There’s nothing like a wet day to searching for the closest winter solar holidays, particularly within the Canary Islands – and with so many issues to do in Fuerteventura with youngsters, it’s a fantastic guess 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 instances, so I’m already bought on the thought of Fuerteventura with youngsters.
So why select Fuerteventura, the second greatest of the Canary Islands? In addition to nice villas and accommodations which received’t break the financial institution, plus fabulous meals even on a finances, that is what’s tempting me to e-book a vacation, with my decide of the perfect issues to do in Fuerteventura with youngsters.
Benefit from the nice climate
Common temperatures of 24C in Fuerteventura in October are blissful in comparison with the UK… and by February, when London’s common excessive is about 8C, I generally really feel like I haven’t seen daylight for roughly 100 years.
You may be unfortunate with cool and wet days, even off the coast of Africa, and Fuerteventura – because the title (‘robust winds‘) suggests – is a windy island. In the event you’re taking a look at summer time holidays to Fuerteventura, that does cool the solar down properly although.
Hit the seashores
Is it a correct winter solar vacation with youngsters for those who don’t go to the seashore? 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 youngsters too – a few of the finest seashores have very shallow waters comparable to Playa del Castillo at Caleta de Fuste and Playa del Matorral within the south of the island, in addition to the attractive calm waters of Playa La Concha close to El Cotillo.
In the event you’re searching for concepts of extra adventurous issues to do in Fuerteventura for teenagers than sandcastles, it’s additionally a fantastic 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 spot, whereas clambering on the sand dunes of Corralejo Pure Park would positively be a success with my daughter too – it’s additionally the positioning of the island’s annual kite pageant.
Costa Calma seashore is one other great spot for those who’re searching for a surf lesson or to attempt windsurfing, plus loads of white sand and the crystal clear waters you possibly can anticipate round Fuerteventura.
You may also e-book youngsters and household surf classes with one of many island’s surf colleges – the seashores differ relying on the climate circumstances, however they’re all chosen for his or her mild waves, good for inexperienced persons
Or for one thing a little bit completely different, take a look at Morro Jable – 4km of beautiful seashore with turquoise waters, a string of retailers lining the seashore and the Jandia salt marshes behind.
Go to Acua Water Park
This huge water park in Fuerteventura is the one water park on the island. Beforehand known as Baku, Acua Water Park is ready in Corralejo, with wave pool and a kids’s splash pool in addition to extra thrilling water slides and rides.
There’s loopy golf as properly, which my daughter loves (and is impressively good at) plus 10-pin bowling for those who don’t need 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 for those who’re contemplating visiting Fuerteventura in February half-term, that’s one to save lots of for subsequent time although.
You’ll be able to purchase tickets on-line in addition to tickets with free cancellation
Take a ship journey
We’ve taken boat journeys in Gran Canaria as we cruised alongside the coast to Puerto Mogan and now my daughter’s older, I’d like to attempt one of many dolphin and whale recognizing journeys in Fuerteventura.
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 with drinks – or this longer dolphin-spotting cruise consists of time to snorkel and a spot of tapas as properly.
You’ll be able to mix the possibility to see dolphins with a visit to Isla de Lobos too: this feature permits you to spend round 5 hours out on the water, snorkelling and kayaks included (in addition to lunch!), whereas a glass-bottomed catamaran journey can be tempting. Watch fish by way of the glass base earlier than heading into the water to snorkel.
There’s the Oceanarium Explorer glass bottomed submarine as properly however that has extra blended opinions (and I’m all the time reluctant to suggest swimming with sealions) nevertheless it appears one other common possibility.
In the event you want a fairly completely 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 study 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 and close to Isla de Lobos, it’s tempting to go to Lobos island itself.
A nature reserve since 1982, there aren’t any everlasting inhabitants – the title ‘Wolves Island’ comes from the monk seals that when lived right here, generally known as sea wolves.
There are strolling trails everywhere in the island, or you possibly can sit back on Playa de la Concha, a small sheltered lagoon with a sandy seashore. Deliver the whole lot you’ll want for a day exploring (or lounging on La Concha seashore) 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 powerful quantity to see – plus it’s the one animal park on the island.
Together with flamingos, hippos, monkeys and giraffes, plus birds, reptiles and sea lions, you may as well be a part of a camel safari (for an additional payment) and journey by way of the palm groves exterior the park in addition to an possibility to satisfy the lemurs (once more, for an additional payment).
There’s additionally a botanical backyard hooked up 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 generally known as Oasis Park Zoo), in addition to a bit on ethics on the web site, which is reassuring to see as properly.
You’ll be able to purchase 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 plush inexperienced north of Tenerife (to not point out its personal volcano), and the mountainous inside of Gran Canaria.
Fuerteventura is barely round 60 miles lengthy and underneath 20 miles vast, and solely takes two hours to drive from finish to finish, so you possibly can rent a automobile to discover the island’s quiet roads – there are extra goats than folks right here.
You’ll be able to 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 barely appropriate for older kids, aged 9+.
Uncover the historic city of Betancuria, its white buildings sitting within the shadow of the mountains, or secluded stretches of sand like Juan Gomez seashore in direction of the south-western tip of the island.
I like the thought of discovering the normal windmills dotted round too – apparently these that are one storey excessive are ‘feminine’, known as molinas, and the two-storey variations are ‘male’ generally known as molinos, with tons close to the oldest village on Fuerteventura known as Antigua.
There may be automobile rental at Fuerteventura’s airport however you may as well lease vehicles in a lot of the main vacationer centres if you wish to do a day journey.
In the event you don’t fancy driving in any respect, there are day excursions to discover – this off-road tour of Fuerteventura is certainly on my record, heading to Jandia Nationwide Park and stopping at one of many island’s secluded seashores.
In the event you’re planning to rent a automobile to discover Fuerteventura, I’m a giant fan of Zest Automotive Rental or you may as well examine charges at Uncover Automobiles
Discover the Ajuy Caves (Cuevas de Ajuy)
The Canary Islands’ volcanic previous nonetheless shapes them right this moment, whether or not that’s the blackened panorama of Lanzarote or Mount Teide on Tenerife – and the identical goes for Fuerteventura, which has a collection of caves to find.
The Ajuy Caves are a part of Betancuria Rural Park and so they’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 elements of the caves are older than the island itself, relationship again 100 million years (whereas Fuerteventura is barely 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 seashore – robust currents imply this black sand seashore isn’t a fantastic place to swim with youngsters although, as you’ll inform from the ocean crashing across the rocks on the entrance to the caves.
Visiting the caves isn’t a fantastic possibility with toddlers and younger kids, however enjoyable for older youngsters: do put on smart footwear fairly than flipflops and remember it’s a windy stroll on this facet of the island. In the event you time your go to for near sundown, it’s among the best locations in Fuerteventura to look at it dip under 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 may nonetheless go to the caldera right this moment.
It’s not the one one on the island, nevertheless it’s some of the 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 peak, it may be windy, so when you can stroll across the crater, it’s not really helpful with youngsters (and never for adults if there’s robust wind both). In the event 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 instances.
There’s parking at Camino Calderas, with the stone path ranging from right here – the final part of street resulting in the automobile park may be very rocky, so remember for those who’ve acquired a rent automobile (until it’s a 4×4).
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 have been constructed centuries in the past.
Salt farming has lengthy been a practice throughout the Canary Islands, with an exhibition sharing info on how salt was extracted from the ocean water. After trying out the shows, you possibly can stroll by way of the salt fields, that are nonetheless in operation, to see the normal strategies in follow – plus there’s a store the place you should buy the completed product too.
The museum isn’t removed from Caleta de Fuste, there’s additionally a giant whale skeleton exterior the whitewashed museum constructing.
Take a look at Puerto del Rosario sculpture park
In the event you’re passing Fuerteventura’s small capital, Puerto del Rosario, on the island’s east coast, it’s properly value 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 relationship again to the early nineteenth century.
Alongside the way in which, look out for the sculptures dotted round – whereas it’s known as the Sculpture Park, there isn’t only one single location to discover, as lots are set in numerous parks, alongside numerous promenades and in the midst of roundabouts.
There are tons 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 lots of now brightening up its streets.
Close by Playa Blanca seashore – to not be confused with its namesake in Lanzarote – is one other beautiful seashore 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 just a few instances however have by no means fairly managed to.
So whereas there’s loads to entertain on Fuerteventura for teenagers, I like the thought of a fast hop again with the ferry to Playa Blanca, wandering alongside the waterfront with the seashore 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 youngsters 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 working 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
In the event you’re searching for low-cost flights to Fuerteventura, there are some nice choices from the UK, particularly for those who’re searching for a package deal deal.
In addition to TUI and Jet2, you may as well 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 – though after my final expertise, personally I’m not satisfied that individual airline will high my very own private record…
There’s additionally a large selection of family-friendly accommodations in Fuerteventura if you wish to e-book independently, in addition to villas and self-catering residences to select from.
For extra concepts, take a look at my information to the Canary Islands with youngsters
*First printed 2019, final up to date 2023*
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 could obtain a small fee. All opinions about visiting Fuerteventura with youngsters are my very own, together with the truth that sunshine is crucial by the point it’s February.
Photos courtesy Depositphotos
