Fuerteventura

The Canary Island with the longest beaches, where the Corralejo dunes run right down to the sea, plus the Sotavento lagoon, the wild beach of Cofete and boat trips to Isla de Lobos; warm all year round and a classic winter-sun escape.

Fuerteventura is the second-largest of the Canary Islands, only about 100 km off the west coast of Africa, and the entire island is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Its terrain is gentle and its climate dry, and it has the longest and most numerous white-sand beaches in the archipelago. Temperatures sit around 18–28°C all year, making it a favourite winter-sun destination for Europeans, while in summer strong trade winds make it the best season for windsurfing and kitesurfing. The island splits into three areas. The north, based around Corralejo, has the Dunes Natural Park, boat trips to Isla de Lobos, the surf village of Lajares, the El Cotillo lagoons and hikes up into deep volcanic craters. The centre has the old capital Betancuria, the Morro Velosa viewpoint, the Ajuy sea caves and, on the east coast, Caleta de Fuste and the Salt Museum. The south, on the Jandía Peninsula, has the Sotavento lagoon beach, Morro Jable and, reached by gravel road, the wild beach of Cofete and Villa Winter. The airport is near the capital, Puerto del Rosario. Buses are infrequent, so renting a car is strongly recommended, though some dirt roads aren't covered by rental insurance. The drive from Corralejo to the southern tip takes about 2 hours, so plan 2–3 nights each in the north and south, 5–7 days in total. Note: strong currents run along the west coast, so only swim at lifeguarded beaches; it's windy and the sun is intense, so protect yourself from sun and sand. The local speciality is Majorero goat's cheese.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries