Are you planning your first trip to Fuerteventura and don’t know what to expect, where to stay, which car to rent, and what to bring along? I’ve put together a list of frequently asked questions and answered them hoping they will make your decisions easier.
1. Should you stay in the north of the island, near the central part, or rather in the south?
This mostly depends on your interests and the way you’re traveling. Each part of Fuerteventura offers different things and although it’s the same island, staying in the north vs. in the south makes a difference.
THE SOUTH: The south offers two bigger cities (bigger – for Fuerteventura standards), Costa Calma, and further south, closer to Jandia, Morro Jable. Both lie on the eastern coast, are very touristy and have all the necessary infrastructure. The facilities there are mostly hotels, also big ones. In case you’re into chilling by the pool with a cocktail and then changing the setting for endless beautiful sandy beaches, the south is your place. It’s popular with German tourists, so it’s not uncommon to spot street signs in the German language.
Another important thing to mention is Costa Calma’s windsurfing/kitesurfing paradise region at Sotavento beach (check “Rene Egli” for more info). A huge lagoon there fills with water in high tide, empties in low, and offers no less than 5 km of a closed, safe playground for all wind-thrill-seekers. The lagoon is divided in two and partially dedicated to windsurfers and partially to kitesurfers, so whoever you are, you’ll be together with your crowd. There are two big centers there where you can rent equipment or book a course – Rene Egli and ION a bit further south at Risco del Paso. There are days that the lagoon doesn’t fill even at the high tide hours due to the moon cycle. To make sure you’ll be there at the right moment, you can either check Rene Egli’s webcam or download the Lagoon schedule from their website. If you’re fine with surfing outside, in the open ocean, that’s always an option, too, although it’s very likely going to be choppy, and you’ll have to fight some beach-breaking waves first.
Staying in the south, you’ll also be closer to Jandía natural park, the remote and dry southernmost part of Fuerteventura. The paved road ends soon after leaving Morro Jable in the direction of Cofete, so make sure you have a car that allows you to drive off-road. Visiting Cofete is one of the island’s highlights. So is the island’s highest mountain, Pico de la Zarza (the trail starts in Morro Jable), in case you’re into hiking with some incredible views of the wild west coast.
Fuerteventura narrows to only 5 km just before Costa Calma, which makes crossing the island to the west side, to La Pared, really easy. La Pared is a small sleepy village with not much to do besides surfing, hiking, and chilling – and enjoying the setting sun.
THE CENTRAL PART: On the east coast, you’ll find the island’s capital Puerto del Rosario there, and the airport. A bit south, there’s Gran Tarajal, a vibrant city with the majority of the local population – if you wish to feel the local vibe, take a stroll along the long sandy beach in the city center. Minutes drive away, you’ll find Las Playitas, a cute small fishing village with a sports hotel resort, and my favorite lighthouse Faro de la Entallada. Driving inland and crossing toward the west coast can be a wonderful experience, too. You’ll see the typical countryside, villages that haven’t changed for decades, and enjoy coffee with the locals in bars that don’t see many tourists. The central part of Fuerteventura also hosts Betancuria with its very popular Barranco and arco de las Peñitas hike and a couple of small towns, all well worth a visit: Ajuy with the famous caves, Pajara, Antigua, Tiscamanita, Los Molinos and others.
THE NORTH: The north is attractive for a couple of reasons. There are a couple of nice cities/towns there – Corralejo on the east coast, landlocked Lajares, and El Cotillo further on the west coast. Minutes drive away, Villaverde and La Oliva are pretty laid back. Corralejo has changed massively due to tourism in the last 30 years. It’s a small city with a vibrant, touristy center and many accommodation options. It retains its chilled vibe and offers all the infrastructure, the shops, surfing rentals, walking-distance surfing spots, good restaurants, and nightlife, so staying there makes sense. Also, you’ll be close to Lajares, an inland town with an even cooler vibe, lots of cute shops and bars, and some of the fanciest new houses you can see on the island. Further to the west lies El Cotillo, a former fishing village; still today more laid back, although obviously with everything a tourist needs. Compared to Corralejo, there’s less going on, but you’ll have the most beautiful sunsets there on the endless sandy beach – and that’s something hard to beat.
Very close to Corralejo, there’s Corralejo Dunes Natural Park, the most extensive dunes area found on the Canary Islands and of immense beauty. You’ll find a beautiful, long sandy beach area, a road going through (Corralejo-Puerto del Rosario), and the dunes on both sides. You can park anywhere along the road (IMPORTANT: make sure to only park where you see the other cars, which will mainly be on the coastal side of the street; the other side, facing the dunes, is usually too soft, your vehicle will dive into the sand and you’ll need help to tow it out; normally the service costs around 100 euros). There are a couple of surfing spots there too. Make sure not to go swimming when the red flag is displayed – in that case, it’s either too windy, or the currents are too strong. If you have a board, you can enter with a red flag.
Another thing I’m recommending is taking a dirt road from Corralejo, along the northern shore, to El Cotillo. You’ll be driving through really wild terrain, close to the ocean, through a cute tiny village Majanicho, to El Cotillo lighthouse Faro de Tostón and further to El Cotillo center.
If you’re into hiking, there are a couple of really beautiful and easy volcanoes here. You can find a blog about northern Fuerteventura volcano hikes here, with some additional info about how to get there and what to expect. In any case, if you’re only picking one, I’m recommending Calderon Hondo in Lajares, which is very easy, also suitable for kids, and has a perfect crater.
If you have at least half of the day to spare, jump on a speed boat and take a look at Lobos island. It also makes a great family trip.
2. Do you need a car?
You don’t need a car to spend your holidays reading a book by the hotel pool. For all other plans, you do. Public transport is available on the island, but the buses (here called the “gua gua”) won’t take you to all the places you’ll want to see. As you’ll soon learn, Fuerteventura has great paved roads that connect all the bigger cities and towns. The traffic is relatively chilled, people often drive slower than permitted and will patiently support your “I’m lost” maneuvers. On the other hand, a big part of Fuerteventura remains wild – so the roads remain dirt. That’s for sure one of the most attractive parts of this island – its raw, wild, and unspoiled side, but discovering it comes with a price. You’ll need a car that allows you to get there (usually, something 4×4), and not so rarely, also some courage. There are places I managed to get myself into with a car, only to be challenged with how to return to safety. Of course, not all dirt roads are dangerous – for the easy ones, you’ll only need a rental contract that permits you to drive off-road.
Coming for holidays, you’ll very likely rent a car. Rent-a-car companies typically don’t allow driving off-road. Paved roads are fine, dirt roads are not. Although they won’t stress this out while selling you the rental, you will have to sign the contract with a small print stating precisely this. A couple of companies here will play along and let your off-road activities slip, but the majority won’t. The cars are equipped with GPS’s so they can spot you easily. In case you’re parked off-road (and you will be since paved roads can’t reach the big majority of surfing spots and other interesting places), it’s very likely you’ll face a “rent-a-car fine” when you bring the car back. Some rent-a-car companies have cars that you can officially take off-road (like Cicar and Payless – panda cross 4×4), but different insurance conditions may apply. Make sure to check your options and be well aware of the rental conditions, and then book the right car with the right company; otherwise, a good, cheap deal can quickly turn into a costly one. Shopping around, you’ll find very different prices and very different conditions. I always recommend taking the full insurance option (zero excess fees), which allows you to feel more comfortable and less stressed if something happens. Also, in this case, you usually avoid the deposit locked on your credit card.
3. What to pack?
I’m not talking about spending the week in a hotel with all sorts of happening and gala events – for that, you’ll pack accordingly. I’m talking about what to bring along for the most common, everyday outdoorsy lifestyle. There are really warm days, even in winter, when you’ll definitely need something short. In other parts of the year, even more so. That said, keep in mind that you’re on a windy island. Even in August, with the strong northerly wind, it can get chilly also during the day, and you’ll need something warmer. Coming with a set of long/short pants, a couple of T-shirts, and some sweaters to put over, and maybe a wind jacket should more or less cover it. Plus the swimsuit, the flip flops, and hiking shoes (can be regular sneakers if you’re not planning something too extreme). Don’t overthink and don’t overdress because the style around here is easygoing, and you won’t need much.
4. You’re not a surfer, should you come?
Of course!! This island is so much more than just a surfing (kitesurfing, windsurfing..) destination! You can just chill by the pool or at the beach, hike volcanoes, explore the island and its beautiful sites, enjoy the food, take a yoga/pilates/skate/sup/photography/dancing or some other class, or treat yourself to a nice massage, or just hang out and enjoy the island vibe.
5. Which are the top things you should visit, do and see in Fuerteventura?
In northern Fuerteventura, the Corralejo sand dunes and the sandy beach along the dunes (Corralejo dunes natural park), Corralejo city, coffee in Lajares, sunset in El Cotillo.
Hike on top of Calderon Hondo volcano in Lajares. It’s easy, suitable for kids, and has a perfect crater.
Drive along the North Shore from Corralejo to El Cotillo (a dirt road) or the other way around.
Visit Aguas Verdes natural pools (only on a calm day and at low tide).
Visit picturesque Puertito de Los Molinos and its barranco.
Visit the former Fuerteventura capital Betancuria.
Take a scenic road Betancuria – La Pared.
Take a Barranco de las Peñitas hike to the small chapel or even further up to the arc.
Visit Ajuy caves. Very touristy, but nice.
Make a quick stop at La Pared and take a look at the beach.
Find a remote (and safe) beach from Costa Calma to Morro Jable and swim naked.
Visit the Costa Calma Sotavento beach and the lagoon.
Visit Cofete (dirt road); make sure to stop at the viewpoint for a photo. Then, walk along the Cofete beach in both directions. DO NOT SWIM IN COFETE. Looks nice, but the currents are really dangerous.
Drive all the way to the southernmost point of Jandía and visit the lighthouse (dirt road).
Hike up the highest Fuerteventura peak Pico de la Zarza, above Cofete. The trail starts in Morro Jable.
Visit the most beautiful lighthouse Faro de la Entallada, close to Gran Tarajal and Las Playitas.
Make a stop in Gran Tarajal to explore the local city vibe.
Visit a cute small village Las Playitas.
Visit at least one of the aloe vera shops and learn about these beautiful plants.
Visit the salt pans and a museum close to Caleta de Fuste.
Visit Centro de Interpretacion Los Molinos in Tiscamanita or/and Museo del queso Majorero in Antigua. Learn about the Fuerteventura windmills and the goat chees production, as well as about the local flora and fauna and the Canary Islands volcanic origins.
Visit Lobos island.
6. What’s the most typical food?
Although not all the dishes from this list originate from Fuerteventura or the Canary Islands, they’re considered “local cuisine,” so it makes sense to try them. Also, they’re delicious, so come hungry!
– Papas arrugadas (con mojo) or wrinkled potatoes; small cute potatoes cooked in very salty water. They usually come with “mojo rojo” (red deep) and/or “mojo verde” (green deep)
– Pimientos de padrón; small peppers that are only put in very hot oil for a couple of seconds. Usually salted with the big grain salt
– Gambas al ajillo; shrimps in garlic, typically served in a lot of still boiling olive oil. If you’re into shrimps, it’s a must
– Gofio, in all different variations, from the main course to the desert, even in the form of an ice cream
– Queso de cabra a la plancha; grilled goat cheese, usually served with some sort of jam or honey
Still have questions? If you need a piece of advice, you’d like to book something, but you’re not comfortable doing it by yourself, or would just like to chat a bit about how things work around here, get in touch with me at jakica@siol.net with your questions. I’ll reply to your email or ensure the right answers are ready when we schedule a WhatsApp (video)call to talk them through. Please, choose the offer that suits your needs best.
This service is available in English, Spanish, Slovenian and Croatian language.
___
The above tips and recommendations are made from my personal knowledge and experiences and/or from the experiences of people I trust. Links/recommendations are not affiliated.
