How to spend 7 days in Fuerteventura in January

ABOUT “Beach of the Canaries”

After Tenerife, Fuerteventura is the second largest of the Canary Islands. Its capital city, Puerto del Rosario, is where we (me and my partner) stayed in an Airbnb apartment. The island is small enough to take one-day car trips from Puerto del Rosario, even to the far ends of the island. That's why I want to share this little guide - it's dedicated to the ones who like to explore their destination during vacation and not only relax in one place.

The guide is based on our experience and local tips from our apartment host, who is (let’s just say) a native Canarian guy. He knows the island the best.

At the end of this article, you'll find a "más o menos map" that will help you find the places mentioned.

BUT WHY FUERTEVENTURA IN JANUARY?

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We ended up on this island by accident...or actually more through some weird twist of fate. The coronavirus epidemic made us come back from Asia and the Canary Islands seemed a reasonable place to escape, as we still wanted to catch some sun in the wintertime. Okay, but enough with the chit chat.

The island's name literally translates to “strong fortune” or “strong winds”

DAY 1 option #1- Corralejo

Corralejo is a town located about 30 km to the north of Puerto del Rosario. It is famous for its beaches and is perfect for surfing and the dunes. That's where we will start! Take a walk on the dunes and admire the desert view, before enjoying some relaxation on the beach. Fan of water sports? You can easily rent equipment from one of the local surf schools and catch some waves!

BONUS: If you still have the energy for some hiking, Volcanes de Bayuyo are just a few kilometers away.

DAY 1 option #2 - Surfing day

Okay. If you are a real fan of surfing and you'd like to spend a whole day catching the waves, we recommend Playa de la Pared or Playa del Viejo Rey. Both beaches are about one hour drive to the southwest of Puerto del Rosario. I should let you know that to the second beach there is a short walk from the parking lot (it's a part of a nature reserve and you can't drive there). You can rent a board and a wetsuit in Waveguru Surf Camp & Surf School (20 euros/2 hours). Enjoy the perfect waves!

DAY 2 - El Cotillo - Playa Chica

Good morning! Time for another beach day! El Cotillo is located on the northwest coast, about 40 km from Puerto del Rosario. Playa Chica stands out with its turquoise water and whiter than white sand. Also, on the beach, you can find many little arched windscreens made out of rocks. It can get windy there, so seeking shelter is a good idea! Be prepared to see some skin, because it's common to tan topless ... or even completely naked! Maybe you'd like to try it yourself? No judgment there, just go for it! If you're hungry, we recommend the restaurant La Vaca Azul!

DAY 3 - Barranco de los Enamorados

This one is interesting. In the middle of nowhere, after passing a bumpy, rocky road you'll find Barranco de los Enamorados - an ancient riverbed. It's located about 30 km to the northwest of Puerto del Rosario. It's not easy to find, because GPS doesn't show the exact location where to start your walk. But once you get “there” by car, just look for a 10-meter wide dry river bed. You'll need to walk for about 20-30 minutes to find beautiful natural rock sculptures. The canyon is quite long, so you can enjoy the walk for as long as you like.

BONUS: If you want to catch a nice sunset on the beach that day, Playa de Esquinzo is not far away.

DAY 4 - Playa Jarugo

Speaking of beaches! Playa Jarugo stole my heart with its spectacular size and view of the gigantic waves. We recommend taking some food with you, maybe a portable BBQ! You can spend all day tanning (with or without a bathing suit) and enjoying the views of the ocean. Yes, you'll find nudists here too. The water is a little cold in January, but you can cool off after some sunbathing. Fortunately, not a lot of people come here, because this beach is mostly known by locals (on tourist maps the name of the beach is Playa de Jarubio). It's also kind of hard to get there, as the road becomes a dirt-track along the way, but for me, this beach is a must-see and it's worth a little bouncing in the car.

DAY 5 - Ajuy y Puertito de los Molinos

Today, let's go 50 km to the southwest of Puerto del Rosario. Ajuy is quite popular among tourists, mostly because of its big natural caves. Once you get there, you'll find a beach with black sand. After admiring that, you can climb the rocks and follow the path to see the caves. You can go inside and explore them too! What impressed me the most was the waving ocean with its huge waves. It looked like it was breathing! After this trip, you can head to Puertito de los Molinos, which is located about 50 km to the north from Ajuy. It's a tiny town with adorable houses, just by the ocean. What I loved there was the sound of rolling rocks under the waves. You'll find a restaurant called Las Bohemias del Amor, from which you can enjoy the ocean view while having a delicious lunch. A bizarre place.

DAY 6 - Faro de Jandía y Playa de Ojos

Today's trip goes all the way to the south - literally the southernmost point of Fuerteventura. I should mention that the road will lead through a nature reserve and you'll have to drive on a dirt road at some point. But! Once you get there, you can admire the lighthouse (Faro de Jandía) and take a nice walk along the top of the cliffs. It might be a little windy, but the view is worth it! After the hike, it's time to rest on one of the beaches. We recommend Playa de Ojos, as it's small and not crowded - perfect for some relaxation. If you’re hungry after that windy walk - Restaurante Punta de Jandía may not look very luxurious, but trust me, they serve delicious food! You can try some local canarian dishes such as papas arrugadas con mojo rojo (wrinkly potatoes with chili pepper garlic sauce) and gofio escalado (a paste made with traditional canarian toasted corn flour).

DAY 7 - Entallada Lighthouse y Salinas del Carmen

You made it through to the last day in Fuerteventura! Let's start it by going to the iconic Entallada Lighthouse, where you will marvel at the most amazing view of the mountains and the ocean. After that, you can go to the Salinas del Carmen, which is the Museum of Salt - you will find out about the history of local saltworks as well as admiring the infrastructure itself. Pretty cool, huh? It costs 6 euros (+ 2 euros for the guide on selected days). If you get hungry, don't go to the restaurant in the museum! I have a better treat for you - Restaurante Los Caracolitos - my favourite place to eat local food. A-mazing. Eating dinner there will be the highlight of your whole trip in Fuerteventura, trust me.

And that's the guide! I hope you liked it. Maybe some of you will make use of it. Who knows?

It was a pleasure to pass on everything I know about Fuerteventura.

For more pictures check out Instagram @gosiakkk and @chalupko!

Until next time, cheers!

GK