Fuerteventura doesn’t have a large number of noisy bars and nightclubs, making it a perfect place for a quiet family vacation. Surfers from all over the world have taken a liking to the island.
Check out my other guides for the Canary Islands: Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Palma, El Hierro, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote.
My report on Fuerteventura
The longest of all the islands in the Canary Archipelago is constantly expanding its infrastructure, with numerous hotels and shops being built. This trend is related to the growing popularity of vacationing in this picturesque corner in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, which, it seems, will soon turn into a bustling tourist center filled with guests from all over the world. Perhaps, in the not-too-distant future, only the colorful old windmills will remind us of the former tranquility in Fuerteventura.
The island’s only airport – Fuerteventura Airport, is located near the capital of Fuerteventura – Puerto del Rosario. More details about the airport and how to get there here.
The plant life on the island is quite sparse: you can see various types of succulents and spurge, aloe vera, agave, and date palms. At the same time, the fauna of Fuerteventura is extremely diverse, with birds such as the bustard, osprey, griffon vulture, and little egret inhabiting this piece of land, as well as wild mammals like rabbits, bats, hedgehogs, and others. Another amazing resident of the island is the rare monarch butterfly.
The Climate of Fuerteventura
A unique feature of all the islands in the Canary Archipelago is that the beach season lasts all year round on their territory. Fuerteventura is no exception, where even in the coldest month of the year, January, the temperature doesn’t drop below +20°C, and that’s in the shade, not in the sun.
You can comfortably swim and sunbathe on the island at any time of the year, without worrying about overheating. The air temperature on the hottest summer days reaches no more than +27°C in the shade, and the low humidity and fresh breeze that blows across the entire island help to cope with the heat. As for the water temperature, it stays around +20 ± 2°C almost all year round.
An important climatic feature of Fuerteventura is the constant, albeit not strong, wind. The island is characterized by a low landscape, with the height of its mountain ranges not exceeding one kilometer. Mountains of this height do not trap clouds, so there is practically no precipitation and clearly defined climatic zones on the island (as on Tenerife or Gran Canaria).
Beaches of Fuerteventura
The island is famous for its large number of long, deserted beaches, which are rightly considered a true treasure of Fuerteventura. Almost 100 kilometers of the island’s coastline is occupied by magnificent beaches with light sand (Playa la Clavellina, Playa de Esquinzo, Playa Marfolin), and 25 kilometers are covered with black volcanic rock (La Pared, Playa de Ajuy). The relatively undeveloped beaches of Corralejo (Playa Corralejo) and Cofete (Playa Cofete) are particularly popular among windsurfing enthusiasts, where there is a constant strong wind, making them less appealing for ordinary tourists.
On the eastern side of Fuerteventura is Sotavento (Playa de Sotavento de Jandía) — a 30-kilometer-long beach divided into several parts. The World Championship in windsurfing takes place on the territory of Sotavento every year. Fans of deep-sea fishing have taken a liking to the areas of Morro de Jable (Playas de Morro Jable) and Playa de Corralejo (Playas de Corralejo), while divers prefer the strait between Fuerteventura and Lobos Island (Islote de Lobos).
Yet among the many beaches of Fuerteventura, Playa Corralejo is considered the most beautiful, Playa Cofete the wildest, and Playa Sotavento the largest.
Main Resorts of Fuerteventura
The main resorts of Fuerteventura are Caleta de Fuste and Corralejo, as well as Costa Calma, Solana Matorral, and Morro Jable located on the Jandia peninsula.
Jandia
The Jandia peninsula is famous for its magnificent beaches with pure white sand, and it is also home to Fuerteventura’s highest point, the 807-meter-high Pico de la Zarza. Jandia, adjacent to the island’s southern side, is its most popular resort. Tourists from all over the world come to the peninsula for a peaceful holiday in nature.
Corralejo
Corralejo is one of the largest resorts in Fuerteventura, but this does not prevent the town’s residents from leading a very calm and measured lifestyle. At the same time, Corralejo is considered a more modern and lively resort than Jandia. The town’s coastline is always crowded with visitors, with the southern part of Corralejo being the most attractive to tourists, featuring a luxurious 10-kilometer beach.
Castillo Caleta de Fuste
Castillo Caleta de Fuste, also known as El Castillo, is located just a short distance from the island’s only airport, which largely contributes to its popularity among tourists. The resort is the third largest on Fuerteventura and is situated in the eastern part of the island. Unlike the coastlines of other towns, the beaches of Caleta de Fuste are quite rocky. However, sun-seekers and swimmers can enjoy the safe artificial beach set up in the town itself. The shoreline around the bay is well-protected from waves, making it an ideal spot for a family vacation with children.
Special diving schools are organized in all the resort towns on the island, as the natural environment is perfectly suited for this sport. Fuerteventura also offers ample opportunities for golfing on specially equipped courses. Moreover, an underwater photography competition is held on the island every year.
Attractions of Fuerteventura
Oasis Park
Oasis Park is the largest park on Fuerteventura, covering an area of about 800,000 square meters. This amazing place houses nearly 7,000 representatives of the world’s animal and plant life, which visitors can encounter while strolling through the park’s numerous recreation zones.
Betancuria Village
Betancuria is a village that was the first capital of the island of Fuerteventura. The town is renowned for its beautiful nature and rich history. The village was founded in 1404, shortly after the island was conquered by the Conquistadors. Betancuria served as the capital of Fuerteventura until 1834.
Baku Water Park
The Baku Water Park located in Corralejo is a great spot for water adventure enthusiasts. Visitors of all ages can enjoy the park, but its water attractions are especially popular with children. As the only water park on the island, Baku attracts a massive number of tourists seeking thrilling experiences and a truly diverse holiday.
Pico de la Zarza
The height of the highest point of Fuerteventura Pico de la Zarza is 807 meters. This attractive natural site for hikers is located on the Jandía peninsula. The southwest summit invariably attracts people passionate about mountain tourism.
Villa Winter
On the Jandía peninsula is an amazing structure — Villa Winter (Villa Gustav Winter). This unusual, tower-adorned building is shrouded in numerous legends and myths, creating a mysterious aura around it. The villa was built by Gustav Winter for his family, with whom he lived there until old age.
Transportation in Fuerteventura
The only public transportation on the island is buses that run to all major populated areas of Fuerteventura. Website with schedules.
Binter and CanaryFly airlines fly between the Canary Islands.
How to get to Fuerteventura?
By plane:
There are many direct flights to the Fuerteventura International Airport (Aeropuerto de Fuerteventura) from different European cities. I counted over 37 routes. Check out all the direct flights on my website lowcost.pro.
You can make your trip to the Canary Islands more diverse by making stops in Madrid or Barcelona. And then fly from these cities to Fuerteventura (Puerto del Rosario).
List of where it’s cheapest to fly to Fuerteventura.
How to get to Fuerteventura from Tenerife
Taking the ferry is longer and more expensive, but you can bring your own car or transport a pet without stress. Sometimes there are direct Armas ferries with a stop in Gran Canaria. Travel time is 10 hours. But most likely you’ll have to transfer on Gran Canaria.
The second option is to take the high-speed trimarans of Fred Olsen, also with a transfer on Gran Canaria.
How to rent a car in Fuerteventura
Public transportation on the island is very poorly developed, and many beaches and attractions can only be reached by car. Therefore, I strongly recommend renting a car before arrival. There is also a high chance that no vehicles will be available for rent upon arrival.
I recommend renting a car 1-2 months before your trip. During this period, prices are optimal, and the selection of vehicles by class will be maximum.
Do you need an SUV in Fuerteventura?
Most likely, the only dirt road you’ll drive on will be in the south to Cafete beach. But it’s of good quality and even a small car like a VW Polo would be suitable. So an SUV is not needed at all.
Where to rent a car in Fuerteventura?
Avoid Pluscar and Goldcar companies, despite their attractive prices I receive many negative reviews from readers about them. Choose a car for rent that fits your size and budget using these services:
- Discovercars – compares prices from different rental companies.
- Localrent – a search engine for local companies with good prices.
Pay attention to additional insurance. I advise taking full coverage without deductibles when booking on the website. There is a small life hack. Get an additional WWI policy for a year for renting a car from any company.
Read my report on how I rented a car in Lanzarote.
Check out my guides to the islands:
- Остров Фуэртевентура
- Fuerteventura
- GPS: 28,425 -14,06
