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THINGS TO DO IN FUERTEVENTURA We have put together three car trips to enable you to see some of the most important places of interest on the island. These trips start in Caleta de Fuste but you can easily start them from anywhere along the route, for example, Corralejo or El Cotillo. These trips can take quite long time so you might want to break them up into smaller journeys. For example, you could just take a quick look at the beaches at El Cotillo and if you like what you see, you might decide to spend more time there later on in your holiday. Or, if you are staying in Caleta, you could just go to Las Salinas or Pozo Negro for lunch without completing the rest of the journey. We have tried to give accurate directions but a good map of the island should ensure that you don’t go wrong. The Northern Route You will shortly see the beginning of the magnificent La Oliva beach. Firstly, you will see a sandy beach which is below the level of the road. This is followed by sand dunes and then by a flat stretch of beach. The road bends to the left here and goes uphill. There is hard standing for cars on the right. Do not park on the sand – over the years we have seen many stranded motorists who have tried to do this to their cost. Cars dig themselves in due to wheel spin caused by the fine sand. Park here and walk across the dunes to explore the magnificent Corralejo Beaches. There are beach bars here, so you can have a drink or enjoy lunch. Continue to follow the main road to Corralejo.
CORRALEJO Corralejo was once a fishing village but, in the last few years, there has been a tremendous amount of development. Now, Corralejo is the island's main resort with a large selection of shops, bars and restaurants. In spite of its growth, it has managed to retain a village atmosphere with a main street colourful with flowers, an attractive town square and a largely traffic-free area which borders the sea. Here you can have a drink or a meal and admire the views across the bay. There is no shortage of places to eat including Spanish, Mexican, Italian, Chinese and Indian restaurants. Some offer typical Canarian dishes, often prepared with fish caught that day. Activities (other than sunbathing and swimming!) include windsurfing, scuba diving (there are diving schools and hire centres in town) and game fishing. Jet-skiing is popular and mountain bikes are also available for hire. There is also a water park. Corralejo has two sandy beaches, the Galera beach and a smaller one near the town pier. A little more than a mile-and-a-half to the south are the "Grandes Playas", nearly three miles of uninterrupted, fine, white sand and spectacular dunes - beaches just don't get any better than this!
After exploring Corralejo, return back up the main street travelling uphill towards the village of Villaverde. The water park is situated here, on the left, just before the top of the hill. At the big roundabout, carry on straight ahead. Continue until you see a road on the right to Lajares. In Lajares go straight ahead at the mini roundabout. At the main road turn right in the direction of El Cotillo. As you enter El Cotillo turn right immediately after the football stadium which is also on your right. Take the second road on the right and continue straight on until the road bends sharply to the right. The road here is not surfaced. Continue until you see the Azurro restaurant on your right. This is a good place to stop and have a drink or something to eat and the views from the terrace are lovely. EL COTILLO The chief attraction is the wonderful beaches. There are sandy bays to the north and to the south of the village. The southern beach is broad and is backed by cliffs and the waves are usually very big here. Our preference is for the small coves to the north. Here you will find a series of sandy coves which are lovely and generally quiet (except in the summer holidays when many people camp on these beaches).
Continue your journey by retracing your steps but instead of turning left to Lajares continue straight ahead towards La Oliva, passing the petrol station before turning right at the crossroads. After a few kilometres, turn right heading downhill towards the village of Tefia. After passing through the village you will come to the La Alcogida Eco-museum. The museum will give you a fascinating insight as to how people lived in the past. Around the site you will find typical crafts including pottery, a carpenter, a blacksmith, lace makers, basket weavers and cheese makers. After the museum, you could be ready for something to eat and drink. The next stage of our trip will take you to a village with a duck pond (the island’s only duck pond!) and a restaurant with spectacular sea-views. On leaving the museum drive for about half-a-mile and take the next turning on the right to Los Molinos. Park the car where the road ends. Walk across the bridge which borders the duck pond and pass the houses which constitute the village. Cross along the beach (black sand and pebbles) to the restaurant, La Terraza. Here you can enjoy your meal while admiring the impressive sea-views. Return back to the main road and turn right. Continue along this road. To your right you will see the plains known as Llanos de la Concepción. At the roundabout turn left. At the top of the hill turn right and continue into the village of Antigua. In the village take the seventh street on the left towards Triquivijate (be careful, it’s easy to miss this turning). Continue along this road until you eventually join the main road from the airport to Caleta. Turn right here to return home. The Central Route There is a steep descent into Betancuria. Betancuria was once the ancient capital of Fuerteventura and is named after the island’s conqueror, Jean de Bethencourt. It is a remote and peaceful place (unless you arrive at the same time as the daily, tourist coaches). Here you will find the 17th century church of Santa Maria and a small, municipal museum.
Betancuria Leaving Betancuria, you will see the exotic, palm-filled river valley which gives its name to the village of Vega de Rio Palmas. This is a narrow, twisting road with hairpin bends, plunging ravines and spectacular views. A road to the right, opposite the church, leads to Ajuy in 9 kilometres. There is a good beach here consisting of fine, black, volcanic sand and also a couple of restaurants which, as you might suppose, specialise in fish. There is also a walk around the cliffs, with impressive coastal views, which leads to a cave-like fissure in the rocks into which the waves crash with terrifying ferocity. Although this walk is separated from the cliffs for some of its way with a wooden fence, it is not safe for very young children and older children should be kept under strict parental supervision at all times. After visiting Ajuy, you have to return to Pajara. From here take the road to Tuineje and then head for Tiscamanita and Valles de Ortega before returning to Antigua. In Antigua take the Triquivijate road again and head back to the coast road and Caleta. The Southern Route From Las Salinas the road turns inland. Continue along this road until, after 20 minutes or so, you see the sign for Pozo Negro. Pozo Negro is a tiny, rustic village with a stone beach and two restaurants. As you enter the village, take the dirt track which you will see to the right and park near the beach. Our favourite restaurant is the nearest of these two restaurants. Continue heading south, passing the road on the left to Gran Tarajal. Continue to the village of La Lajita (don’t turn left for the village but continue to follow the main road). On your right you will see the entrance to the zoo and camel park and a little further along is the entrance to the botanical Ggrden. Here you will find over 250 camels and over 200 species of birds from all over the world. There is also bar-cafeteria and a garden centre. In the botanical garden there are hundreds of species of cactuses. It's an impressive sight and well worth the visit. The opening times are 09:00 to 19:00. Camel, pony and donkey rides are available daily from 10:00 to 17:30. Continue travelling south, passing through Costa Calma. Ignore the road on the left to the Los Gorriones Hotel. Take the next road on the left with the sign “Risco del Paso”. This leads to the magnificent Sotovento Beach and you can park here and walk down to the beach. There is a bar here which also serves meals. Well worth a visit. There are some impressive views of the coast from the next stretch of road. Continue to Morro del Jable. As you enter the town, go straight ahead at the first and also at the second roundabout. At the third roundabout continue right around onto the opposite carriageway and park (there is parking on the side of the road). At first sight the town looks unprepossessing with lots of hotels and apartment blocks. Walk in the direction in which you came into town and take the next road on the left (before the Hotel Altamarena) which leads to the beach. At the bottom turn right onto the promenade. This is a lovely walk and brings you into the old town. You can have a drink here or something to eat in one of the restaurants that overlook the sea. Return to Caleta by retracing your steps. 
OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST Caleta de Fuste, also known as El Castillo, is a modern, purpose-built resort with shops, restaurants, cafes and bars. There is also large, modern shopping centre, a little way out of town, with a cinema, a bowling alley and restaurants with sea views. The castle (martello tower) that gives El Castillo its name was built in 1743 by a military engineer, Claudio de Lisne, and is situated in the busy harbour area. Because the beach is safe and the waters of the bay are calm and shallow Caleta is a popular choice with families. Water sports enthusiasts are also well catered for and facilities include windsurfing, scuba-diving and sailing. Golfers can enjoy two golf courses close by (one of which has hosted the Spanish Open). 
Puerto del Rosario Puerto del Rosario was known, until 1957, as Puerto de Cabras, (Port of Goats). It has about 20,000 inhabitants (over half of the island’s resident population) and is the seat of the island’s government. It is principally a commercial and administrative centre. In the past, it wasn’t particularly attractive but in recent years many improvements have been made. You will find pavement cafes, good restaurants and smart shops particularly in the big, new shopping centre, Las Rotundas. |
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