Fuerteventura in 3 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

If you're thinking about things to see and do in Fuerteventura because you have a short trip planned to this beautiful volcanic island, then you've come to the right place. I've taken it upon myself to research what activities you could enjoy when visiting this corner of the Canary Islands for a 3 day trip.

Volcanoes, picturesque villages and beaches with warm, navigable waters. All this and much more you will find in this informative compilation I have prepared for you. I invite you to read on if you want to find out more about what the island has to offer and to get a better idea of the kind of entertainment you can enjoy on this trip.

Fuerteventura is the second largest of all the Canary Islands. Over the years it has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region, especially among those who are looking for a more natural and ecological experience.

In fact, the entire island has been declared a biosphere reserve by Unesco and this has been a major factor in its rise to prominence as a destination that attracts tourists, due to the favourable year-round Canarian climate.

As the north of the island is full of natural wonders that can be very entertaining for all types of tourists I recommend that you reserve it for the first day of your visit.

Start the day at the Calderon Hondo Volcano

Throughout Fuerteventura there are more than 20 volcanoes that have formed a series of trails that are ideal for hiking and sightseeing.

The most famous of all is the Calderón Hondo Volcano and is characterised by the fact that it is the tip of an extinct volcano that left behind a completely barren landscape of reddish rocks. They are so impressive that they could easily be the inspiration for a Martian film.

The trails to the top are very well signposted and the first half of the morning is an ideal time to get there. This is for the simple fact that the 40-minute hike will be much more favourable in these weather conditions.

The crater is 70 metres deep and the whole mountain is 278 metres high. Making it one of the highest points in the north of the island and an ideal place to admire in a 360 degree panorama the volcanic and sandy landscape that characterises the north of Fuerteventura.

Using a private car to get to the rest of the day's activities is a must, as well as to continue on to the attractions you will visit during the rest of the trip.

Drive to Corralejo harbour

Corralejo is the most developed community in the north of the island of Fuerteventura and although there are now many resorts and hotels, the coastal areas of the harbour still retain the characteristic architecture of the Canary Islands. From the crater of the Calderón Hondo Volcano it is less than 30 minutes to get there.

Historically, this has been a seafaring community and so it is highly recommended that you try the catch of the day for lunch in one of the traditional restaurants. These abound around the area close to the bay, specifically along the street of the Muelle Chico or the small beach of Corralejo.

Bear in mind that this port has the largest maritime passenger traffic in the whole Canary Islands region, as it is the departure point for all the ferries that take you to Lanzarote, another island of this important archipelago. In fact, some of the best snorkelling trips in Fuerteventura usually depart from here because the waters in the north of the island are very favourable for aquatic activities.

Enjoy an afternoon at the beach on Lobos Island

Isla de Lobos is a volcanic islet of 6 square kilometres and 13 kilometres of coastline that is located just north of Fuerteventura between the island of Lanzarote, thus placing it in a strait called the Bocaina. It is separated from Fuerteventura by a small channel of 2 km which is known locally as El Rio or El Paso de la Orchilla. This is due to its depth, which is no more than 10 metres for most of the way.

A guided tour of the island will take you along the small paths that were once home to hundreds of sea lions, which is why today the islet has been given this curious name.

The most interesting thing about this small excursion to Lobos Island from Fuerteventura with a duration of 3 or 4 hours is that you will have the opportunity to do the snorkelling and scuba diving that I mentioned in the previous point. The economic savings is another interesting factor of these excursions, as the price is around 25 euros per person, but not including lunch in the convenient price.

It is quite a magical moment knowing that this nature reserve has a significantly large diversity of marine fauna and flora. With endemic species and all kinds of migratory fish.

Spend the sunset in the dunes of Corralejo Natural Park

When you're back in the north of Fuerteventura you'll be just a couple of kilometres away from one of the most impressive natural wonders of the island. This is the Parque Natural de Corralejo, a dune system that stretches for several kilometres along the north-eastern coast of the island. It is perfectly passable via the FV-1A road, as this road runs through the middle of this deserted scenery in the entire park and you will reach the halfway point in less than 15 or even 10 minutes.

The sunsets are quite a spectacle and depending on the time of year you may want to dip your toes in the water at the various beaches. The beaches are characterised by their crystal-clear waters and merge with several kilometres of white sand, which then give way to the island's volcanoes in the background.

My advice is to stop the car at the side of the road and set out to walk the dunes on your own. First of all because it will be a lot of fun and is definitely one of the things to see and do with children in Fuerteventura. That's knowing that you'll have hundreds of metres to run and twist and turn between mountains of sand.

There are many outstanding beaches, but my recommendation is that you set out to walk the coastline because it won't take you long to find a cove so natural and untouched by man that it will look like a virgin beach that has been discovered for the first time in its history.

The coasts of the islands are usually the most attractive place for the tourist focus due to the fact that they offer fun activities such as surfing or a slightly more family friendly day at the beach. However, after a day of touring beach environments such as the Corralejo Dunes or Lobos Island, it is only right and proper that you venture into the wonders that characterise the interior of Fuerteventura.

This volcanic island offers all kinds of dystopian and peculiar landscapes. And it is exactly this unique beauty that makes it one of the most interesting destinations of all the Canary Islands when you are looking for adventure tourism in a beautiful and memorable environment.

Remember that having a private car is a must in order to complete this itinerary, as it is the best way to get from one point to another within Fuerteventura.

Drive to Villaverde and see its beautiful windmills

Windmills are one of the most characteristic elements of Fuerteventura's architecture. In fact, there are more than 1,000 windmills scattered all over the island for different agricultural purposes. It is not unusual for there to be so many, as 800 are dedicated to the extraction of water from internal wells, while the rest are created for the grinding of locally produced cereals.

Many of them have been upgraded and run an electric system, but others still retain their traditional operation. I advise you to visit the ones located in the village of Villaverde, as it is quite close to the capital of the corregimiento of La Oliva and has a very traditional beauty that is surrounded by volcanic mountains. Thus creating a setting that can give you a very pleasant start to your second day on the island.

In both Villaverde and La Oliva you will have the opportunity to see what it is like to start the working day in an authentic Canarian village. No doubt you will also have plenty of alternatives where you can enjoy a good breakfast to give you the energy you need to face the rest of the day. Mi Dulce Hogar is the bakery par excellence among the locals and when you enter it you will find a typical Canarian breakfast restaurant.

Continue south to the Museo del Queso Majorero (Majorero Cheese Museum)

If you drive south on the FV-10 from La Oliva, then change to the FV-207 and at the village of La Ampuyenta take the FV-20, you will reach the Museo del Queso Majorero in less than 20 minutes.

This institution offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience for those who consider themselves cheese lovers. This is a place where they explain the step-by-step production of this dairy product, which has had a designation of origin since 1996.

For your convenience, the museum is open every day of the week from 10 am until around 6 pm. And the entrance fee couldn't be cheaper, as for many years it has been around 5 euros per person.

The whole museum is distributed along a property that represents a typical Majorero house, has an impressive cactus garden and also a mill restored under all the traditional architectural patterns of the island. All these reasons make a visit to this museum even more interesting, even if you are not a big fan of gastronomy.

Take the Betancuria Rural Park route.

If after visiting the museum you drive to the village of antigua and take the FV-416 road northwards , you can reach the FV-30 road. This road is very special due to the fact that it crosses the entire length of the Betancuria Rural Park. However, bear in mind that a short stop in La Antigua for lunch is advisable if you are already feeling very hungry.

This is one of the most popular driving routes on the island for the simple fact that it passes through an unspoilt terrain of volcanic, reddish and rocky massifs that is completely populated by chipmunks. An invasive species of rodent that has somehow or other won the hearts of tourists despite the fact that they are a risk to local agriculture.

If you are interested in the subject, there are several museums on this route, including the Archaeological Museum of Fuerteventura, which is dedicated to showing the ethnographic past of the region, and the Museum of Sacred Art, which focuses on the religious art that characterises the Catholic identity of the Canary Islands.

The Mirador de Las Peñitas and the Mirador del Risco de Las Peñas are ideal spots for you to park the car and get out and enjoy the panoramic views of this particularly beautiful area.

Finish the afternoon in the picturesque village of Ajuy

A couple of kilometres from the FV-30 is the village of Ajuy, on the west coast of the island. You can get there by taking the FV-621 heading north, after a 3 minute drive on the FV-605. In fact, you will be at the main beach of this village in less than 20 minutes from the viewpoints I mentioned in the previous point.

Ajuy has a public parking area and this will allow you to wander freely through the few streets of this picturesque fishing village. It is tucked between cliffs and the most characteristic feature of its beautiful geography is the black sand beach that was formed thousands of years ago as a product of volcanic activity in the region.

It has some sea caves that are accessible from a relatively short trail and is a perfect opportunity to enjoy the sunset on the second day of your visit to Fuerteventura. This is just before returning to the streets of Ajuy to enjoy a dinner consisting of the best catch of the day.

Some boat trips in Fuerteventura usually include this section of the west coast of the island in their itinerary. I mention this as a way of highlighting the beauty that makes Ajuy stand out from other villages in the region as a destination worth visiting.

The south of this island has a tourist potential just as significant and even greater than the entire northern region which is characterised a little more by the volcanic environment that I mentioned at the beginning of this itinerary that I have prepared for you.

In fact, the best surfing lessons in Fuerteventura usually take place in the Jandia Peninsula. The truth is that this region of the island could be your favourite of the things to see and do on a 5-day visit to Fuerteventura if you like sporty and mass tourism-focused activities.

Don't forget to follow up with your hire car, as you'll need it for these last few stops on your short but fun-filled tour of Fuerteventura.

Start the day with a visit to the Costa Calma area

Costa Calma is the corner of the Jandia Peninsula where most of the resorts are located for mass tourism. As you can imagine, its beaches are quite beautiful, with shallow waters and really the whole locality functions as a sort of gateway to the rest of the Jandia region.

I advise you to visit this place for the fact that it is a good place to have breakfast at one of the many hotel buffets before you continue driving to the south of the peninsula. You can choose between those closer to the beach, such as the R2 Rio Calma Hotel & Spa & Conference, or those closer to the FV-2 road, such as the Royal Suite Hotel.

Afterwards you will go to the Mirador de Los Canarios

If you continue driving the car for 25 minutes along the FV-2 there will be a point where you will reach the crossroads of Barranco de Los Canarios. There you can start driving in the direction of the Mirador of the same name, which is an excellent decision, as you will arrive at a point that offers panoramic views over the whole of the peninsula.

These views will be specifically focused on the Natural Park of Jandia, which with its small mountain range cuts the peninsula in two. Leaving the beaches of the north coast with an enviable and virtually unspoilt geography that looks like something out of a fairy tale.

Finish the day by visiting Morro de Jable

By this point in your trip you are probably already worrying about choosing an entertainment that will bring you tranquillity and good experiences before you have to return to Fuerteventura airport to catch the flight back home.

Morro Jable is perfectly adapted to these desires and demands, as it is one of the most important tourist spots on the island and is only 15 to 20 minutes away from the viewpoint I have mentioned. It offers a vibrant and varied gastronomic offer that will help you to enjoy your farewell party in Fuerteventura. The Rayon beach bar is one of the most famous restaurants among tourists, but you can also opt for lunch and dinner at some of the restaurants at the Riu Palace or the Riu Calyso Hotel.

There are several spots in the town worth visiting, such as the harbour, the lighthouse which is just in front of the Playa del Matorral with nudist sections and the life-size monument to a cetacean. It steals the gaze of the thousands of tourists who visit this picturesque but modernised community.