Where to look
Beach & Sun Seekers
Beach lovers · Sun worshippers · Lagoon swimmers · Photography enthusiasts The Corralejo Dunes Natural Park in the north is the island's crown jewel for beach lovers — a 10km stretch of brilliant white sand dunes backed by a turquoise lagoon, with the volcanic outline of Lanzarote visible across the water. The dunes are a protected natural reserve, which means no construction, no beach bars — just raw, beautiful landscape. The calm lagoon water between the dunes and Lobos Island is ideal for snorkelling and gentle swimming. At the other end of the island, Jandía's Atlantic-facing beaches are wilder and more dramatic. Playa de Cofete, on the far western tip, is a 14km beach of dark volcanic sand framed by the mountains of the Jandía range — accessible only by a rough 4WD track or on foot, and almost deserted even in peak season. It is one of the most extraordinary beach landscapes in the Canary Islands. Playa de Morro Jable at the southern tip is calmer and more accessible, with calm blue water.
Families with Children
Families · Young children · Parents wanting calm protected water Caleta de Fuste on the east coast is one of the most purpose-built family resorts in the Canary Islands. The resort is built around a natural harbour that creates a completely sheltered lagoon — the water inside is always flat calm, with no waves, no currents, and a gradually shelving sandy bottom ideal for toddlers and young swimmers. The resort has watersports, beach volleyball, boat trips to glass-bottom boats and a good selection of apartment complexes. Corralejo's lagoon beach (Playa de la Concha) also works brilliantly for families — the protected water between the sand dunes and Lobos Island is almost always calm, extremely clear and very shallow. The town itself has good supermarkets, pharmacies, restaurants and a ferry to Lobos Island for an easy and memorable day trip. Costa Calma in the south is a quieter alternative with good flat sandy beaches.
Windsurfers & Kitesurfers
Windsurfers · Kitesurfers · Beginners · PWA World Championship spectators Fuerteventura is a world-class wind sports destination — one of the top five kitesurfing locations on earth. The consistent Canarian northeast trade winds blow reliably from April through September, and the Sotavento lagoon on the south coast (near Costa Calma) is where the annual PWA World Windsurfing Championships and Kite World Cup take place. The lagoon's shallow, flat water is ideal for beginners; the open ocean to the south handles the big air tricks of the professionals. Corralejo in the north has a different wind character — side-shore and side-onshore conditions that suit experienced kiters who want open ocean jumps rather than flat lagoon riding. Multiple schools in Corralejo teach kitesurfing, windsurfing and SUP from beginner level. El Cotillo, on the northwest coast, is a smaller, quieter base popular with committed surfers who want quality waves over nightlife.
Nature & Landscape Lovers
Hikers · Photography lovers · Wildlife watchers · Slow travellers Away from the coastal resorts, Fuerteventura's interior is a stark, Mars-like landscape of volcanic craters, black lava flows and bare mountains that look nothing like any other Canary Island. The island has been a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2009. The Betancuria valley in the centre — former capital and most historic area — is dramatically different from the coast, with terracotta rock formations, ancient churches and a complete absence of mass tourism. The Lobos Island Natural Reserve, reached by a 10-minute ferry from Corralejo, is a small volcanic island with a lighthouse, salt flats, seabird colonies and a marine reserve — snorkelling here among rays and parrotfish is extraordinary. The Tindaya mountain in the north is sacred to the indigenous Guanche people and has significant rock engravings. The wild northwest coast between El Cotillo and Corralejo has a series of rock pools and hidden coves.
Romantic Couples
Couples · Honeymoons · Slow travel · Sunset chasers The village of El Cotillo on the northwest coast is Fuerteventura's most romantic setting — a cluster of white houses around a harbour with a Moorish watchtower, a lighthouse, and a series of rock-pool lagoons that catch the extraordinary Atlantic sunsets. The lagoons (accessible at low tide) trap the last light and turn the sea into liquid gold. The village has a handful of good restaurants and a genuinely unhurried atmosphere. Jandía's Playa de Cofete is another candidate for the most romantic beach on the island — vast, empty, dramatic, backed by the raw mountains of the Jandía range. There is almost nobody there. A villa rental in the southern Jandía Peninsula, with access to both the calm east-coast lagoons and the wild Cofete beach, is a genuinely spectacular holiday setting.
Surf & Ocean Lovers
Surfers · Snorkellers · Divers · Ocean swimmers · Freediving enthusiasts The Atlantic coast of Fuerteventura has consistent wave surf year-round. El Cotillo Beach and Playa de la Escalera on the northwest coast pick up long-distance Atlantic swells and produce clean, rideable waves suitable for intermediate surfers. Punta de Jandia, at the island's southern tip, is for experienced surfers only — powerful reef breaks and no facilities. The east coast, by contrast, is almost always flat, making it better for snorkelling and beginner watersports. The marine reserve around Lobos Island has outstanding snorkelling — manta rays, loggerhead sea turtles, parrotfish and barracuda are regularly sighted in the clear water. Several dive schools in Corralejo offer guided dives to the wrecks and underwater lava formations of the north coast. Corralejo's lagoon beach is perfect for freediving practice — flat, clear and shallow.
Budget Travellers
Backpackers · Cost-conscious visitors · Long-stay winter sun seekers Corralejo has the widest range of budget accommodation on the island — apartments, studios and hostel rooms are all available, and the town's supermarkets and local restaurants keep eating costs very manageable. Self-catering in Corralejo is significantly cheaper than eating out in Jandía resorts every day. Puerto del Rosario, the island's capital, is even cheaper but less interesting as a base. Winter (November–February) is the most expensive season in Fuerteventura, not summer — the island is a Northern European escape from cold weather, and prices peak accordingly. If you can travel in June–September, prices are 30–40% lower. Caleta de Fuste has decent value apartment complexes outside school holidays. Costa Calma has a mix of all-inclusive and self-catering options at mid-range prices.
🏖️ Corralejo
Liveliest northern resort. Dunes Natural Park on doorstep. Ferry to Lobos Island. Best for beach, surf, nightlife, families. Well-connected. Beach · Surf · Families · Nightlife
🌊 El Cotillo
Small northwest fishing village. Rock-pool lagoons, surf beach, lighthouse sunsets. Quiet, authentic, very few tourists. Romantic. Romance · Surf · Authentic
🏠 Caleta de Fuste
East coast family resort. Sheltered harbour lagoon (no waves, perfect for toddlers). Purpose-built, calm, all facilities. Families · Calm · All-inclusive
🏄 Costa Calma / Sotavento
Windsurfing and kitesurfing heartland. Sotavento PWA Championship lagoon. Long sandy beach. Less nightlife than Corralejo. Wind sports · Beach · Active
🌴 Morro Jable / Jandía
Southern resort with long calm beach. Good restaurants and facilities. Quieter than Corralejo. Cofete wild beach accessible by 4WD. Beach · Relaxed · Couples
🌵 Betancuria (interior)
Former capital, most historic town. Dramatic terracotta landscape. No beaches, no resort infrastructure. Day trip from coastal bases. History · Authentic · Photography
🏝️ Lobos Island
Tiny volcanic island 10 min ferry from Corralejo. Marine reserve, flamingos, snorkelling, no vehicles. Day trip only — no accommodation. Nature · Snorkelling · Day trip
Tips for booking
- Corralejo is the perfect base for dunes access. The dunes are on your doorstep — literally walkable from the town — but the protected status means no facilities on the beach itself. Bring water and sun protection. The lagoon snorkelling between the dunes and Lobos Island is outstanding.
- Caleta de Fuste's harbour beach is the calmest swimming water on the island. The natural harbour breaks all waves and the water is perfectly sheltered — ideal for children who are nervous of the Atlantic surf that affects exposed beaches on the west coast.
- July and August have the strongest and most consistent wind. If you are a beginner at kite or windsurfing, May or June is better — conditions are still good but less extreme, and schools are less crowded. Book lessons well in advance; reputable schools fill quickly in peak wind season.
- Rent a 4WD for the Cofete road. The track from the Jandía Peninsula over the mountains to Playa de Cofete is rough but spectacular. A standard hire car will bottom out on the rocks. The beach at the end is one of the most extraordinary natural experiences on any Canary Island — completely wild and almost always nearly empty.
- Sunset at El Cotillo is one of the Canaries' best. The lighthouse and the harbour wall catch the last Atlantic light perfectly. Walk down to the lagoons at low tide — the rock pools trap the colour and the whole scene is extraordinary. The village has a good fresh-fish restaurant right on the harbour.
- Corralejo is the best base for combining water sports. You can surf in the morning, snorkel in the lagoon in the afternoon, and take a diving course on the same weekend. The town has multiple specialist shops and schools covering every water sport.
- June and September are the best-value months for beach weather. Temperatures are warm (26–29°C), the wind is good for surf but not overwhelming for sunbathers, and prices are significantly below the winter peak. Avoid Christmas and February — the entire island fills with Northern Europeans and prices spike.
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