Fuerteventura Travel Guide

Beaches, volcanoes, and nature dominate the things to do in Fuerteventura along with the usual tourist traps, historical places, and scenic spots. The island's local flavor can be seen in its lighthouses, castles, windmills, unique museums, and bluesy live music shows. The caves and botanic gardens also have some flair as do the island's festivals and events. The most popular activities are water-based and include surfing, windsurfing, and kitesurfing, as well as diving and snorkeling. Tourist Traps The theme parks in Fuerteventura are kid-friendly attractions that have turnstiles that never stop spinning. The zoo and marine animals are found in Loro Park while Jungle Park also offers a sizeable zoo with animal shows. Theme Parks Zoos, animal parks, theme parks, and water parks are some of the top attractions in Fuerteventura and are very kid-friendly to boot. Zoo & Animal Parks Oasis Wildlife is one of the top attractions in Fuerteventura and its turnstiles never stop spinning. The Turtle Nursery is a great place to learn about these long-living animals. If you want a more farm-like feel, Finca Pepe ! has a nice petting zoo with a small water slide. While touristy, Isla de Lobos (Lobos Island) is all about nature with rare birds that visit throughout the year. Water Parks Acua Water Park is also another top attraction and the only water park on the island. Marine Parks Oceanarium Explorer is a wonderful marine park with dolphin and sea lion shows. Places to Visit Once you go beyond the usual tourist traps, nature takes over the best of what's available to do in Fuerteventura. The beaches and caves are sometimes even combined into the same place. Nature Parks Parque Natural Jandía and Rural Park Betancuria are great places to hike and take photos. Beach Parks The coastline around the island is absolutely gorgeous and filled with golden sand beaches. Places like Parque Natural de Corralejo and Morro del Jable are quite extraordinary. Beaches If there's one thing that Fuerteventura isn't lacking, its beaches. There are so many to chose from that no matter what your tastes, they'll be 10 beaches on the island that match your preference. To name a few, Playa de Cofete, Plaza Sotavento, Playa El Cotillo Playa del Matorral, and Playa La Concha have outstanding views, while places like Playa de Ajuy, look even more amazing from above. Volcano Parks The volcanoes of Fuerteventura that actively shaped the landscape are now tourist attractions with wonderful views of the island. Calderón Hondo and Volcano Bayuyo are the most popular while Caldera de Gairia, Montaña Roja and Volcán de la Arena offer decent nature preserves hiking trails. Aloe Vera Plantations Aloe vera grows throughout the Canaries and plays a part in tourism in Fuerteventura with the Canary Aloe Vera Finca, Verdeaurora Bio Farm allowing access and tours to their plantations. The Finca Canarias Aloe Vera is also an option. Scenic Spots With mountainous areas all around Fuerteventura, there are many spots with breathtaking views like Mirador astronómico de Sicasumbre, Mirador Las Peñitas, Mirador Morro Velosa, Mirador del Risco de las Peñas, and Mirador de los Canarios. Caves Cuevas de los Molinos and Ajuy Stolen (at Playa de Ajuy) are the best around while other smaller options include Cueva del Dinero, Cueva Natural, and Cuevas de Lava. Unfortunately, the natural caves of Playa De Agua Liques have collapsed but the area is still beautiful to see. Botanical Gardens The Jardín Botánico Fuerteventura is in a class of its own, while the Botanical Garden at Oasis Wildlife is well visited. Another smaller area in the north is Parque Botánico de Corralejo. Outdoor Activities There's a lot to do outdoors, especially if you like hiking and biking trails of which there are numerous. With endless sunny days, sports like golfing and diving are popular year-round. Golfing The Fuerteventura Golf Club and the Golf Club Salinas de Antigua are the main attractions while the Jandía Golf Course and Las Playitas Golf course are also decent options. Go Karting Fuerteventura Gran Karting, Karting El Cadon and the Ocio Karting Club round out the go kart venues. MiniGolf The Minigolf Barcelo is quite excellent while the Minigolf La Cantina Mexico is so-so. Water Sports Most of the extreme watersports take part in the extreme north or south of Fuerteventura with surfing, windsurfing, kiteboarding, wing foils, and flyboards being the most popular. Jet ski rentals are more popular in the middle areas of the island, as are SUP yoga, kayaking, and snorkeling. Off-Roading From Jeeps, quads, and dune buggies to motorcycles and segways. If you can ride, you can rent it. Hiking Trails The island of Fuerteventura is full of hiking trails that go through the nature parks, beach parks, volcano parks, and scenic spots. Some greats options include Barranco del Infierno, Paisaje Luna de Vilaflor, Chinyero Volcano Walk, Alto de Guasamo, El Pirajal, Teno Rural Park, Montaña Blanca and Chinyero Volcano. Biking Trails Many of the island's mountain biking trails mirror those of the hiking trails. The road trails from Morro del Jable to Playa Mattoral, El Cotillo to Playa Mattoral, Costa Calma to Cañada del Rio, and the area around Corralejo are very scenic. Scuba Diving Fuerteventura and most especially the Corralejo area is one of the best places for diving in Europe. Since it rarely rains and the sun is shining almost every day, you dive all year round. Caletta de Fuste and Las Playitas are also great places to dive. Underwater there is a rugged lava landscape with canyons, overhangs, small caves, holes, and crevasses, along with a shipwreck. Some reefs have scorpionfish, grouper fish, trumpet fish, greater silver smelt while others have striped breams, zebra breams, yellow-finned mackerel, and many different species of moray eels (Tiger, Duke Augustus, Large Masked, etc.) Barracudas can be found about 12 meters in depth while curious amber jacks eye the divers closely from nearby. Farther away from the reefs on the sandy floor, you can find stingers rays, eagle rays, and angel sharks. Snorkeling The best snorkeling spots in Fuerteventura are El Cotillo, Isla de Lobos, Costa Calma, Caleta de Fuste, and Morro Jable, where you can see a wide range of species without having to dive underwater. Historical Places Many of the island's museums are former mansions, villas, and houses of notable persons, while the others showcase the Fuerteventura's unique history. The castles, lighthouses, windmills, and churches also make for great photos when taking scenic sightseeing drives. Museums The museums found in Fuerteventura are quite unique with themes that are not generally found elsewhere. The Salt Museum Salinas del Carmen is well, salty and the Museo del Queso Majorero is well, cheesy. While not as old as the castles, Casa de Los Coroneles is a wonderful 18th-century mansion. while Casa Alta de Tindaya is a 17th-18th century house worth visiting. Being built in 1937 Villa Winter is even younger, but the Nazi Party history makes it a unique find in the Canaries. On rainy days, you might want to check out the Ecomuseo La Alcogida, Museo de la Pesca Tradicional, Museo de las Tradiciones, Museo Activo del Gofio, Casa Santa Maria, Museo del Grano "La Cilla" or the Casa Museo Miguel de Unamuno (an exiled writer). Castles The most popular is Castillo de El Tostón, while Castillo de San Buenaventura is probably the most visible; Hornos de Cal de La Hondura and Hornos de Cal de la Guirra are the most obscure. Lighthouses The Entallada Lighthouse is one of the most photographs landmarks in Fuerteventura, whereas the Faro de Morro Jable and Faro de Punta Jandia are more notable for their beach surroundings. The Faro de Punta Pechiguera and Faro del Tolston are also quite generic looking with their rocky backdrops being more noteworthy. Churches The Iglesia de Santa María Betancuria is quite a popular as are the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Regla, and the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria. The facades of the The Parroquia de Nuestra Señora del Rosario, and the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora make for a nice photo backdrop. The Ermita Virgen del Tanquito has amazing views and is notable along with the Ermita de Nuestra Señora de la Caridad because they are so tiny. The Convento de San Buenaventura is also noteworthy because it's been abandoned. The Church of Nuestra Senora del Carmen (also known as Iglesia de Corralejo, St. James or FuerteChurch) has a futuristic look with architectural designs you'd only expect to see in big city buildings. The sermons are also in English, which is a rarity in the Canaries. Windmills The Molina De Puerto Lajas is very picturesque, while the Molinos De Villaverde provides a museum like experience. Other nice windmills dotted across the island are the Molinos De Villaverde, Molina De Puerto Lajas, Tefia Windmill, 4-winged Windmill, Windmill at Cactus Garden, Molino del Roque. and the Molina de Juan Morera. Statues & Monuments The Estatuas de Guise y Ayose (two kings statues) is very popular with photographers due to the gorgeous mountain backdrop. The Monument of 3 Heroes is an interesting read while dog lovers will enjoy Willy & Brandt Statue and the Statua di Winter. Art Galleries The Centro de Arte Casa Mané and Museo de Arte Sacro de Betancuria are worth a look while some smaller venues include the Centro de Arte Juan Ismael and the Art Gallery Nuria del Pino. Landmarks The Embalse de Los Molinos (old reservoir) and Antiguo Horno De Cal (old lime kilns) are nothing special but do come with a little history and photographic value. Nightlife While there are no huge clubs in Fuerteventura, there is a decent amount of nightlife. You'll find it scattered across small clubs and discos, as well as, bars and pubs, mainly of which have live music. Clubs & Discos Corralejo is where is the prime action is with spots like The Waikiki Beach Club, The Reflex, Kiwi Bar, Flicks, and Disco Star. In Puerto del Rosario there's Magma Disco Lounge and Disco Azucar. Morro Jable, has Tortuga and Mojo Beach, while Costa Calma has DVN and Mojo Beach, Live Music Rock and blues play heavily into the live music scene in Fuerteventura, but other than the music festivals, the concerts in Fuerteventura are usually very small ones found in bars. Piero's Cafe and the Rock Café are the most popular but other places like the Rock Island Bar, McCarthys Irish Pub, Pub Earth, O'Neill's Irish Pub, Bar Bugaloo, Musikbar Cheers, Coyote Bar, get some decent acts too. For those with a taste for jazz, there's La Guarida Del Blues, El Piano de Cola, The Kings, Blues Bar, and Trifasiac Sounds. Other places like The Pickled Palm have some music nights sprinkled in here and there. Festivals & Events The Fuerteventura Carnival in February-March is an island favorite as is the International Kite Festival in November. Music festivals include Fuertemusica in June/July and the International Jazz Festival in July/August. The PWA Grand Slam (July/August) takes place in Sovatento as does the PKRA Kiteboarding Grand Slam (August). September brings the Feast Day on Nuestra Senora del Pino, while October has the Isla de Lobos Swim Competition and the Fiesta de la Virgen del Rosario. Indoor Activities Since Fuerteventura gets an amazing amount of sun, typically, indoor activities should best be left until nighttime when you want to get out of it, or on those rare rainy days. Cinemas & Movie Theaters The best places to watch a movie in Fuerteventura are the Cine Yelmo in Antigua, and Cines Odeon in Puerto del Rosario. Performance Arts The performance arts scene here is more community orientated with smaller theaters like the Auditorio municipal de Corralejo Auditorio de Gran Tarajal Casa de la Cultura de Puerto del Rosario , and the Insular Audience of Fuerteventura Cabarets & Showbars Mike's 7th Heaven is where you go to see a drag queen show. Escape Rooms Exit Escape Rooms in Puerto del Rosario has two games to play, The Kidnapping and Dracula's Chambers. Casinos The Gran Casino Antigua Fuerteventura is not really all the big, but it's very close to the Atlantic Mall. The gaming room consists mainly of slot machines, as well as a few tables of American Roulette, Poker Sin Descarte, Poker Texas Hold'em, and Blackjack. Shopping When in need of something to do, you can always go shopping as there are plenty of shopping malls, streets and markets wherever there is a town or resort area. Malls The Centro Comercial Las Rotondas and Centro Comercial Atlántico (Altantic Mall) in Antigua, along with the Centro Comercial El Campanario in Corralejo are the most popular, In the south, there's the Centro Comercial El Palmeral, as well as the Ventura Shopping Center and Cosmo Shopping Center in Jandia. Markets Almost every town and resort area has a weekly market with varying stalls and vendors where you can find cheap souvenirs, knock-off brands, crafts items, jewelry, and aloe vera products. Street Markets The Montecastillo Street Market in Caleta de Fuste is open Tuesdays and Saturdays. Flea Markets There's one at the Acua Water Park on Tuesdays & Fridays, the El Campanario Market on Thursdays & Sundays, and the Casa de Los Coroneles Market on Tuesdays and Fridays. Artisan & Craft Markets There's the Lajares Artisan Market, Tetir Craft Market, and the Caleta de Fuste Market (every Friday). Restaurants Fine dining along with popular Mediterranean fare dominates the best restaurants in Fuerteventura. Corralejo: There's the The Ugly Duckling and the Retro Restaurant, while Costa Calma has L'Aperipizza and El Bar de Marko.Morro Jable: There's Laja de Morrojable, La Puntilla Casa Menso, Simon's Kitchen at the Irish Times, La Farola del Mar, and Mis Abuelos Tapas.There's also La Bodega in Jandia, La Falúa in La Lajita, Marabu in Esquinzo, La Barraca in Tarajaleo, and Restaurante Bahía in La Pared. Videos For those looking for a quick tour of the island, take a look at the video below. https://www.youtube.com/embed/4QJ4ALxD978 Tourist Map You'll find all things to do and top attractions in Fuerteventura including the most important places to visit, as well as the hottest tourist traps, nightlife, indoor and outdoor activities.

TravelDir

Category: Fuerteventura