Things to do in Fuerteventura
One of the main steps when planning a trip to Fuerteventura is to write down all the places you want to visit. Here you will find the best ones!
1. Corralejo, one of the main towns to visit in Fuerteventura
Corralejo is an old fishing town located in the northeast of Fuerteventura. It is a town full of bars and restaurants, which makes it an ideal base to visit the northern part of the island. Corralejo is perfect for going on long walks, going out for a drink, relaxing on one of its small beaches or if you want to have fun. You can even go to the water park.
If you decide to stay in Corralejo, I recommend staying at Avanti Lifesyle Hotel. We stayed at this place for three nights and we loved it. I recommend eating at Tapas Oscar, Me Gustas Tú, Pizzeria Pepperoni, Los Monos Sabios (for a drink), H2O Juice Bar & Vegan Cafe and Baobab.
2. Lobos Island, the best day trip from Fuerteventura
A visit to Lobos Island is a very cool trip to do from Fuerteventura. It is an islet located northeast of Fuerteventura, just 20 minutes by boat from Corralejo.
You can get on a boat from the port in Corralejo. Before visiting the island, it is necessary to obtain an authorization. You can request one on this website. The visiting schedule to Lobos Island are the following: from 10am to 2pm and from 2pm to 6pm. We chose the morning schedule. We left Corralejo at 10am and returned at 4pm. The return schedule is a bit flexible from Lobos Island to Corralejo.
How to get to Lobos Island
I decided to purchase my tickets to Lobos Island on Civitatis because they take care of both obtaining your authorization and reserving the ferry. They will send you the permit by mail and on the day before your visit is scheduled, they will send you an email with all the necessary information and the exact location where you have to go. Everything is taken care of when you book with Civitatis.
In Lobos Island, I recommend hiking the full loop and visiting El Puertito, Las Lagunitas, the Punta Martiño Lighthouse (you can see Lanzarote from here), La Caldera Mountain (I recommend going to the top) and La Concha Beach.
If you like snorkeling, El Puertito is a very good place to do as the water is very clear and there are many fish. If you want to visit all these places without rushing and bathe at the beaches, I recommend being on the island for about 5 and a half hours.
You can bring your own food or eat at the only restaurant on the island, located in El Puertito. If you want to eat in the restaurant, I recommend that you first stop at the restaurant to reserve a table.
3. Popcorn Beach, a unique place to visit in Fuerteventura
A very unique place to visit in Fuerteventura is Popcorn Beach. It is a beach with millions of popcorn-shaped pebbles. Yes, popcorn! It is located about 10 minutes by car from Corralejo. You must go through a dirt road but if you drive carefully, you will not have a problem.
It is totally forbidden to take one of the “popcorn pebbles” as a souvenir. Near the beach, there is a tiny town called Majanicho where you can also make a short stop.
4. Hiking Calderon Hondo Volcano
One of my favorite memories during my trip to Fuerteventura was hiking to the crater of Calderon Hondo volcano. To start the hike, you must go to Lajares. Once you’ve arrived and have parked your vehicle, you can choose between two paths. One of the paths is a bit shorter than the other one. However, the shorter path is a bit more steep as well.
I opted for the the short path. The hike is about 40-45 minutes long. It wasn’t a hard climb to me. Getting to the top and finding a huge crater in front of you makes the climb totally worth it! The crater is mind blowing.
5. Corralejo Natural Park, Fuerteventura (Canary Islands)
Located in the northeast of the island you will find the Corralejo Natural Park. Visiting this desert is one of the best things to do in Fuerteventura. The largest dunes in all the Canary Islands are located in the park. Whenever I visit a place where there are dunes, I need to go see them. They are beautiful. I recommend visiting them at sunrise or sunset. It is much more magical during golden hour.
You can also enjoy kilometers of white sand beaches with turquoise water. In the southern part of the park, you can visit Red Mountain. A very fun way to get to know this place is by going on a dune buggy tour.
6. El Cotillo, a must see in Fuerteventura
I recommend visiting El Cotillo, which is located in the north of Fuerteventura. You can expect a great atmosphere and several restaurants (La Vaca Azul is one of the most popular).
In addition, you can also visit incredible beaches nearby. You can bathe and enjoy the sunset at every beach: La Concha Beach, Los Lagos Beach, etc. Although my favorite beach in El Cotillo was the one I’ll talk about in the following paragraph.
7. Piedra Playa, my favorite beach in Fuerteventura
Piedra Playa is one of my favorite beaches in Fuerteventura. It is located just south of El Cotillo. I liked it so much that we visited this beach in two separate occasions: the first time we stayed to watch the sunset on the cliffs and the second time we went for a walk along the seashore and sat on the beach to watch the sunset. I liked it so much because it is a huge beach and the view from the cliffs is beautiful.
You must traverse a dirt road to get to the beach, be careful. If you continue along this path, you will arrive at Playa del Aguila (also known as Playa de la Escalera). It is also very beautiful.
8. Barranco de los Enamorados
I did not visit this place but a visit to Barranco de los Enamorados is definitely one of the best things to do in Fuerteventura. Barranco de los Enamorados is located in the region of La Oliva. It is a ravine of fossilized sand that resembles the landscapes you’d find in the midwest United States.
You can visit this ravine by going on a one and a half hour hike. The complete route is 6 kilometers long. I recommend looking for a route in Wikiloc to find the beginning of the route and avoid getting lost. Nearby you will find Esquinzo Beach. You’ll want to bathe at the beach after walking so much.
9. Windmills in Villaverde and Tefia
There are many old windmills in Fuerteventura. You’ll definitely encounter a couple of them during your trip to Fuerteventura. The oldest windmills date back to the 17th century. Some windmills were use to extract water while others were used to grind corn, barley and wheat. I recommend visiting the windmills in Villaverde and Tefia which are the most popular windmills in Fuerteventura.
10. Vallebron Viewpoint (Tindaya Mountain)
Tindaya Mountain is considered the most important natural monument in Fuerteventura. The mountain was a sacred place for the Majos, the aboriginal population of Fuerteventura. On the mountain there are 300 rock carvings. It is 400 meters high and on clear days you can see the highest points in Tenerife and Gran Canaria.
You can enjoy an incredible view of the mountain from Mirador de Vallebrón.
11. Puertito de los Molinos
Los Molinos Port is a very small town worth visiting. Apart from being able to visit caves which you can visit when the tide is low, you can also go on small hikes to several nearby beaches and cliffs.
Once you leave the car in the parking lot, head up the hill on the right hand side and continue walking. After walking for an hour, I arrived at Jarugo Beach. You can keep waking and get to Playa de la Mujer or even Playa de Tebeto. On the way back, I recommend eating fresh fish in the only restaurant in Puertito de los Molinos.
12. Natural pools in Aguas Verdes
Visiting natural pools is one of the best things to do in Fuerteventura. Many pools are formed on the coast when the tide is low. One of most popular pools are the natural pools of Aguas Verdes. You’ll first have to visit Playa del Valle to get to the pools. On the right side of the beach you will see some rocks. You have to climb this rocks and walk carefully until you find the different pools.
Remember to visit the pools when the tide is low and be very careful with the waves if the tide starts to rise.
13. Guise Viewpoint and Ayose Viewpoint
On the way to Betancuria, after visiting Morro Velosa viewpoint (I wasn’t able to visit this place because it was close on the day I was in the area), I recommend visiting Guise and Ayose Viewpoint. You’ll be able to enjoy some amazing views of northern Fuerteventura on one side and Betancuria Valley on the other side.
In addition, you can find two bronze sculptures by Guise and Ayose, who reigned in the two regions (Jandía and Maxorata) until the Spanish conquered the islands in 1402.
14. Betancuria, the oldest town in Fuertventura
Betancuria is a very famous town and one of the best places to visit in Fuerteventura. It was founded by Jean de Béthencourt in 1404, becoming one of the oldest towns in the Canary Islands. Betancuria was once the capital of Fuerteventura.
It is a picturesque and charming town although, I’ll be honest, I was a bit disappointed. I don’t know if it was because it seemed very small or because it was made for touristic purposes. I don’t know, I expected more.
15. Caleta de Fuste Natural Pools
Visiting Caleta de Fuste is one of the best things to do in Fuerteventura and a great option if you feel like visiting more natural pools. This town is located a few kilometers south of the airport. Between Caleta de Fuste and an urban neighborhood nearby, there is a beautiful natural pool where you can bathe when the tide is low.
I’ll leave the exact location on this here. In Caleta de Fuste you can also go on a catamaran trip along the eastern coast of Fuerteventura.
16. Barranco de Las Peñitas
If you’re interested in hiking in Fuerteventura and enjoying different landscapes, you don’t wan’t to miss Las Peñitas Ravine. You can visit the ravine by going on a hike in the area or visiting the viewpoints that are scattered around the ravine.
If you are going to walk, you can go to the Casa de La Naturaleza restaurant, leave your car and start walking through the gorge. If you prefer to see the landscape from above, I recommend visiting Las Peñitas viewpoint and the Risco de las Peñas viewpoint.
17. Hiking to Las Peñitas Arc, one of the top things to do in Fuerteventura
Las Peñitas Arc is located inside Las Peñitas Ravine. It is a very unique and cool place to visit in Fuerteventura.
It is not easy to access. You have to climb over some rocks and the path is not very well marked; however, I wouldn’t say that it’s a difficult climb either. You have to drive to to a place called “Camino Buen Paso”. There is a parking lot at the end of the road where you can leave your vehicle.
There are two paths in the ravine. You have to take the path where there is a little house with a palm tree. If you follow the path, you’ll run into an abandoned stable. Head right around the stable and continue walking straight. You will see a set of large rocks once you’ve arrived! Go up and you will find Las Peñitas Arc. It is incredible!
18. Ajuy Caves
Ajuy is a small coastal town located near Peñitas Ravine. Apart from being able to visit an incredible black sand beach, you’ll be able to visit the incredible Ajuy Caves. The caves have great geological importance as they are the oldest formations in the Canary Islands.
In order to visit the caves you must go up a path located on the right side of the beach (facing the sea). It is a very beautiful path that runs along the cliff until it reaches the caves.
19. Astronomical viewpoint Sicasumbre
You’ll be able to enjoy some incredible viewpoints in Fuerteventura. However, the most incredible viewpoint is hands-down Astronomical viewpoint Sicasumbre. We arrived a few minutes after sunset. It was already empty and windy but the sky had incredible pastel tones. It seemed like a magical place to me. I recommend visiting the viewpoint during sunset, you will be amazed!
20. Entallada Lighthouse
Visiting Entallada Lighthouse is one of the best things to do in Fuerteventura as it is very beautiful and unique. It is located in the Tuineje region, near the town of Las Playitas. Its location is quite special since it is located on top of a 200-meter cliff and is the closest place in the Canary Islands to the African continent, only 100 km from the coast of Africa.
The lighthouse is worth visiting both for its natural environment and for its style and architecture.
21. La Pared Beach
One of the places I enjoyed the most due to the peace and tranquillity that one can enjoy in its beaches was the town of La Pared, located in the northwestern part of Jandía. The name (“La Pared”), which mean “the wall” in english, comes from the old stone wall that crossed Fuerteventura from one coast to another, dividing the island into two halves: Jandía and Maxorata.
On the right side the beach you can climb some rocks until you reach Punta Guadalupe, a place also known as La Pared viewpoint. The views to both sides are very nice.
22. Playa del Viejo Rey, a really nice beach
At the viewpoint located in La Pared Beach, you’ll be able to see some large beaches. We decided to visit one of them and it turned out to be Viejo Rey Beach. We did not have this beach on our list of what to see in Fuerteventura but we loved it and highly recommend visiting it.
Viejo Rey Beach is very long and well known by surfers. Walking along the beach, we discovered a small cave, the perfect place to take a photo and take a nice memory of the place with us. I recommend watching the sunset at the beach.
23. Costa Calma Beach
Jandía has the best beaches in Fuerteventura. They are amazing! If you visit Fuerteventura in search of white-sand beaches and turquoise water, you’ll definitely find them here. One of the best beaches in Fuerteventura is Costa Calma Beach which is 1.3 kilometers long and 60 meters wide.
Costa Calma is one of the most touristic places in Fuerteventura. The amount of buildings and infrastructure around the beach makes this place a bit less charming, look at the bright side, you’ll have plenty of restaurants and shops at your disposal. There are plenty of hammocks, bathrooms, showers, food-stands, etc. The beach is perfect for bathing because there aren’t many waves.
24. Sotavento beach, a must see in Fuerteventura
Sotavento Beach is one of many jewels in Fuerteventura. What makes this beach so special are the sand tongues and the lagoons that form when the tide is low. It is ideal to enjoy a relaxing bath. You won’t find any kind of shop or restaurant therefore, don’t forget to bring water and something to eat if you plan to stay for several hours.
I’ll link the exact address where the parking lot is located. I also recommend visiting Salmo Viewpoint for an amazing view of this beach.
25. Mal Nombre Beach
One of my favorite beaches in Fuerteventura is Mal Nombre Beach. It is not as well known as other beaches in the area, which makes it even more special. You can go on relaxing walks and bathe while enjoying a wild environment surrounded by black cliffs. This beach is easy to access.
26. Morro Jable
Morro Jable is one of the most touristic places and the gateway to the wonders located in the south of Fuerteventura. Morro Jable offers a wide variety of shopping centers, hotels and restaurants; however, what attracts visitors the most are the incredible white sand beaches with turquoise water. One of the best things to do in Fuerteventura and Morro Jable are walking around town and getting to know the nightlife.
Although Morro Jable is a very popular place to base yourself and discover the south of the island, we decided to stay in Tarajalejo, a small town north of Jandía. We stayed at the R2 Bahía Playa.
27. Playa de Cofete, one of the best places to visit in Fuerteventura
Cofete Beach is second to none as far as wild beaches are concern. This majestic beach has about 14 kilometers of coastline and is surrounded by Jandía Natural Park. In fact, Zarza Peak is the highest point on the island at 807 meters high. Strolling along Cofete Beach gives you a huge feeling of peace and serenity, as well as making you feel small.
Accessing this beach isn’t easy, you must first go to Morro Jable and then drive through a dirt road. It takes about 45 minutes to travel about 20 km because it’s a dirt road. We drove there and had no problem but if you are hesitant, you can book a 4×4 tour. Once you’re on the beach, you may also be interested in visiting Casa Winter, a place full of mystery and legends.
28. Visiting Roque del Moro, one of the top things to do in Fuerteventura
Roque del Moro is located in the southern part of Cofete. It is a gigantic monolith that is well worth visiting. You can visit this place by taking a pleasant walk along Cofete Beach or you can also take an alternate route, which is what we did, from the road that leads to Cofete Beach. You will see the sign. This path is a bit bad therefore I recommend going with an all-wheel-drive vehicle.
29. Playa de Ojos
Ojos Beach is located south of Jandía. You have to drive along the dirt road that goes to Puertito de la Cruz. Here you can make a stop to drink or eat something and to visit Punta Jandía Lighthouse. Then follow the path to the right until you reach this beach.
It is a small beach perfect for bathing. Also, when the tide is low, it is possible to visit some caves. I visited the beach when the tide was high and did not find the cave.
30. Punta Pesebre
Once you’ve visited Ojos Beach, drive further down the dirt road until you reach Pesebre Point. It is not a very touristic place. This place surprised me because I thought it wouldn’t interest me. You can enjoy a very beautiful view of Cofete. I conclude my list of the top things to do in Fuerteventura by mentioning this corner located at the southern end of the island.
Where to stay in Fuerteventura
I you haven’t booked your accommodation yet, check my post on where to stay in Fuerteventura. You might be interested in this article about the best boutique hotels in Fuerteventura too.
I spent a total of 7 days in Fuerteventura. That is why I decided to spend half the nights in the northern part of the island to be close to many of the best places in the north and the other half in the southern part of the island. I spent the first 3 nights in Corralejo (check hotels in Corralejo) and the las 3 nights in Tarajalejo (check hotels in Tarajalejo) which is located in the north of Jandía.
If you’re planning on spending several days in Fuerteventura, I recommend staying several nights in the north and also some nights in the south. If you have a few days, you intend to visit as many places as possible and you want to stay in one place, a good option would be to choose a hotel that is located in the center of the island. You can look at hotels in Caleta de Fuste, Puerto del Rosario or Antigua.
My hotels in Fuerteventura
In Corralejo, I stayed in Avanti Lifestyle Hotel. I really liked the location, the decoration, the staff, the room and the restaurant. It is very beautiful. It is one of the best hotels to stay in Corralejo based on its reviews. If you stay at this hotel, you won’t regret it.
In Tarajalejo, I stayed at the R2 Bahía Playa, an all-inclusive hotel facing a black sand beach. The rooms are very spacious, all meals are buffet-style, there are shows at night and it has two pools, gym and spa (this was closed during my stay). A good place to relax after a long day visiting the island.
Map of best places to visit in Fuerteventura
All the places listed above are also shown on this map. You’ll be able to find the best beaches, restaurants and all the best hotels in Fuerteventura.
If you are visiting other areas, check my Spain travel guide.
I hope this post about the best things to do in Fuerteventura has been informative and helpful to plan your trip to this island. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to leave a comment down below. See you next time, traveler!
