The Hidden Gems of Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura will always be a special place in our house. My husband and I had our first holiday there and he spent each summer growing up there in a family home. 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, I won’t be focussing on the main things that tourists would do. There is so much that tourists don’t know about and I can’t wait to spill all of the secrets.

Hidden Restaurants

One of the most important things about Fuerteventura is just how good the food is! We spend most of our time in the La Oliva area, more specifically Villaverde. Here you can find some of the best locally-run restaurants on the island. Restaurants like Escanfraga (named after the local mountain), El Horno, Casa Marcos and El Morale all offer excellent food for non-tourist prices. They say to go where the locals eat for the best food, and these ones definitely fit the bill.

Local Food

One thing people never try in Fuerteventura is local goats cheese. For some reason certain people are funny about it. However, the majorero cheese on the island is just stunning. It is specially tasty when combined with palm 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 – more on that later.

Other than cheese, Fuerteventura is known for seafood. At all restaurants you’ll find local catches of the day alongside other sea dishes such as mussels or calamari. Lastly, make sure you try mojo sauce, a spicy Canarian speciality. This works extra well when served with salty Canarian potatoes.

For more inspiration, check out my post on what to eat in Fuerteventura.

Undiscovered Beaches

A few years ago, I would have suggested heading to El Cotillo. La Concha beach has been named one of Europe’s best beaches but, because of this, the beach is arguably too overcrowded. However, if you continue past this beach Northwards (towards the lighthouse) you will come to a series of smaller beaches, which are devoid of tourists and are just as nice.

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, so only the locals really know about it. In the Corralejo area is also popcorn beach, which is in the middle of a functioning fishing village.

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 (do NOT visit then; it is stupidly overcrowded) but in early July or any other time of the year it is completely deserted. Over the years, we have seen sharks, stingrays, octopus and barracuda here. It is not a sandy beach however, so some beach footwear would be advised!

Lastly I have to mention Peurtito los Molinos, a tranquil unknown 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!

Mountain Walks

If you want to go exploring, Fuerteventura has you covered. There are just so many mountains to climb and paths to walk up. In fact, most of them will have paths that lead you to the summit, and none of them are particularly challenging. One of my favourite climbs is up Hondo Crater, where you can hike up to the summit of an extinct volcano. Nearby you can also go wildlife-spotting. On the banks of Escanfraga is an enclosure where local farmers leave dead goats. This attracts all of the local birds of prey and you can hike here to see them. If you are lucky, you might even spot the elusive Egyptian vulture.

Beautiful Towns and Villages

Some of the lesser-known towns and villages of Fuerteventura really are gorgeous. Some of them, like Betancuria, are busy throughout the year but are still worth a visit. Others are virtually unknown. One of my favourites is Vallébron. This village is in the middle of a valley and you’ll need a car to get here. However, I loved walking around, especially in the Summer when all of the flowers are out. If you continue towards Tindaya, you’ll also be able to climb up the viewpoint to see all over the north of the island. Other noteworthy places include Pozo Negro, a small fishing village that is virtually undiscovered by tourists. Here you’ll find black sand and a really local atmosphere.

Museums

Fuerteventura boasts a large collection of museums across the island, many of which are pretty niche. Firstly, you have the majorero cheese museum in Antigua. This is where you can learn all about this famous goat’s cheese, and maybe even try a sample or two. Plus, there is an incredible cactus garden to enjoy.

On the east coast is the salt museum, where you can learn about how sea salt was important economically to the people of Fuerteventura. The setting of this is just fantastic and there is even a large whale skeleton on display.

Final Thoughts | Hidden Gems of Fuerteventura

I hope that this gave you a flavour of the hidden gems in Fuerteventura. Having been there plenty of times and having family friends out there, I can promise that there is more to this island than meets the eye. If you want further inspiration, check out my post on 10 days in Fuerteventura for a short itinerary.

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.

The Hidden Gems of Fuerteventura