The South of Fuerteventura: A Road Trip

We are lucky enough to have a family home in Fuerteventura. The issue is, whilst this is great for a free trip, it is also in the northern part of the island. From the balcony, you can see the valley that leads to the northern coast. Even Lanzarote is visible some mornings. Because of that, most of our adventures have been around this area and not in the south of Fuerteventura.

This year however, we had a car and exploring the south of Fuerteventura was a priority. One morning, we woke up early, grabbed some coffee and donuts and made our way down the island to Morro Jable.

Morro Jable – The Town

The road to the south of Fuerteventura ends in Morro Jable, a tourist destination on the southern tip of the island. When you enter the town, you will see a colour that isn’t found commonly on the island; green. In fact, there is actually grass here in the middle of the roads. There are even small white egrets everywhere. It’s very unfamiliar if you compare it to the northern part of the island.

The drive into the town is very much a tourist zone. In fact, it feels almost like a budget French Riviera along the coastline. There are a tonne of designer shops and restaurants and posh-looking hotels. Very different to Corralejo, but almost lacking a certain charm.

As we continued through the town, we eventually reached the old town. There was ample parking and, without further ado, we got out of the car and began exploring. The temperature of the south of Fuerteventura felt warmer than the north. In fact, I think I was sweating most on this part of the holiday.

The old town itself was nice and different to the more modern part just up the road. In fact, I dare say that I loved it. There was a nice selection of local restaurants and bars and the coastal path was well done. The colour of the water was also gorgeous and inviting. I actually think I’m going to stay in this part next time I visit the island, it was just fabulous.

Playa del Matorral

After a Fanta Limon and a stroll, we got back in the car and headed back to the newer part of town. We parked the car (after waiting a while for a space) and headed on down to Playa del Matorral.

There were rustic wooden pathways from the pavements down the beach, with green plants either side. At the end of the path there was a quaint little lighthouse and a restaurant overlooking the sea. It really was a different vibe to other parts of the island; it felt more touristy.

We dipped our toes in the ocean and walked along the beach. The beaches in the south of Fuerteventura are known for their beauty and warm waters. We saw divers coming out of the sea and lots of people relaxing and soaking up the rays. I could have stayed here for a while and grabbed a cocktail, but there was exploring to be done.

We kept going along the beach and then eventually turned back to the car along another wooden walkway. In front of us was a large sperm whale skeleton in the middle of a park. These whale skeletons are scattered across the island and just shows how diverse the waters are here.

After slightly more wandering, we decided on heading back to the car to begin part two of the road trip.

Sotavento Beach

On the theme of beautiful beaches, we decided to make a quick pit-stop at Sotavento beach. Easily one of the most famous beaches in the south of Fuerteventura, thousands of tourists flock here each summer. Be warned though as the track down is a bit rocky. If you are driving a hire car in particular, make sure you are careful. After a quarter of a mile down the track we made it to a large car park. Although it was only mid-morning, the beach was already busy and parking did take a while.

We eventually found a place to park up and we went for a walk to the beach. Guarded by steep sandy cliffs, the beach is a hidden paradise to any holiday maker. The sea is not too rough, but still has a good level of waves; perfect for swimming or surfing. There are small natural lagoons too, as well as masses of open space. We really could have stayed here all day, if not for all the exploring we had to do. Instead, we had a quick donut break, took in the view, and headed back to the car.

As a top tip, if you are thinking of making it down to Sotavento, make sure you get there early. It is easily on of the most popular beaches on the island and can get very busy.

La Lajita

For our next destination, we wanted to go off the tourist trail. In the south of Fuerteventura there are lots of little fishing towns and we were heading to one now. La Lajita is nowadays more famous for the nearby Oasis Park, the island’s answer to Longleat Safari Park.

We decided not to go to the zoo which seemed very expensive and family said that it was underwhelming. Instead we thought that we would have a look around a traditional fishing village. From Sotavento, the drive is only about twenty minutes and you pass through some cool desert scenery.

Parking at La Lajita was easy. You just turn off the main road by Oasis Park and you shortly arrive at the town. It was void of tourism and instead we were greeted by local people just going about their lives.

We headed down to the rocky cove and walked along the shore. There really is not a lot to see here other than a traditional fishing town. If you are looking for somewhere a bit livelier and instagrammable, then this probably isn’t the place. I did think that, whilst the place could benefit from some TLC, I could certainly just relax here. It was just simple and remote, somewhere that anyone with a busy life could shut off.

The scenery here is relatively pretty, but it is definitely not for everyone. There are a few bars jotted along the shoreline and one or two shops. I feel that it is a local place, which for people wanting to understand the canarian culture could be perfect.

Las Playitas

From La Lajita we carried on heading north-east along the main road (FV-2). The journey is only about 20 minutes, but we did stock up on some more Fanta limon to keep us going. We drove through Gran Tarajal and decided not to stop, but it is certainly an option if you are using this to plan a trip.

Las Playitas is another fishing town, although it is more built up than La Lajita. In fact, there are a good number of large hotels in the area, which then feed into Gran Tarajal. The town of Las Playitas rarely sees many tourists.

Parking here was a bit of a nightmare. It was all one-way and there was a clear ‘residents only’ sign. We had to park on a dusty track nearer the outskirts, which we found after going through the one-way system. Fortunately though it was near the waterfront and an ice-cream stand.

After grabbing a white chocolate and strawberry ice cream, we headed to the pier. A lot of locals had gathered around it, with children jumping into the sea. It had a really friendly, quaint and chilled vibe. I would say though that once you had walked along the seafront, there was not much else to do.

This is probably an optional pit-stop if you are planning this trip. La Lajita is definitely more rustic and is a truer example of a fishing village. That being said, it was good to break up the journey to Pozo Negro… And to enjoy an ice cream in the sun…

Pozo Negro

Moving out of the south of Fuerteventura now, and hugging the east coast, we were driving up to Pozo Negro. Arguably one of the most famous fishing villages of the island, we were looking forward to seeing the place.

Again, the FV-2 takes you most of the way, until you have to turn right towards the village. You will see a large and ancient lava field as you make your way in. It is home to the ancient settlement of La Atalayita. This is believed to be an example of some of the first people on the island, before the European conquest. Since the conquest, it has been added to by native shepherds on the island, but still retains much of the original form. You can make a stop here on your way and I would definitely recommend it.

Continuing along the road, you will eventually see the village by the sea. Pozo Negro literally means ‘black pit’ and has ancient lava plumes either side of the village. Apparently, this village was very important a few hundred years ago, before being replaced as a key port by Caleta de Fusta.

We managed to park easily (just watch out for the large rocks!) and made it to the beach. There were quite a few local tourists here, all enjoying the warm day. The scenery was rugged and beautiful and had that rustic fishing village charm. There were also no tourists in sight, which again was a big plus.

We decided to sit on the beach, watch the waves and enjoy a cold drink. The next stop was Villaverde, with maybe a cheeky pit-stop for lunch. The rest of the afternoon would be spent by the pool relaxing and, of course, looking at all the stunning photos I had taken.

Top Tips for Travelling in Fuerteventura

If you want to see most of the island, definitely hire a car. Whilst expensive, the south of Fuerteventura is so different to the north. To truly understand the island, as well as its history and possible future, you just have to see both.

Driving is really easy here as the roads are like anywhere else in Europe. There are two main arteries in the island now too, with only a slower section around Puerto del Rosario. This day, along with our trip to Ajuy, were some of the best days of the holiday. I cannot recommend a car enough.

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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. I would personally recommend World Nomads or the Post Office – both are affordable and certainly won’t break the bank.