Grandes Playas beach

This beach witnesses the union of a sea of sand with another of water, producing truly impressive scenery. The gigantic dunes that placidly enter the transparent waters of the Atlantic are part of the Dunas de Corralejo Natural Park.
Walking on the fine sand, you will find many places to lose yourself and enjoy peace and quiet. The area is very popular with naturists, who appreciate the privacy of this large stretch of sand. The beach is also ideal for surfing, windsurfing or canoeing.
 
The Clubhotel Riu Oliva Beach and the Riu Palace Tres Islas is set inside this wonderful natural scene, surrounded by a lunar landscape and impressive dunes, with Lobos island as a backdrop.

Jandía beach

Situated on the peninsula of the same name, the beach forms part of a long succession of seemingly endless stretches of sand with limpid waters. Whether you want to sunbathe on the golden sand, splash around with your children in the serene waters or go windsurfing, kitesurfing or bodyboarding, this is the place for you.

The numerous beach bars opposite the beach are privileged locations from which to admire the sea whilst having a drink or lunch. A beach path will lead you to Morro de Jable, a pleasant town that moves to the tranquil rhythm set by the sea and offers excellent restaurants and bars.

For 10 days in the month of July, the area transforms to become the meeting point for windsurfing enthusiasts, as the venue for a World Cup event in this discipline.

The three RIU hotels here (Hotel Riu Calypso y Hotel Riu Palace Jandia) are strategically situated beside the sea so that you can enjoy this place to the fullest.

Lobos island

This island, which is a must in every visit to Fuerteventura, emerges from the sea a few kilometres from the coast, between Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. This jewel of nature, which is part of the Dunas de Corralejo Natural Park, stands out for its mobile and fixed dunes that end up on incomparable deserted beaches where you will be able to enjoy solitude.

Because of the high level of protection, visits are made through signposted paths that will lead you past volcanic craters, lava flows, salt marshes and several wetlands.

Its desert-like appearance doesn’t diminish its natural importance – its inhabited by over 130 plant species, including several endemic species, and a large number of birds, the great stars of the island: Cory’s Shearwaters, Little Shearwaters and Herring Gulls are the most outstanding, amongst many others.

Jandía Natural Park

This spectacular area that encompasses the greater part of the peninsula and is set between the sea and the mountains, stands out for its sharp contrasts: large dunes, steep cliffs and hillocks that penetrate the crystal-clear waters of the sea. The beaches, which stretch for miles, are sublime.
The highest point of the island is the Pico de la Zarza (807m), which has exceptional views of the whole park and the rest of the island.
The area is the habitat of important endemic plant species and a high concentration of migratory birds.

Betancuria

Located at the bottom of a valley that protects it from the Canarian winds, this town comprises a small oasis of vegetation in the midst of the arid landscape of Fuerteventura. Its whitewashed houses hide small flower gardens where palm trees stand tall. The peace and quiet of its streets will transport you to bygone ages.
The white houses converge around the cathedral church of Santa María, with a beautiful bell tower and some Mudejar characteristics. The chapel of San Diego is another small treasure hidden amongst the alleyways. Its design is simple but elegant; by no means extravagant, but with a very distinct style.

Although it was founded in 1404 by Juan de Bethencourt, who also gave the village his name, the first settlements were established here by the indigenous inhabitants of the Canary Islands, the Guanches. The Museum of Sacred Art and the Ethnographic Archaeological Museum are essential visits if you wish to see objects from the island’s past and discover its history.

Montaña de Tindaya

Rising proudly up from the austere lands of the north, the mountain of Tindaya is one of the island’s symbols. Its summit and slopes have around 300 cave engravings, all of which are foot-shaped. This makes the “sacred mountain”, as it is also known, one of the most important places in the world for this kind of designs. Watching its waning silhouette at sunset, you will understand why the Guanches attributed magical powers to this hill.

Fuerteventura windmills

The windmills scattered around the island’s geography bear witness to a rich past of cereal cultivation. Their sober structures, many of which have been tastefully renovated, are characteristic, picturesque images of the island. The excursions that cover the so-called windmill route will help you discover these wonders of traditional architecture that fill Fuerteventura’s landscape.

Windsurfing

The island of Fuerteventura has become one of the main destinations in the world for this sport and is a compulsory stopover for the Windsurfing World Cup. Both on the beaches of Corralejo in the north and those of Jandía in the south, you will find exceptional conditions for practising this sport. The former are characterised by larger waves, ideal for jumps; and the southern ones are flatter, better for beginners.

Diving

Corralejo: The seabed along this coast is an invitation to dive. Many factors combine to make this place a paradise for diving enthusiasts: mild temperature of the waters (18º-23ºC), high visibility and a wide variety of species such as rays, sharks, lizardfish and colourful sponges. Moreover, because of its proximity to Lanzarote the depth is never greater than 25m, making diving very easy.

If you prefer, you can also sign up for an excursion that will take you snorkelling in the waters of Isla de los Lobos. The lovely beaches of this natural sanctuary have fantastically beautiful seabeds that are also easy to explore.

Playa de Jandía: The waters of Jandía are also recommended for immersions. The numerous diving schools in the area are a good place to start and explore the clear waters of the coast and its rich biodiversity: brown eels, moray eels, seabream and if you are lucky, the odd shark.

Golf

Salinas de Antigua Golf Club: This course is perfectly adapted to the surroundings, with sand dunes and hillocks to protect you from the wind. The clubhouse, which has delightful views of the sea, is a good place to relax after putting your technique to the test.

Fuerteventura Golf Club: The lakes and palm trees of this course will delight players of all levels. The fantastic views of the sea and the lunar landscape of the interior are yet another incentive to come here.

Baku Aqua Park

This large leisure complex in the north of the island is a great place for youngsters to have fun: wave pools, large slides, bowling, mini golf and much more. After a day here with your children they’ll sleep like angels…

Specialities

The local cuisine combines a wide variety of white and blue fishes with the basic traditional products: potatoes and sweet potatoes. Fried moray eels and mussels are also common, both of which are abundant on the coast of Fuerteventura.
The numerous recipes with beef, pork and goat hold a privileged place in the island’s gastronomy.
Another delicacy is goat cheese: the majorero and palmero varieties both hold official guarantees of quality and origin.

Shopping

Despite the predominance of tourism nowadays, the good promotion of local crafts has made this sector extremely dynamic. In many villages it’s still common to see women working on delicate canvases at their doorsteps. There is also an abundance of wood, stone and clay creations. Throughout the island there are several craft centres with official quality certificates and controlled prices.

Due to the long distance between the Canaries archipelago and mainland Spain, a special tax regime is applied to a variety of products. Because of this, you will find alcoholic drinks, tobacco, perfumes and cosmetics at reduced prices. There is also an abundance of international fashion stores in the main tourist resorts such as Corralejo and Morro Jable.