13 Must See Spots In Fuerteventura: The Ultimate Guide

The island of Fuerteventura is part of the greater Canary Islands, located 97km off the coast of Northern Africa. The island experiences 320 sunny days per year & minimal rainfall. Making it a top choice if you’re looking to escape winter in Northern Europe, which is exactly what we did.

Fuerteventura was declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 2009, making it the perfect place for nature lovers alike. if you’re searching for how to spend your time on this little island, we have you covered.

Things to note before we get started: all of the places we will mention below require transportation to reach. We strongly recommend that you hire a car, or rent a van when on Fuerteventura to make the most out of your time here. See our blog ‘Everything you need to know for Vanlife in Fuerteventura’ if this interests you.

1. Parque Natural Jandia

Let’s start with our favourite corner, located in the southern tip of the island this natural park is almost completely cut off from the rest of Fuerteventura, via a 10km isthmus. The area is remote wilderness, with the highlight being Cofete Beach. Only accessible via a 20km, slightly scary in parts dirt track. This beach is an absolute must visit.

The hectic drive in will be well worth your time when you eventually reach this dramatic beach. We have received questions asking how bad the road really is. However, we do believe anyone can reach the end of the track as long as you take it slow & are patient with other drivers. The track is rocky & corrugated in sections so keep your speed low to avoid damage to your vehicle.

Another great reason to visit the park is to conquer Fuerteventura’s highest peak Pico de la Zarza. The start of the trail begins in the neighbouring town of Morro Jable & is a 13km return hike, that is generally considered challenging, taking on average 5 hours to complete.

2. Faro de Entallada

Located near the village of Las Playitas on the East Coast of Fuerteventura, this is this closest point on the island to the African continent. Moreover, on a clear day you may even be able to catch a glimpse of it across the Atlantic. The views from this lighthouse are outstanding out to the ocean & down the coast of Fuerteventura.

Even if the drive up is a little sketchy in parts, be careful on the twists & turns. It’s well worth visiting to experience just one of Fuerteventura’s typical barren landscapes.

3. Playa de Sotavento de Jandia

This is one of our favourite beaches on the whole island, again located on the East Coast between the towns of Costa Calma & Morro Jable. You can find this beautiful spot just off the main highway & then down a dirt track. The beach has a natural lagoon that appears with the tides, we recommend visiting at high tide to get the full effect if you’re flying a drone for photos. The water feels slightly warmer in the lagoon & is perfect for taking a dip as it is protected from the rough waves.

Sotavento is also home to some huge sand dunes that you can climb to the top of. We caught the most magical sunset from the top & then spent the night in our van on the beach. It really was hard to leave in the morning.

4. Mirador Sicasumbre (Astronomical Viewpoint)

As you drive north up the West Coast you will pass this viewpoint on your way through the high mountains. The landscape out here really looks like Mars, it’s so unique & deserted.

There is a small lay by to pull into & park for free at the viewpoint. From there you can walk up the hill to the main viewpoint across the surrounding landscape. Furthermore, there are a few other points to walk to from here to get a different perspective. It is also a well known spot for stargazing at night with signs to help you locate the constellations. We imagine it would be incredible to visit at night & witness the sky light up.

5. Ajuy

Ajuy is a small fishing village on the West Coast, it is well known for it’s caves that visitors flock to every day. You can visit the caves from the main beach by following the track that loops around the headland, the walk takes roughly 20 minutes. The village itself is remote & picturesque, making it perfect for capturing photos. In addition, the main beach is black sand, providing a unique setting in contrast to the powerful waves of the Atlantic. There are a few restaurants here too, mainly seafood.

If you decide to visit there is a free car park off the main roundabout on your way in. Follow the dirt track to the bottom of the road & you’ll likely see others parked where you need to be.

6. Mirador del Risco de las Penas

Another viewpoint to stop at on your way up the West Coast. There is a large free car park to pull into on the side of the road. You’ll be greeted by staggering views across the jagged mountains of Fuerteventura & a winding road that has almost been perfectly placed for you to get photos from above. The landscape here really reminded us of the desert as its so orange & barren, a perfect spot to rest up & enjoy lunch.

7. Betancuria

Definitely Fuerteventura’s prettiest town! Nestled into the mountains of the island, Betancuria is the quaint old capital of Fuerteventura & is steeped in history. The town is like stepping back in time to before mass tourism took over the island. Back in the 15th century it was founded by the Normans & was subject to plenty of pirate attacks despite its remote inland location.

Today, there is signage throughout the town explaining it’s historical significance as well as craft shops, cafe’s & restaurants. The centre piece of this picturesque town is the Iglesia de Santa María de Betancuria, which was the first church to be built on Fuerteventura. This town turned out to be Harry’s favourite place on the whole island, he loved it so much.

8. Puertito de los Molinos

If you’re after ‘end of the road’ vibes, this teeny tiny village, I’m not sure if you could even call it that, is for you. Another West Coast gem, you will quite literally drive to the end of the road to reach this place.

What you’ll find is a rocky beach lined with adorable fisherman’s houses & two seafood restaurants. If we were to buy a beach shack, it would absolutely be somewhere like Los Molinos, tucked away from the rest of the world. There isn’t much to do here other than admire the scenery, but we are still adding it to this list, as we thought it was a really cool place to check out.

9. La Concha, El Cotillo

Another fantastic beach on the island, situated next door to the town of El Cotillo. It is one of the island’s most well known beaches, due to its bright white sand & crystal clear, calm waters.

In contrast, to the rest of the West Coast the waves are much less fierce here, due to its sheltered position & curved shape. There is a free car park, toilets & showers here also. Although, it may not be as remote as the other beaches we have mentioned in this blog. It still deserves to be here because, who can argue with blue ocean like that?

10. Piedra Playa

We mentioned this beach in a previous blog post ‘Everything you need to know for Vanlife in Fuerteventura’, & we’re going to talk about it again as it is the perfect place to catch a sunset with a picnic, after a day spent in the ocean.

Located in the coastal town of El Cotillo again, this time on the other end of town. It is a popular surf spot & therefore gets busy. As the sun starts to set, whilst you are parked up on the cliffs. It is the prime spot to be, we will let the below photo speak for itself…

11. Calderon Hondo

If you are anything like us & enjoy hiking, this is an easily accessible hike to the top of a volcano, in the north of the island. It is also a super easy one, meaning anyone with an average level of fitness can get to the top as it only takes around 15-20 minutes. To get to where you need to park, navigate to ‘Camino Calderas’ & you’ll eventually arrive at a free car park. From there you will be able to see the volcano & signage pointing you in the right direction.

Once you’re at the top you will find a platform that looks directly into the crater of the volcano. With sweeping views across the entire area & across to Lanzarote, the neighbouring Canary Island.

12. Corralejo Sand Dunes

The north eastern town of Corralejo is bordered by the most impressive sand dunes that cover an area of 26km squared. It boasts views across the Atlantic Ocean on one side & mountainous vistas on the opposite. They are the largest sand dunes in the Canary islands & are an absolute must see when in Fuerteventura.

The dunes begin at the southern end of Corralejo town & finish towards Montana Roja volcano. We think the most beautiful part of the park is towards the southern end, as there are small beaches here that integrate beautifully with the surrounding sand dunes. A favourite of ours is Playa del Moro. There is a main road that intersects the dunes, along this road you’ll find it widens to allow you to park for free on the roadside. Great for if you want to get out & explore further, which we highly recommend you do.

Alternatively, If you don’t have a car there is a bus route that runs to the sand dunes from Corralejo town – the number 6, you can find it here.

13. Lobos Island

Lobos Island is a small island located 2km off the north eastern coast of Fuerteventura, it is a protected natural park that is home to one of Europe’s most diverse eco systems. The island is mostly uninhabited expect for the 4 permanent residents, in the once fishing settlement of El Puertito. There are no roads & the landscape is rough & rugged, reflecting its volcanic past like the rest of the Canary Islands.

Visiting the island is the perfect day trip from Fuerteventura, allowing you to get back to nature. To reach the island you must catch a 15 minute water taxi from Corralejo. It costs only 16 Euros per person return with Fuerte Charter, who also offer private water taxi’s & catamaran excursions to the island. Once you’re on the island there are walking tracks to lead you to different areas, it will take you approximately 2 hours to walk the entire circumference.

With sheltered beaches, rockpools & crystal clear waters it’s a great place to go snorkelling & really makes you feel as though you’ve landed on a desert island. Our favourite beach is pictured below, with location.