Travel guide Fuerteventura - how to experience the island
The greatest asset of the second largest Canary Island is its beaches. Fuerteventura boasts some of the most beautiful and cleanest beaches in the entire archipelago: Around 150 mostly fine sandy beaches line the 340-kilometre coastline. With crystal-clear water and despite a barren but fascinating natural landscape, Fuerteventura is the holiday destination for sun worshippers, nature lovers and especially water sports enthusiasts. Fuerteventura not only has a special sound, but also a wonderfully calm pulse.
The island's capital and largest town is Puerto del Rosario on the east coast. A third of the island's 120,000 permanent inhabitants live in the wide bay with its beautiful slopes. After Lanzarote, Fuerteventura is the closest to the African continent and owes its year-round subtropical climate with over 300 days of sunshine a year and constant temperatures to this exposed location. In addition, trade winds constantly blow from the north-east.
Country
Second largest of the Canary Islands and part of the European Union
Location
in the Atlantic Ocean, belongs politically to Spain and geologically to Africa
Area
1659,74 km²
Inhabitants
120.021 (as of: 2023)
Fuerteventura often conjures up images of long, Caribbean beaches and huge dunes - the best known of which are found in the Parque Natural de las Dunas de Corralejo. Visually, the gigantic desert format stands out from the otherwise rather sparsely or not at all overgrown landscape. The dunes of Corralejo extend over several square kilometres and form a breathtaking backdrop along the north-east coast. They consist of fine, golden sand that has been shaped by the sea and the trade winds. The dunes are constantly in motion and change depending on the direction and strength of the wind.
The highest point in Fuerteventura is the Pico de la Zarza (also called Pico de Jandía) with a height of 807 metres. It is located in the southwest of the island on the Jandía peninsula. Despite its barren landscape, Fuerteventura is not poor in natural beauty. On the contrary, the unique combination of rugged plains, sand dunes, rocky cliffs and turquoise waters is what makes the island so appealing.
The major tourist centres of the island are well distributed geographically. Morro Jable and Jandia form an attractive holiday complex in the far south with access to some of the most beautiful beaches on the island. Especially appreciated by German holidaymakers: Costa Calma. The place lives up to its name. It is quiet and relaxed. On the east coast, only a few kilometres from the airport, Caleta de Fuste has become the third largest holiday resort. The range of hotels and apartments is huge, there are golf courses and shopping centres and, above all, a great bathing bay. In the far north, Corralejo advertises the dunes of "El Jable", the view of Isla de Lobos and the Grande Playas de Corralejo.
Fuerteventura is considered the oldest of the Canary Islands - the earliest rocks are dated to about 20 million years ago. In the following millions of years, there were several volcanic activity phases that led to the formation of new lava flows and the formation of the island's characteristic landscape forms. However, the present shape of Fuerteventura was largely shaped during the last ice age, when sea levels were lower and erosive forces of wind and waves shaped the coastline and relief of the island.
Best time to travel
Year-round destination with 300 days of sunshine and a high probability of no rain
Accessibility
Plane or ferry
Worth knowing
Fuerteventura rose from the Atlantic around 22 million years ago, making it the oldest of the Canary Islands.
The indigenous people of Fuerteventura called themselves Majos and probably descended from North African Berber peoples who settled the Canary Islands about 5,000 years ago. The first inhabitants divided the island into two tribal areas: The tribe of the region around Jandia separated from the Maxorata tribe. In the 15th century, during the time of European discoveries and expansion, the Spanish reached the Canary Islands, including Fuerteventura. The valley of Betancuria became the starting point of colonisation. The island played an important role as a stopover for ships on their way to America. This historical background has shaped the island's cultural heritage.
Tourism on Fuerteventura took off in the 1960s. In 1965, Fuerteventura International Airport was opened, facilitating access to the island for international visitors. In the following years, various tourist infrastructures such as hotels, resorts and leisure facilities were developed to cope with the growing influx of tourists.
The boom in the following years not only replaced agriculture and fishing as the traditional source of income, but also changed the settlement policy. Whereas in earlier centuries the inhabitants lived inland, away from the coast, tourism led to the development and construction of the coasts. The first hotel ever, the "Casa Atlantica", was literally built in the sandy desert. At that time, there was nothing else on the peninsula of Jandia, which is so popular with Germans today.
Good reasons for a holiday in Fuerteventura
Beaches
The best argument for a (family) holiday on Fuerteventura - without wanting to reduce the island to that - are its beaches. The abundance and variety are almost unbelievable and island fans rightly say that the most beautiful beaches of the Canaries are to be found on Fuerteventura. In fact, many good things come together: fine, white to gulf-coloured sand, turquoise-blue, shining Atlantic waters, lots of sunshine and an enormous coastline. It is a good 100 kilometres from the northernmost to the southernmost point of the island - as if the island had stretched itself out and its beaches with it.
Weather & Sunshine
Bad weather is the absolute exception on Fuerteventura and temperature fluctuations are also rather rare. Next to Lanzarote, Fuerteventura is the closest to the African continent and owes its subtropical, very stable climate to this exposed location. This means pleasantly warm temperatures all year round, even in winter the thermometer fluctuates between 18°C and 20°C, and between 24°C and 28°C in summer. In addition, there is usually a pleasant breeze from the trade winds blowing from the north-east or north-west.
Water sports
Time and again, Fuerteventura is also referred to by name as the surfing Hawaii of Europe, and water sports enthusiasts will know why. In fact, the island offers more than 35 spots where surfers can let off steam almost all year round. Some of the surfing beaches have hosted or are hosting surfing competitions. Thanks to the year-round warm temperatures, even surfing beginners can enjoy the water from January to December and find their favourite sport on the right beaches with the right waves.