ES
Fuerteventura
A windswept island of long white beaches, dunes and some of Europe’s best wind and kite surfing
A windswept island of long white beaches, dunes and some of Europe’s best wind and kite surfing
A protected natural park of white sand dunes running down to the sea south of Corralejo, with long beaches along the coast road.
Photo: Benjamín Núñez González, CC BY-SA 4.0
A wild beach about 12km long below the Jandía mountains on the south-west coast, reached by an unpaved road from Morro Jable.
Swimming is dangerous here because of strong currents.
Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0
The island’s first capital, founded in the 15th century, in a valley in the mountains, with a church, whitewashed houses and nearby viewpoints.
Photo: Holger Uwe Schmitt, CC BY-SA 4.0
A long beach and tidal lagoon on the Jandía peninsula, famous for windsurfing and kitesurfing; at low tide the lagoon is shallow and calm.
Photo: Garonzi Stefania, CC BY-SA 4.0
The island is famous for Majorero goat’s cheese (with protected status). Try it with papas arrugadas and mojo, along with fresh fish and goat stew.
Corralejo and the fishing village of El Cotillo have good seafood restaurants.
Fuerteventura Airport (FUE) is near Puerto del Rosario, about 40 minutes from Corralejo and an hour or more from the south. A hire car is the best way to get around. Ferries run from Corralejo to Lanzarote and to the small Isla de Lobos.
The Canary Islands are part of Spain and the Schengen area. EU citizens need only an ID card; citizens of the UK, US, Canada, Australia and many other countries can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, with biometric registration under the EU Entry/Exit System. An ETIAS travel authorisation is also due to be introduced. Check current rules before you travel.
Fuerteventura is one of the cheaper Canary Islands. The islands use the euro. Instead of VAT, they have a lower local sales tax (IGIC, generally 7%), so some goods are cheaper than on the Spanish mainland.
Dunes, islands and wild beaches.
Walk in the Corralejo dunes, then take the ferry to Isla de Lobos and visit El Cotillo for sunset.
Visit Betancuria and the viewpoints in the mountains.
Spend a day at Sotavento, then drive to Cofete.
Visiting Isla de Lobos requires a free online permit in advance; numbers are limited.
It is often windy; choose sheltered beaches on breezy days.
Many west-coast beaches have strong currents; swim where lifeguards are present.
Rental agreements may not cover unpaved roads such as the one to Cofete.
Quick answers for planning time in Fuerteventura.
No visa is needed for EU citizens or for UK, US, Canadian and Australian citizens for short stays; Schengen rules apply, including the Entry/Exit System.
Yes, a free permit is required and should be booked online in advance; ferries run from Corralejo.
Yes, Sotavento and other beaches have steady trade winds, especially from June to September.
It is not recommended because of strong currents.
All year: winters are mild (around 18–21°C by day) and summers warm but rarely very hot, cooled by the trade winds.
Spanish is the language; English and German are widely spoken in resorts.
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Planning a wider trip? Our Canary Islands travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.