Travel to Fuerteventura: paradisiacal beaches, lava fields, inspiring cliffs… The island will provide you with an unforgettable vacation!
But to make sure your trip to Fuerteventura is a success, it’s best to have a few things in mind and be well prepared.
On this page, we’ve put together all our Fuerteventura travel tips to help you make the right choices and find the trip that’s right for you: when, how, where…
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Fuerteventura travel tips: summary
If you don’t want to read the whole article, here’s a summary of our answers. But you’ll find more detailed information in each section below.
And let’s start with a beautiful photo to inspire you…
When to go and for how long
Fuerteventura’s temperatures are fairly constant all year round. The peak season is between June and August, but that’s mainly because it’s vacation season in Europe. May, September and October are often excellent months to make the most of the island.
We recommend a stay of between 7 and 10 days to discover the whole island.
Where to go in Fuerteventura
Our favorite cities to stay are:
- Morro Jable, to the south – see accommodations rated places
- Corralejo, to the north – see accommodations rated places
But the island is pretty big, so if you’re staying for 10 days, to cut down on driving time, we recommend spending 5 days in the south and 5 days in the north.
And our favorite hotels are:
- Boutique-hotel: INNSide in Costa Calma – See prices, photos and availability
- 5 stars: Hotel Secrets Bahia in Corralejo – See prices, photos and availability
- All inclusive resort: Iberostar Palace in Morro Jable – See prices, photos and availability
- Family: Hotel Barcelo Corralejo Sands in Corralejo – See prices, photos and availability
A simplified map for orientation
Here’s a map to help you understand the essential, well-known features of Fuerteventura:
- Places to stay: Morro Jable, Corralejo, Costa Calma and Caleta de Fuste
- The capital Puerto del Rosario and the airport
- Famous places: Cofete, Ajuy, Corralejo Dunes, Sotavento Lagoon, Lobos Island
How to get around
It may be tempting to stay in the hotels with their superb swimming pools and all amenities, but we recommend renting a car to discover the island’s magnificent landscapes. It’s really easy to drive – see the car offers on our favorite platform.
Our top 3 things to do
We love many places in Fuerteventura. Apart from discovering beautiful beaches, our top 3 are..:
- Visit the island of Lobos – book your return boat trip
- Take a boat trip from Morro Jable to see the dolphins – see availability for a tour we really enjoyed.
- The cliffs and caves of Ajuy
Not to worry
A trip to Fuerteventura is easy enough.
Just remember to protect yourself from the sun and check the sea conditions before jumping in.
Tip 1. When to go to Fuerteventura
Travel to Fuerteventura is year-round.
It’s an island with very little rainfall, even in winter.
So there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy sunny weather whatever the month.
See our article on when to go to Fuerteventura
Depending on what you’re looking for:
- For guaranteed, substantial heat: June to September
- For swimming: July to October
- For hiking and exploring: April, May, September and October
- For winter sun: December to March (but the sea water is much lower).
But here are a few things you should know:
- Crowd –
The island is fairly large, with few towns. You’ll never get the impression of a huge crowd. The peak tourist season is July and August, when Europeans take their vacations.
The island also gets quite a few tourists in winter, as people seek out the sun! - Weather –
Temperatures become very high in summer, are very pleasant in the intervening months and are always pleasant in winter. You’ll be able to walk around in a t-shirt during the day in winter, but you’ll just need a jacket for the evenings.
- Wind –
It’s hard to predict how much wind you’re going to get, and how it might affect your vacation.
On the whole, there’s more wind in June and July (which is why the world windsurfing championships are held there at this time). - Swimming –
Summer is the best time to bathe in warm waters, once it has had time to warm up. - There’s nothing special to see at certain seasons, as there’s little planting.
Tip 2. How long to stay
The island is bigger than we imagined. It is the second largest in the Canary Islands.
From Corralejo to Morro Jable, it’s an hour and 40 minutes by expressway.
- If you’re planning to enjoy the beach and the hotel, plan ahead.
- However, if you want to discover the island’s most iconic sites, 5 to 6 days is all you need.
- And if you want to take a closer look at all the island has to offer, we recommend 7 to 10 days.
See our guide to deciding how long to stay.
Here’s a map with the main driving times to give you an idea:
Tips 3 to 6. How to get to Fuerteventura
3. Where is Fuerteventura? In which country?
Fuerteventura is an island in the Canary Islands.
It is part of political Europe, being a territory of Spain.
In terms of geography, it lies to the east of the Canary Islands, not far from the Sahara coast of Africa.
As it’s an island, you can get there by plane or ferry.
4. Flights to Fuerteventura
Fuerteventura airport is located south of the capital Puerto del Rosario.
Its code is FUE.
Direct flights from many major European cities: Paris, London, Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Madrid, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Zurich, Milan, Leeds… Ryanair offers many low-cost flights to Fuerteventura.
Discover flight options on Skyscanner
5. Ferry to Fuerteventura
You can also reach Fuerteventura from the other Canary Islands or from Cadiz in mainland Spain.
See ferry schedules and availability
6. Visa and identity papers for Fuerteventura
Fuerteventura is part of Spain, and therefore within the Schengen area.
If you are one of them, you don’t need a visa. Otherwise, you need a Schengen Visa.
For everyone, you need a valid ID to travel within the country, and also to take a plane or ferry.
Tips 7 to 10. Where to go in Fuerteventura
7. Where to stay in Fuerteventura?
There’s absolutely no better place to stay in Fuerteventura. It all depends on what you’re looking for. Here are some of our recommendations and more tips in our article on where to stay in Fuerteventura.
Morro Jable
Chosen for its long sandy beaches, where you can walk along the seafront, and also for its lively old town center.
The town has good restaurants and easy access to the Cofete cliffs and Jandia’s Sotavento Lagoon.
- See top-rated accommodations in Morro Jable
- or read our article with our 12 favorite hotels
- and see the best things to do in Morro Jable in this article
Corralejo
Choose Corralejo for the small beaches in town, the sand dunes nearby, access to the island of Lobos and a charming town with many waterside restaurants.
- See top rated accommodations in Corralejo
- or read our article with our favorite hotels
- and see the best things to do in Corralejo in this article
Costa Calma
Choose Costa Calma for the town’s calm, 3 beaches in the center and the nearby Sotavento lagoon.
- See top-rated accommodations in Costa Calma
- or read our article with our 8 favorite hotels
- and see the best things to do in Costa Calma in this article
Caleta de Fuste
Choose Caleta de Fuste for a more central location for exploring the island and a beach with a gentle slope, ideal for young children.
- See top rated accommodations in Caleta de Fuste
- or read our article with our 10 favorite hotels
- and see the best things to do in Caleta de Fuste in this article
El Cotillo
Choose Cotillo for an experience away from the big resorts, and for a choice of beaches with lagoons.
- See top-rated accommodations in El Cotillo
- and see the best things to do in El Cotillo in this article
The capital Puerto del Rosario is not really touristy.
And if you’re still hesitating, take a look at our comparison of the 4 major seaside resorts.
8. Best hotels in Fuerteventura
If the hotel is more important to you than the location, some of our favorite hotels are:
- 5 stars:
Secrets Bahia Hotel in Corralejo with its magnificent inner courtyard
– see prices, pictures and availability - Boutique in the south and Adults-only:
Hotel INNSide in Costa Calma for its decor, view and atmosphere
– see prices, pictures and availability - Families:
The 3 Iberostar hotels in Morro Jable – for example Iberostar Play Gaviotas
– see prices, pictures and availability - Adults-only:
Barcelo Fuerteventural Royal Level – Adults Only in Caleta de Fuste, by the beach
– see prices, pictures and availability - Aparthotel
Island Home Fuerteventura in Corraljeo with a beautiful swimming pool and a gentle way of life
– see prices, pictures and availability
Or read our reviews of the best hotels:
- The 5 5-star hotels in Fuerteventura
- The best boutique-hotels
- The best resorts
- The best tour-inclusive hotels
- The best hotels for families
9. Single or multiple units?
It takes 1h40 to drive from Corralejo to Morro Jable. But the roads are a little longer if you head for the less developed west of the island.
So you can explore the whole island from a single hotel.
But if you’re staying for more than a week, we think it’s worth staying half in Morro Jable and half in Corralejo to experience the nightlife and restaurants in both towns.
10. Always check parking conditions
On the whole, it’s easy to park anywhere on the island. There are just a few places where it gets complicated, and you’ll need to check your hotel’s parking conditions if you’re renting a car:
- In the south of Morro Jable, near the old town and the lighthouse.
- In the old town of Corralejo
10 à 13. Getting around Fuerteventura
Here are the 4 options for exploring the island of Fuerteventura. Of course, if you’re staying in the hotel, all you have to do is take a cab or bus.
10. Rent a car
Our preferred option is to rent a car.
Prices are reasonable for an island and driving is easy.
A small car is sufficient, but you can take any size you like, as there are no narrow streets and parking spaces are fairly wide.
The platform we personally use (since we discovered them) is Discovercars.
As soon as we decide on a destination and dates, we look at their offers and the types of cars available.
After research, they often have the best offers for our needs.
It is one of the highest rated comparison sites in the market.
See their current car rental offers in Fuerteventura.
Or read all our car rental tips.
11. Excursions
From most hotels you can also find numerous excursions to explore certain parts of the island: the mountains, the dunes, the island of Lobos, the Ajuy caves…
See all offers on our preferred platform: Getyourguide
Or read our guide to the best excursions.
12. Cabs
If you’re not traveling too far from your hotel, you can also choose to visit a place by cab. But don’t forget to book your return trip.
Unlike Lanzarote, we didn’t see any tourist offers for Fuerteventura (tour loops).
13. Public transport
There are buses connecting all the major towns in Fuertenventura. It won’t be possible to get to more remote areas. See routes.
14 to 17 – Food and beverages
14. Is tap water safe to drink in Fuerteventura?
Yes, you can drink tap water. There’s no danger.
Just be aware that Fuerteventura receives very little rain. So tap water comes from desalinated seawater. So it doesn’t taste the best, or the taste we’re used to. Most people drink bottled mineral water.
15. Type of food
Fuerteventura is a tourist island, so you’ll find everything:
- Mediterranean cuisine, tapas
- Italian restaurants
- Indian restaurants
- Chinese restaurants
- …
We were just put off by the small number of gourmet and bistronomic restaurants. But if there’s no demand…
16. Bread and water
Please note that the bread placed on the table is chargeable if you touch it.
And water, even in carafes, is not free.
17. Tip
Tipping is not mandatory in Fuerteventura.
It’s a good idea to round up if you’re paying cash, or to leave a few euros if you’re really satisfied with the service. It’s a voluntary act, to reward quality.
A LITTLE MORE patience
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18 to 21 – Planning your vacation in Fuerteventura
18. Suitcase – what to take to Fuerteventura
All year round, pack light summer clothes.
And if you’re traveling during the winter months, add a small jacket for evenings or potentially cloudy days.
19. Sun protection
Beware, the sun can be brutal.
Don’t take any risks, protect yourself with sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
20. Language
Fuerteventura is in Spain. The language is Spanish. But as it’s a very touristy island, almost everyone speaks English. We also met a lot of teams who also spoke German and French. But few Italian- and Dutch-speaking encounters.
21. Power strip and adapter
In Spain, and therefore in Fuerteventura, the plugs are 2 round holes (Type E which also work with a Type C).
If it doesn’t match yours, remember to take a plug adapter with you.
22 to 25 – Safety when traveling to Fuerteventura
22. Security
The island of Fuerteventura is quite safe. Nothing special to specify.
Like all tourist destinations, there can be a certain amount of theft. DO NOT leave anything visible in the car.
See our article on safety.
23. Insurance
If you are a resident of the European Union, your national medical cover also applies. Don’t forget to ask for your European medical insurance card to make the process easier.
If you are coming from outside the EU, remember to take out insurance.
24. What to do in an emergency
In Europe, 112 is the number for all emergencies: police, ambulance and fire. Operators on this number can speak several languages.
This is the only number you need to keep in mind.
25. Using a VPN
As everywhere else, you run a risk when using shared wifi in hotels.
We know, because we had a bad experience in a Paris hotel.
We now systematically use a VPN to protect our data, especially banking data.
See what our favorite VPN has to offer.
Things to do in Fuerteventura
We share all our favorite places on this site in our article on the best attractions in Fuerteventura. But here’s a quick summary:
Enjoy the beaches
Fuerteventura is known as the Canary Island with the most beautiful beaches.
You’ll find very, very long sandy beaches, pretty coves with lava cliffs, beaches with lagoons at low tide, beaches with popcorn corals and beaches surrounded by dunes…
We’re sure you’ll find what you’re looking for.
See our article on Fuerteventura’s most beautiful beaches.
Admire the dolphins
We love the whale and dolphin watching tours. We had high hopes, and were lucky enough to see 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. See all our tips.
Sightings are never guaranteed, but in the southern part of Fuerteventura, starting from Morro Jable, the chances are excellent!
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!
Visit the island of Lobos
The island of Lobos is one of our favorites in Fuertenventura. It’s a fascinating ecosystem with a large volcano, numerous small cones, a lighthouse and a surprising lagoon that is a reserve for migratory birds.
We loved walking around, exploring the different landscape types and color contrasts.
To get there, you can take..:
- the 15-minute ferry – reserve your seats
- a boat tour combining Lobos and dolphin watching – see program and availability – and book!
- A catamaran excursion – see program and availability – and book!
Explore the mountains
The mountains of Fuerteventura are not very high, but we find them very beautiful with their variations in orange and brown tones. Sometimes, the view is even as clear as the sand dunes.
The road is in excellent condition and several superb viewpoints have been installed to make the most of it:
- Mirador Sincasumbre, the astronomical viewpoint
- Mirador Morro Velosa, best known for its giant statues
And don’t miss a visit to the island’s former capital: Betancuria, the prettiest town in our opinion.
Exploring the west coast
Almost all the hosts and sandy beaches are on the east coast (apart from El Cotillo).
The west coast is much wilder and less developed.
Here you’ll find beautiful cliffs and beaches, as well as natural pools. Among our favorite places:
- La Pared, its main beach, and Viejo Reyes beach with its magnificent cliffs
- Puertito de los Molinos, a small fishing village with a beautiful beach
- Playa del Valle with its rock formations and natural pools Augas Verdes
- The famous Ajuy caves, very impressive
- Cofete in the south, with just one bumpy access road
See our article on the best natural pools and lagoons.
Water sports activities
Fuerteventura is famous for its water sports. So there are plenty of opportunities to learn to surf or windsurf on the various beaches in the area. If it’s an idea that’s been on your mind for a long time, go for it!
- Discover surfing – see some options
- Take your first dive
- Trying to catch the wind on a windsurfer
Outdoor activities
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.
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 or quad: see options
- eBike: see options
To drive a vehicle, you must be at least 18 years old, but young people can be passengers.
Discover more in museums
And for a bit of culture about the island’s history, its people and its products, we recommend a visit to one or two museums (or more if you feel like it). Our 3 favorites are:
- The Cheese Museum (Muso de Queso Majorero)
- La Atalayita archaeological site, in a lava flow
- The salt marshes (Salinas del Carmen)
See our article on museums in Fuerteventura.
Going off the beaten track
Nothing is really secret on this arid land, but you can find small, not very touristy spots where you can enjoy nature and the island’s historic charm.
For example:
- Aguas Verdes natural pools
- The village and beach of Pozo Negro
- Tierra Dorada beach
- …
See our article with 10 hidden gems off the beaten track.
Itineraries
See all our itinerary suggestions:
Travelling to Fuerteventura: FAQs
What is the time zone in Fuerteventura?
Fuerteventura is at the same time as London, i.e. GMT.
Which is more beautiful: the north or the south of Fuerteventura?
We love both regions equally, so it’s hard to tell them apart:
- The north has sand dunes, Lobos Island, popcorn beaches and the lagoons of El Cotillo.
- The south offers the Sotavento de Jandia lagoon, the Cofete wilderness area, the La Pared cliffs and a host of beautiful beaches…
