Planning your trip to Fuerteventura? What can you do in Caleta de Fuste?
Here’s our complete guide to all the best places and best things to do in the region, to make the most of your stay:
- beaches and lagoons to visit in Caleta de Fuste
- natural pool
- boat tours
- excursions around the island
- fun activities in the water or on land…
This is our personal selection of 15 must-do activities in Caleta de Fuste (CDF).
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Our favorite car rental platform: DiscoverCars
1. Playa del Castillo – the best thing to do in Caleta de Fuste
The main attraction of Caleta de Fuste (also known as CDF) is its beach. It’s called Playa del Castillo.
If you’re traveling with young children, this is one of the best beaches on the island.
It’s not the most beautiful, but it’s very practical, with a very large sandy area and a shallow lagoon with few waves.
For those who like to sunbathe on the sand and sit back and relax in the turquoise waters, this is a good option.
Access:
- in the heart of Caleta de Fuste. The city is organized around it.
- See our dedicated article
2. Seafront promenade: nature and history (castillo, hornos)
Like all Fuerteventura tourist towns, Caleta de Fuste also has a long promenade along the beach and seafront: the Paseo Maritimo.
It’s great for walking or running.
Here, you’ll also enjoy a change of scenery along the way:
- The lime kiln, Hornos de Cal de la Guirra to the south, with its 2 chimneys.
- The main beach in the center
- The remaining tower of the Castillo to the north, also known as the Torre de San Buenaventura. It was a defensive tower built in the 18th century. It is 6m thick.
- And further north, more rocky areas appear at low tide, where you can sometimes see people collecting salt.
WHERE TO STAY IN Caleta de Fuste
Our favorites: neighborhoods and hotels
Near the main beach:
Hotel Barcelo Royal Level Adults-only – See prices, photos and availability
Hotel Barcelo Royal Level – Family-club – See prices, photos and availability
Near the Golf course:
Hotel Elba Palace, 5 stars – See prices, photos and availability
3. Cool off in the natural pool
If you continue along this walkway to the north, you’ll come to a rocky promontory. Here, at low tide, is a natural pool often referred to as the secret rock pool. But it is now well known.
From the seafront promenade, you’d never know it was here. Once you’ve reached the promontory, you’ll have to scramble over the rocks to see it from above. It’s quite surprising! It’s like a giant hole! It’s a nice deep pool.
See our article on Fuerteventura’s natural pools.
Access:
- 10min walk along the promenade to reach the promontory, south of Playa Caleta Corcha.
- Wear good shoes, as the rocks are sharp.
- Make sure you get there before low tide and don’t stay too long. When the waves rise, it becomes dangerous.
4. Visit to the salt marshes: Salinas de Carmen
South of the town, you’ll find one of Fuerteventura’s most interesting museums: the salt marshes. The Spanish name is Salinas del Carmen.
We love the colors and the history of the place.
The saltworks were founded in the 18th century and are still in operation today. Paludiers still produce salt using traditional methods. The salt is rich and frothy.
You can learn more in the interpretation center and then take a tour of the salt marshes with the small salt heaps. And when you leave, you can buy a piece of salt!
And don’t miss the whale skeleton next door.
Access from Caleta de Fuste:
- South of the city
- 7min by car
- 1h walk
- Easy parking
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.
5. Excursion to Lobos Island
The island of Lobos is one of our favorite places to visit in Fuerteventura. The small island is fascinating with its volcano and small cones, as well as its different ecosystems.
The “Las Lagunitas” natural pools are less than a 30-minute walk from the landing stage. But we’d advise you to tour the island first and finish by taking a dip in the lagoon, to cool off before setting off again.
Here, coves are protected by numerous volcanic rocks, creating large natural pools with calm waters.
Access from Caleta de Fuste:
- If you rent a car: 40min drive to Corralejo then ferry boat – save time, book your ticket!
- Alternatively, there are organized tours with bus and ferry from CDF – See program and availability.
- Wear good walking shoes to explore the island
- Wear swimming shoes to enter the water
- Be sure to bring your own water for the day.
- More details on Lobos Island in our dedicated article
6. Dolphin watching
From what we could see, there’s a boat tour that leaves directly from CDF to watch the dolphins.
But only one boat means your chances of seeing them are more limited.
In cities with several boats, they can disperse and call each other when they find a group of dolphins. Sightings are never guaranteed, but the chances are excellent!
We therefore recommend descending to Morro Jable.
We did just that, and were lucky enough to observe a species we’d never seen before: pilot whales (also called pilot whales, but which are dolphins).
A wonderful experience with the Fuerteventura landscape in the background.
There are tours in catamarans, speedboats and more traditional boats.
We chose the more classic boat for its comfort and the ability to move around on board. We enjoyed it very much:
See program and availability – and book!
Access from Caleta de Fuste:
- Departure from Morro Jable port
- Caleta de Fuste to Morro Jable = 1h drive (easy route)
- More on dolphin watching in our dedicated article
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7. Enjoy water activities
Fuerteventura is also known for its water sports.
There are plenty of opportunities to learn to surf, windsurf, dive… If it’s an idea that’s been on your mind for a long time, go for it!
Here are a few ideas for activities:
- Discover Scuba Diving – see program and availability – and book now!
- Snorkeling – see program and availability – and book!
- Kayak rental – see program and availability – and book!
- Pedalo rental – see program and availability – and book!
- Stand Up Paddle courses – see program and availability – and book!
Surfing and windsurfing are further south on Fuerteventura or in Corralejo.
See our article on what to do in Costa Calma.
8. And also adrenaline activities on land
The Fuerteventura region is also ideal for off-the-beaten-track adventures and lunar landscapes.
Take a bandana or other piece of cloth to cover your mouth, as a lot of dust will fly around you if you choose the buggy.
But it’s great for getting your adrenalin pumping, having fun and discovering more remote corners of the island: desert hills and dry riverbeds.
The options are:
- buggy and quad: see program and availability – book now! (Please note that to drive a vehicle, you must be at least 18 years old, but young people can be passengers).
- by renting a bike: see program and availability – book now!
- segway: see program and availability – book now!
9. Other Caleta de Fuste beach: Playa de la Guirra
The main beach is Plage del Castillo.
But a little further south, in front of the Sheraton and Elba Carlora hotels, you’ll find La Guirra Beach with its 3 sandy coves.
Here again, the water is calm and shallow and the sand pleasant.
It’s not as wide as the one in the center, but you’ll also find deckchairs for hire.
However, around Caleta de Fuste, there are fewer beautiful beaches to explore than around Morro Jable or Corralejo.
We’re sorry, we can’t find our photos.
10. Golf
One of the must-do activities in Caleta de Fuste is golf.
There’s an 18-hole golf course designed by Juan Catarineu, not far from the town center.
It is surrounded by palm trees, with some sea views.
Be aware, however, that Fuerteventura is a fairly windy island, and if you like absolute peace and quiet, this isn’t the best option, as the airport isn’t far away.
11. Excursion around the island: Corralejo mountains and dunes
If you’re prepared to spend a slightly longer day on the road, we highly recommend taking the time to explore the northern half of the island with:
- The panoramic mountain road with its superb views
- The ancient capital of Betancuria
- The famous Corralejo dunes: This is a fascinating protected natural park with sand dunes right next to the beach. Contrary to popular belief, sand does not come from the Sahara desert. It formed naturally on the island.
Access from Caleta de Fuste:
- Book a guided tour: see program, availability – and book!
- or organize your own loop with your rental car: we recommend starting on the mountain roads when you’re in good shape in the morning (towards Betancuria) and finishing at the dunes of Corralejo to return via the expressway. Or explore different areas over several days.
12. Museo del Queso Majero
One of our favorite discoveries in Fuerteventura. In the heart of the island, an old mill and building have been renovated and now house the local cheese museum.
The museum is very well designed and interactive:
- Visit the mill
- Explanations about goats and their life on the island
- Explanations of cheese-making and traditions
- Explanation of the history of cheese and its marketing
- Cactus garden
- Possibility of testing cheeses
- Find out more in our article dedicated to the museum
Access: 20min drive west of Caleta de Fuste
13. Enjoy the restaurants and nightlife
Caleta de Fuste is a town dedicated to tourism, so you’ll find plenty of bars and restaurants of all styles (Mediterranean, Italian, Indian…). Some even feature live music.
Among our favorites:
- Restaurant 15 Fuerteventura, with a smaller menu and more sophisticated work.
- Bar Oliver with its tapas and cocktails. We loved the rooftop.
- See our top 12 restaurants in Caleta de Fuste
14. Visit to the capital Puerto del Rosario
If you’re looking for a slightly less touristy experience, Fuerteventura’s capital is not a main attraction.
Here you can see how the locals live.
Among the city’s points of interest, we liked..:
- The large number of sculptures
- Street art
- Lime kilns along the seafront promenade
- Notre Dame del Rosario church
- And there’s also the Miguel de Unamuno Museum, but it was closed when we visited.
- More information on our article dedicated to Puerto Del Rosario
Access from Caleta de Fuste:
- 20min drive
- easy road
15 to 17 – Other things to do in Caleta de Fuste
15. Shopping and market
You’ll find plenty of stores within easy walking distance of the town.
There are also two markets on Tuesdays and Fridays, featuring a variety of products, including local produce.
16. Catamaran
From the port of Caleta de Fuste, you can experience other boat tours, such as a catamaran tour.
This allows you to relax with the movement of the waves and enjoy the superb views over the island (and you might even see some dolphins).
See program and availability – and book
17. Glass-bottomed boat
Another option that might appeal to the little ones is the glass-bottomed boat for underwater fun. Be aware, however, that you’re not on the Barrier Reef, so fish numbers are limited.
See details.
Oceanarium Explorer
In the port of CDF, you’ll see this little pool next to the glass-bottomed boat, inside which are 2 sea lions that people can swim with. It’s called Oceanarium Explorer. Personally, the cries of the animals in the morning during my breakfast really upset me.
Red train (no longer running)
There used to be a little tourist train that took you around the town.
For the time being, it’s no longer running.
Other tips for visiting Caleta de Fuste
Getting to Caleta de Fuste – map
Here is a map to help you find your way:
The town of Caleta de Fuste is very easy to get to along the expressway.
- Fuerteventura airport to Caleta de Fuste = 15min drive
- Corralejo to Caleta de Fuste = 45min
- Morro Jable to Caleta de Fuste = 1h10
Getting around Caleta de Fuste
The town is not very big, so you can get around easily on foot.
Alternatively, you can rent scooters to get around more quickly.
Events in Caleta de Fuste
The town is famous for two main events:
- Carnival, as in all towns in the Paraja region, normally takes place in March.