Fuerteventura Hidden Gems: Our 9 Real Insider Tips

Our 9 Fuerteventura Hidden Gems on a Map

Before we dive into our 9 Fuerteventura hidden gems in detail, we’ve marked them all for you on the map above.

That way you’ve got a perfect overview and can find even the most off-the-beaten-path spots without any trouble.

Arts and Crafts Market in Lajares

You’ll find the island’s most beautiful weekly market in Lajares, one of the most beautiful places on Fuerteventura. Every Saturday from 10 AM to 3 PM, the arts and crafts market takes place on the main square.

You can pick up jewelry, bags, clothing, décor, and natural cosmetics, among other things. And absolutely everything is handmade and produced right here on Fuerteventura.

The market is fairly manageable — maybe 15 to 20 stalls — but it’s also a great opportunity to discover special boutiques on the island. Many of the vendors have their own shop in the north, so it’s a nice way to find them.

After browsing, it’s easy to stay in Lajares for a midday bite. The selection of cafés and eateries around the main square is excellent. For coffee and cake, we love Amiga Mia (Google Maps), and for delicious tapas, Restaurante La Boqueria (Google Maps) is a great shout.

Our tip: The best way to experience the market is to combine it with hidden gem #2: watching the sunrise from the Calderón Hondo volcano. Both spots are only a 15-minute drive apart.

Good to know: If you’re staying in the south of Fuerteventura and looking for a cool market down there, check out the food and arts and crafts market in La Lajita on Sundays between 10 AM and 2 PM. It’s held at the Oasis Wildlife Park, and a visit is one of the most popular activities on Fuerteventura, especially with kids.

Sunrise at the Calderón Hondo Volcano

The Calderón Hondo volcano is one of our top 17 sights on Fuerteventura. But our real insider tip is: come here for sunrise — it’s a truly special experience.

From this 278-meter-high volcano, you get a breathtaking view of the surrounding volcanic landscape and can watch the sun rise over the ocean. We’re keeping our fingers crossed you’ll have clear skies.

The hike up is super easy and totally doable even in early morning twilight. The path is even paved at the start, well signposted, and the incline is gentle. We’d still recommend turning on your phone’s flashlight.

Once the sun has risen, you can peer into the 70-meter-deep crater — there’s even a viewing platform.

Good to know: Right at the start of the trail, there’s a small, free parking lot (Google Maps).

Our tip: Before heading to the arts and crafts market, you can enjoy a relaxed breakfast in Lajares. We highly recommend the breakfast and coffee at Surfescape Fuerteventura. The surf and coworking camp is a popular spot for digital nomads and a great option if you want to stay overnight in the north of Fuerteventura.

Puertito de los Molinos

Puertito de los Molinos is a more or less secret spot on Fuerteventura’s west coast. It has the feel of a tiny village and nature in its purest form — seriously unspoiled.

One highlight here is the Cueva de la Ballena, a hidden cave on the left side of the bay. It’s only accessible at very low tide, so make sure you allow enough time for the return trip before the water rises again.

The second highlight is the sunset. You can best enjoy it from the terrace of the restaurant Las Bohemias del Amor. The food is genuinely local in style, but you can also just stop by for a drink.

The rest of the village is well worth exploring too. You’ll find lovely murals on the white houses and great photo opportunities around every corner — super authentic.

Important: Puertito de los Molinos is a bit off the beaten path, but you can get there easily by car. Just be aware that we’ve never had any cell service here.

Kite Festival in November

In November, the kite festival takes place at two of the most beautiful beaches on Fuerteventura — La Concha in El Cotillo and the dunes of Corralejo.

People fly giant kites on the beach that turn the sky into a swirl of colorful butterflies. Sea creatures like jellyfish and fish are naturally among the most popular designs.

The festival runs from early to mid-November, with the kites flying in El Cotillo for usually a full week and in Corralejo only on the second weekend of the month. You can find the exact dates on the La Oliva municipality website. Admission is completely free. If you’d like to know more about the area, check out our highlights and insider tips for Corralejo.

The kite festival is an absolute standout, especially if you’re on Fuerteventura with kids.

Our hotel tip: Right on the beach next to La Concha, you’ll find the apartment hotel Cotillo Sunset — one of the most affordable and beautiful beachfront hotels on all of Fuerteventura.

Hidden Beach La Escalera

La Escalera is an absolute dream beach on the west coast, and not too many tourists know about it. A true Fuerteventura secret spot in the north of the island.

You can only reach it via a gravel road that starts at the southern end of El Cotillo. After about five minutes of driving, you’ll turn off onto a small side track. If you’re wondering whether this is really a road — you’re in exactly the right place!

What awaits you: crystal-clear water, a long, empty sandy beach, and an impressive cliff face. For us, it’s one of the most beautiful places in the world and definitely one of the reasons why, in our opinion, Fuerteventura is one of the most beautiful islands in Europe.

You don’t need to do any climbing to get down there. It’s called Escalera because there’s a long stone staircase leading to the beach — escalera means staircase in Spanish.

Important: If you drive slowly and carefully, the road is very manageable. Just be aware that your rental car insurance typically does not cover you on gravel roads.

Popcorn Beach

Popcorn Beach absolutely needs to be on your itinerary during your vacation on Fuerteventura. Yes, you read that right — popcorn! But not to eat.

Here’s the deal: the beach isn’t covered in typical fine sand. Instead, it’s blanketed in a layer of white, coral-like crumbles that look remarkably like popcorn. These small pieces are called rhodoliths, shaped by the movement of the ocean over time.

We think it’s seriously cool, and the “fake popcorn” looks amazing in photos — especially the striking contrast between the white rhodolith stones, the dark volcanic rock of the coastline, and the deep blue Atlantic.

The official name is Playa del Bajo de la Burra (Google Maps). It’s located about 20 minutes by car from Corralejo.

Our tip: If you’re not staying in Corralejo, you can easily combine this off-the-beaten-path Fuerteventura gem with a day trip to Lobos Island, since the boats depart from the harbor in Corralejo.

Arco de las Peñitas

One of our personal favorite spots on Fuerteventura is the Arco de las Peñitas — a genuinely cool natural formation that really blew us away. It’s also a fantastic place to take some great travel photos.

The Arco de las Peñitas is a lesser-known spot on Fuerteventura for good reason — the hike is quite challenging. You have to navigate a mostly steep, unmarked trail through rocky terrain. The route is about 2.4 km long.

From the parking lot, the path leads up on the left side. Along the way, you’ll pass a small, beautiful chapel. From there, head left — essentially around the mountain — and continue a little further over the rubble straight ahead.

We promise you the difficult hike is worth every step. Once you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with truly spectacular views of the surrounding volcanic landscape.

Our tip: You can easily combine the Arco de las Peñitas with a trip to Ajuy. After the hike, enjoy fresh fish at one of the restaurants there — the caves in Ajuy are an absolute highlight of the island, and the beach is one of what we consider the 10 most beautiful beaches on Fuerteventura.

Good to know: Right at the start of the trail, there’s a free, fairly large parking lot (Google Maps).

Important: Make sure to wear sturdy shoes and bring a cap and plenty of water!

Verdeaurora Bio Farm

Did you know that Fuerteventura is one of the largest producers of aloe vera products in all of Europe? That’s thanks to the dry, sunny climate, which is ideal for growing aloe vera plants.

One of our favorite aloe vera farms is the Verdeaurora Bio Farm. A visit there is one of our best insider tips on Fuerteventura — something completely different from beaches and hikes.

The farm is family-run and specializes in sustainable farming and ecotourism. They produce some truly wonderful skincare products from their aloe vera plants. Personal recommendation: the lip balm!

But you can do more than just shop here (they also carry olive oil products). On a guided tour, you can explore the aloe vera fields and olive groves, take part in a workshop on processing aloe vera, and sample local specialties like goat cheese, olive oil, and bread.

Our tip: The farm also offers rural accommodations where you can relax in nature and enjoy the starry sky. You can find more information on the Verdeaurora Bio Farm website.

Book the Aloe & Olivo Tour with Verdeaurora (optional with lunch)

Mirador del Salmo

We stumbled across the Mirador del Salmo completely by chance while driving south from Sotavento Beach — and we’re so glad we did.

It’s a really beautiful vantage point south of the Sotavento lagoon. From here, you get a sweeping panoramic view of the golden sands of Sotavento and the turquoise Atlantic coastline stretching into the distance.

The Mirador del Salmo is also a popular spot for photographers. That said, you’ll want to avoid coming in summer during the Calima, when visibility turns hazy and takes on a milky-yellow tint. Our favorite time to visit Fuerteventura is October and November.

You can reach the viewpoint via the FV-2 road. There’s a small parking lot there, from which you walk across the open expanse toward the sea.

Bonus Tip: Our Restaurant Hidden Gems for Fuerteventura

We’ve also got 4 great restaurant finds on Fuerteventura for you. Since we live in the north of the island and spend most of our time there, all of our restaurant tips are based there too.

Azzurro Chill Out Restaurant in El Cotillo: Our absolute favorite restaurant on Fuerteventura! Seriously delicious Italian fish specialties and tapas, right behind La Concha beach in El Cotillo (where the kite festival takes place). Reservations are a must!

Abaluus Restaurante in Corralejo: A small restaurant with Italian cuisine and Canarian influences. Perfect for a special dinner for two. Definitely order multiple courses: starter, primi, secondi, and dessert. Totally worth it!

Restaurante Mamacita in Corralejo: They serve really good pasta here. The menu changes every week. Mama really does cook everything herself, solo at the stove — so bring a little patience.

Heladeria Las Bolas in El Cotillo: For us, the best ice cream on the entire island. Plenty of vegan flavors too.