In a nutshell
- Corralejo in the north is our absolute favorite spot on Fuerteventura — and in this article we share everything you need to make the most of it.
- We cover our top 6 highlights and the best beaches in Corralejo, plus the 6 best activities and day trips you shouldn’t miss.
- We also share our personal hotel recommendations. Our absolute favorite place to stay on Fuerteventura is right here in Corralejo — the Hélène Holidays — right on the beach with a beautiful boho design.
- And of course, we’ll point you to our favorite restaurants and the best shops for a browse around Corralejo.
Things to Know About Corralejo
Corralejo is not only our favorite place, but also widely considered one of the most beautiful spots on Fuerteventura. It’s lively, young, and international — yet never as overcrowded as the towns in the south of the island.
The town has everything you need for a perfect vacation on Fuerteventura: great hotels and apartment complexes, a fantastic beach promenade, small beaches, and a cool historic center with restaurants and a long shopping street.
Thanks to the great waves in the north of the island, Corralejo also attracts a lot of young people who want to learn to surf on Fuerteventura.
As you can tell, Corralejo has the perfect mix. That’s why our wholehearted recommendation is to base yourself here during your Fuerteventura trip.
Our Highlights on a Map of Corralejo
Corralejo is home to some of the best attractions on Fuerteventura.
Before we walk you through each one in detail, we’ve marked the three most beautiful sights in Corralejo and the three best beaches on a map.
The map also gives you a great first overview of Corralejo itself.
The Best Attractions in Corralejo
Let’s start with the top highlights in Corralejo. These three places are absolute must-sees when you’re figuring out what to do in Corralejo.
Dunes of Corralejo
The massive sand dunes right on the edge of town are the most famous sight in Corralejo and part of the Parque Natural de Corralejo. The dunes stretch for up to eleven kilometers.
A visit to the nature park in Corralejo is simply non-negotiable for us on any Fuerteventura trip — and it’s one of the reasons why Fuerteventura ranks among the most beautiful European islands in our book.
Our tip: If you grab a seat on the left side of the plane for your return flight, you’ll get a fantastic aerial view of the Corralejo dunes shortly after takeoff. From above, it looks truly impressive.
Beach Promenade and Harbor
A stroll from the harbor along Corralejo’s beach promenade is always worth it. Some of the coolest boat tours on Fuerteventura depart from here, as do the ferries to the neighboring island of Lanzarote and the tiny island of Lobos.
From the harbor, just head toward town and you’ll first pass a small city beach. This spot is popular mostly with locals.
The promenade connects the most beautiful beaches, but you’ll find most tourists at the restaurants and cafés along the way.
After a few steps, you’ll reach the larger Waikiki Beach. The promenade is one of our absolute favorite places to stroll — and it’s great if you’re traveling to Fuerteventura with kids.
Old Town of Corralejo
If you leave the harbor and head into the interior of town rather than along the beach, you’ll end up in Corralejo’s old quarter. Here you’ll find lots of charming little restaurants and cozy squares side by side.
Many of the shops still observe the traditional siesta and close between 1 and 5 PM. Kids play soccer in the streets and the whole area moves at a slower, more relaxed pace.
It’s only in the evening that things really come alive. That’s when tourists fill the streets, and there’s plenty of eating and dancing. The vibe in Corralejo’s old town is really cool!
By the way: scattered between the buildings you’ll also find old windmills and beautiful trees — so there’s no shortage of interesting photo opportunities on your trip.
The Most Beautiful Beaches in Corralejo
Alongside the cool things to do in Corralejo, the town also has some seriously great beaches for swimming. Here are our three favorites.
Grandes Playas
Right next to the Corralejo dunes lies the Grandes Playas. Here you’ll discover a truly stunning backdrop: for miles, there’s nothing but golden sand and Caribbean-blue water.
No surprise that the Grandes Playas is one of our 10 most beautiful beaches on Fuerteventura. The sand is fine, light-colored, and perfect for relaxing or taking a long beach walk. Great for kids, too.
While the southern end of the beach is relatively sheltered from the wind, the northern end is often breezy — which makes this stretch extremely popular with kitesurfers. It looks like hundreds of butterflies in the air. Really cool!
Playa Corralejo
Right in the heart of Corralejo lies Playa Corralejo, the main town beach. It’s not very large, but it’s perfect when you need a quick cool-down.
The beach sits directly between the Avanti Lifestyle Hotel and the Hotel Boutique La Marquesina, two of the best adults-only hotels on Fuerteventura.
You’ll probably run into plenty of hotel guests here, but locals love it too. There are some really great restaurants and cafés surrounding it.
Playa de los Verilitos
If you continue along the beach promenade, you’ll reach Playa de los Verilitos (also known as Waikiki Beach). This beach is considerably larger than Playa Corralejo.
There are sun loungers where you can relax, and the beach is flat with usually calm water — ideal for families with young children.
Honestly, it’s not the most beautiful beach, but we love it because there are cool bars right on the sand along with some restaurants. Our favorite is Waikiki. It’s also within easy walking distance of the town center.
The Best Activities and Day Trips in Corralejo
In and around Corralejo, you can also get seriously active. Here are the three coolest things to do in Corralejo and the three most popular day trips from town.
Acua Water Park Corralejo
If you’re visiting Corralejo with kids, the Acua Water Park is pretty much a must. It’s definitely one of the top activities for families on Fuerteventura.
The water park has something for everyone, with a huge variety of water slides: kamikaze slides for adults and kids, zigzag slides, a wild river, and gentler family slides.
For younger children, there’s a dedicated kids’ zone with smaller pools, a splash pad, and even a kids’ club. Our two kids absolutely love it.
You can easily spend a whole day here, and there’s also a snack bar and full restaurant. You can find more details on the Acua Park website.
Buggy Tour Through the Dunes
A buggy tour is something we wholeheartedly recommend — probably one of the most action-packed experiences in Corralejo. We’ve done it ourselves and thought it was really awesome! It’s also one of the coolest activities on Fuerteventura overall.
After a quick briefing, you get right behind the wheel. You drive in a convoy along dusty gravel roads, with stops at a massive volcano and the Corralejo dunes.
At the stops you’ll have plenty of time to snap a cool photo of yourself in the buggy. During the drive it might be a bit too bumpy for that.
Our tip: Don’t wear your best clothes — by the end of the tour you’ll be covered in dust from head to toe.
Guided buggy tour on Fuerteventura
Boat Tour
One of the best things to do in Corralejo is a boat tour. The great news: some of the coolest tours on Fuerteventura depart right from the harbor in Corralejo.
Our favorite is the catamaran trip to Lobos Island — you’ll have time to swim and snorkel, and you’ll get a delicious paella.
A dolphin and whale watching tour is also super popular with many visitors. In the south of Fuerteventura we once got really lucky and saw a huge number of dolphins.
Ticket for catamaran tour to Lobos Island
Ticket for boat tour with dolphin and whale watching in the north
Check out all boat tours on Fuerteventura:
Day Trip to Lobos
The small island of Lobos lies just off the coast of Corralejo, and ferries depart from the harbor regularly. The crossing takes only 15 minutes and it’s one of the best day trips from Corralejo.
A day on Lobos might look something like this: In the morning, you take the boat over and climb the small volcano (about one hour round trip).
Afterwards, have lunch at the only restaurant on Lobos. It’s best to pre-order your meal as soon as you arrive — otherwise you won’t get anything at lunchtime.
In the afternoon, you can relax at Playa de la Concha. It’s a beautiful sandy beach that’s also great for families.
Everything you need to know for your trip to Lobos is right here:
Day Trip to Lanzarote
From Corralejo’s coastline, you can already clearly see the neighboring island of Lanzarote. There are some truly cool points of interest on Lanzarote — like the Fire Mountains in Timanfaya National Park or the works of architectural icon César Manrique.
Lanzarote is fairly small and you can cover many of its highlights even on a day trip. Alternatively, there are also many beautiful places and accommodations for an overnight stay on Lanzarote.
Lies auch:
Saturday Day Trip to Lajares
Lajares lies 13 kilometers southwest of Corralejo. It’s a quiet, laid-back town in the north of Fuerteventura, with plenty of small, hip cafés and boutiques.
We recommend making a day trip from Corralejo on a Saturday — and going very early in the morning. That way you can hike up the Calderón Hondo volcano to watch the sunrise.
And don’t worry — the hike is super easy and takes only about 15 to 20 minutes. The view from up top with the rising sun is breathtakingly beautiful.
After the hike, enjoy a really good breakfast in Lajares. We can recommend Surfescape Fuerteventura or Cafè Vala for that.
Then head to the craft market on the main square in Lajares, which runs every Saturday from 10 AM to 3 PM. You can find wonderful handmade items there — from jewelry to beautiful ceramics.
And the best part: with the volcano sunrise hike and the craft market, you’ve already checked off two of our nine best insider tips for Fuerteventura!
Our Hotel Recommendations for Corralejo
Corralejo is the perfect base for your stay on Fuerteventura. There’s truly something for everyone here: from luxury to budget, from large hotels to small boutique accommodations, and some of the most beautiful beachfront hotels on Fuerteventura.
We also have a dedicated article on our hotel recommendations for Corralejo. Here’s a quick look at our three favorites:
#1 Hélène Holidays
For us, one of the best hotels on Fuerteventura! It has a fantastic location: right on the beach, a little away from the hustle and bustle, yet you can walk to the pedestrian zone in ten minutes. The hotel has a beautiful boho design and a great pool.
Book Hélène Holidays
#2 Avanti Lifestyle Hotel
One of the best boutique hotels on Fuerteventura and one of the finest adults-only options. We love the nautical decor and the pillow menu. The rooftop Jacuzzi is seriously cool.
Book Avanti Lifestyle Hotel
#3 Barceló Corralejo Sands
A modern hotel complex right in the middle of Corralejo — but don’t let that put you off. The Barceló is no giant concrete block. It has a huge pool and everything you’d expect, including an all-inclusive option.
Here are more hotel tips:
The Best Restaurants in Corralejo
In Corralejo there is a truly impressive number of good restaurants and cafés. While other towns make it hard to find anything authentic among all the tourist traps, the selection here is genuinely great.
The town also has a very large Italian community. So you’ll find not just delicious Spanish cuisine, but also really good, authentic Italian restaurants.
Our tip: It’s almost always worth calling ahead to reserve a table. The good restaurants fill up fast during typical dinner hours.
Here are the best restaurants in Corralejo:
Gilda: This is where you’ll find the best tapas in Corralejo! A small spot a few steps off the beach promenade with a laid-back bar atmosphere. They also serve great pinchos — little open-faced sandwiches.
Pizzeria da Vivi: Home to the best pizza in Corralejo, at really affordable prices. The place isn’t the coziest, but it’s right in the center of town.
Mamacita: Probably the best pasta on the entire island. The menu changes weekly with around five different pasta dishes, all made fresh. The wait is absolutely worth it.
Dolce e Salato: A small restaurant we often visit for lunch. Various pasta dishes for just 7 euros each, followed by a delicious pastry from the display case. The value for money is outstanding!
Bronx Burger: We’ve tried quite a few burgers in Corralejo, and Bronx Burger is our favorite! The chain has two locations in Corralejo. (Our son Mio says the burgers at Single Fin are better, though.)
Baobab: An excellent vegan bistro. We highly recommend the Beyond Burger and the Baobab sandwich, and a slice of chocolate cake for dessert is always a good call. For some reason, the coffee here just doesn’t do it for us.
Mozzarey: A small spot that serves little more than fresh, homemade buffalo mozzarella and burrata. But they’re absolutely delicious!
Il pranzo è servito: Classic Italian dishes just like mom used to make, from lasagna to truly wonderful risottos. Prices are very fair. Perfect for lunch.
Buena Suerte: Tasty Spanish tapas alongside Italian pasta and risotto. Both are top-notch quality.
La Arroceriía: The best place for paella. Authentic, very generous portions, various types of paella, and a great wine selection. Allow some extra time, since the paella is made fresh to order.
Buena Onda Bistrot: A lovely restaurant right by the sea. The pasta dishes are especially good, but the fresh fish is also excellent.
Abaluus: When we have a babysitter and want to really treat ourselves to a great meal, we head to Abaluus. A very upscale Italian restaurant with incredibly delicious dishes.
La Pulperia: A lively tapas bar right in the center of town. Cool mix of locals and tourists. If you like octopus, you have to go. Of course, there are plenty of other tapas too.
Sucre (Café): Delicious breakfast and great sandwiches, but above all an outstanding patisserie. They don’t do typical cakes here — instead, it’s all about small, sweet little pastries. Mmm!
Coffee Lounge (Café): Tucked away in a small passage. A cozy little café with great coffee and homemade pastries. The owner is from the Netherlands and if he has time, he’s happy to play a game of chess with you.
The Best Ice Cream Shops in Corralejo
Coco Banana: This is where you’ll find the best ice cream in Corralejo. Naturally, the shop is Italian-run. The dulce de leche flavor is Basti’s undisputed favorite (not always available). The stracciatella, the vegan dark chocolate, and the vegan Snickers are also really good.
Vrebac: A small selection of homemade flavors — and a true Fuerteventura specialty: pitaya ice cream. All the classic flavors are very good too.
Adele: Owned by the same person as Vrebac. Also very good ice cream with great flavors. The texture is slightly softer and creamier than the others.
Heladería artesanal El Gusto: A long-established ice cream parlor. Small shop with no outdoor seating, but great if you want to grab a cone to go. Prices are lower than the other spots.
Shopping in Corralejo
The main shopping street in Corralejo is the Avenida Nuestra Señora del Carmen. Most of the street is lined with typical tourist shops selling souvenirs, perfume, and alcohol.
Toward the end of the street, just before you reach the town center, you’ll find a few nicer stores.
Away from the main street, in the lanes of the old quarter, you’ll also occasionally come across little shops. Here are a few of our shopping picks:
- Atrua: A beautiful store with unique clothing for women, ceramics, art, and jewelry. Many small brands based on Fuerteventura are sold here.
- Pua: T-shirts made from 100% organic cotton, with tons of different cuts and cool prints. But it’s not just shirts, of course.
- Deló: Incredibly beautiful clothing and accessories for women — cool cuts and colors! Great quality, beautiful designs, fair prices.
- Makhoul: The best store for beautiful bikinis. The bikinis are designed and made on Fuerteventura.
- Centro Comercial Las Palmeras: A classic shopping mall with popular brands like Mango, Stradivarius, and more.
- Kings Surfshop: Huge selection of surfboards, accessories, and high-quality surf clothing. They’ve got regular clothes too, of course.
- Blue Planet Surfshop: Perfect if you’re looking for popular surf brands like Columbia, Billabong, Patagonia, O’Neill, Picture, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions About Corralejo
Is Corralejo very touristy?
Yes, Corralejo is touristy — but in a pleasant, lively way.
It’s one of the most popular towns on Fuerteventura, so you’ll find plenty of hotels, restaurants, beach bars, and tour operators. At the same time, Corralejo still has real Canarian charm — narrow alleyways, great beaches right in town, and a laid-back atmosphere that never feels overwhelming.
What is the best month to visit Corralejo?
We love October and November on Fuerteventura. For us, these two months are the sweet spot.
The weather is still genuinely warm, the ocean is pleasant for swimming, and the summer vacation crowds are gone — perfect if you want sunshine but fewer people around. The wind in fall is also usually a bit calmer than at the height of summer.
Can you swim in the ocean near Corralejo?
Yes, you can swim in the ocean in Corralejo.
Around town there are several sheltered coves with clear, calm water — perfect for swimming. At the town beaches the entry is shallow, and at the Grandes Playas you can also get in the water easily, as long as you pay attention to the flags and current warnings.
Are there sun loungers on the beach in Corralejo?
Yes, at some beaches in Corralejo you’ll find sun loungers and beach umbrellas.
That said, not all beach sections are equipped — especially at the expansive dune beaches, you’ll often need to bring your own towel or sun protection.
Where can I watch the sunset in Corralejo?
The most beautiful sunset spot in Corralejo is on the west side of town — around the small harbor and along the waterfront promenade toward Waikiki.
Here the sky turns colors directly over the ocean and the sun sinks perfectly behind the silhouette of Lanzarote. It’s especially beautiful at the rocks near Punta de Corralejo, where you sit right at the water’s edge with an unobstructed view.
Is Corralejo safe at night?
Yes, Corralejo is considered very safe at night.
The town is lively, well-lit, and there are plenty of people out in the evenings — whether along the promenade, around the harbor area, or in the side streets near the bars. As anywhere, it’s worth keeping an eye on your valuables and avoiding dark, secluded spots, but serious incidents are rare.
