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Fuerteventura Travel Guide
Welcome to the Fuerteventura travel guide from holiday extras. How spectacular are the beaches and is it really that windy? Let's find out.
What you'll find in this guide:
Practical Information
Getting to Fuerteventura
Getting around Fuerteventura
Top things to do in Fuerteventura
Where to stay in Fuerteventura
Where to eat in Fuerteventura
Fuerteventura for families
Fuerteventura for LGBTQ+ travellers
Accessibility in Fuerteventura
Fuerteventura FAQs
Practical Info
GMT
Euro EUR
Spanish
Type C, E and F
Avg 4 hrs 15 minutes
As part of the Canary Islands, Fuerteventura lies in the Atlantic Ocean about 115km from the coast of West Africa. So while it's culturally and politically part of Spain, it basks in a lovely sub-tropical climate.
Some facts about Fuerteventura
Fuerteventura is the second largest of the Canary Islands after Tenerife, but it's actually the least populated. Most of the population live in Puerto del Rosario, which has been the capital since 1860.
It boasts 32km of gorgeous sandy beaches along with a rugged, mountainous interior. In 2009 UNESCO declared the whole island a Biosphere Reserve thanks to its marine environment home to dolphins, whales and turtles, and its progress towards sustainable tourism.
TopWhat's the weather like in Fuerteventura?
Like its Canarian relatives, Fuerteventura enjoys a pleasant, spring-like climate pretty much all year round. There are small variations in temperature around the year, but the biggest difference is how often it rains and how windy it gets.
When it comes to deciding when to visit the island, that's really up to you. The temperature hangs around the 20Cs throughout the year, climbing to the mid 20Cs in the summer months (June, July, August), and dropping no lower than the high teens in the winter (December, January, February).
The island is known for being particularly windy, and the gusts are usually the strongest in summer and autumn – this makes it a popular time for surfers and windsurfers.
There's also the Scirocco to consider. A hot wind from the Sahara, also known as Calima, it typically brings clouds of red dust and unusually high temperatures to the island. It's not all bad though, the dust sometimes creates beautiful, fiery red sunsets. It usually occurs in winter, but it can happen at any time of year.
In general though, if you're after the best weather then the best time to visit Fuerteventura is late spring or early summer. May to July is when the island has the most sun (about 9 hours a day), the warmest temperatures and least amount of rain.
Do you need to speak Spanish to visit Fuerteventura?
The official language on Fuerteventura is Spanish, though English is widely spoken especially in the tourism areas. If you want to have a go at speaking the language, have a look at our handy phrases.
Helpful Spanish phrases
- Hello (informal) | Hola
- How are you? | ¿Cómo estás?
- What's your name? | ¿Cómo se llama?
- My name is ... | Mi nombre es ...
- Please | Por favor
- Thank you | Gracias
- How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?
- Where is? | ¿Donde esta?
- Table for two | Mesa para dos, por favor
- Numbers | One - Uno; Two - Dos; Three - Tres; Four - Cuatro; Five - Cinco
- The bill, please | La cuenta por favor
- Goodbye | Adios
Getting to Fuerteventura
Can you fly direct to Fuerteventura?
The easiest way to get to Fuerteventura is to fly, and as it's a popular destination there are plenty of direct flights from the UK and they take just over 4 hours. Direct flights from the main UK regional airports are operated mainly by Wizz Air, Ryanair, Jet2 and easyJet.
The airport, El Matoral, is about 5km from the capital city. After landing it can take anywhere from 15 to 90 minutes to get to your resort, depending on where you're staying. It's a good idea to book your airport transfers before you go.
Fuerteventura Airport Transfers
Pre-book your Fuerteventura airport transfers, with prices starting from under £5.00 and FREE cancellations.
Fuerteventura Car Hire
Pre-book your Fuerteventura Airport car hire, with prices starting from just £9.42 per day with FREE cancellations*
Getting around Fuerteventura
The island is around 60 miles long and 18 miles wide, so it's pretty easy to get from one side to the other within a day.By car
Hiring a car and driving in Fuerteventura is pretty easy and a great way to see the island on your own schedule. The roads are well-maintained and there are plenty of signs, plus there's not too much traffic to worry about.
You can drive around the whole island in one day, take it slow to enjoy the scenery and explore all the different routes.
Public transport
The island has a decent bus network that spreads across the island from Puerto del Rosario. If you're taking the bus to your resort from the airport, you'll need to go to Puerto del Rosario first, and then change.
When it comes to exploring the island, you can reach most popular places by bus. Just make sure you plan your journey ahead of time if you want to visit some of the smaller villages off the beaten track.
Buses are generally quite cheap, with a minimum fare of around €1.45 and a max of around €10. But if you're planning on using them regularly it might be worth getting a Bono card, which gives you 30% off. They cost €2 and you can buy them from the driver and load it with however much you need.
TopBest places to stay in Fuerteventura
Corralejo
Stunning beaches and plenty of hotels | Best for nightlife
While Fuerteventura might not be the go-to Canary Island for partying, Corralejo is lively enough for a good night out if you fancy getting on the beers when you're away.
The real draw though is the absolutely stunning beaches, where the white sand and clear water seem to go on for miles. Combine those with a charming historic core, easy access to the Corralejo Natural Park and an excellent choice of resort hotels, and you've got all bases covered.
Nuevo Horizonte
Laid-back and idyllic | Best for a quiet getaway
Quaint and charming with rows of white and yellow houses, Nuevo Horizonte on the island's east coast is ideal if all you want from your holiday is a quiet, relaxing and restful break.
What it lacks in the amenities you'd expect from a big, popular resort town, it makes up for in authenticity and charm. Plus it has dozens of restaurants offering enough different cuisines to take your palette all across the world, from India to America.
Costa Caleta
Purpose built with a sheltered beach | Best for families
Also known as Caleta de Fusta, this resort was built with tourism in mind but that doesn't mean it's all high-rise hotels and busy strips. With a choice of resorts to suit your budget, Costa Caleta is ideal for that classic fly and flop holiday.
It's an ideal choice for families thanks to its sheltered beach and kid-friendly attractions, like crazy golf, play parks and amusements.
What to eat in Fuerteventura
It's always a good idea to eat local when you're away, to get a proper taste of the place you're visiting.
Goat is abundant on Fuerteventura so you'll probably find it in many dishes and in many restaurants. A particular favourite is majorero stew, made with vegetables and a rich sauce.
The goats are also used to make a unique Canarian cheese, with a distinct flavour and ochre colour.
Fish is also popular thanks to its abundance, so you can expect a range of dishes made with locally caught sea bass, cherne, corvina, sea bream and even moray eel. Shellfish is popular too, with limpets often on the menu.
TopTop things to do in Fuerteventura
Corralejo Natural Park
This incredible landscape is a bit like the Canary Islands in miniature, with sand dunes that stretch for miles, a gorgeous beach and fields of rugged, volcanic rock.
You can drive there along a road which overlooks the dramatic dunes, but you'll have to explore on foot to get the most out of your visit. Just bring plenty of water – walking on all that sand is thirsty work. A towel is a good idea too, you'll be so tempted to get into the sea once you see how sparkling, blue and refreshing it looks.
Lobos Island
This little island lies about 2km north of Fuerteventura. It's totally uninhabited and a tiny taste of a desert island paradise. It's about 4.5km across and you get there by boat from Corralejo – spend a day enjoying the untouched beauty.
There's a small peak here too, about 127 metres high and definitely worth a hike if just for the views of Fuerteventura or Lanzarote. If that's not your bag, relax on an undisturbed, deserted beach, or watch the surfers that come to the north of the island for the Atlantic winds.
Betancuria
Betancuria was once the capital city of Fuerteventura, which you might find surprising given its small size and population of just over 800. It's close to the centre of the island and offers a glimpse of traditional island life, with its white-washed houses and paved plazas.
Pay a visit to the Convento de san Buenaventura, which was abandoned and is now partially ruined. Or for something a bit more intact, visit the Church of Santa Maria de Betancuria which is a great spot for photos and popular with street performers.
Pico de la Zarza
Fuerteventura's highest peak, reaching a lofty 807 metres, is a testament to the volcanic formation of the island 20 million years ago when it first emerged from the sea.
The trail up to it is a popular hike and it's an excellent way to gain a new perspective on Fuerteventura's wild, arid beauty – just make sure to start early, bring lots of water and paste yourself in sun cream.
Even if you don't want to brave the journey to the top, the mountain is still worth a visit. Lying within the Jandia Natural Park, the area is home to some diverse plant and wildlife, like barbary falcons and Egyptian vultures.
Fuerteventura For Families
Fuerteventura is an ideal destination for a family holiday thanks to its many well-equipped resorts and sheltered, sandy beaches. There are plenty of kid-friendly attractions to keep everyone entertained, whether it's an adventure in the Corralejo dunes, a Segway tour or a trip to Acua Water Park.
Accessibility in Fuerteventura
Fuerteventura, like all the Canary Islands, is welcoming to everyone who wants to visit. The island prioritises removing any barriers that might prevent everyone from enjoying a holiday there to the fullest.
The airport provides free assistance to disabled people, and this courtesy is often extended to facilities, attractions, restaurants and bars across the island.
Public transport is accessible, and there are plenty of adapted taxis and transfers, as well as hire cars if you want to explore independently.
Fuerteventura is famous for its beaches and many of them have adapted services, allowing visitors to enjoy relaxing on the sand and swimming in the sea.
Fuerteventura for LGBTQ+ travellers
Spain scores an A on the LGBTQ+ travel safety index.
Being part of Spain, Fuerteventura is welcoming and safe for LGBTQ+ travellers. Though it doesn't have as big of a gay scene as Gran Canaria, the resort of Corralejo is a popular spot thanks to its gay-friendly bars and lively nightlife.
TopBest beaches in Fuerteventura
Sotavento Beach
30km of unspoilt coast, golden sand and crystal clear water, Sotavento Beach is an absolute must-visit for anyone heading to Fuerteventura. It's so vast that even in the high season it never gets crowded. You're pretty much guaranteed to find a secluded spot to roll out your towel.
It's ideal to bring the kids thanks to its shallow lagoons, and it's also popular with windsurfers and kitesurfers because of the winds that blow from the Sahara.
Playa Esmeralda
Enjoy windsurfing or kitesurfing? Or maybe just watching other people do it while you relax on the sand? A visit to Playa el Médano is a must.
This beach is found in southern Tenerife, near the most popular resorts. Due to the wind, it's not as busy as some of the resort beaches, so it makes for a nice change of pace and a bit of quiet.
Esquinzo Beach
In the north of the island lies Esquinzo Beach, which is a real hidden gem that few tourists ever visit. 6km from the nearest village, it's often frequented by surfers and swimmers eager to experience it's impressive waves and warm water.
For somewhere really secluded and quiet where you can relax in peace, definitely add Esquinzo to your itinerary.
Sustainable tourism in Fuerteventura
Fuerteventura is committed to sustainable tourism – being a Biosphere Reserve it's important that the unique landscapes of the island are protected for years to come. This protection also extends as far as 3 miles off the coast, where whales are often spotted.
The island's incredible ecosystem is also important for migratory birds which pause there for a stopover on their long flights.
Fuerteventura is also making efforts to reintroduce endangered loggerhead turtles, which haven't nested on the island for more than 100 years.
If you want to know more about sustainable tourism or how to reduce your travel footprint check out our guides. There really are a lot of little things you can do to make your trip as green as possible.
