There’s nothing like a wet day to get me searching for the closest winter solar holidays, particularly within the Canary Islands – though with so many issues to do in Fuerteventura with children, it’s a terrific wager for households year-round.
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The Canary Islands have been considered one of our common locations for household holidays – my daughter’s first ever journey was to Lanzarote, we’ve additionally explored Gran Canaria whereas I’ve been to Tenerife a number of occasions, so I used to be already bought on the concept of Fuerteventura with children.
So why select Fuerteventura, the second largest of the Canary Islands? In addition to nice villas and motels which received’t break the financial institution, plus fabulous meals even on a finances, that is what tempted me to e book a vacation, with my choose of the perfect issues to do in Fuerteventura with children.
Benefit from the nice climate
Greater than 300 days of sunshine annually and a few nice temperatures year-round means Fuerteventura is a superb wager if you wish to escape the chilly.
We visited throughout October half-term when common temperatures of 24C in Fuerteventura in October are blissful in comparison with the UK… By February, when London’s common excessive is about 8C and I generally really feel like I haven’t seen daylight for about 100 years, it’s nonetheless round 19C.
You could be unfortunate with cool and wet days, even off the coast of Africa, and Fuerteventura – because the identify (‘sturdy winds‘) suggests – is a windy island. When you’re taking a look at summer time holidays to Fuerteventura, that does cool the solar down properly although, when the typical excessive nonetheless hovers round 25-26C.
Hit the seashores
Is it a correct winter solar vacation with children in the event you don’t go to the seaside? And in addition to having the longest seashores within the Canaries, there are 152 of them throughout the island.
Fuerteventura’s seashores are perfect for children too – a few of the finest seashores have very shallow waters similar to Playa del Castillo at Caleta de Fuste and Playa del Matorral within the south of the island, in addition to the gorgeous calm waters of Playa La Concha close to El Cotillo.
When you’re searching for concepts of extra adventurous issues to do in Fuerteventura for teenagers than sandcastles, it’s additionally a terrific location for water sports activities like windsurfing and kite browsing, because of the winds – ideally suited for teenagers and lively tweens who need some extra thrilling actions than sandcastle constructing.
Playa de Sotavento, surrounded by sand dunes, is one great place, whereas clambering on the sand dunes of Corralejo Pure Park was an enormous hit with my daughter too – it’s additionally the positioning of the island’s annual kite pageant.
Costa Calma seaside is one other great place in the event you’re searching for a surf lesson or to strive windsurfing, plus loads of white sand and the crystal clear waters you possibly can anticipate round Fuerteventura.
You may also e book children and household surf classes with one of many island’s surf colleges – the seashores fluctuate relying on the climate circumstances, however they’re all chosen for his or her light waves, excellent for freshmen
Or for one thing a little bit totally different, try Morro Jable – 4km of beautiful seaside with turquoise waters, a string of retailers lining the seaside and the Jandia salt marshes behind.
Go to Acua Water Park
This large water park in Fuerteventura is the one water park on the island. Beforehand referred to as Baku, Acua Water Park in Corralejo has a wave pool and a youngsters’s splash pool in addition to extra thrilling water slides and rides.
There’s loopy golf as nicely, which my daughter loves (and is impressively good at) plus 10-pin bowling in the event you don’t wish to spend all day within the water.
It’s open from April for the principle summer time season till across the finish of October/early November, so in the event you’re contemplating visiting Fuerteventura in February half-term, that’s one to avoid wasting for subsequent time although.
Purchase tickets to Acua Water Park with free cancellation right here
Take a ship journey
We’ve taken boat journeys in Gran Canaria as we cruised alongside the coast to Puerto Mogan in addition to recognizing dolphins all over the world so dolphin and whale recognizing journeys in Fuerteventura had been high of my checklist for our vacation.
Take a look at my video of our boat tour, discovering a pod of noticed dolphins within the waters between Fuerteventura and Lanzarote
You’ll discover boat excursions leaving from each ends of the island – as we had been staying close to Corralejo, we went for this nice four-hour dolphin-spotting tour, which additionally stops at Isla de Lobos, or there’s the same five-hour catamaran cruise which mixes the prospect to see dolphins with a visit to Isla de Lobos and a paella lunch.
Or in the event you’re within the south of the island, this 90-minute dolphin recognizing journey is appropriate for age 3 years outdated and above, whereas there’s additionally a two-hour dolphin recognizing tour for all ages with drinks – or this longer dolphin-spotting cruise consists of time to snorkel and a spot of tapas as nicely.
Or a glass-bottomed catamaran journey can be tempting, letting you watch the fish by the glass base earlier than heading into the water to snorkel. I wouldn’t suggest the Oceanarium Explorer glass-bottomed submarine although because it some unhealthy critiques (and I’m all the time reluctant to suggest experiences with captive marine life, like swimming with sealions in any case).
When you want a somewhat totally different household enjoyable expertise, there’s additionally a four-hour Pirate Crusing Journey aboard the Pedra Sartaña pirate boat – as you sail alongside the coasts of the Pure Park, you possibly can be taught the hoist the sails, tie knots and even get behind the wheel.
Count on loads of video games, and water actions together with swinging off the facet of the boat – much more enjoyable than strolling the plank. They’re additionally licensed whale and dolphin watchers so that you may nonetheless spot some throughout your pirate cruise.
See Isla de Lobos
In addition to the boat journeys round Fuerteventura which regularly cease close to Isla de Lobos, it’s tempting to move over for an extended go to to Lobos island itself to snorkel with the fish within the ridiculously clear waters.
A nature reserve since 1982, there aren’t any everlasting inhabitants – the identify ‘Wolves Island’ comes from the monk seals that after lived right here, often known as sea wolves.
There are strolling trails all around the island, or you possibly can sit back on Playa de la Concha, a small sheltered lagoon with a sandy seaside. Deliver all the things you’ll want for a day exploring (or lounging on La Concha seaside) as there aren’t any outlets to pop to when you’re there.
There’s a speedy water taxi – waterproof bag suggested for this 15 minute journey – or you possibly can take the ferry for a barely extra sedate journey that takes about the identical period of time.
Head to Oasis Wildlife Fuerteventura
Animals are all the time a success with my daughter and whereas this Fuerteventura zoo isn’t the most affordable round, there’s a formidable quantity to see at Oasis Wildlife – plus it’s the one animal park on the island.
Together with flamingos, hippos, monkeys and giraffes, plus birds, reptiles and sea lions, you can even be a part of a camel safari (for an additional payment) and journey by the palm groves outdoors the park in addition to an choice to satisfy the lemurs (once more, for an additional payment).
There’s additionally a botanical backyard connected with over 2,300 kinds of cacti and free buses run to the park, not removed from La Lajita.
There’s a concentrate on schooling and conservation at Oasis Wildlife (beforehand often known as Oasis Park Zoo), in addition to a piece on ethics on the web site, which is reassuring to see as nicely.
You should buy entrance tickets with free cancellation, together with choices together with the camel journey
Uncover Fuerteventura’s wild facet
On each Canary Island I’ve visited, I like getting away from the vacationer resorts on the coast to find the wilder facet – the volcanic landscapes of Lanzarote, the black sands and luxurious inexperienced north of Tenerife (to not point out its personal volcano), and the mountainous inside of Gran Canaria.
Fuerteventura is just round 60 miles lengthy and beneath 20 miles broad, and solely takes two hours to drive from finish to finish, so you may rent a automobile to discover the island’s quiet roads – there are extra goats than individuals right here.
You possibly can even take a tour with goats as you head off the crushed monitor, discovering areas the place goat herders nonetheless stay and getting an opportunity to feed them (after which having some goat cheese in return). The five-hour trek is just appropriate for older youngsters, aged 9+.
Or uncover the historic city of Betancuria, its white buildings sitting within the shadow of the mountains, and secluded stretches of sand like Juan Gomez seaside in direction of the south-western tip of the island.
I like the concept of discovering the standard windmills dotted round too – apparently these that are one storey excessive are ‘feminine’, referred to as molinas, and the two-storey variations are ‘male’ often known as molinos, with heaps close to the oldest village on Fuerteventura referred to as Antigua. Or there’s an interpretation centre at Tiscamanita together with an opportunity to see a working windmill.
There may be automobile rental at Fuerteventura’s airport however you can even lease vehicles in many of the main vacationer centres if you wish to do a day journey – we booked with Cicar for this journey.
When you don’t fancy driving in any respect, there are day excursions to discover – this off-road tour of Fuerteventura heads to Jandia Nationwide Park and stops at one of many island’s secluded seashores.
When you’re planning to rent a automobile to discover Fuerteventura, I’m an enormous fan of Zest Automotive Rental or you can even examine charges at Uncover Vehicles
Discover the Ajuy Caves (Cuevas de Ajuy)
The Canary Islands’ volcanic previous nonetheless shapes them at present, whether or not that’s the blackened panorama of Lanzarote or Mount Teide on Tenerife – and the identical goes for Fuerteventura, which has a sequence of historic caves to find.
The Ajuy Caves are a part of Betancuria Rural Park they usually’re the oldest formations within the islands, so strolling inside is like stepping again into Fuerteventura’s previous. In a wierd twist of geology, some components of the caves are older than the island itself, courting again 100 million years (whereas Fuerteventura is just round 30 million years outdated).
On the stroll to the caves, you possibly can see fossilised sand dunes and blowholes within the rocks, earlier than discovering the rock formations and tunnels of the caves, with some deep swimming pools inside.
Set on the western coast of Fuerteventura, they’re round 5 miles from Pájara, and a brief stroll from the black sand Ajuy seaside – sturdy currents imply this black sand seaside isn’t a terrific place to swim with children although, as you’ll inform from the ocean crashing across the rocks on the entrance to the caves.
Visiting the caves isn’t a terrific choice with toddlers and younger youngsters, however enjoyable for older children: do put on smart sneakers somewhat than flipflops, particularly in the event you’re scrambling by the slim opening into the second cave, and bear in mind it may be a windy stroll on this facet of the island.
When you time your go to for near sundown, it’s among the finest locations in Fuerteventura to observe it dip beneath the horizon.
Climb Calderon Hondo
This extinct volcano within the north of the island is one other reminder of the Canary Island’s volcanic previous, and you’ll nonetheless go to the caldera at present.
It’s not the one one on the island, however it’s one of the crucial accessible for households – you climb a stone path to succeed in the highest at 278m above sea degree, the place there’s a viewing platform to look proper down into the 70m deep crater.
At this top, it may be windy, so whilst you can stroll across the crater, it’s not really useful with children (and never for adults if there’s sturdy wind both). When you’re visiting within the hotter months, there’s no shade so it’s finest to go to early within the day or later within the afternoon, although do test the sundown occasions.
There’s parking at Camino Calderas, with the stone path ranging from right here – the final part of highway resulting in the automobile park could be very rocky, so bear in mind in the event you’ve obtained a rent automobile. There are additionally two longer routes in the event you’re searching for extra of a problem with older children, with parking at Aparcamiento Sendero Volcano Calderon Hondo.
Take a look at my evaluate of climbing Calderon Hondo with children
See the Salt Museum, Salinas del Carmen
Fuerteventura’s Salt Museum, or Museo de la Sal, sits proper beside the salt pans of El Carmen, within the space the place the island’s first salt fields had been constructed centuries in the past.
Salt farming has lengthy been a convention throughout the Canary Islands, with an exhibition sharing data on how salt was extracted from the ocean water. After trying out the shows, you possibly can stroll by the salt fields, that are nonetheless in operation, to see the standard strategies in apply – plus there’s a store the place you should purchase the completed product too.
The museum just isn’t removed from Caleta de Fuste, there’s additionally an enormous whale skeleton outdoors the whitewashed museum constructing.
Take a look at Puerto del Rosario sculpture park
When you’re passing Fuerteventura’s small capital, Puerto del Rosario, on the island’s east coast, it’s nicely price stopping to discover.
Changing Betancuria because the capital in 1860, the small fishing village has grown over the previous 150 years however you possibly can nonetheless discover its outdated city, with buildings courting again to the early nineteenth century.
Alongside the best way, look out for the sculptures dotted round – whereas it’s referred to as the Sculpture Park, there isn’t only one single location to discover, as rather a lot are set in several parks, alongside numerous promenades and in the midst of roundabouts.
There are heaps to see across the port although, together with ones impressed by the island’s goats and whales. Hold an eye fixed out for the city’s murals too, a part of an initiative began in 2011, with a whole lot now brightening up its streets.
Close by Playa Blanca seaside – to not be confused with its namesake in Lanzarote – is one other pretty seaside to calm down on or benefit from the water actions too.
Go to Lanzarote
The 2 islands are so shut that I’ve seen Fuerteventura after we’ve stayed in Playa Blanca on Lanzarote – I’ve contemplated taking the ferry to Fuerteventura fairly a couple of occasions however have by no means fairly managed to throughout our stays on the neighbouring island.
So whereas there’s loads to entertain on Fuerteventura for teenagers, I additionally love the concept of a fast hop again with the ferry to Playa Blanca, wandering alongside the waterfront with the seaside on one facet and eating places on the opposite – you possibly can see a few of my favorite locations to eat in Playa Blanca with children right here and there’s loads to tempt the entire household.
Or additional down is Marina Rubicon with its market on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. The crossing takes round 30-45 minutes with three to 4 boats per day.
With a number of firms operating between the islands, you possibly can examine ferry costs from Fuerteventura to Lanzarote on the Ferryhopper web site to search out the most affordable day journey from Fuerteventura
Planning a household vacation in Fuerteventura
When you’re searching for low cost flights to Fuerteventura, there are some nice choices from the UK, particularly in the event you’re searching for a package deal deal.
In addition to TUI and Jet2, you can even discover a few of the low-cost airways with flights to Fuerteventura from the UK, together with easyJet out of Gatwick and Ryanair from Stansted.
There’s additionally a large selection of family-friendly motels in Fuerteventura if you wish to e book independently, in addition to villas and self-catering flats to select from.
For extra concepts, try my information to the Canary Islands with children
*First revealed 2019, final up to date 2025*
PIN FOR LATER: THINGS TO DO IN FUERTEVENTURA WITH KIDS
Disclosure: This put up accommodates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee. All opinions about visiting Fuerteventura with children are my very own, together with the truth that sunshine is important by the point it’s February.
Corralejo sand dunes/dolphin/Ajuy Caves/Calderon Hondo inside/woman copyright MummyTravels, all different pictures courtesy Depositphotos
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