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Fuerteventura

Lying just 100km from the African coast, Fuerteventura recalls its neighbour Lanzarote, only with more colour. Resembling shallow piles of saffron, chilli and coriander, there are none of the mist-wreathed pines or cooling, hilly microclimates of Gran Canaria. Blown by the wind and baked by the sun, the island is truly an arresting spectacle: for the full-on, wide-angle perspective of the Martian-like landscape, climb up to the Mirador Astronómico de Sicasumbre and take it all in.

Most visitors, however, are more interested in mastering the waves and the wind than contemplating the raw aesthetics of the scenery. The second-largest island in the archipelago (after Tenerife), Fuerteventura has year-round sunshine (a blistering 3000 hours a year), and the biggest and best beaches in the Canaries.

The island was declared a Unesco Biosphere Reserve in 2009.

Explore Fuerteventura

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Fuerteventura.

  • Beach

    Playa de Cofete

    This is the main beach in far-flung Cofete, near the southern tip of the island and the main draw on the island for many. It's huge, quite beautiful and…

  • Historic Building

    Villa Winter

    This impressive structure, with its castle-like turret, was built by German engineer Gustav Winter in the 1930s. Rumours linking Winter to the Nazi party…

  • Museum

    Casa de los Coroneles

    This 18th-century building has been beautifully restored, retaining its traditional central patio and wooden galleries, while other buildings on the…

  • Beach

    Parque Natural de Corralejo

    This nature park of yellow dunes stretches along the east coast for about 10km south from Corralejo; it's also several kilometres wide, so covers a lot of…

  • Museum

    Museo del Queso Majorero

    This superb museum is one of the island's best, with lots of interactive displays including a sit-down 'virtual goat milking' activity! Kids will enjoy…

  • Church

    Iglesia de Santa María

    This lovely church dates from 1620 and has a magnificent stone floor, carved wooden ceiling and an elaborate baroque altar. Don’t miss the sacristy with…

  • Viewpoint

    Mirador Astronómico de Sicasumbre

    If you want just one place to put the island's primordial, barren geology and Martian features into wide-angle perspective, this mirador has breathtaking…

  • Gallery

    Centro de Arte Canario – Casa Mané

    This art museum is an island highlight, with its sculpture garden and galleries containing works by such Canarian artists as César Manrique, Ruben Dario…

  • Church

    Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Regla

    The unique 17th-century Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Regla has an Aztec-inspired exterior with its animal motifs. The simple retables behind the altar…

  • Beach

    Playa del Pozo

    This sand and seashell beach is a picture, with its gentle curve and protected, calm turquoise waters. There are steps down into the water from the…

  • Mountain

    Mount Tindaya

    Its summit reaches just 400m above sea level, but Mount Tindaya is the most important – and famous – mountain on the island. The peak, 6km south of La…

  • Lighthouse

    Punta de Jandía Lighthouse

    At the end of the dirt road from Morro Jable, the asphalt returns for a smooth ride to this lighthouse positioned over thundering Atlantic waves. The…

  • Chapel

    Ermita de San Pedro de Alcántara

    Located in tiny La Ampuyenta, the 17th-century Ermita de San Pedro de Alcántara is surrounded by a stout protective wall built by the French from the…

  • Beach

    Playa de la Barca

    The beach that most people visualise when they think of Sotavento is Playa de la Barca. Signposted from the FV-2, 2.5km south of Costa Calma, this is the…

  • Archaeological Site

    Poblado de La Atalayita

    This archaeological site is a pre-Hispanic settlement dating to the time of the Mahos. It's accompanied by a small, well-built and sunken information…

  • Zoo

    Oasis Park

    If you don’t object to zoos, expansive (and expensive) Oasis Park in La Lajita has mammals, birds and sea life, plus shows and camel rides. Here you can…

  • Museum

    Los Molinos Centro de Interpretación

    This attractive windmill has a small information centre with all you could possibly want to know about windmills; there’s also a free guide in English…

  • Beach

    Playa de Sotavento de Jandía

    The name is a catch-all for the series of truly stunning beaches that stretch along the east coast of the peninsula. For swimming, sunbathing and…

  • Museum

    Museo Arqueológico de Betancuria

    Archaeology buffs should check out this modest but absorbing museum that concentrates on the indigenous Guanche tribes and features a skeleton that was…

  • Wildlife Reserve

    Turtle Nursery

    This small sanctuary in the Puerto de Morro Jable is for turtles to be reared, ready for release into the wild. It is sometimes closed without notice, but…

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in Fuerteventura.

  • Activities