4) The North, between volcanoes and surprises!
CALDERÓN HONDO / EL COTILLO / POPCORN BEACH / CORRALEJO DUNES
- Calderón Hondo is a volcano next to the pretty little village of Lajares, and it would be a shame to be on an island like Fuerteventura and not see a volcanic crater for yourself!It’s easy, too: you’re only about 20–30 minutes’ walk from the car park. From the top, the stunning view over the crater and the rest of the island will take your breath away.
You’ll very likely come across squirrels too – there are lots of them on the island – but please don’t feed them, so as not to disrupt their natural instincts.
And to see where to park, click here!
- El Cotillo is a small village on Fuerteventura’s north-west coast and one of the prettiest on the island, with its white houses and blue doors.
It’s lovely to wander its little streets, stopping here and there at craft shops or traditional restaurants, and discovering a few historic monuments.
To the south, there’s a huge beach backed by equally huge cliffs.
To the north, beaches like Caleta del Marrajo and Playas de Los Lagos are among the nicest sandy beaches on Fuerteventura.
El Cotillo is right here.
- Popcorn Beach is easily the most unusual beach on the island, and the name says it all: it really feels like you’re standing on a giant pile of popcorn. In fact, these are dead rhodoliths – limestone nodules formed by calcified red algae, which turn white and take on their popcorn shape as the waves push them against the shore. Please, to help protect the island, don’t take any home in your pockets.
It’s this way!
4. Corralejo Dunes: covering an 18 km² coastal strip, this dune system is bigger than the Maspalomas dunes on Gran Canaria.
Home to many endemic species, these moon-like landscapes always give you that feeling of being alone in the world, far from everything. That unique atmosphere has even been captured in several films, and in many spots you can take some spectacular photos.
5) Corralejo and Isla de Lobos – the Caribbean in the Canaries!
ISLA DE LOBOS / CORRALEJO
- It would be a shame to visit Fuerteventura without seeing the nature reserve of Isla de Lobos!
It’s easy to reach from Corralejo by water taxi, for around €17 return per adult. A free permit is required: apply on lobospass.com no earlier than 5 days ahead, as visitor numbers are limited. All the details are in my article on Lobos island. Remember to bring ID: the company has to register you, as there’s a daily visitor limit.
Lobos means “wolves” – the island owes its name to the fact that it was once home to monk seals, known in Spanish as “sea wolves”.
When you step off the boat, you’ll find an information hut, and nearly six square kilometres of wild, spectacular nature await you.
You can follow the trails, climb to the top of its volcano, explore the lagoons, the natural pool at El Puertito, the old lime kilns, the lighthouse and more…
I recommend stopping at the visitor centre by the jetty before you start exploring.
Head to roughly here in Corralejo harbour to find a water taxi and hop on board.
2. Corralejo is definitely one of my favourite towns in the Canaries. I love the atmosphere – it’s laid-back, and you can go out without it feeling like Ibiza. I’m thinking more of live music in the bars, where it’s easy to meet people and chat over a drink.
That’s not all, though: there are lovely popcorn beaches too, and a place I stumbled upon that really surprised me – the El Campanario shopping centre (“campanario” means bell tower).
You can climb to the top of the tower for a stunning view over Corralejo, and inside the centre a colonial village has been recreated, with cobbled streets, arcades and so on.
There’s one area for traditional shops and another for modern ones.
On Thursdays and Sundays there’s also a market from 9am to 2pm.
The shopping centre is right here!
Activities to book in Fuerteventura
To round off these itineraries, here are the activities I have tested in Fuerteventura and recommend:
- a dolphin-watching boat trip from Morro Jable, from €50 per person, with a snorkelling stop;
- a buggy tour in Fuerteventura, on the tracks of the north;
- kitesurfing and wing foiling, as the island is one of Europe’s best spots for wind sports;
- a trip to Lobos island.
For the lazier days, my guide to Fuerteventura markets gives you every day and place. All my activities are on the activities page.
Things to do in Fuerteventura: FAQ
What can I do in Fuerteventura in a week?
Follow the 5 itineraries in this article, one a day: the south and Cofete, the centre-south, the centre with Ajuy and Betancuria, the north with Calderón Hondo and El Cotillo, then Corralejo and Lobos island. Keep a day or two for an activity, such as the dolphin trip or kitesurfing.
Do I need a car to explore Fuerteventura?
It is strongly recommended: the island is large and the sights are far apart. For Cofete, a regular car can handle the 18 km track from Morro Jable if you drive carefully, and there is also a 4×4 bus from Morro Jable.
Can you swim at Cofete beach?
It is not recommended, as the currents are dangerous. For swimming, choose the Sotavento lagoons, the Corralejo beaches or the Los Lagos pools in El Cotillo, which are much calmer.
How do I get to Lobos island?
By ferry from Corralejo, in about 20 minutes, for around €17 return per adult. A free permit is required on lobospass.com, no earlier than 5 days before your visit.
When is the best time to visit Fuerteventura?
The island is pleasant all year round. Kitesurfing is best in spring and summer, when the wind is strongest, and the big surf waves arrive mostly in winter.
To wrap up:
Thanks for reading this article! I’ve tried to keep it short and simple, just to give you an idea of what to expect. Of course, you’ll no doubt discover other wonders along the way that aren’t mentioned here – which is why each route can take anything from a few hours to a whole day, depending on how your adventure unfolds.
Either way, enjoy yourself and stay curious. At first glance the island may look like nothing more than a big desert with resorts, but that couldn’t be further from the truth when you’re hungry to discover a new culture and landscapes unlike anywhere else in the world! I’m still regularly discovering new things about this island, and I’m sure it still has plenty of secrets to reveal…