Fuerteventura is the second largest island of the Canary Islands, an oasis of peace and tranquility famous for its long beaches bathed by crystal clear waters and unspoiled nature.
In this article we find out in detail what to see in Fuerteventura, I will show you the main points of interest and what are the activities to do on the island.
The island of Fuerteventura is a very relaxing place not too animated and perfect for water sports enthusiasts, walking and for all those who love the sea, white beaches and relaxation.
The pride of Fuerteventura is certainly nature, the landscapes are simply enchanting, sometimes surreal almost seems to have landed on Mars. In fact, there are several panoramic points from which to admire all the beauty of the island and its surroundings.
So let's see what are the must-see attractions in Fuerteventura listed starting from the North to the South. We will then see how to organize a perfect itinerary to optimize travel.
1. Corralejo
Corralejo is certainly the liveliest city of Fuerteventura, the perfect place to enjoy a pleasant evening, strolling through the streets of the center and the marina.
There are some of the best restaurants on the island and a few places to have a drink while admiring the ocean. In addition, many tours and excursions depart from Corralejo to visit the island and its surroundings.
Read Also: Corraleo
2. Excursion to Lobos Island
One of the unmissable excursions of Fuerteventura, departing from Corralejo is Isla de Lobos, a small uninhabited island located between the north coast of Fuerte and Lanzarote, which can be reached in about 20 minutes by ferry.
You can relax on the beach or tour the island and hike up to the volcano. A tip: there is only one restaurant so if you want to have lunch there, reserve a table as soon as you arrive. To optimize the time you can book the ferry to Lobos online.
3. Corralejo Dunes Natural Park
Among the things to see in Fuerteventura the dunes of Corralejo cannot be missed.
It is a unique place, an almost surreal landscape with an incredible mix of colors, an immense expanse of desert dunes on one side and the ocean on the other.
The ideal place to relax, take great photos but also have fun and roll in the dunes!
4. El Cotillo: Wonderful Beaches
El Cotillo is located in the northwestern part of the island, once a fishing village, today it is a very quiet tourist destination particularly appreciated by surfers.
To the left of the Toston Lighthouse there are in fact perfect spots for surfing and other water sports. La Concha beach, on the other hand, offers calm and crystalline waters and clear sand, here relaxation is guaranteed. There are also a number of excellent restaurants where you can enjoy local cuisine.
5. Playa Esquinzo: Surf and Natura
A few kilometers from El Cotillo there is Playa Esquinzo one of the most beautiful beaches in Fuerteventura, set among the lava stones that create a wonderful contrast of colors with the golden sand and blue water. It can be reached by crossing an unpaved road that is easy to follow. The beach is never crowded, a great place to surf or to watch those who practice it.
6. Calderon Hondo: A Simple Trekking
Among the things to do in Fuerteventura a must is definitely trekking, there are many routes for all levels. One of the best is the Calderon Hondo, a volcanic crater from where you can admire a breathtaking view. The path is quite simple and once you reach the crater you will be greeted by many squirrels.
Council: after parking the car, take the path to the crossroads, at which point you can decide whether to take the simpler route by going to the right or the more challenging one to the left.
7. The Olive
La Oliva is located in the north of Fuerteventura, close to some of the main attractions of this area, such as the Tindaya mountain. Finding yourself in the area, the Church of Nuestra Senora and the Casa de los Coroneles, a typical colonial building immersed in the desert with a truly suggestive panorama, deserve a visit.
8. Sagrada Tindaya mountain
The mountain of Tindaya was considered by the aborigines a sacred place, in fact there are still several rock carvings whose meaning is not known but it is thought that they could indicate the cardinal points.
The mountain is 400 meters high, it is a nature reserve where various animal species live and it is neither accessible nor scalable. However, the visit is worthwhile for the panorama that surrounds it, for the magical atmosphere that you experience and for taking some photos.
9. Los Molinos e le sue Grotte
Los Molinos is a particular beach located near a small village on the west coast. It's a little advertised place but worth a visit if you are in Fuerteventura. The beach has the characteristic of changing completely according to the seasons, in fact in winter there are volcanic rocks and stones while in summer it becomes a long stretch of golden sand. In addition, there are caves that can only be reached in September at low tide.
10. Aguas Verdes: Piscine naturali
The west coast of Fuerteventura offers natural wonders not to be missed, among these are the natural pools of Aguas verdes. A perfect place for those who love relaxation, in fact in these natural pools the water is calm and crystal clear. The pools can be reached from Playa del Valle with a short walk among the lava rocks, I recommend rock shoes.
Important: If you want to swim you need to know exactly when there is low tide, otherwise it is dangerous.
11. Morro Velosa lookout point and Statues
Another thing to see absolutely in Fuerteventra are the viewpoints, one of the best is the Morro Veloso, a work of the famous artist Cesar Manrique of which I have already told you in the articles on Lanzarote.
Just inquire if the facility is open because it was recently closed. In any case, you can observe the wonderful lunar landscape, from the platform where the 2 famous giant statues are located, the warriors who symbolically protect Betancuria.
12. Betancuria: A Pearl in the heart of the Island
Betancuria is a small inland town that was once the capital of Fuerteventura. The village can be visited in just over 15 minutes, in addition to the beautiful church of Santa Maria, some shops and restaurants there is not much else, but the village is still worth a visit.
13. The Ajuy Caves
The village of Aiuy is famous for its black sand beach, but above all for the spectacular caves which can be reached along the path to the right of the beach. The route is simple and well signposted only in some sections you need to pay some attention. During a trip to Fuerteventura the Ajuy Caves are definitely worth a visit.
14. Sicasumbre Astronomical Belvedere
In the area of ​​Pajara there is another splendid panoramic point, the Belvedere of Sicasumbre, from here you can admire the entire upper part of the island, a unique landscape with desert dunes and barren hills. The Sicasumbre belvedere is also an astronomical observatory, there are in fact some positions to observe the starry sky.
15. Cofete: The most fascinating beach
Cofete is the symbolic beach of Fuerteventura, the most beautiful, remote and wild, absolutely worth seeing. It is located in the south of the island, about 1 hour from Morro Jable, and to reach it you have to take a dirt road a bit challenging but not too complicated as they say, just pay a little attention. In any case there are also organized excursions for those who don't feel like driving.
16. Sotavento Beach
My favorite beach is Sotavento Beach, another must-see attraction in Fuerteventura. It is generally a very windy beach and for this reason it is always popular with kitesurfing and windsurfing enthusiasts.
The beach often changes its appearance due to the wind and the tides and tongues of light sand are formed bathed by crystal clear waters, a real spectacle. I was lucky enough to visit it on a day with little wind and it was even more beautiful! The beach is immense, ideal for relaxing but also for long walks.
17. Antigua and its Mills
Antigua is a village located in the center of Fuerteventura towards the east coast, an oasis of peace famous for its windmills with which gofio is produced, a mix of roasted cereals widely used in Canarian cuisine.
Definitely worth a visit is the Mill Museum of Antigua together with the Botanical Garden and the Museo del Queso. Also worth seeing is the Nuestra Senora de Antigua church located in the center of the town.
Not far from Antigua there are 3 famous beaches: Caleta de Fueste, El Muellito, and Pozo Negro.
Fuerteventura itinerary (7 days)
Now that you know what to see in Fuerteventura you can start planning your travel itinerary. The advice is to divide the days by areas and group all the places of greatest interest for each area. If you divide your stay into 2 stages (north and south), as I explained in the article where to stay in Fuerteventura, you can visit the island with full and comfort, saving time on the move.
Here is a simple itinerary of about a week to see the main points of interest in Fuerteventura:
- North Zone (2 days): Corralejo town, Corralejo Dunes, Lobos Island. You can dedicate a day to the dunes and to visit the city and a day to the excursion to Isla de Lobos.
- North West Area (2 days): El Cotillo, Playa Esquinzo, La Oliva, Tindaya, Calderon Hondo. One day you can relax on the beaches of El cotillo and go trekking to Calderon Hondo. Another day visit Playa Esquinzo, Tindaya and La Oliva.
- Central West Area (1 day): 9. Los Molinos, Aguas Verdes, Morro Velosa viewpoint, Betancuria, Ajuy, Sicasumbre viewpoint. Once you decide to visit one of these places, you can see them all, they are quite close together and do not take too long.
- South Zone (1 day): Cofete, Morro Jable, Sotavento, Jandia Peninsula, Costa Calma.
- Central Eastern Area (1 day): Antigua, Caleta de Fueste, El Muellito, Pozo Negro, Puerto del Rosario.
Finally, I remind you that you can visit the island through some very fun excursions in dune buggy, a different way to explore Fuerteventura
