How to fly to Fuerteventura?
The island has an international airport, you can check cheap departure cities here. We flew with Binter airline from Tenerife island. We bought the ticket a day before departure, it cost €66 per person. But I recommend buying in advance and flying with Canaryfly airline for €20. Catch the dates on my service lowcost.pro.
Renting a car
After my unsuccessful rentals with Pluscar, I choose other companies. I recommend renting from Hertz, Firefly, Thrifty, Cicar, Autorisen. Compare prices here. We chose Cicar with full insurance and no prepayment on their website. We got an Opel Mokka running on gas for €20 per day.
Where to stay in Fuerteventura
Through trial and error on previous trips, we found the optimal place to stay — the town of Costa Calm. There’s a great beach nearby and it’s convenient to get to all the attractions on the island from here.
We chose the H10 Tindaya hotel. Due to COVID, some of the entertainment facilities were closed. For example, the SPA and water slides weren’t working. For this reason, the hotel was offering substantial discounts on accommodation. We managed to book a room with a sea view for €72 per night. Breakfast and dinner with beer and soft drinks were included. You can watch the video review above.
The hotel is excellent, with 3 pools, water slides, a restaurant and spacious parking, located on the beachfront. The food is quite good, especially the salads with salmon.
And now — what to see if you’re not visiting the island for the first time.
Calling it a fortress is an exaggeration. It looks more like a tower. It’s located in the town of Castillo Caleta de Fuste.
There’s a nice beach nearby, and many cute cats on the promenade.
Faro de La Entallada Lighthouse
This is one of the most striking discoveries on this trip. A narrow paved road leads to the lighthouse. There’s a spacious parking lot in front of the lighthouse with an epic ocean viewpoint.
It’s a great place for meditation, relaxation or a romantic date. Coordinates. I won’t ramble on, just watch the video. It’s worth a thousand words.
Playa de Sotavento de Jandia Beach
The beach and lagoon in Jandia is a mecca for kitesurfers, surfers, windsurfers. And for nudists too. Kilometers of endless beach, cozy sunbathing spots in the bushes and in homemade fortresses made of pebbles.
While you’re watching the video, let me tell you about our route. We left on foot from our hotel H10 Tindaya. It’s a very pleasant walk along the ocean. Don’t forget to bring your swimsuits and towel. In the picture is the Meliá Fuerteventura hotel.
Keep an eye on the tide schedule. During high tide, the lagoon fills with water, and kilometers of sand disappear. It’s magical. The route is 13 km long:
Route to Playa de Barlovento de Jandía beach
To truly experience the nature of the Canary Islands, you need to walk. Then the seemingly dry and lifeless landscapes come alive. You see plants breaking through the rocks, lizards and squirrels running around, and you can smell the ocean.
The route starts from the parking lot (coordinates). Then we go through a desert pass to the west coast. Yes! We’ll cross the island on foot. We’ll come across a goat farm. We’ll walk along a dry riverbed. From the viewpoint, we’ll admire the west coast.
We’ll reach the deserted Playa de Barlovento de Jandía beach, where you’ll be the only ones there. If you decide to swim, be careful. The ocean is treacherous with its rip currents. There are no lifeguards here, so swim with flippers or don’t go in deeper than waist-high.
Watch the drone video above, where you can see both the rip currents and the waves.
The walking route:
Lovers’ bench
Mirador La Pared viewpoint
A good and easily accessible viewpoint overlooking the west coast of Fuerteventura. I liked the textured rocks we encountered on the way up. And at the top of the hill, we were swarmed by a flock of begging squirrels.
Mirador astronómico de Sicasumbre viewpoint
The best place for an introvert is the astronomical viewpoint. We were here during the day, so we didn’t look at the stars. We parked the car in the parking lot (coordinates). Then we climb the nearest hill. Along the way, we read several information stands about stars and constellations.
But the most interesting part is at the end. A small stone structure to protect from wind and light. You should come here at night with your telescope. During the day, look through the free binoculars. I could see the entire southern coast.
Caves in Ajuy
We visited the town with the inappropriate name Ajuy. This is an important place for the Canary Islands, as the history of Fuerteventura island began here. Jean de Béthencourt and Gadifer de La Salle landed here in 1402 and conquered the island for the Spanish crown.
The town is also known for its huge caves. At first, I thought Béthencourt had blasted the rock with dynamite to use the caves for storage or to hide ships in them. But it turns out they were carved by ocean waves. Pirates used to hide in the caves. Limestone was also mined there.
Now there’s a scenic path along the coast. Take a walk along it to the giant caves.
Have lunch at the Cafe del mar restaurant. I ordered pork kebab with potatoes, and Lena had octopus. Quite tasty for a village restaurant.
A local cat.
Windmills near Almacigo
We passed by some photogenic windmills. You’ll find several in the town of Almacigo. Coordinates of the Molino de Los Llanos de La Concepción windmill from the photo.
Whale skeleton near the salt museum
I found a second whale skeleton near the salt museum (Museo de las Salinas del Carmen). Coordinates. We didn’t make it to the salt museum itself, it was too late. But I think it’s not very interesting. The main exhibit, Salinas – the cells where salt was evaporated, can be seen anyway.
By the way, the first whale skeleton is located on Tenerife near Los Silos.
The End
That’s how our latest trip to the desert island of Fuerteventura went. Check out my guide to Fuerteventura island, where you’ll find even more interesting locations.
Recommended tours
This is an exciting catamaran journey from Corralejo to Lobos Island. Sailing through crystal-clear waters, you’ll see a semi-submerged volcano and the turquoise shores of La Concha beach. On this secluded beach, tasty snacks, various drinks, and exciting water activities like snorkeling and kayaking await you.
The Odyssey 3 glass-bottom boat cruise is an exciting adventure for the whole family that takes place in the Jandía Natural Park. You’ll encounter dolphins, whales, and turtles. Through the glass in the boat’s hull, the underwater world of the ocean will open up before you. You’ll also get to appreciate the beauty of Fuerteventura’s beaches, enjoy a Canarian lunch, and engage in snorkeling and kayaking.
During a sea journey along the picturesque coast of Fuerteventura on a comfortable boat, you’ll enjoy a 1.5-hour excursion on the Atlantic Ocean, observe dolphins and whales in their natural habitat, and take in beautiful views of the island’s coastline with emerald waters and golden beaches. You might even encounter flying fish and turtles. The journey will end at the port of Morro Jable, from where you’ll be taken back to your hotel.
By visiting a farm in Fuerteventura, you’ll learn how to make real cheese with your own hands! After a welcoming cup of coffee, you’ll meet the amazing Majorero goats, learn how to milk them, and turn milk into cheese. A unique experience awaits you: from feeding goats to making cheese yourself. And to finish – breakfast with fresh cheese and local delicacies.
At the Oasis Wildlife Fuerteventura Zoo, a zoological and botanical garden, you’ll discover a world of over 3,000 animals (250 species) – from watching bird of prey and reptile shows to taking photos with a giraffe and a lemur, as well as explore the only botanical garden on the island, full of tropical succulents and local plants. Live performances by sea lions and parrots, and encounters with lemurs will leave no one indifferent. After lunch at a local restaurant, head to the largest camel reserve in Europe and go for a camel ride.