When looking at the map to choose a place to stay in Fuerteventura, there are no more than 3-4 widely touristy areas providing all services, followed by a fair number of other quiet and small towns (some with literally just 12 houses): we will cover them all in this guide, to find the one that best suits your needs.
It should also be mentioned that in Fuerteventura renting a car is needed in order to explore the island, reach beaches, or visit small villages that you wouldn’t be able to see without a car. If you haven’t booked already, here you will find some suggestions and reviews about car rentals in the Canary Islands. If you prefer not to drive, here are other ways to get around Fuerteventura.
Where to stay in Fuerteventura – map of the best areas
In examining the areas, we start with the larger centers suitable for those looking for a bit of life, then continue with progressively smaller villages, ending with some hidden gems!
We will now explore the areas of Fuerteventura most suitable for young people, surfers, those seeking relaxation, families with children… and those wanting to isolate themselves from everything! 🙂
Corralejo
Size: Large
Pros: All services, ferries to Lanzarote and Isla de Lobos, decent life at night, acceptable beach.
Cons: A bit busy and chaotic, parking can be difficult at times.
Corralejo (pronounced Corraleho), although not the “capital” city of Fuerteventura, is the largest inhabited/operational center on the island, with about a 2km diameter.
Located at the northern tip of Fuerteventura, it will not be hard to find resorts, residences, hotels, supermarkets, restaurants, and commercial activities in general. It is also a highly popular area, especially with Italians.
In the evening, there is still life, and although there isn’t a big nightlife scene like in other more famous Spanish islands. You can easily find bars, restaurants, lounge bars, and activities open late, sometimes with live music in the central square. Most of the scene takes place around Plaza Félix Estévez and along the promenade near the port.
When staying in Fuerteventura, it can be convenient to choose Corralejo if you plan on taking ferry trips to Lanzarote or the beautiful Isla de Lobos, for those who want to go on one of the (numerous) quad tours in the northern part of the island, or visit the beautiful Dunes of Corralejo and the adjacent beaches.
However, I do not recommend staying in Corralejo for those who don’t want to be surrounded by Italians. 😀
I also recommend avoiding this area to people looking for true relaxation, those who don’t want to waste time searching for parking, and those who plan to travel frequently to the south of the island (which takes a couple of hours by car).
Some activities you may like, before going on with the article:
- Aloe Studio: Entire 45m² apartment for 3 people, affordable but well-maintained, close to the central areas of Corralejo;
- Villa Bahia Bed & Breakfast: Rooms in a seaside complex, some with private bathrooms, hosting up to 4 people;
- Corralejo Surfing Colors Hotel & Apartments: Affordable but modern and colorful apartments in a 3-star facility right by the ocean, very close to the center of Corralejo;
- Gran Hotel Atlantis Bahía Real: Elegant 4-star hotel in front of a beach, a short distance from the center of Corralejo. It hosts up to 3 people, offering Spa, gym, pools, wellness center, and airport shuttle service.
Caleta de Fuste
Size: Medium
Pros: Tourist area with services, but not too crowded. Good for those staying in Fuerteventura with children or during the winter, English/Irish pub-style bars for those who like that;
Cons: High average age.
Caleta de Fuste is a pretty touristic neighborhood built a few kilometers from the airport, in front of a small but pleasant bay.
This area is mainly frequented by English speaking tourists and, at least outside the high season, is almost entirely populated by those over 50 or by couples.
I recommend Caleta de Fuste to stay in Fuerteventura if you’re traveling with children, as the beach is sandy and somewhat sheltered from the stronger waves, and for those looking for a quieter area than Corralejo without giving up services, supermarkets, and bars/restaurants. It is particularly recommended during the winter months, as some parts of the bay are well-protected from the wind.
Caleta de Fuste is also an excellent starting point for exploring the island; about in the middle of Fuerteventura, it allows you to reach the north in about 40 minutes and the south in 1/1.5 hours by car.
- Bungalows Fuertesol: affordable and nice bungalows for 2 adults + 2 children, with pool, bar, and parking;
- Barceló Castillo Beach Resort: a beautiful 4-star resort with bungalows for up to 3 people, adjacent to the sea, with gym, pool, spa, and restaurant. It is located right in front of the small “castillo” of Caleta de Fuste, which you can also see in the photos of the property;
- Sun Beach Apartamento: a modern and affordable entire 40m² apartment that accommodates up to 4 people, with kitchen, pool, and terrace.
- Fuerteventura Beach Club: affordable 2-star bungalows to accommodate up to 4 people, with bar, restaurant, pool, parking, and wifi.
Morro Jable
Size: Large
Pros: All services at hand, excursions on the Jandia peninsula, large sandy beach facing south, and good in winter.
Cons: Long distance from the north.
The last option for staying in Fuerteventura in a medium-large center is Morro Jable.
Morro Jable is the urban center located at the southern tip of the island, on the so-called Jandia peninsula. In this area, which stretches about 5 km in length, you can find everything you might need in terms of services, shops, restaurants, and moderate nightlife, much like in Corralejo.
If the predominant tourism in Corralejo was Italian and in Caleta de Fuste it was English, in Morro Jable the tourism is mostly German, although with less concentration compared to the previous two.
Morro Jable is also recommended for those staying in Fuerteventura with children and those traveling in winter. The long sandy beach faces south and is more sheltered from the winds often coming from the north/northeast.
A large part of the beach in Morro Jable is lined with a promenade, great for those who want to jog or bike, discovering occasional artistic touches:
In Morro Jable, it is also possible to book quad tours and similar activities, as it is the last urban center of the Jandia peninsula; beyond the peninsula, you will find a desert and mountainous landscape with only dirt roads passable with 4×4 or off-road vehicles.
- Hostal Maxorata: budget hostel with private rooms in the streets of the center of Morro Jable;
- MUR Faro Jandia Fuerteventura & Spa: 4 stars located right in front of the Jandia lighthouse, at the southern tip of Morro Jable beach, with rooms for couples, pool, spa, gym, and bar.
- Iberostar Fuerteventura Palace: 5 stars beachfront property with rooms for up to 3 people for adults only, with gym, pool, spa, and all-inclusive option. Located on the opposite side of the “center” of Morro Jable;
- Fuerte Holiday Marina Lux: 120m² holiday home for up to 4 people, pet-friendly, with wifi, parking, barbecue, satellite TV, kitchen, and accessories.
Costa Calma
Size: medium
Pros: a beautiful beach with calm sea, a great choice in winter and for those seeking relaxation.
Cons: little nightlife and long distance from the north.
Costa Calma is another predominantly tourist urban area, similar to Caleta de Fuste, but located in the south of the island.
Choosing Costa Calma to stay in Fuerteventura is the main choice for those looking for a calm sea or traveling in winter. The name Costa Calma is not by chance: its coast is located in a bay, making it even more sheltered from the strong waves as it faces south.
I do not recommend this area for those looking for nightlife. Although Fuerteventura is not a place of wild partying, here the situation is truly quiet.
When staying in Costa Calma (or even if staying elsewhere!), it is absolutely essential to visit the nearby Playa de Sotavento, an incredibly tranquil and sheltered beach that transforms depending on the tide into a transparent pool. It’s so beautiful that I will talk about it more here.
- Sol Beach House at Meliá Fuerteventura: if you want a view of the beautiful Playa de Sotavento, don’t miss this 4-star resort with suites for up to 3 people, gym, pools (which you probably won’t need here), sauna, restaurant, and wifi;
- Melia Fuerteventura: another 4-star hotel for singles and couples, with similar features to the previous one, located right in front of Playa de Sotavento, where you’ll have your feet directly in the water, under the palms;
- Apartamentos Morasol: back in the central Costa Calma area, affordable but well-kept apartments for 1 or 2 people, some with sea view;
- Labranda Golden Beach: 3-star hotel with gym, pool, spa, and restaurant, with rooms for up to 3 people;
- VIK Suite Hotel Risco Del Gato: elegant 4-star sea-front suites for groups of up to 5 people, with pool, spa, gym, and restaurant.
Puerto del Rosario
Puerto del Rosario is the “capital” city of the island. I mention it in this guide for completeness, although it is not among the top choices for accommodation in Fuerteventura. Or at least, until a few years ago, it was definitely not very pleasant. However, some readers have mentioned that in recent years Puerto del Rosario has quickly and significantly improved.
It is an industrial and residential urban center, which in my opinion had a somewhat sad appearance until a few years ago.
This is my personal opinion, but if you are passing through (and you will definitely pass through, as Puerto is on the main road between the north and south), stop by and check it out.
El Cotillo
Size: Small
Pros: surfer’s paradise, quiet area.
Cons: limited life and long distances to travel, especially to the south.
El Cotillo is a small village located at the northwest tip of Fuerteventura Island, with several very nice and peaceful beaches and, not far away, a large stretch of coast perfect for surfers, which you can also admire from the top of the promontory.
Staying in El Cotillo will likely cost you less than elsewhere, but if you don’t like wind on the beach, you might not enjoy at the most.
Even if you don’t choose El Cotillo for your stay in Fuerteventura, I highly recommend visiting at least once to see its beaches or perhaps go on a quad excursion.
Just a few minutes from El Cotillo, heading north, you can reach 3 beautiful bay-shaped beaches with calm waters and finally the Faro del Tostòn, which is fantastic to visit at sunset. I won’t add anything more, I’ll leave you with some photos that will surely make you want to go there.
- Apartamentos el Cotillo: modern apartments for 2 to 4 people with terrace, TV, wifi, and kitchen;
- Laif Hotel: affordable rooms for 1 to 2 people in a 2-star hotel with pool, wifi, and shuttle service to the airport;
- Cotillo Beach: a well-maintained 3-star hotel with rooms for up to 3 people, pool, free parking, and restaurant.
La Oliva
Size: Small
Pros: Traditional and very quiet village.
Cons: Far from beach and tourist life.
La Oliva is a quiet village located in the middle of the hills in the central-northern part of the island.
Staying in La Oliva could be an interesting option for those who want to retreat to a particularly peaceful village with historical features, with its central church and a weekly local products market (which I mention in my itinerary) that’s more deserving of a visit than others.
Of course, staying in this area of Fuerteventura will allow you to enjoy peace and quiet but you’ll need to drive to reach any other destination, including the beach.
- La Oliva Inn: a hostel with rooms for 2 to 4 people, some with kitchenettes, garden, TV, and wifi.
- Casa Rural Casa del Cuartel: spacious apartments with kitchens for 2 to 4 people.
And now a gem: Majanicho
Size: really small
Pros: Scenic beach and village, lots of tranquility.
Cons: almost no services, dirt roads, and north-facing exposure.
Majanicho is a tiny village on the north coast of Fuerteventura, in a spot where, when there is no wind, the small beaches in the area made of pebbles and sand are incredibly peaceful. It reminded me of the Speedy Gonzales cartoons.
Stay here only if you really like a rural, non-touristy village, don’t mind getting bored, and don’t mind driving for everything else. Otherwise, visit it one afternoon or during one of the various quad tours departing from Corralejo; many stop here as well.
- Lobster Shack: an affordable and cute apartment for 2 people with a view of the bay in the photo above, complete with kitchen and accessories, shuttle service to the airport available. They accept pets, no wifi.
- Origo Mare House: a little further inland from the sea, a well-maintained 45m² vacation home with all necessary amenities, for up to 4 people.
- Pierre & Vacances Village: 4-star resort with villas for 2 to 7 people, complete with bar, gym, pool, air conditioning, wifi, 5 seasonal pools, and all-inclusive offers and airport shuttle service available.
Another gem? Ajuy
What we just saw was just one example among many isolated villages along the coast where you could stay in Fuerteventura. I recommend zooming in on the map and scrolling along the coastlines to see how many there are, far from the main road and made up of a handful of houses, some boats, and a beach.
Another example is Ajuy, on the west coast in the central part of the island, overlooking a volcanic black sand beach, where I recommend stopping to admire the sea water (which, when it crashes onto the pebbles with a foamy effect, makes a sound that videos don’t do justice to) and to take a walk along a raised rocky promenade that ends at the Cuevas Negras caves.
If you like Ajuy, you might find a quiet little apartment like Casa Pano.
Many of these villages also have at least one restaurant, sometimes family-run, where you can eat really fresh fish or seafood at very low prices. If you pass by at sunset, it’s definitely worth considering, as it will surely be a better experience than the usual restaurants in tourist areas!
Where to stay in Fuerteventura in winter
To summarize, the most recommended areas to stay in Fuerteventura if you are going in winter and your intention is to spend at least a few hours at the beach without being blown by the wind are those facing south/southeast, or where there is a cove or bay with shelter behind it: Costa Calma first and foremost, Morro Jable, or Caleta de Fuste, which is sheltered in some parts of the bay.
The wind in Fuerteventura mainly comes from the north/northeast throughout the year (except during the calima phenomenon, a wind from the Sahara that also carries sand in the air), with greater intensity in the summer. While the wind may not be a big issue in the summer, except for possibly lifting the sand, in winter it could make you feel cold while lying on the beach.
The Windfinder app on your smartphone may help you checking out the wind forecasts, so you can better plan your days.
Where to stay in Fuerteventura for surfers
But there also are some who love the wind and seek it out: for those who want to surf, the most “exciting” coasts are those of the west coast, such as El Cotillo, La Pared, or even near the village of Ajuy if you have all your equipment with you and don’t need anyone else.
There are also water sports centers in all other major locations on the island, even in the quiet Playa de Sotavento. After all, if you don’t surf in Fuerteventura, where else would you?
Where to stay in Fuerteventura with children or as a couple
In this case, it’s pretty simple. You can choose to stay in almost any of the areas described in this guide, depending on how “isolated” you want to feel or how much you want to be in the heart of the island’s tourist life. Just pay attention to rocky beaches or stronger waves. Always remember that you are not on the Mediterranean but in the middle of the ocean, which you shouldn’t underestimate.
Where to stay in Fuerteventura for young people
Here it’s perhaps a bit more difficult than elsewhere. Certainly, Corralejo is one of the main places to consider, with its bars along the harbor it’s one of the more active areas in the evening (but don’t expect crazy nightlife) or Caleta de Fuste if you like English/Irish pubs.
It’s also worth noting that outside the tourist season, Fuerteventura has a particularly high average age.
Stay in the North or South of Fuerteventura?
Actually, it doesn’t make much difference. You’ll need a rental car wherever your hotel is because the island is large and quite desert-like.
Both in the north around Corralejo and in the south on the Jandia peninsula, you’ll easily find excursions or guided tours with quad/dune buggy. For surfing or water sports, the facilities are found in all the major urban and tourist centers on the island, though generally the wildest waves are on the west coast.
So choose the best deal and if you’re still unsure… choose Caleta de Fuste, as it’s about in the middle! 🙂
Now that you know everything about where to stay in Fuerteventura… it’s also time to discover how to get around Fuerteventura, a guide on what to visit, and find a great flight with the box below:
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