Why I Was Wrong About Fuerteventura
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Until I visited Fuerteventura, I was very sceptical about the Canary Islands. I never felt drawn to visiting and, if I’m honest, thought it would be tacky and overly touristy. But I was wrong. And I only discovered this when my sister and her husband moved to Fuerteventura and I went to visit.
In all honesty, I was going purely to spend time with my sister as I was still not convinced there was much to see, despite my sister trying to persuade me otherwise. But I challenged my sister to show me the best of what Fuerteventura had to offer. And I was pleasantly surprised.
So, what is Fuerteventura like and is it worth visiting?
What is Fuerteventura Like?
In addition to the tourist resorts, tacky bars and karaoke nights, I found a rugged, mostly unspoilt island that is rich in culture and history. I’ll admit that I didn’t fall in love with Fuerteventura in the same way as other places I’ve been to, but I did start to see its charm and beauty.
From white sandy beaches, rolling sand dunes, rustic villages and epic mountains, Fuerteventura has a lot to keep you entertained for a week or more, especially if chilling by the pool isn’t your thing. And let’s face it, it’s great to get some winter sunshine to break up a long, bleak winter.
Fuerteventura is one of those places where you need to peel back the layers to find real and authentic culture. You must be prepared to look for it, to get off the beaten track, and away from the resorts, where you’ll start to see the authentic Fuerteventura reveal itself to you.
When is the Best Time to Visit Fuerteventura?
Fuerteventura is one of those places you can visit all year round. Due to its location off the coast of West Africa, the Canary Islands enjoy year-round sunshine and good weather. My first visit to Fuerteventura was in April and my second visit was in December and January.
The best time to visit Fuerteventura is in the late spring or early summer when temperatures sit in the mid-20s and the daylight hours are longer. However, even in December and January, temperatures can reach a comfortable 20°C, making it the perfect winter sun getaway in Europe.
If you really love hot weather, the months of June, July and August are considered the high season with temperatures reaching around 30°C.
Is Fuerteventura Touristy?
Like most popular holiday islands, Fuerteventura has many touristy places. If you want to steer clear of very touristy places and experience more of the cultural side of the island, I suggest visiting El Cotillo, Betancuria, Mirador Morro Velosa and some of the beaches on the west coast.
I found the popular tourist resorts of Caleta and Corralejo to be very touristy. If I return, I’d avoid those particular resorts and head to the west or south of the island to explore more of the beautiful and vast Parque Natural JandÃa. That’s just my personal opinion, as I prefer the more natural, rugged areas to the tourist resorts.
Best Things to Do in Fuerteventura
Here’s a brief list of the main attractions and some of the best things to do in Fuerteventura.
- Wander the streets of El Cotillo, surf or enjoy some tapas
- Chill out on the beach in Corralejo
- Wander around Corralejo’s old town
- Check out the dunes in Parque Natural de Corralejo
- Book a surfing lesson – Fuerteventura is a fantastic place to surf!
- Visit the rustic, beautiful and historical town of Betancuria
- Enjoy the view and a coffee at the top of Mirador Morro Velosa
- Book a boat trip to enjoy the beautiful marine life
- Hire a scooter and enjoy the mountain road south of Betancuria
- Explore the beautiful beaches of Jandia, in the south
- Book a hiking tour and see mountain goats
- Explore the Parque Natural JandÃa
- If you’re an adrenaline junkie, hire a dune buggy!
- Do some windsurfing
- Book a tapas tour and enjoy a guided tour by a local
When I left Fuerteventura the first time, I didn’t expect to visit again so soon. But in December, we headed for a last-minute break with some friends for a relaxing week in the sun. This time, my husband was with me, and I was keen to show him the island and get his verdict.
I was convinced he was going to hate it, as he loves luscious, green landscapes and Fuerteventura is definitely not luscious or green. But to my surprise, he loved it and wanted to go back.
Fuerteventura Accommodation
If you’re looking for accommodation in Fuerteventura, look no further…
Budget Accommodation
Casa Mate Cotillo Mar – Budget-friendly one-bedroom apartment with terrace.
Fuerte Campillos – Beautiful studio near Caleta for 2 people from £38 per night! An absolute bargain.
Apartamentos Hesperia Bristol Playa – Lovely apartment from £48 per night for 2 people in Corralejo, with shared pool
Mid-Range Accommodation
El Hotelito del Cotillo – Fantastic location in the quaint and beautiful El Cotillo. From £73 per night for 2 people.
Bahia Calma Beach – Beautiful modern bungalows and apartments located 200 metres from the beaches of the Costa Calma with lovely terrace and 2 swimming pools.
Luxury Accommodation
Villas Monte Solana – Gorgeous luxurious villa with sea view with average price of £130 per night for upto 5 people.
Bristol Lagoon Retreat – Beautiful apartments in a luxury complex close to the sea
Is Fuerteventura Worth Visiting?
Yes! Of course, everyone is different, but I personally love experiencing the culture of a country. If you’re the same, I’d recommend staying away from places like Caleta and Corralejo and getting out into the beautiful landscape.
Spend days getting lost, searching for hidden villages, climbing mountains for epic views, exploring National Parks and beautiful open spaces to see the real Fuerteventura beyond the tourist resorts. If you do that, then it is well worth a visit, in my opinion.
I’ve learned my lesson. I’ve had to eat a large slice of humble pie and learn not to judge a place before visiting it. There is culture to be found everywhere if you search for it and I’d wholeheartedly encourage you to get out and see the place you are visiting, even if it’s only for one day.
Are you planning a trip to Fuerteventura? If you’ve got questions about visiting the island, you can get in touch with me via the contact form.
Interesting. Where do I go for “local” cafe culture? Does it exist…. particularly in Corralejo??
Thanks
My sister lived in Puerto del Rosario for a year, which is the island’s capital. She took me to a couple of local cafes there. I personally struggled to find local cafes in Corralejo, but I didn’t search every street so they may be there if you look for them, although it is primarily a tourist resort.
Very informative..love Fuerteventura! I have to disagree about correlejo it is busy but worth it for the harbour, dunes, cafes and general vibe! Have been to the south of the island & although beautiful not much else to offer!
Thanks Jo. From what I saw, Corraljo wasn’t for me, but I know there are alot of people who really love it, so I guess it’s all subjective and depends on what you like 🙂
Totally, agree, we have been to corralejo 5 times and I have no idea where the tacky bits are meant to be. There is a great , friendly atmosphere and some fantastic places to eat. Great entertainment in the square at night. Try Turkey and then you will appreciate what Corralejo has to offer
Just my own personal opinion and feelings about Corralejo, but as I said, everyone’s different. Personally for me, I found it too touristy, but glad you enjoy visiting 🙂
Hi, I have a question. I just got a hunch that I should go to Fuerteventura and following this hunch I found your blog 🙂 Thanks for writing it! My question is: I love lush green places just like your husband does, and with that info, do you have any tips for me? The question behind the question for me is that I’m really looking for places to go to in the (Dutch) winter to not wither like a plant that wasn’t supposed to be out all winter. In other words: I don’t like winter, please save me 🙂 To add to the challenge I’d like to find a place, or places, that I can travel without plane. To make it sustainable. I’d love to find this home away from home. And since you’ve been around and your husband has the same taste as I do, perhaps you know just a place! And perhaps you don’t, and that would be fine too 🙂 Thanks for even reading this! Warm regards, Bart
I agree with you there – not liking winter! Neither do I! Fuerteventura is a beautiful place if you can look past the touristy places. It’s not lusciously green though. From my experience, there aren’t a lot of very green places you can visit in Europe during the winter. We adore the Greek Island of Corfu but it’s not warm during the winter. I have heard Madeira is beautiful. Or perhaps somewhere further south like Cyprus. We visited Cyprus last year and it was very nice.
Very quick answer, we’ve stayed on, travelled on and experienced all of the Canary Islands, and consider El Cotillo, Fuerteventura a second home.
But, fuerteventura is the last place you’ll find geeenery!! Head to La Gomera, El Hierro, North Tenerife or La Palma for that!
Ive been coming to this wonderful island since 1986, ive also been all over the world but keep coming back to the canaries yes i have other places that i adore, cape verde, louisiana, ko samui, the gambia but for me fuerteventura keeps coming out on top. `ive bought a small place here now and have never looked back. its friendly and has its problems just as all places do but …… its fu**%g heaven !!! looking forward to st patricks day xxxx
It’s great when you find somewhere you fall in love with and can return to time and time again to the point where it becomes a second home.
The pictures you’ve shared are so beautiful! I’m glad to hear that this trip had changed your perspective—that’s the magic of traveling, right? Thank you for sharing, I’ll be adding Fuerteventura on my travel bucket list!
My fav Canary island 🙂
Oooh, you so got me with the beginning! I used to think the same about some “friends” from high school. They just went to Spain to lay on the beach, and my view on Spain wasn’t positive at all. A year after finishing high should, I went to Spain and discovered an amazing country with amazing people. I ended up returning and lived there for almost two year, falling more in love. Thus, the puzzle about my former friends became even bigger for me; why go somewhere to just do nothing and not explore?
Thanks for sharing your experience! And for the beautiful pictures 🙂
That’s a great story! I was so convinced I’d hate Fuerteventura, even to the point where I was annoyed that my sister had moved there and not somewhere more interesting. As it happens, it’s beautiful. Taught me a lesson for sure!
I have the same feelings about travel too! While I love a little R&R by the pool, I definitely need to get out and explore! I would love to visit the Canary Islands one day!!
I know everyone’s different, but personally I love seeing the people and the culture that built a place!
I felt the same way about most ‘resort’ places until I actually started going. I don’t know how it never occurred to me that the resorts are just a tiny part of a place! Love seeing the little hidden away parts now! Fab post – lovely pics!
Exactly! There’s a danger that we become travel snobs and avoid the ‘touristy’ places in favour of more authentic experiences, but as someone already commented, these places often became popular for a reason!
Perfect post! I felt exactly the same about the Canary Islands until I went to Lanzarote – there is quite a lot to do if you search for it – the volcanic scenery is so strange, but beautiful in its own way, there are lots of places to walk or cycle along the coast, and there are quite a lot of watersport activities to do as well! The perfect sun doesn’t hurt either! Although they definitely aren’t on the TOP of my list, they certainly can be a lovely respite from British weather, and a fun, chilled holiday!
Absolutely. I agree with you when you say it’s not top of my list but like you said, great for some winter sun when we Brits need it most ha! Thanks for your comment. I’ll be sure to check out Lanzarote soon too!
I can completely relate to this (and I’m glad you’ve changed my mind about another Spanish island!). Ibiza is the same for me. Went there for a girls getaway – sun, sea, sangria – and was blown away by Ibiza old town. Most people don’t realise it’s a UNESCO world heritage site and it’s absolutely lovely. There’s two sides to every place 🙂
I’ve heard that about Ibiza. It’s a shame it’s got a bad rep for only being a party island, but my grandparents always loved going to Ibiza and it’s safe to say they weren’t going for the clubs ha!
I think travel and travel information has changed so much and so rapidly that people now have the ability to ‘think outside of the resort’ – which is great! Thanks for sharing, must be nice having a place to hop over to that you enjoy 🙂
Especially in the winter when everywhere else in Europe is so chilly!
It’s always good to reflect on trips and share what you learned!
Every trip teaches us something!
It’s amazing what you can see when you look beyond the usual tourist spots!
Definitely! It sometimes take a little extra effort, but it’s always worth it.
It’s always nice to be pleasantly surprised with yourself over a previous opinion!
Yes, it’s great because it means I have one extra winter holiday destination to visit now! Haha!
This is gorgeous! Definitely proof that you have to visit a place more than once to really experience it!
Love it! It’s wonderful to admit when you are wrong and to see a place with new eyes. Good on you for being honest and demonstrating that there really are many things to appreciate everywhere!
Thanks! I was pleasantly surprised. And I know my sister is going to love my admitting I was wrong! ha!
No se en qué sentido dirás “hortera” a Corralejo por qué no lo entiendo la verdad yo vivo hay desde hace 14 años y no entiendo lo que quieres decir, me parece un poco irrespetuoso para toda la gente que vive hay pero bueno si no te gusta simplemente no vallas y ya está se acabó
Hi Francesca. Thanks for your comment. I stand by my opinion. It’s not meant to be offensive, and I’m sorry you took offense to my opinion which was not directed to you personally. I am allowed to have an opinion and write my opinion on my own personal blog. As you said yourself, if you don’t like my opinion, don’t read my blog. And yes, I probably won’t return to Corralejo, because I found it too touristy. Have a lovely day.