Beautiful beaches, hidden coves and 3000 hours of sunshine. What more could you want?
If you’re headed to Fuerteventura, it’s likely you’re ready to soak up some serious sun, sea and sand. And there’s no better place for it – Fuerteventura is great for beaches, full of huge, wide open sands, hidden coves and glorious sunshine (3000 hours of sun a year, to be exact). It can sometimes get overcast by its big sisters Lanzarote and Tenerife, but for a beachy holiday, there’s no beating Fuerteventura.
But if you’re planning a trip, make sure to check out all that this beautiful island has to offer (hint: it’s not just beaches). Here you’ll find everything from free activities to the downright unusual – botanical gardens and food markets; aloe vera farms and natural jacuzzis. You’ve got to see it to believe it in Fuerteventura, but we’ve made it easy for you to compile your bucket list. Here’s the best things to do in Fuerteventura right now.
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Ross Clarke is a Canaries specialist travel writer, based between the Canary Islands and the UK. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.
What is it? A get-away-from-it beach in the southeast of Fuerteventura.
Why go? Staying in the comparatively built-up Morro Jable? Make a break for it in Cofete. Like Islas de Lobos, there’s just a smattering of houses here. The only other signs of human habitation are the sand cemetery and Villa Winter with its eerie history. (It’s rumoured to have been a secret Nazi base.)
What is it? A beautiful island on the coast, close enough to Fuerteventura for a day trip.
Why go? Isla de Lobos can be reached by ferry, so if you’re sick to death of beautiful sun, sea and sand, you can head up there for more beautiful sun, sea and sand. This island, which used to be inhabited by sea lions (now in danger of extinction), looks like a downloadable desktop background, it’s that beautiful. You’ll find a ton of different fish, plants and birds there, and it’s well away from the hustle and bustle – this island only allows 700 visitors a day.
What is it? Caves that form a portal to a quantum leap.
Why go? The polar opposite of Fuerteventura’s postcard beaches, the Cuevas de Ajuy in the west of the island have heritage. Indeed, they’re the oldest rock formation across the whole of the Canary Islands, enabling you to travel back 70 million years into the past.
What is it? Fuerteventura’s only remaining salt flats.
Why go? Caleta de Fuste is the resort of choice for Brits visiting Fuerteventura. (Where hotels source the likes of Marmite for homesick tourists.) If you want to savour a more Canarian flavour, continue southwards along the FV-2 (or hike along the coast if you prefer) to Salinas del Carmen. Here, you’ll find a salt museum detailing the history of producing this condiment on the island. Plus the opportunity to buy some of these white goods in the shop.
What is it? A working goat farm and dairy where you can learn to make the famous Majorero cheese (and it’s free to visit).
Why go? It’s thought that goats have been roaming Fuerteventura since before the Spanish came, and the island has a long history of cheese making. In fact, Queso Majorero is has protected status. At Cabrera Pérez, you’ll be able to milk the goats, make the cheese and get to taste the different varieties, from tangy cured dusted with traditional gofio (toasted flour) to creamy fresh cheese.
Time Out tip: Become obsessed with all things Majorero? Head to the Museo del Queso Majorero for some very cheesy history.
What is it? One of the Canary Islands’ largest zoos, which doubles as botanical gardens.
Why go? Time your visit to Oasis Park Fuerteventura right and you’ll be able to tick a lot off your holiday bucket list. Here you can ride a camel (don’t worry if you’ve been gorging on your hols as these can carry up to 500kg of weight), clock the Canarian archipelago’s largest collection of cacti, and pick up a non-tacky souvenir at the Mercado Agro-Artesanal. Stallholders include photographer John Ette who has captured some evocative images of the island.
What is it? A desert-like natural park with more than 25-kilometre of sandy dunes and beaches.
Why go? The beaches of Corralejo have to be some of the best in the whole of the Canary Islands and all are just a short distance from the popular resort of Corralejo itself. You’ll find family beaches closer to town and more remote sand further out where you might be the only one there – ideal for those who like an all-over tan. Come by at sunset and watch the sun disappear over the mountain backdrop and marvel at the kaleidoscope of colours.
What is it? Huge aloe vera plantations which travellers can visit in La Oliva and Gran Tarajal. Both do guided tours.
Why go? You’ve probably bought aloe vera in the form of a face wash before (it really had its boom as a wellness product a few years ago), but aloe vera plants are a whole different kettle of fish. Crack open those thick stems to find the cooling aloe vera within, which is incredibly good for sunburn and other skin issues. Check out the farms at Finca Canarias Aloe Vera’ Gran Tarajal farm or La Oliva.
What is it? A foodie-friendly market in quaint La Oliva.
Why go? La Oliva makes for a great day trip any day of the week, but particularly on Tuesdays and Fridays. This is when Casa del Coronel, one of its most iconic buildings, hosts a covered market from 10am to 2pm. Stock up on craft bread, homemade jams, and organic fruit and veg from Eco Centro Morales.
What is it? El Cotillo’s standout restaurant.
Why go? Heard about the resort whose present mirrors its past as an erstwhile fishing village? This is no holiday brochure spiel: El Cotillo in the north of Fuerteventura really is like that. Marked by stylishly minimalistic stone floors and walls, La Marisma is the place to visit for ocean-fresh seafood. The likes of melt-in-your-mouth clams and mussels are paired with a herby green mojo, a sauce that goes big on coriander.
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