Are you planning to come to Fuerteventura for the first time, or are you already fairly familiar with the island but would like to explore something new?
In any case, this island offers so much more than just the ocean, the waves, the wind, and good fun in cozy bars, so it makes sense to hit the road and start exploring. I’ve put together an itinerary for a trip around the island. You’ll need a car, and I’ll state which part of the road is dirt, so make sure your rental company is fine with that. We’ll start in Corralejo, but you can jump in at the closest location and move on from there if you’re staying elsewhere. I’m not recommending squeezing all the below places in one day because each one deserves some time if you want to enjoy it properly. Also, you can choose the sites that interest you more and make your own itinerary.
Corralejo – Lajares – El Cotillo
From Corralejo, drive towards Lajares and stop there for a short walk. As you’ll see, the bars, restaurants, and shops are mainly situated along the main road and are easy to find. There’s also an artisanal market there on the main town square (check the working days). Have a coffee and soak in the chilled local / surfers’ life. Continue to El Cotillo and walk through the small city center of this former fishing village. You can also visit the lighthouse (Faro de Tostón), some 10 min drive away, or walk (drive) along the long sandy beach (dirt road) that stretches from El Cotillo to the south. When the conditions are right, you’ll also find some popular surfing spots there.
El Cotillo – La Oliva – Los Molinos
From El Cotillo, continue on FV-10 towards La Oliva and check Casa de Los Coroneles (a historic building, once the seat of the island’s colonel, now a cultural center), then pass the village Tindaya (you’ll see the famous pyramid-shaped “holy mountain” Tindaya on your right; be aware, Tindaya is the only mountain on Fuerteventura you’re not allowed to climb!), and continue in the direction of Betancuria. In Tefia, you’ll reach an exit right towards Puertito de Los Molinos. Don’t expect too much, but you’ll love it if you’re into “back to the roots” places. There’s a nice bar/restaurant close to the parking, and if you explore a bit more (direction towards the right part of the village), you’ll find a unique Las Bohemias del Amor restaurant there, which is very worth giving a try. From the parking to the left, there’s a short trail leading up to a viewpoint of the whole village. From the parking facing inland, you can follow the small trail next to the water spring that will take you a couple of hundred meters inside the “barranco” and offer some unusual views of Fuerteventura water bodies, even small ponds with ducks and lots of green. Los Molinos is otherwise the most famous for its caves, but they’re only reachable from the seaside. Remember that the conditions to reach the caves are very rare; the tide should be at its lowest, with calm seas and no waves – these conditions mainly occur in September.
Los Molinos – Aguas Verdes
From Los Molinos, return to the main road and keep right towards the south. You’ll soon reach Llanos de la Concepcion, where you’ll find a small road right to Aguas Verdes. Aguas Verdes is a place that I definitely and ONLY recommend in low tide and calm seas. It’s an area of natural pools, really beautiful in calm weather, and possibly quite dangerous in any other. The area is covered by water at high tide, so you won’t even see much. In low tide and windy conditions, which generate waves, the feeling of safety can be deceiving. Although it’s possible to walk along the pools closer to the shore (as opposed to closer to the open sea), the ocean hits strongly, and the waves, with their immense force, can reach you there, too. At low tide and in calm conditions, it’s a very nice place to walk, jump into the natural pools or even enjoy a “beach day” there.
Aguas Verdes – Betancuria
From Aguas Verdes, return to the main road and turn right towards Betancuria. The road will take you up to the beautiful viewpoint of Morro Velosa and just a bit further down the road to another viewpoint Mirador de Guise y Ayose. Make sure to make a photo stop there; you won’t only see both sides of Fuerteventura, the northern and the Betancuria valley towards the south, but also two giant bronze statues of Guise and Ayose, the kings of Fuerteventura before the conquest in 1402.
From there, you’ll descend to the other side, to Betancuria, a former Fuerteventura capital. You’ll soon see a difference in architecture and its overall look and vibe compared to Corralejo, Lajares, and Cotillo. Betancuria is relatively small but very worth a quick stop. If you’re hungry, you’ll find some good, also vegan lunch options there.
Betancuria – Vega de Rio Palmas
With the bellies nicely full, it’s time for an easy hike. I recommend you drive just a few minutes further south, to Vega de Rio Palmas, and take a hike in the canyon below the main road, called Barranco de las Peñitas. You can finish at the small white picturesque Ermita de la Peña chapel or, if you feel fit and strong, continue a bit further up to the famous Arco de las Peñitas. I described the hike in detail here.
Vega de Rio Palmas – Ajuy caves
After finishing the hike, return to the main road and continue towards Pajara. The road will wind along the mellow brownish hills, and you’ll have a couple of really lovely photo-stop opportunities along the way. After reaching Pajara keep right and follow the sign to La Pared (Ajuy). Soon after leaving Pajara, the main road will keep going south, and the exit to the right will take you to Ajuy. A former small fishing village with a black sandy beach is famous for its caves (Cuevas de Ajuy). Take an hour to walk along the coast and down the stairs to the cave. The cave stretches a bit inland if you wish to explore more. You’ll find a couple of bars and restaurants in Ajuy and an area of nice natural pools a bit south of town (follow the signs to “Charcones de Ajuy,” you’ll also find a hiking trail there; the coast there is pretty wild, so walk carefully).
Ajuy – La Pared
From Ajuy, return to the main road again and turn right towards the south direction of La Pared. For me, that’s the most beautiful road on the island, winding along the impressive landscape. Stop at Mirador astronómico de Sicasumbre and take a short (10 min) hike up if you have a moment to spare. There are some info boards there worth reading, too. Due to almost non-existing light pollution, the place is also a spectacular star-gazing spot (hence the location).
Facing south, you’ll see an impressive and challenging Montaña Cardon on your left (contact me for a private guided tour or if you need information about the hike).
Continue towards La Pared and make a short stop there. You won’t find much life in La Pared, but the landscape is beautiful, so take a walk along the beach or on top of Punta Guadalupe, a huge rock formation reaching out to the ocean (be careful and respect the elements!).
La Pared – Costa Calma
The island narrows to only 5 km there, so it’s easy to cross from the west coast to the east. From La Pared, continue on the main road to Costa Calma. Costa Calma is one of Fuerteventura’s main tourist cities in the southern part of the island, together with Morro Jable further south. You’ll find all the typical infrastructure there, from hotels, bars, restaurants, and shops to beautiful sandy beaches and various activities. Costa Calma is also popular for its great wind conditions that attract windsurfers and kite surfers. You’ll find two big sports centers there, Rene Egli and ION, where you can rent equipment and take classes, also for beginners. Even if you’re not a surfer, go there to check the huge lagoon that fills at high tide (and at the correct moon cycle). Read more about that here, at nr 1., under the “SOUTH.”
Costa Calma – Morro Jable
From Costa Calma, direction south, you’ll be driving on the highway, with a couple of exits towards the beautiful sandy beaches along the way. Morro Jable is bigger than Costa Calma and also very touristy. There’re a lot of big hotels and hotel resorts there, as well as a vivid old city center, worth visiting. The sandy beach also stretches along the Morro Jable coast. If you’re in the hiking mode, Morro Jable is a starting point to Pico de la Zarza, Fuerteventura’s higher peak. You can read more about this hike with the most amazing views of the west coast and Cofete here.
Morro Jable – Jandia – Cofete
The main road leading south ends in Morro Jable’s port with ferries to Gran Canaria and Tenerife. This is where the more remote and “off-road” part of the Jandía peninsula begins and where you’ll also find Cofete, a small (yet popular) village on the wild western coast, famous for one of the most impressive beaches in Europe. If you’re into that, you’re at the right place. Before the port, take the right turn, direction Cofete, and keep going. Further down the road, you’ll see a sign pointing right towards Cofete, while the “main” (dirt) road will take you all the way south to the end of the island. You’ll find a small village Puerto de la Cruz there and a bit further also a lighthouse Faro Punta de Jandia. There are beaches along the Jandia coast, but be mindful of the sea state and the tide. Don’t enter the water unless you see people swimming there since the currents can be dangerous. If you decide to visit Cofete, take the right turn up to the mountains and make a photo stop at the highest point before the road starts descending to the other, western side. Before reaching Cofete, you can take a steep road down to the left (follow the sign: Roque del Moro and make sure your car will be able to make it) to see an impressive monolithic rock. You’ll already be able to see it nicely from the beach close to the parking; you can walk closer, but don’t try to reach it on foot in high tide and wavy seas. If you’re skipping Roque del Moro, keep driving straight to Cofete, park there and take a walk along the beach in both directions. Walking south, you’ll eventually reach the mentioned Roque del Moro, and walking north, you’ll come to El islote de las Siete Viudas, a small “kind of an island” that remains attached to the mainland (so, technically, a peninsula) that’s worth taking a look and a short walk. Regardless of how attractive the Cofete beach looks, don’t go swimming; the currents are invisible but strong and dangerous. Before learning about that, I went for a swim and then struggled pretty hard for at least 15 minutes to get out of the water that didn’t even reach my knees. It was terrifying and very eye-opening about how powerful the ocean can be. Instead of swimming, better have a coffee or lunch at the only restaurant there in Cofete; they offer good food and very efficient service.
Cofete – Morro Jable – Gran Tarajal – Las Playitas – Faro de la Entallada
From Cofete, return to Morro Jable and continue on the main road back to the north, this time following the east coast. Take a short detour to Gran Tarajal, a very laid-back and non-touristy city, to feel the local vibe. You can take a walk along the coast (and the beach) and have something to eat or drink. Not far from Gran Tarajal, you’ll find Las Playitas, a really small village worth a quick look at, and my favorite lighthouse, Faro de la Entellada, just a couple of minutes’ drive away.
Las Playitas – Corralejo
From there, return to the main road direction of Corralejo. Driving back, you’ll have a couple of options to detour towards the island’s center, for example, towards Antigua, Tetir, and other places. If you feel like exploring more or just driving through, that can be rewarding, too. If you stay on the main road direction Corralejo, you’ll pass Fuerteventura’s salt pans (worth visiting, there’s also a museum there), some touristy places like Caleta de Fuste, and Fuerteventura’s capital Puerto del Rosario. Close to Corralejo, make sure to take the scenic road that will take you through Corralejo Dunes Natural Park. The dunes are close to the city, so you may have already been there before, but they’re a must if you haven’t (or if you’re staying at some other place on the island). There’s a coastal road driving through; take it and enjoy the views! You can also park there along the road (leave the car where you see other cars; usually, that would be at the beach side of the road; if you’re coming from the south, that’s your right side); off-parking can sink your car into the sand, and you’ll need a towing service to pull it out. After parking a car safely, with some water and sunscreen, take a barefoot walk into the dunes; it’s a rewarding experience with great views in total silence. Be respectful to nature.
Finally …
There’s a lot of information about what to see and do on Fuerteventura online. You can take the above recommendation as a starting point for your own research. If you need more information about the places you’re interested in, or you’d like to learn more about Fuerteventura’s best volcanoes, wild west coast, the most photogenic places, or do something completely different – don’t hesitate to contact me!
Ps. If you wish to check some other beautiful but more hidden, less known, less touristy, and more “off the beaten path” places, check here. The PDF includes short descriptions, parking locations, and all essential information about the recommended places.
