Top 10 Things to do in Fuerteventura and Where to Stay – Fuerteventura Travel Guide
Check out my top things to do in Fuerteventura. Find out which resort to choose, where to stay in Fuerteventura, and lots more.
Year round sunshine, over 150km of beaches, a haven for watersports enthusiasts and duty free shopping – so why is Fuerteventura often overlooked? My Fuerteventura travel guide will hopefully change that! I will show you the top things to do in Fuerteventura, which resort to choose, the best places to stay in Fuerteventura and lots more.
About Fuerteventura:
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Fuerteventura has everything you could possibly want in a sun holiday destination. You will find some of Europe’s best beaches here – the hardest decision will be which one of the 152 to choose!
Holiday resorts are in pretty port towns, there is live music in many of the bars and streets, and there is a surfing vibe that brings an authentic feel which is often lacking in holiday resorts.
Despite all of this, Fuerteventura is often overlooked compared to its neighbours – Lanzarote, Tenerife and Gran Canaria. However, we should probably be grateful for this, as this charming island has still managed to remain somewhat unspoilt.
This surfing vibe that you will notice everywhere exists because of the wind. Fuerteventura is often called ‘the windy island’. Fuerte means strong in Spanish and Venetura means fortune, however many believe it is a reference to the strong winds.
These strong winds mean that Fuerteventura is a Mecca for surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing and sailing. In fact the Windsurfing and Kiteboarding World Championship has been held here for years now. However, this does have a downside – it can feel quite chilly even when temperatures hit 20 degrees.
Fuerteventura, and the Canary Islands in general, has particularly long hours of sunlight. Its geographical location sees the sun rise at 730am and set at 630pm in winter, and rise at 7am and set at 830pm in summer – the best time for sundowners!
Fuerteventura is the oldest of the Canary Islands and unlike most of its neighbours, it hasn’t had a volcanic eruption in over 4000 years. As well as beaches of white golden sand, the landscape is pretty impressive too.
You won’t find much greenery here, as the average rainfall is only 6 inches per year, but its wide open plains with low lying mountains make it look almost Martian at times. Stunning cliffs and dramatic sand dunes also add to the drama.
Fuerteventura was declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 2009 and in 2015 it was also recognised as a Starlight Reserve thanks to its dark skies.
Have I tempted you yet? You can book flights directly with Ryanair who fly five times per week from Dublin airport this summer and four times weekly during the winter months. I have listed the most popular resorts in Fuerteventura below so you can decide which resort is right for you.
Corralejo resort guide:
Corralejo is the largest resort on the island and we really enjoyed our stay here. As well as two beaches in the resort centre, one of the main reasons people choose to stay here is because of its proximity to Corralejo’s famous Natural Park.
Corralejo’s Natural Park is home to Grandes Playas – 10km of coastline with white sandy beaches and dramatic sand dunes. People travel from all over the island to spend some time here, so having it on your doorstep is a massive bonus. See more about this in my section on top things to do in Fuerteventura below.
I also like Corralejo’s pretty port town, it has an authentic feel to it and a surfing vibe. There are some excellent restaurants lining the seafront, the two main squares are packed with tapas bars and live music at night time, and there are plenty of great shops if you fancy a pre or post dinner stroll.
Fuerteventura’s only waterpark is also located here, and you can catch the ferry to Lanzarote from its harbour. Corralejo is a great resort choice for couples, friends or families.
Where to stay in Corralejo:
There is a wide selection of accommodation options to choose from in Corralejo, but if choosing a self catering apartment or villa, bear in mind that many can be privately owned, so services and standards can vary based on the apartment you choose.
Always check reviews from previous guests and make sure there are many reviews – 5 Excellent reviews may sound great, but I would prefer to see a property with 500 Very Good reviews instead!
Best places to stay in Corralejo for adults:
Adults are spoilt for choice as there are many adult-only hotels in Corralejo. The Avanti and La Marquesina boutique style hotels are superbly located in the heart of the old town and offer gorgeous sea views. If you prefer more facilities onsite, the H10 Ocean Dunas and Barcelo Corralejo Bay are better choices.
For a good value self-catering option, look no further than the Las Marismas apartments, and if you really want to push the boat out the 5-Star Secrets Bahía Real Resort & Spa is the only show in town.
Best places to stay in Corralejo for families:
For families and groups it is a little tricker. The Fuentepark apartments are superbly located in the centre of Corralejo and are a good value option. The Las Marismas is the most popular choice, however, the one bedroom apartments only sleep three people. The two bedroom apartments are like hens teeth, but if you can find one available, don’t hesitate.
The Playa Park Zensation looks like the best all rounder for families and was the TripAdvisor’s family choice award winner last year, but is more expensive the previous two listed.
Best all inclusive resorts in Corralejo:
The Arena Beach and Arena Suites (sister properties) are best priced All Inclusive options, but the Alua Suites and Labranda Corralejo Village are higher rated, so if budget allows I would choose one of those.
There are countless villas available, and many are great value, but many are located quite a distance from the town centre so car hire is essential.
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Where to eat in Corralejo
Don’t miss Tapas Oscar for great tapas. Make sure you pre-book a table – they don’t answer the phone so you need to call in to book. I can recommend the garlic prawns and beef meatballs, but the scrambled egg with salmon and mushroom was the winner here.
Rompeolas in the Avanti Hotel is regarded as one of the best restaurants in Corralejo. I didn’t find the food outstanding considering it is supposed to be one of Corralejo’s best, but it is certainly worth a visit for the decor and location.
Located right on the seafront, you may want to book an outside table, however the decor inside is pretty impressive too. Make sure to book a table before sunset to catch the best views.
Rompeolas RestaurantCalù is another great choice if you want to dine with a view. This contemporary restaurant has stunning sea views and serves up delicious seafood and pasta dishes. Everything we ate here was delicious.
Pepperone Pizza serves up tasty pizzas right on the main square. It has a great atmosphere and the prices are unbelievably cheap! As well as great pizzas, try bresaola appetiser – it is a great sharing plate too.
Other top recommendations that we didn’t get to try were Casa Manola and Avenida for authentic Spanish food, Infusion for cajun / creole cuisine, and Fadu’s for the best steaks.
TOP TIP: Pre book restaurants in advance. Many don’t have online booking or answer the phones, so you may need to call into the restaurant to book it for the following night.
Best places for sundowners in Corralejo:
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The Sunset Lounge was one of our favourites for sundowners in Corralejo. It is a beach bar with live music from 5-7pm Tuesdays – Sundays – don’t miss it. For a more sophisticated choice, try cocktails in the adult-only rooftop bar of La Marquesina Hotel – note children are not allowed on rooftop bar.
Caleta de Fuste Resort Guide
Caleta de Fuste or El Castillo as it is also known, is a modern tourist resort that was only developed in the late 1980s. What it lacks in culture it makes up for with sandy beaches, two 18-hole golf courses, and plenty of family friendly facilities.
As well as a wide sandy beach, there are man-made lagoons which offer excellent sheltered bathing for families. There are plenty of dining options and shops in the main centre, and you can catch a variety of boat trips from the harbour. Many believe Caleta de Fuste is the best resort in Fuerteventura for families.
Where to stay in Caleta de Fuste
Although I didn’t have the pleasure of staying in Caleta de Fuste, I did pass through, and received the following recommendations from readers.
Best places to stay in Caleta de Fuste for adults:
Barcelo Fuerteventura Royal LevelWhile Caleta de Fuste popular with families, it does have its fair share of accommodation to suit adult breaks and golf holidays in Fuerteventura.
The Ereza Mara and Elba Palace Golf and Vital Hotel are adult-only hotels, while the Barcelo Fuerteventura Royal Level is part of the new Barceló Fuerteventura Beach Resort, and is the premium choice. The 4-star Eurostars Salinas is a good value option.
Best places to stay in Caleta de Fuste for families:
Sheraton Hotel, Caleta de FusteThe Broncemar Suites and the Elba Castillo San Jorge are popular budget options, but the Barcelo Fuerteventura Mar and the Elba Sara Beach and Golf Resort are the best hotels offering family friendly facilities.
If you are looking for a five star option, look no further than the Sheraton Fuerteventura Beach Golf and Spa Resort.
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Where to eat in Caleta de Fuste
I asked my readers for the best places to eat in Caleta de Fuste and the most popular answer was Fado Rock Steakhouse, followed by Nestors, Pickled Palm, 15 Restaurant, Bar Oliver for tapas and cocktails, and Ascension for more fine dining experience.
Restaurant la Isla was also a favourite, due to its idyllic location on an island between the Elba and Sheraton Hotel. Pizzaloha apparently has great pizzas, while The Irish Step Inn has great pub grub.
Jandia resort guide:
Jandia is a place that is still on my wish list. It is a peninsula on the southwestern tip of Fuerteventura and boasts stunning beaches, a historic old town and a dramatic landscape.
It is located 80 minutes from Fuerteventura airport so tends not to be as sought after as Caleta de Fuste and Corralejo, which are 20 and 30 minutes away respectively. However, I’m told it is one of the best resorts in Fuerteventura, so don’t let that 80 minute transfer put you off!
Jandia has a 32-km coastline offering wide open sandy beaches as well as sheltered lagoons. The Natural Park of Jandia has hiking trails and a variety of wildlife, and boasts Fuerteventura’s highest mountain. The summit, Pico de Zarza offers excellent views of the island.
The old town of Morro Jable was once a small fishing village and I’m told offers some of the best dining options on the island. You can find superb seafood restaurants on the harbour and some local boutiques in its charming town centre.
The coastline from Jandia is also the best place to spot some dolphins and whales – see more on this in my top things to do in Fuerteventura below.
Where to stay in Jandia for adults:
Royal Palm FuerteventuraThe adult-only Royal Palm Resort & Spa is ideal for a relaxing adult break, while the Sol Fuerteventura Jandia All Suites is the best bet for an all inclusive holidays in Fuerteventura. If you fancy some 5-star treatment, the Iberostar Selection Fuerteventura Palace Hotel or the Riu Palace Jandia are the most popular.
Where to stay in Jandia for families:
Iberostar Playa Gaviotas ParkThe Fuerteventura Princess is a great value choice, but the Iberostar Playa Gaviotas Park is arguably the best hotel in Jandia for families. For an all-inclusive stay check out the Alua Village Fuerteventura, and if you prefer a self catering option, it has to be the apartments and Villas Monte Solana in Morro del Jable.
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Top 10 Things to do in Fuerteventura
1. Marvel at Corralejo Natural Park Beaches and Sand Dunes
There are 152 beaches in Fuerteventura, some of which are considered amongst the best in Europe. Now I’m not saying you have to visit them, all but there are a few stand outs that have to be mentioned.
Corralejo’s Grandes Playas stretch 10 km of coastline and have stunning sand dunes within Corralejo’s Natural Park – you simply can’t come to Fuerteventura without visiting, it is one of the top things to do in Fuerteventura.
You can walk all the way from Corralejo town, it should take approximately 50 minutes, or if you put the RIU Palace Tres Islas Hotel into Google Maps you will see parking spots all along the road.
Considering how stunning the location is, it is surprisingly quiet. There is no shelter or sun beds here, and the waves can be quite strong, so it is not as popular for young families as the beaches in the town centre.
You may also see some nudist bathers here, but there is a more family friendly beach past the RIU Palace Tres Islas Hotel, as well as a beach bar for snacks.
2. Spend a day in El Cotillo
El Cotillo is a little slice of heaven. It is located about 20 minutes drive from Corralejo and has a pretty old town and a choice of attractions to choose from. It has a wonderful mix of beaches to suit all tastes, from the surfers paradise – Playa del Castillo, to the prettiest family friendly beach – Playa de la Concha.
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Playa de la Concha or La Concha Beach as it is often called, is often regarded as one of Europe’s best beaches. It is a sheltered beach with soft white sand and stunning turquoise waters.
It is shallow and calm, therefore perfect for family swims, although it is quite small and was busier than most of the other beaches we visited on the island. It is a stunning beach, and a visit here is one of the top things to do in Fuerteventura.
El Cotillo is also famous for its many lagoons that you will see dotted around the coastline. My children enjoyed climbing the rocks and spotted lots of fish and crabs in the many rock pools.
There is a decent size town here too, with plenty of dining options, and a lighthouse and round tower add to the attraction. El Cotillo is a place you could easily spend a day, and a visit here is one of the top things to do in Fuerteventura with kids.
I’m also told that El Cotillo has some of the best sunsets on the island – so if you can, come in the afternoon and watch the sunset on the cliffs overlooking Playa del Castillo.
If you are not hiring a car, there is a bus that goes on the hour from Corralejo town.
3. Explore Jandia
Jandia is a peninsula on the southwestern tip of Fuerteventura and boasts stunning beaches, a historic old town and a dramatic landscape. It is about a 90 minute drive from Corralejo, so we didn’t visit this time. It is best explored by staying there – see more on my resort guide above.
As well as stunning beaches, the Natural Park of Jandia has hiking trails and boasts Fuerteventura’s highest mountain. The summit, Pico de Zarza offers incredible views of the island.
The old town of Morro Jable was once a small fishing village and offers some of the best dining options on the island. You can find a choice of seafood restaurants on the harbour and some local boutiques in its charming town centre.
4. Take a boat trip to Lobos Island
Lobos is a small island that is just 15 minutes by boat from Corralejo port. It is a Natural Park that is mostly uninhabited, but people visit for its dramatic landscape, sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. A boat trip to Lobos Island is one of the top things to do in Fuerteventura.
There are many ways to visit, the most reasonable is by ferry and usually costs about €15 per person. You can also take sailing trips, either by catamaran or private yacht, but some of these don’t take you on to the island – they just anchor alongside it and provide snorkelling equipment.
We booked a private yacht tour for four hours and enjoyed some great sailing – remember Fuerteventura has lots of wind! We enjoyed great snorkelling too – the water is crystal clear. Life jackets, snorkelling equipment and light snacks and beers were all provided.
There were plenty of tilting and scary moments when we picked up speed on the way back, but we enjoyed the authentic experience and thought it was good value for a private tour. This particular sailing trip is probably more suited to adults, or families with teenagers, rather than younger children – but there are many more to choose from – see below.
If you would like to visit the island you will find a small village, a small volcano – which you can climb, a popular beach bar, and a lighthouse. Only a limited number of visitors are allowed on the Island at any one time, so you need to get a permit, check that these are included in the ferry / excursion price.
There are many ways to visit Lobos Island – see them all here.
5. Go off road with a Dune Buggy experience
This was an activity I wish we booked – we saw convoys of jeeps on various occasions during our visit, and it looked like great fun! You visit Fuerteventura’s mountains, valleys, and sea cliffs, as well as having plenty of opportunities to try dune bashing on its white sand beaches. A 10 minute stop in Corralejo’s Natural Park is also included, (note you can’t drive on these dunes).
Buggies can hold up to six people, the driver needs a full driving licence, and children are allowed too – even infant seats are provided! Tours are 2.5 hours and leave from Corralejo, but pick up from Caleta de Fuste can be arranged for an additional €5 per person.
6. Take the ferry to Lanzarote
Despite visiting Lanzarote on many occasions, this was the first time I took the short 30 minute ferry ride between the two islands. I was surprised at how comfortable the ferry was, with plenty of outdoor and indoor areas. The ferry leaves from Corralejo and docks in Playa Blanca.
Return ferry tickets are available from €35 per person. You can also bring your car if you have one – prices vary depending on time of travel and availability. Taking the ferry to Lanzarote is one of the most popular things to do if visiting Fuerteventura.
Choose to stay in Playa Blanca and enjoy some tasty lunch at the fashionable marina Rubicon, or enjoy a wine tour in Lanzarote’s extraordinary La Geria region. I found it fascinating how they manage to grow vines in a country with an average of 16 days of rainfall a year, and so much wind!
Great value full day tours from Fuerteventura to Lanzarote are available from just €59 per person. These include return ferry transportation and entrances to Timanfaya National Park to see Lanzarote’s famous Volcano, as well as a wine tour in La Geria winery.
7. Shop til you drop!
Fuerteventura, like all of the Canary Islands is a duty free island. You will find countless perfume and cosmetic shops with prices at least 20% less than you will find at home. You can also find some designer brands and high street stores such as Mango, Berska and Stradivarius in Corralejo, as well as Spanish favourite Desigual.
There are also plenty of resort style shops for the obligatory tacky souvenirs to bring home, but these are mixed with chic boutiques selling the latest surfing attire from Billabong, Roxy and Rip Curl. Most resorts have their own traditional markets at least one day per week.
8. Splash out at the Waterpark
Fuerteventura’s only water park is located in Corralejo. This is a fun day out, with over 14 attractions to suit adults and children of all ages, from a lazy river to a KamiKaze slide. A free children’s club is also available on site. This is one of the best things to do in Corralejo with kids.
9. Go whale and dolphin watching from Morro Jable
This 90-minute cruise is a great choice for anyone staying in Jandia. It is a small group tour, with a maximum of 10 guests which offers a more personal experience. The reviews from guests are excellent and it is great value at €40 per person too. It is suitable for ages 3 and above.
10. Enjoy a family day out at Oasis Wildlife Park
I am always reluctant to recommend wildlife parks, but Oasis Wildlife Park is one of Fuerteventura’s top family attractions, and receives excellent reviews on TripAdvisor. It is more popular with guests staying in Jandia, as it is located 40 minutes drive from Caleta de Fuste and 80 minutes from Corralejo.
I hope you enjoyed my Fuerteventura travel guide and it helps you plan a trip there soon. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, it is important to note that attractions and hotel facilities are subject to change.
Some of the links in this post contain affiliate links, where I receive a small commission if a booking is made, but at no additional cost to you.
