Fuerteventura is the oldest of the Canary Islands and, in many ways, the most elemental. Where the others have peaks, forests and volcanic drama, Fuerteventura offers something rarer: space. The second largest island in the archipelago stretches 100 kilometres from north to south and feels, in places, like the Sahara has slipped quietly into the Atlantic.
The beaches here are genuinely world-class — Cofete, on the wild south-west coast, is one of the most dramatic in Europe; the dunes of Corralejo in the north form a protected natural park of white sand and turquoise lagoons; and Sotavento in the south is the global capital of kitesurfing. The trade winds that make this island a paradise for water sports blow at a consistent 20-30 knots for most of the year.
But Fuerteventura is more than its coastline. The ancient capital of Betancuria, the goat cheese farms of the interior, the fishing villages of the east coast and the raw, untouched peninsula of Jandía reward those who take the time to look beyond the beach. Five days is exactly the right amount of time.
Corralejo, the Dunes & El Cotillo
Arrival in the north, white sand dunes and a wild surf sunset
Morning: Arrival and Corralejo
Fuerteventura Airport sits near Puerto del Rosario, the capital, roughly in the middle of the island's east coast. Collect your rental car immediately — you'll need it for every day of this itinerary. Drive north to Corralejo, the island's most popular resort town, which despite its popularity has retained genuine character in its old quarter near the harbour.
The Corralejo Natural Park begins just south of town — 11 kilometres of protected white sand dunes that roll between the coast road and the turquoise Atlantic. The water here is shallow, calm and an impossible shade of blue. Arrive before 10:00 to have the dunes largely to yourself.
Afternoon: El Cotillo at golden hour
El Cotillo is everything Corralejo is not — small, unhurried and genuinely local. The village has a working fishing harbour, a 17th-century tower and two completely different coastlines within walking distance: the wild, exposed surf beach to the north (the one in your hero image) and a series of calm, protected lagoons to the south, perfect for swimming and snorkelling.
Arrive in the late afternoon, walk the coast path from the tower to the surf beach and watch the Atlantic light turn gold over the water. This is the single best sunset view in northern Fuerteventura.
Base recommendation: Stay in El Cotillo rather than Corralejo if you want a quieter, more authentic experience. It's 20 minutes from the dunes but feels like a different island. Several excellent small apartments and boutique guesthouses available.
Betancuria, the Interior & East Coast Villages
The ancient capital, goat cheese country and fishing villages frozen in time
Morning: Betancuria
Betancuria was the first European settlement in the Canary Islands, founded in 1404 by the Norman conqueror Jean de Béthencourt. Hidden in a mountain valley to protect it from pirate raids, it remained the island's capital for 400 years. Today it is a beautifully preserved village of stone buildings, flowering courtyards and cobbled streets with fewer than 700 inhabitants.
The Iglesia de Santa María is the oldest church in the Canaries — its interior contains original 15th-century paintings and a carved wooden ceiling of remarkable quality. The adjacent museum houses pre-Hispanic Guanche artefacts and the island's most complete historical collection.
Afternoon: Pajara and the east coast
Drive south through the dramatic Pájara valley, stopping at the 17th-century church with its extraordinary Aztec-influenced doorway — one of the most unusual pieces of colonial architecture in Spain. The road through the centre of the island offers some of the best volcanic landscape photography on the island.
Continue east to the traditional fishing village of Gran Tarajal and then north to Caleta de Fuste for a seafood dinner overlooking the calm east coast bay. The Atlantic is considerably calmer on this side of the island — a complete contrast to the surf-battered west.
Majorero cheese: Buy a vacuum-packed wheel at any local market or directly from the farm. It travels well and is one of the finest cheeses produced in Spain. The semi-cured variety rubbed with paprika is the classic.
Sotavento & the Jandía Peninsula
The world capital of kitesurfing and the wild southern tip
Morning: Sotavento lagoon
Drive south to the Sotavento lagoon — a 30-kilometre stretch of white sand beach and turquoise tidal lagoon that is, without qualification, one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe. The shallow lagoon creates a natural windsurf and kitesurf training ground of extraordinary quality; the PWA World Windsurfing Championships have been held here for decades. Sotavento is also one of the top entries in our guide to the 12 best beaches in Fuerteventura — worth reading before you decide how to split your time.
Even if you have no interest in water sports, walking the length of the lagoon at low tide — the water barely ankle-deep over white sand — is one of those experiences that stays with you. Bring sun protection: the reflection off the lagoon is intense.
Afternoon: Jandía Natural Park
The southern tip of Fuerteventura is a designated natural park of 14,000 hectares. The road ends at Morro Jable; beyond it, the tracks require a 4x4. The peninsula's west coast is a succession of wild, empty beaches with no facilities and extraordinary Atlantic views. Playa de Cofete — tomorrow's destination — is visible in the distance, separated by the central mountain ridge.
Spend the afternoon on the protected east coast beaches near Morro Jable, which offer calm, clear water and are less exposed to the prevailing trade winds. Playa de la Cebada and the beaches south of the resort are beautiful and rarely crowded even in high season.
4x4 for Cofete: If you want to drive to Cofete independently tomorrow, you'll need to ensure your rental car is a 4x4 or high-clearance vehicle. Alternatively, organised tours run daily from Morro Jable — book at your hotel the evening before.
Cofete: The Wild Beach at the End of the World
Fuerteventura's most dramatic and remote stretch of coastline
The road to Cofete
Playa de Cofete is the beach that defines the soul of Fuerteventura. Stretching 12 kilometres along the wild south-west coast, backed by the Jandía massif and open to the full force of the Atlantic, it is one of the most dramatic and isolated beaches in Europe. There are no sunbeds, no parasols, no facilities beyond a single remote bar — just the ocean, the mountains and the wind.
The access road crosses the central ridge of the Jandía peninsula via an unmade track with spectacular views in both directions. At the top, the full scale of the beach reveals itself below — a dark sand arc disappearing into the haze in both directions, the Atlantic crashing in long white lines against the shore.
Evening: Return and seafood dinner
Return to Morro Jable by late afternoon. The contrast between Cofete's wildness and the town's relaxed resort atmosphere is striking. Have a long, slow dinner at one of the harbour restaurants — fresh Atlantic fish, local prawns, a bottle of cold white wine and the satisfaction of a day spent somewhere genuinely extraordinary.
Safety: Cofete's currents are genuinely dangerous. Several swimmers have died here. The beach is spectacular for walking and photography — save your swimming for the protected east coast beaches.
Antigua, Los Molinos & Farewell
Windmills, craft markets and one last perfect beach before departure
Morning: Antigua and the windmill museum
Drive north through the island's agricultural heartland to Antigua — a quiet, traditional town that feels completely removed from the coastal resorts. The Molino de Antigua is a beautifully restored 18th-century windmill surrounded by a cactus garden and craft market, housing a museum of traditional Majorero cheese production and island crafts.
The Saturday morning market in Antigua is one of the best on the island — local producers sell cheese, honey, aloe vera products, handmade ceramics and traditional island food. If your departure allows, time your visit accordingly.
What to bring home: Majorero cheese (vacuum-packed travels well), local honey, handmade aloe vera products and a bottle of Lanzarote Malvasía white if you can find it. The airport duty-free stocks most of these — but the market prices are significantly better.
✈ Getting to Fuerteventura
Kiwi.com — Flights to Fuerteventura
Flight search engine
Fuerteventura Airport (FUE) has direct connections from across Europe year-round. Kiwi.com searches all airlines simultaneously — including Ryanair, easyJet and Jet2 — to find the best combination of price and schedule for your dates.
Search flights to Fuerteventura →GetTransfer — Airport Transfer
Private transfers, fixed price
Book a private transfer from Fuerteventura Airport to Corralejo, El Cotillo or Morro Jable. Fixed price agreed before you travel, driver waiting on arrival — no taxi queues after a long flight.
Book airport transfer →GetRentaCar — Car Hire in Fuerteventura
Essential for this itinerary
Every day of this itinerary requires a car. For Day 4 (Cofete), book a 4x4 or high-clearance vehicle — the track is unmade. Compare prices across all suppliers and book in advance for the best rates.
Compare car hire →📱 Connectivity & Tours
Saily — Spain eSIM
Data without roaming fees
Activate a Spain eSIM before you leave home and have 4G data from the moment you land. Coverage in Fuerteventura is good throughout the island — essential for navigation on the unmade roads to Cofete and the Jandía tracks.
Activate Spain eSIM →Yesim — eSIM Alternative
Global coverage, no physical SIM
A strong alternative to Saily, compatible with most modern smartphones. Compare both plans — Fuerteventura is a larger island so data usage for navigation tends to be higher than on the smaller Canaries.
See Yesim plans →WeGoTrip — Fuerteventura Audio Tours
Self-guided tours & audio guides
Audio guides for Betancuria's historic centre, the Corralejo dunes and the Jandía peninsula. Download before you go — works offline in areas with no signal. Expert commentary that adds depth to every stop on this itinerary.
Browse Fuerteventura tours →