The Hidden Gems of Fuerteventura

One place on Earth that we know a LOT about is the Canary Island of Fuerteventura. It’s where Jack and I had our first holiday, and he and his family go out there every single year; his nan even lives out there for half of it! So, when I was approached by the Spanish Tourist Office to write a blog post on the hidden gems of Fuerteventura I was pretty excited! Here is my guide to Fuerteventura with a twist; I am only going to be concentrating on the ‘hidden gems’ of the island. In other words, what can you do off the tourist trail so that you get an entirely new perspective of the island because, let’s face it, if you have been to the island, odds are you stayed in Correlejo and simply went to Bacu every day, right?

Hidden Food

One of the most important things about Fuerteventura is just how good the food is! We start in the Northern town of Villaverde, in the shadow of the mountain Escanfraga. Beside it is the restaurant Escanfraga (guess where they got that name from?!), which is a locally-run restaurant specialising in local cuisine. For the price of a starter down in Corralejo, you can get a hefty main course of Canarian goodness. I would recommend the calamari whole-heartedly! Another gem is just 100m away, namely Mi Dulce Hogar. This bakery is run by a local lady and her English husband and their produce is the stuff of legend in the area. The sandwiches are huge and sell for around a Euro. As well as this, they have some incredible cakes and pastries for a similar price. A top recommendation here is their custard donut which, although some may frown upon the filling, is equally as legendary as the bakery! Another thing people never try in Fuerteventura is local goats cheese, which is strange seeing as though it’s national symbol is a goat. You just have to try this local produce, called majorero cheese, especially when combined with honey and fried aubergine/mushrooms – it works so well! This island loves majorero cheese so much that they even dedicated an entire museum to it in the town of Antigua. My last shout-out goes to Pizzeria La Concella in Lajaras, a small village outside Corralejo. These guys do the best pizza on the island, hands-down, and all for a great price. A weird alternative to pizza is their take on a Nutella pizza; it sounds weird but it is pretty good for a side dish to share after your main!

Undiscovered Beaches

This section is a bit more tricky as the tourism influence in Fuerteventura has really increased in recent years. Jack and his family always used to go to a crescent-shaped beach (near La Concha) in the seaside town of El Cotillo, but since it was named one of Europe’s best beaches, the beach has become unusable and too overcrowded. However, if you continue past this beach Northwards you will come to a series of smaller beaches. I would argue they are not as pretty as the more famous beaches of El Cotillo, but you are guaranteed not to have too many people around you and they are not too dissimilar. You could also visit the locally-famous restaurant La Vaca Azul, but make sure you book in advance! Although not necessarily a hidden beach, Tindaya beach is certainly worth a visit. It has yet to pick up the tourist attraction of Corralejo or El Cotillo, making it a relatively peaceful beach. If you are just looking for a good snorkelling spot, look no further than El Jablito. This is actually a Canarian holiday hotspot during August (so do NOT visit then; it is stupidly overcrowded) but in early July or any other time of the year it is completely deserted. Jack has seen sharks, stingrays, octopus and barracuda here often and a friend of his even saw some fin whales off the shore! It is not a sandy beach however, so some beach footwear would be advised! There is also another good pizzeria nearby called Don Pepe, which is a bit touristy, but hey, it’s very good pizza! Lastly I have to mention Peurtito los Molinos, a tranquil setting near Betancuria. Although the water here is very dangerous (do not try swimming) there are hidden rock pools hidden along the beach, as well as other places to explore. There even is a little duck pond! This place is virtually unknown to tourists, especially away from peak season.

Unique Activities

Fuerteventura really has it all when planning a summer holiday, but unfortunately a lot of people stick to the beach and don’t really do much! One thing you should do is a spot of mountain hiking; there are so many to explore! As well as this, you can get up close with nature, with many ground squirrels (often confused with chipmunks) living amongst the rocks and large vultures soaring overhead. If you are very lucky on your hike, you may even get to see an eagle! Another thing you could do is visit a festival. Jack once told me a story how he was roped into walking 20 miles as part of a Canarian tradition which entailed everyone wearing traditional Canarian attire. A popular choice amongst locals is the El Cotillo fiesta in the summer, where a huge party is thrown in the centre of the town in the middle of the week. Be prepared though, the party doesn’t start until midnight and even then, it is not until an hour later when locals turn up! If you are sporty, there are a whole range of things you could do! Did you know that the windsurfing world championships are held in Fuerteventura? If you have an interest in the sport why not visit? If you’re a historical scholar take a trip to the idyllic town of Betancuria. This is actually the oldest town on the island and houses a famous museum showing you life in years gone by. The road here is quite scary however as it is very mountainous with few barriers on the side…

If you are feeling a bit more adventurous I would suggest exploring some of the caves on the island. The most famous (and so the most touristy) are the ones of Ajuy. Legend says that these were once pirate bases where they would store their loot from their pillages along the Atlantic. The sand here is also jet black, making it unique and very picturesque! Be careful though; the rocks are slippery and accidents do happen! Back to Villaverde now and there is one more cave to explore; The Cuevo del Llano Cave. This is a special cave which is filled with artefacts from a more ancient age in Fuerteventura. They also have a unique species of spider lurking within the cave walls, but do not worry, it is tiny!

My Travel Tips and Recommendations

Flights

My usual go-to for booking flights is Skyscanner, the flight search engine. What I love about Skycanner is that you have various options depending on your situation. If you know where you want to go it’s easy – all you need is to search for your destination and dates, and you are provided with all flight options to choose from. If you haven’t decided on your next trip yet, you can use the Everywhere tool for inspiration and to find the cheapest places to fly to.

Accommodation

Whenever I plan my travels Booking.com is my best friend. The website is super easy to use and provides a whole range of accommodation from fancy resorts to budget hotels. Jack and I also regularly use Airbnb – in particular, for staycations in the UK.

Things I can’t travel without

As a travel blogger and keen photographer I never travel without my trusty technology. Always packed are my

Canon EOS M3
GoPro Hero5 Black
I’m also saving for a DJI Mavic Pro

Travel Insurance

It is so important to be prepared for all possibilities when travelling and you simply shouldn’t travel without insurance. When looking for cover I would personally recommend World Nomads or the Post Office – both are affordable and certainly won’t break the bank.