There’s nothing like a rainy day to looking for the closest winter sun holidays, especially in the Canary Islands – and with so many things to do in Fuerteventura with kids, it’s a great bet for families year-round.
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The Canary Islands have been one of our regular destinations for family holidays – my daughter’s first ever trip was to Lanzarote, we’ve also explored Gran Canaria while I’ve been to Tenerife several times, so I’m already sold on the idea of Fuerteventura with kids.
So why choose Fuerteventura, the second biggest of the Canary Islands? As well as great villas and hotels which won’t break the bank, plus fabulous food even on a budget, this is what’s tempting me to book a holiday, with my pick of the best things to do in Fuerteventura with kids.
Enjoy the great weather
Average temperatures of 24C in Fuerteventura in October are blissful compared to the UK… and by February, when London’s average high is about 8C, I sometimes feel like I haven’t seen daylight for approximately 100 years.
You can be unlucky with cool and rainy days, even off the coast of Africa, and Fuerteventura – as the name (‘strong winds‘) suggests – is a windy island. If you’re looking at summer holidays to Fuerteventura, that does cool the sun down nicely though.
Hit the beaches
Is it a proper winter sun holiday with kids if you don’t visit the beach? And as well as having the longest beaches in the Canaries, there are 152 of them across the island.
Fuerteventura’s beaches are ideal for kids too – some of the best beaches have very shallow waters such as Playa del Castillo at Caleta de Fuste and Playa del Matorral in the south of the island, as well as the beautiful calm waters of Playa La Concha near El Cotillo.
If you’re looking for ideas of more adventurous things to do in Fuerteventura for kids than sandcastles, it’s also a great location for water sports like windsurfing and kite surfing, thanks to the winds – ideal for teens and active tweens who want some more exciting activities than sandcastle building.
Playa de Sotavento, surrounded by sand dunes, is one good spot, while clambering on the sand dunes of Corralejo Natural Park would definitely be a hit with my daughter too – it’s also the site of the island’s annual kite festival.
Costa Calma beach is another good spot if you’re looking for a surf lesson or to try windsurfing, plus plenty of white sand and the crystal clear waters you can expect around Fuerteventura.
You can also book kids and family surf lessons with one of the island’s surf schools – the beaches vary depending on the weather conditions, but they’re all chosen for their gentle waves, perfect for beginners
Or for something a little different, check out Morro Jable – 4km of gorgeous beach with turquoise waters, a string of shops lining the beach and the Jandia salt marshes behind.
Visit Acua Water Park
This big water park in Fuerteventura is the only water park on the island. Previously called Baku, Acua Water Park is set in Corralejo, with wave pool and a children’s splash pool as well as more thrilling water slides and rides.
There’s crazy golf as well, which my daughter loves (and is impressively good at) plus 10-pin bowling if you don’t want to spend all day in the water.
It’s open from April for the main summer season until around the end of October/early November, so if you’re considering visiting Fuerteventura in February half-term, that’s one to save for next time though.
You can buy tickets online as well as tickets with free cancellation
Take a boat trip
We’ve taken boat trips in Gran Canaria as we cruised along the coast to Puerto Mogan and now my daughter’s older, I’d love to try one of the dolphin and whale spotting trips in Fuerteventura.
This 90-minute dolphin spotting trip is suitable for age 3 years old and above, while there’s also a two-hour dolphin spotting tour with drinks – or this longer dolphin-spotting cruise includes time to snorkel and a spot of tapas as well.
You can combine the chance to see dolphins with a trip to Isla de Lobos too: this option lets you spend around five hours out on the water, snorkelling and kayaks included (as well as lunch!), while a glass-bottomed catamaran trip is also tempting. Watch fish through the glass base before heading into the water to snorkel.
There’s the Oceanarium Explorer glass bottomed submarine as well but that has more mixed reviews (and I’m always reluctant to recommend swimming with sealions) but it seems another popular option.
If you prefer a rather different family fun experience, there’s also a four-hour Pirate Sailing Adventure aboard the Pedra Sartaña pirate boat – as you sail along the coasts of the Natural Park, you can learn the hoist the sails, tie knots and even get behind the wheel. Expect plenty of games, and water activities including swinging off the side of the boat – far more fun than walking the plank. They’re also certified whale and dolphin watchers so you might still spot some during your pirate cruise.
See Isla de Lobos
As well as the boat trips around Fuerteventura and near Isla de Lobos, it’s tempting to head to Lobos island itself.
A nature reserve since 1982, there are no permanent inhabitants – the name ‘Wolves Island’ comes from the monk seals that once lived here, known as sea wolves.
There are walking trails all over the island, or you can chill out on Playa de la Concha, a small sheltered lagoon with a sandy beach. Bring everything you’ll need for a day exploring (or lounging on La Concha beach) as there are no shops to pop to once you’re there.
There’s a speedy water taxi – waterproof bag advised for this 15 minute trip – or you can take the ferry for a slightly more sedate trip that takes about the same amount of time.
Head to Oasis Wildlife Fuerteventura
Animals are always a hit with my daughter and while this Fuerteventura zoo isn’t the cheapest around, there’s an impressive amount to see – plus it’s the only animal park on the island.
Along with flamingos, hippos, monkeys and giraffes, plus birds, reptiles and sea lions, you can also join a camel safari (for an extra fee) and ride through the palm groves outside the park as well as an option to meet the lemurs (again, for an extra fee).
There’s also a botanical garden attached with over 2,300 types of cacti and free buses run to the park, not far from La Lajita.
There’s a focus on education and conservation at Oasis Wildlife (previously known as Oasis Park Zoo), as well as a section on ethics on the website, which is reassuring to see as well.
You can buy entrance tickets with free cancellation, along with options including the camel ride
Discover Fuerteventura’s wild side
On every Canary Island I’ve visited, I love getting away from the tourist resorts on the coast to discover the wilder side – the volcanic landscapes of Lanzarote, the black sands and lush green north of Tenerife (not to mention its own volcano), and the mountainous interior of Gran Canaria.
Fuerteventura is only around 60 miles long and under 20 miles wide, and only takes two hours to drive from end to end, so you could hire a car to explore the island’s quiet roads – there are more goats than people here.
You can even take a tour with goats as you head off the beaten track, discovering areas where goat herders still live and getting a chance to feed them (and then having some goat cheese in return). The five-hour trek is only suitable for older children, aged 9+.
Discover the historic town of Betancuria, its white buildings sitting in the shadow of the mountains, or secluded stretches of sand like Juan Gomez beach towards the south-western tip of the island.
I love the idea of discovering the traditional windmills dotted around too – apparently those which are one storey high are ‘female’, called molinas, and the two-storey versions are ‘male’ known as molinos, with lots near the oldest village on Fuerteventura called Antigua.
There is car rental at Fuerteventura’s airport but you can also rent cars in most of the major tourist centres if you want to do a day trip.
If you don’t fancy driving at all, there are day tours to explore – this off-road tour of Fuerteventura is definitely on my list, heading to Jandia National Park and stopping at one of the island’s secluded beaches.
If you’re planning to hire a car to explore Fuerteventura, I’m a big fan of Zest Car Rental or you can also compare rates at Discover Cars
Explore the Ajuy Caves (Cuevas de Ajuy)
The Canary Islands’ volcanic past still shapes them today, whether that’s the blackened landscape of Lanzarote or Mount Teide on Tenerife – and the same goes for Fuerteventura, which has a series of caves to discover.
The Ajuy Caves are part of Betancuria Rural Park and they’re the oldest formations in the islands, so walking inside is like stepping back into Fuerteventura’s past. In a strange twist of geology, some parts of the caves are older than the island itself, dating back 100 million years (while Fuerteventura is only around 30 million years old).
On the walk to the caves, you can see fossilised sand dunes and blowholes in the rocks, before discovering the rock formations and tunnels of the caves, with some deep pools inside.
Set on the western coast of Fuerteventura, they’re around five miles from Pájara, and a short walk from the black sand Ajuy beach – strong currents mean this black sand beach isn’t a great place to swim with kids though, as you’ll tell from the ocean crashing around the rocks at the entrance to the caves.
Visiting the caves isn’t a great option with toddlers and young children, but fun for older kids: do wear sensible shoes rather than flipflops and be aware it’s a windy walk on this side of the island. If you time your visit for close to sunset, it’s one of the best places in Fuerteventura to watch it dip below the horizon.
Climb Calderon Hondo
This extinct volcano in the north of the island is another reminder of the Canary Island’s volcanic past, and you can still visit the caldera today.
It’s not the only one on the island, but it’s one of the most accessible for families – you climb a stone path to reach the top at 278m above sea level, where there’s a viewing platform to look right down into the 70m deep crater.
At this height, it can be windy, so while you can walk around the crater, it’s not recommended with kids (and not for adults if there’s strong wind either). If you’re visiting in the warmer months, there’s no shade so it’s best to visit early in the day or later in the afternoon, though do check the sunset times.
There’s parking at Camino Calderas, with the stone trail starting from here – the last section of road leading to the car park is very rocky, so be aware if you’ve got a hire car (unless it’s a 4×4).
See the Salt Museum, Salinas del Carmen
Fuerteventura’s Salt Museum, or Museo de la Sal, sits right beside the salt pans of El Carmen, in the area where the island’s first salt fields were built centuries ago.
Salt farming has long been a tradition across the Canary Islands, with an exhibition sharing information on how salt was extracted from the sea water. After checking out the displays, you can walk through the salt fields, which are still in operation, to see the traditional methods in practice – plus there’s a shop where you can buy the finished product too.
The museum is not far from Caleta de Fuste, there’s also a big whale skeleton outside the whitewashed museum building.
Check out Puerto del Rosario sculpture park
If you’re passing Fuerteventura’s small capital, Puerto del Rosario, on the island’s east coast, it’s well worth stopping to explore.
Replacing Betancuria as the capital in 1860, the small fishing village has grown over the past 150 years but you can still explore its old town, with buildings dating back to the early 19th century.
Along the way, look out for the sculptures dotted around – while it’s called the Sculpture Park, there isn’t just one single location to explore, as a lot are set in different parks, along various promenades and in the middle of roundabouts.
There are lots to see around the port though, including ones inspired by the island’s goats and whales. Keep an eye out for the town’s murals too, part of an initiative started in 2011, with hundreds now brightening up its streets.
Nearby Playa Blanca beach – not to be confused with its namesake in Lanzarote – is another lovely beach to relax on or enjoy the water activities too.
Visit Lanzarote
The two islands are so close that I’ve seen Fuerteventura when we’ve stayed in Playa Blanca on Lanzarote – I’ve contemplated taking the ferry to Fuerteventura quite a few times but have never quite managed to.
So while there’s plenty to entertain on Fuerteventura for kids, I love the idea of a quick hop back with the ferry to Playa Blanca, wandering along the waterfront with the beach on one side and restaurants on the other – you can see some of my favourite places to eat in Playa Blanca with kids here and there’s plenty to tempt the whole family.
Or further down is Marina Rubicon with its market on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. The crossing takes around 30-45 minutes with three to four boats per day.
With several companies running between the islands, you can compare ferry prices from Fuerteventura to Lanzarote on the Ferryhopper site to find the cheapest day trip from Fuerteventura
Planning a family holiday in Fuerteventura
If you’re looking for cheap flights to Fuerteventura, there are some great options from the UK, especially if you’re looking for a package deal.
As well as TUI and Jet2, you can also find some of the low-cost airlines with flights to Fuerteventura from the UK, including easyJet out of Gatwick and Ryanair from Stansted – although after my last experience, personally I’m not convinced that particular airline will top my own personal list…
There’s also a wide choice of family-friendly hotels in Fuerteventura if you want to book independently, as well as villas and self-catering apartments to choose from.
For more ideas, check out my guide to the Canary Islands with kids
*First published 2019, last updated 2023*
PIN FOR LATER: THINGS TO DO IN FUERTEVENTURA WITH KIDS
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission. All opinions about visiting Fuerteventura with kids are my own, including the fact that sunshine is essential by the time it’s February.
Images courtesy Depositphotos
