The impressive Ajuy Caves (Cuevas de Ajuy) are a must-see on Fuerteventura: the village, the black sandy beach, the geologically significant rocks and the enormous sea caves! We urge you to discover them.
In this guide, we tell you what to see in Ajuy, how to get there, and how to make the most of the place!
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This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Why visit the Ajuy caves?
Are the Ajuy caves worth a visit?
The Ajuy caves are well worth a visit, and are one of the island’s must-sees.
It’s an exceptional place in terms of landscape, geology and history.
Why Ajuy is famous: geology
Ajuy is famous for many reasons:
- Landscapes of dunes, caves, sea and black sand beaches
- Its geology and paleontology – it’s one of the oldest soils in the Canary Islands, with oceanic crust dating back 70 million years and a wealth of fossils.
- Its caves – The giant sea caves will amuse your pirate imagination.
- A history of lime exports
The site was declared a natural monument in 1994.
What to see in Ajuy
- 100-million-year-old rocks
- The fossilized dune
- Sea caves
- The lime kiln
- The black sand beach
- The little village
We tell you more about each one after the practical info, and with photos.
Map and tips: Cuevas de Ajuy, Fuerteventura
Where is Ajuy in Fuerteventura? Map
- The Spanish name is Cuevas de Ajuy
- on the west coast of Fuerteventura, opposite Caleta de Fuste
- Corralejo to Ajuy = 1h10 drive
- Morro Jable to Ajuy = 50min
- Caleta de Fuste to Ajuy = 40min
- Here is a map to help you find your way:
OUR TIPS FOR RENTING A CAR IN Fuerteventura
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- A small car is all you need.
- But you can also choose a larger one if you wish, as the parking spaces are rather large.
- Demand is high, so book early.
How to get to Ajuy
The road to Ajuy is the FV261. It’s paved all the way.
The easiest way is to come by rental car, so you can enjoy the place for as long as you like. It’s really easy to drive in Fuerteventura, and this allows you to see many places where the tours don’t go!
Car-free
If you don’t want to rent a car, there are day trips from the northern and southern resorts, including a stopover in Ajuy.
See options and availability
It is possible to come by public transport. Lines arrive from Paraja, but they are infrequent.
Parking
Ajuy has two large, free parking lots. One section is paved, the other is made of gravel and sand.
Whatever the time of day, you’ll have no trouble finding parking.
Sorry, we forgot to take a photo of the parking lot.
Best time to visit
The site is open all day long.
But, facing west, it’s a superb spot for sunsets, with the rock changing color as the sun’s rays hit it from a low angle.
It’s also a popular spot. Consequently, tourist minibuses come here during the day, often between 10am and 3pm.
And if you want to explore the second cave, you have to come at low tide.
Visit duration and difficulty
The visit lasts between 30 min and 1h30, depending on your interest in rocks and geology. Most people finish the round trip in less than 1 hour.
The floor is not flat and there are high steps down into the cave. But there are no major difficulties. This is not a technical step.
Other tips and information
- Free access
- Wear good shoes as the ground can be a little slippery.
- Protect yourself from the sun!
- There are several cafés and restaurants in the village
- Tie back your hair and hat, it can be very windy.
CHOOSING A HOTEL IN Fuerteventura
Choosing where to stay:
Choose by hotel type:
- 5-star hotels
- Best boutique-hotels
- Best adults-only hotels
- Best all-inclusive hotels
- Best hotels for families
- Best resorts (quiet or lively)
Our favorite: Hotel INNSide – See prices, photos and availability
Select by city:
The black sand beach
The first thing you see when you arrive is a magnificent black sand beach with small cliffs on either side.
The view of the beach is even better from the cliff path leading to the caves.
The transparent water is very tempting, but we didn’t take the time to swim.
Be careful, though, as the waves are often quite high, as the beach is on the west coast. And the currents are quite strong as soon as you stray a little from the shore.
There are showers and toilets at the beach exit.
Access road and unique rocks
On the right, the path to the caves is very clear. You can’t get lost.
Here you can see the 5 layers of rock and a panel explaining the geology of the area.
You climb slowly up the rock to reach a more or less flat area where you can take time to admire and realize where you are.
But be careful!
Before climbing up, take a good look at the geological explanatory panel on the right-hand side of the path. Locate the part of the rock that is over 100 million years old. This type of rock is only visible in a few places on earth.
Fossilized dune
Once at the top of the cliff, this is the part of the rock that often fascinates people the most.
In this section, you’re on a fossilized Pliocene dune.
Fossils of shells and algae indicate a warmer climate.
A LITTLE MORE patience
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Caleta Negra and Puerto de la Pena
Continue up the path along the cliff.
There are stops along the way but we’re saving them for the return!
Watch where you put your feet, because the ground is not flat. But it’s not difficult either.
It’s a pleasant path (unless you’re there on a windy day).
And at the very end, you’ll find narrow, steep stairs.
But there’s a good barrier to stand on.
On the way down, admire the view of Caleta Negra Bay, with its many caves carved out by the waves. The view is truly breathtaking, with the white rocks contrasting with the intense blue water.
But we have to keep going down!
After the bend in the road, you come to a huge cave.
Take time to observe the rocks and colors. The place is really impressive.
Of course, legend has it that pirates guarded many treasures here.
We read that once down, you can find a fissure and with a bit of climbing, you can access the nearby cave. We haven’t tried.
Other things to see on the way back: oven, natural swimming pool…
Then you have to climb the steep stairs and head off in the opposite direction.
You can take a second path below the first.
You’ll notice a number of other peculiarities.
Lime kiln: Hornos de Cal
Another must-see is the lime kiln.
Fuerteventura was a major producer and exporter of lime.
There are several ovens around the island. Beautifully restored examples can be found along the promenade in Puerto del Rosario.
Ajuy lime was known for its purity.
The limestone extracted here was composed of a high percentage of calcium carbonate (skeletal remains and marine shells).
Some of it was burnt, producing high-quality lime used to whitewash buildings.
HAVE FUN WITH THESE activities
- Dolphin watching
- Boat to Lobos Island
- Buggy tour
- But also; surfing lessons, 4WD tour in Cofete, windsurfing, scuba diving…
Cantera Hornos pier and natural pools
From this lower path, you can also discover the pontoon where boats can dock. Handy for visiting more caves. However, we didn’t see any possible tricks.
The rocks also create natural pools along the cliff face. We still love it. In our opinion, it’s not possible to swim here. But if you like natural pools, check out our article for more options.
Ajuy village
And on the way back to the beach, you’ll have a beautiful view of the village of Ajuy and its colorful houses.
You’ll also see the small fishing boats on the beach.
A few locals live here. But you’ll mainly find a few restaurants and cafés, as this has become a very touristy area.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO Fuerteventura
- Best of
Most beautiful landscapes
Best things to do in Fuerteventura
Most beautiful beaches
Cities and villages
Natural pools
Boat tours
Secret places, off the beaten track
- Practical advice
25 tips for a successful trip to Fuerteventura
How to get around
How to rent a car in Fuerteventura
Driving tips
Best excursions
Itineraries: 3 days – 4 days – 5 days – 1 week – 10 days
