If you are craving some winter sun, then this short itinerary is for you! 10 days in Fuerteventura gives you just enough time to explore this beautiful island. There is so much more to life here than sunbathing and drinking cocktails, and I hope that this inspires your next trip.
10 Days in Fuerteventura | A Short Itinerary
When to Go to Fuerteventura
My husband often says that in over 30 visits to the island it has only ever rained a couple of times. The weather does get slightly worse during late October through to early March, but aside from that it is pleasant all year round.
In my opinion, the best time to go is between May – June and late August – September. These are out of peak-season and are also not too hot, but just right. If you don’t mind it being slightly cooler (between 20 and 24 degrees celsius), then April and October are both good options.
Where to stay in Fuerteventura
You have lots of options of where to stay in Fuerteventura. For you to see the most of the island though, I would recommend staying in Corralejo or the La Oliva / El Cotillo area.
Corralejo is the main tourist hub on the island and it is where you’ll find the majority of the hotels. If it is your first time, then I would suggest spending your 10 days in Fuerteventura here. It is also perfect for kids and has lots of options for them.
If you are feeling a bit more adventurous, then a hotel or Airbnb in the other two areas are great options.
| Hotel | For | Location |
| Hotel Rural El Cabo | Authentic Experience | Villaverde |
| Cotillo House | Budget Travellers | El Cotillo |
| Barceló Corralejo Bay | Adults Only | Corralejo |
| Secrets Bahia Real Resort | Luxury Escape | Corralejo |
Day 1 – Explore Corralejo
Whether you are staying in Corralejo or elsewhere, exploring this bustling town is a must. It is very modern and, unless you go to the old town, you don’t see a lot of authentic Canarian sights. Having said that, there is still a lot to see, do and shop! It is the perfect place to have a leisurely stroll in your new surroundings.
Here are the top things to do:
Walk along the gorgeous seafront where you will clearly see the islands of Lanzarote and Lobos.
Head to the National Park and explore the famous sand dunes. If you like birds, this is the best place to spot the elusive Bustard.
Enjoy a delicious breakfast / lunch with a Seaview; there are plenty of choices along the seafront, harbour and main strip.
Shop for supplies, clothes and souvenirs as they really have everything here.
I would also recommend having a cocktail or two by the sea here; the vibe does change a little during the evening. If you aren’t staying in Corralejo, then make sure you head out to a local authentic restaurant and try your first mojo sauce.
I have also written about the top things to do in Corralejo to give you more ideas. There are also a range of different day trips from Corralejo too, but I’ll be covering that a bit later.
Day 2 – Venture to Lobos
Lobos is a small island just off of Corralejo. It is also a wildlife reserve and this offers some of the best snorkelling and diving opportunities in the canaries.
To get here, you’ll need to book tickets early. You can usually spot the boat trip booths along the seafront and these can be purchased early in the day, or in advance online.
Here are some of the top things to do in Lobos:
Explore the nature trails which can even take you up an extinct volcano (La Caldera) This will give you a gorgeous view of Fuerteventura and Lanzarate. Please note that this part of the island is the nesting place for some rare birds, so you need to be silent.
Relax on the beaches and soak in the sun. The best place for this is La Concha.
Enjoy waterspouts including snorkelling and diving. Lobos is one of the best places to go scuba-diving in Fuerteventura.
I would say that food and drink is quite limited on this island aside from the odd restaurant, so I would encourage you to bring a picnic for your trip.
Day 3 – Relax By the Pool / Beach
No trip to Fuerteventura is complete without a day or two by the pool or on the beach. Most hotels come with their own pool, however, if you fancy something more extreme head to Baku, the main water park on the island.
You are spoilt for choice when it comes to beaches. Here are some of my favourites:
La Concha in El Cotillo has to be up there as one of the best on the island. When the tide is out you get a natural lagoon forming with lots of amazing rock pools either side. It is great for swimming, relaxing, and spotting wildlife.
The beaches at the Corralejo National Park are another great option. They are really spacious so that you don’t feel overcrowded. I also like the views of Lobos you get from these beaches. Parking can be an issue here, and the water is not always the best for swimming, but it is still a great choice.
El Jablito js a fishing village just outside of the Corralejo National Park is a hidden gem. The ambiance is not the best, but if you are looking for the best snorkelling on the island, this is a top contender. If you are driving here, make sure that you have a 4×4 as the final road is quite rocky.
If you have a car and fancy driving down south, Sotavento beach is easily up there as one of the best beaches in the Canaries. It is a fair drive away, but if you are staying in Morro Jable then this is a good option for you.
Day 4 – Visit El Cotillo and Lajares
On the fourth day out of your 10 days in Fuerteventura, you are heading to soak in some culture. El Cotillo is a charming fishing village on the west coast of the island. Whilst it is best known for some of the more beautiful beaches, such as La Concha, there is a fair amount to see in this charming village.
I’ve written about what to do in El Cotillo before, but these are the main headlines:
Walk through the old town and harbour and see the historic fishing village
Take a bus out to the Tostón Lighthouse to get some incredible ocean views and access to their museum on fishing in Fuerteventura. You can also climb to the top of the lighthouse!
If you haven’t done so already, check out La Concha beach. There is a reason why it has won awards before…
Just next to it is the small town of Lajares. There are some cool boutique shops and bakeries here, which are perfect for a breakfast or lunch. However, the main thing to see here has the be the Hondo Crater, which I climbed up with my husband a few years ago.
It is really worth doing when you in Fuerteventura, but make sure you go early. It can get very hot on the way there!
Day 5 – Villaverde and La Oliva
My husband’s family used to have a house in Villaverde, so this is the area I am most familiar with. Nearby are the villages of Tindaya and La Oliva, which are quite off of the tourist trail, but offer some really beautiful scenery. This is definitely something that you won’t want to miss in your 10 days in Fuerteventura.
Villaverde has a fair amount to offer, but these are the main things that you need to do.
Eat at El Horno or El Morale for lunch, and then treat yourself to Casa Marcus for dinner! These are easily some of the best restaurants on the island and I cannot recommend them enough. I would thoroughly recommend eating as much as you can. Here are some of my favourite foods in Fuerteventura.
See the windmills on the border between Villaverde and La Oliva. These are in the traditional style and are perfect for a sunset photo.
Climb Escanfraga if you are feeling adventurous for one heck of a view at the top!
Go birdwatching and see some rare Egyptian vultures up-close. I wrote a bit more about my birdwatching in Fuerteventura experience, so make sure you check it out.
Drive to Vallebron for some of the best views on the island. You will be able to see all the local villages, mountains and the outline of the coast. If you are lucky, you may even see vultures and eagles here too.
Nearby is the small town of La Oliva. It is a cute little place to explore and there are plenty of little boutiques here. If you are going to do anything, check out the Casa de los Coroneles which translates as the ‘Colonel’s House’. It is a fascinating insight into the colonial past of the island and is certainly impressive.
Day 6 – Antigua, Betancuria and Ajuy
For the sixth day of your 10 days in Fuerteventura, pack up the car and drive south to the town of Antigua. There really is not much here to see, but just outside of it is the Majorero cheese museum. I love this place and think it is a perfect (fr)homage to the incredible majorero cheese, a signature staple in the Canaries. To help you plan your visit, I have written lots about the majorero cheese museum, but here are the highlights:
Explore the stunning cactus garden; easily one of the prettiest gardens on the island.
Learn about the majorero cheese process and the history of the Canary Islands in the museum.
Step into a real-life windmill and see how people in the past used these to make food.
From Antigua, it is a short (but quite scary) road to Betancuria, the ancient capital of the island. I should say that if you are nervous about driving, do not do this. The roads for the rest of the journey are genuinely scary and not for the inexperienced. Check out my blog post about driving to Betancuria first so that you can see what you are dealing with.
When you arrive in Betancuria take time to explore and see the sights. Be aware that as this is a major tourist hotspot, it is one of the few places on the island where you need to pay for parking.
A little-known fact is that Betancuria was once the capital of the Canaries and this dates back all the way to the 15th Century. As you would expect then, there are some stunning buildings and there are some good museums here too.
Here are the main things to do:
Stroll around the village and enjoy the beautiful colours of the flowers against the classical Canarian buildings.
Sit in the square next to the Iglesia de Santa María de Betancuria, the original church of the town. It used to look quite different, having been built in a gothic style, but has been changed over the years as the fashions have evolved.
Marvel at the viewpoint on Mirador Corrales de Guize. This is a point some 600m above sea level and is guarded by two giants who represent the original Canarian people. This place is also famed for star-gazing, and apparently is one of the best places to do it in the Canaries.
Ajuy is a short drive from Betancuria, but again the roads are quite scary. I really like Ajuy and these are the best things to do:
Explore the caves where legends suggest were the place for pirates to hide their loots. To get here you have to go on a walk along the cliffs which are breathtakingly beautiful.
Relax on the black sand beach and enjoy the sounds of crashing waves.
Enjoy fresh sea food from some of the best seafood restaurants available.
Day 7 – Puerto Del Rosario
Puerto del Rosario is a really interesting place. It is one of the only capitals I have been to where there are actually almost zero tourists. This means that you still have some culture, but Puerto del Rosario is certainly the most modern place in Fuerteventura.
The main things to do here are shopping, tasty restaurants and cool bars. There really are lots here, but you’ll probably only spend a morning or so here.
Another option here is the Salt Museum Salinas del Carmen. Here you can find out how salt was produced in mass on Fuerteventura. It is really interesting and I would definitely recommend it. Plus, you can see another whale skeleton, which is quite an iconic view in Fuerteventura.
When you get back, take the time to relax and enjoy the pool.
Day 8 – Free Choice
Spend this day doing anything else you want. If you maybe missed out the sand dunes, or the Cotillo lighthouse, then this is your chance to do that. Or, if you are after some more inspiration read my top 10 things to do in Fuerteventura. Here are some of the highlights and some extras too:
Visit “Popcorn Beach”, just outside of Corralejo. However, to get here, you probably want to go via Lajares. Further details are in my post about popcorn beach and our sunset picnic.
Go Scuba Diving in Corralejo or in Jandia and see the marine life up close. All the hotels in Corralejo will offer this in some capacity.
Enjoy more authentic food in Villaverde and let your tastebuds enjoy a feast.
Try more watersports; Fuerteventura is world-renowned for kite-surfing and wind-surfing. You can get lessons pretty much everywhere, but the best place has to be either El Cotillo (playa del aljibe de la cueva) or Jandia.
Day 9 – Morro Jable Road Trip
Morro Jable is as far south as you can get in Fuerteventura. It is apparently warmer down there and, in my opinion, has some of the nicest beaches on the island.
A road trip down south is a must-do during your 10 days in Fuerteventura. We did this route in 2022 and loved our journey. It may seem like a long distance, but it only takes around 90 minutes to drive the length of the island. Plus, you can avoid those roads through Betancuria.
You can check out my post on the south of Fuerteventura, but here are the main highlights:
Explore the tourist-haven of Morro Jable and enjoy some high-end shopping in some big designer brands.
Relax on Playa del Matorral and take in the rays. You will also see a large sperm whale skeleton here, which I think is pretty cool!
If you haven’t done already, relax on Sotavento Beach. This has to be one of the prettiest beaches in Europe and a stop here to enjoy an ice cream or lunch is a must.
Visit Oasis Park and treat the family to an afternoon filled with animals. Or, if that isn’t your thing, check out the village of La Lajita, a small fishing village that is as authentic as you can get. Another option is Las Playitas.
Stop at Pozo Negro and see an ancient lava flow and a historically-important fishing village. There is also a decent, non-tourist beach here.
Day 10 – Relax
On your final day, enjoy the hotel and get ready for the flight ahead of you.
Final Thoughts | 10 Days in Fuerteventura
10 days in Fuerteventura is perfect for a short getaway but, if you are only going for a week, check out my one week in Fuerteventura itinerary. With a mix of relaxing and exploring, it is an ideal holiday destination for families and couples alike. If you want more information on Fuerteventura, check out my Fuerteventura page on the blog to read all about it. Alternatively, drop me a message. I do live with an expert after all.!
