Canary Island Fuerteventura: Resorts, Weather and Getting There

Fuerteventura is a coastal island first and foremost. Its best-known names are beaches and protected landscapes: Corralejo Natural Park in the north, Jandía Natural Park in the south, the lava fields of Malpaís de la Arena near La Oliva, and the uninhabited volcanic Lobos Island just offshore from Corralejo. Lighthouses mark almost every corner, from Tostón Lighthouse at El Cotillo to Punta Jandía at the far southern tip.

Inland, the pace changes. Betancuria, a small village of fewer than 800 residents surrounded by the Parque Rural de Betancuria, is the island's most celebrated historic spot, and the archaeological site of Poblado de La Atalayita near Tuineje gives a glimpse of life before the resorts arrived. Puerto del Rosario, with around 35,700 residents, is the working capital rather than a holiday town.

Corralejo is the most searched-for resort and the liveliest base, sitting beside Corralejo Natural Park with a ferry port on its doorstep and boat trips across to Lobos Island and the Punta Martiño Lighthouse. Nearby El Cotillo is much smaller, with around 1,200 residents, the old Torre del Tostón tower and Tostón Lighthouse.

Caleta de Fuste, on the east coast, shares its name with the Castillo de Fuste, and is the closest of the main resorts to the airport and Puerto del Rosario area. Further south, Costa Calma and Jandía suit travellers who want long sands and open space: Playa del Matorral, the Morro Jable Lighthouse and Jandía Natural Park are all in this part of the island, as is Cofete, a remote beach on the far side of the Jandía peninsula.

Every month counts as a good month here. The temp in Fuerteventura barely swings: Corralejo sees highs of 22°C in January, 24°C by April and May, and 27°C to 28°C from July through October, with nights between 16°C and 22°C. Rainfall is minimal, at most 15mm in a month.

February is the wettest month, with around six rain days, so winter sun seekers may prefer Fuerteventura in March, when highs reach 23°C and rain falls on roughly three days. School holidays bring the highest demand from the UK, so booking early for Easter, summer and October half-term is sensible.

Fuerteventura Airport (FUE) has direct flights from the United Kingdom and sits right on the east coast. It is about 5 minutes by road from Puerto del Rosario, 16 minutes from La Oliva, 17 minutes from Betancuría and 20 minutes from Tuineje, so transfers to the central and northern parts of the island are short; the southern resorts take longer.

Many visitors pick up a car on arrival. A car for rent at Fuerteventura Airport makes sense if you want to reach Cofete, the lighthouses or Betancuria on your own schedule, and some travellers look for 4x4 rental for rougher tracks. Groups sometimes prefer to rent a van or arrange minibus hire. There is also a ferry port at Corralejo, with Playa Blanca and Arrecife on Lanzarote the nearest other crossings.

Most British travellers book Fuerteventura as a package holiday: return flights, hotel and airport transfers in one booking, usually with a choice of board basis from self-catering to all inclusive. You can compare package deals from Jet2holidays, TUI, loveholidays and On the Beach on this page, alongside current hotel prices.

If you would rather travel independently, the car hire comparison here covers rental in Fuerteventura from the airport, including options worth checking if you need a 4x4 hire or a larger vehicle. There are also tours and tickets to browse, from boat trips to Lobos Island to excursions around the island's natural parks.