There’s nothing like a wet day to in search of the closest winter solar holidays, particularly within the Canary Islands – and with so many issues to do in Fuerteventura with children, it’s a fantastic wager for households year-round.
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The Canary Islands have been one among 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’m already offered on the concept of Fuerteventura with children.
So why select Fuerteventura, the second greatest of the Canary Islands? In addition to nice villas and accommodations which gained’t break the financial institution, plus fabulous meals even on a price range, that is what’s tempting me to e-book a vacation, with my choose of the very best issues to do in Fuerteventura with children.
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 typically really feel like I haven’t seen daylight for roughly 100 years.
You will 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. Should you’re summer season holidays to Fuerteventura, that does cool the solar down properly although.
Hit the seashores
Is it a correct winter solar vacation with children in case you 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 children too – among the greatest seashores have very shallow waters reminiscent of 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.
Should you’re in search of 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, due to the winds – excellent 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 would positively be a success with my daughter too – it’s additionally the location of the island’s annual kite competition.
Costa Calma seashore is one other great place in case you’re in search of a surf lesson or to strive windsurfing, plus loads of white sand and the crystal clear waters you’ll be able to anticipate round Fuerteventura.
You can too e-book children and household surf classes with one of many island’s surf colleges – the seashores differ relying on the climate situations, however they’re all chosen for his or her mild waves, good for novices
Or for one thing just a little totally different, try Morro Jable – 4km of beautiful seashore with turquoise waters, a string of outlets lining the seashore and the Jandia salt marshes behind.
Go to Acua Water Park
This massive water park in Fuerteventura is the one water park on the island. Beforehand known as Baku, Acua Water Park is about in Corralejo, with wave pool and a youngsters’s splash pool in addition to extra thrilling water slides and rides.
There’s loopy golf as effectively, which my daughter loves (and is impressively good at) plus 10-pin bowling in case you don’t wish to spend all day within the water.
It’s open from April for the primary summer season season till across the finish of October/early November, so in case you’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 strive 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 effectively.
You’ll be able to mix the prospect to see dolphins with a visit to Isla de Lobos too: this selection 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 means of the glass base earlier than heading into the water to snorkel.
There’s the Oceanarium Explorer glass bottomed submarine as effectively however that has extra blended critiques (and I’m at all times reluctant to suggest swimming with sealions) nevertheless it appears one other standard possibility.
Should you desire a quite 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’ll be able to be taught the hoist the sails, tie knots and even get behind the wheel. Anticipate 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 are not any everlasting inhabitants – the identify ‘Wolves Island’ comes from the monk seals that when lived right here, often called sea wolves.
There are strolling trails everywhere in the island, or you’ll be able to relax on Playa de la Concha, a small sheltered lagoon with a sandy seashore. Deliver every little thing you’ll want for a day exploring (or lounging on La Concha seashore) as there are not any retailers to pop to when you’re there.
There’s a speedy water taxi – waterproof bag suggested for this 15 minute journey – or you’ll be able to take the ferry for a barely extra sedate journey that takes about the identical period of time.
Head to Oasis Wildlife Fuerteventura
Animals are at all times 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 part of a camel safari (for an additional charge) and trip by means of the palm groves outdoors the park in addition to an possibility to satisfy the lemurs (once more, for an additional charge).
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 deal with schooling and conservation at Oasis Wildlife (beforehand often called Oasis Park Zoo), in addition to a bit on ethics on the web site, which is reassuring to see as effectively.
You’ll be able to purchase entrance tickets with free cancellation, together with choices together with the camel trip
Uncover Fuerteventura’s wild facet
On each Canary Island I’ve visited, I really 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 barely round 60 miles lengthy and below 20 miles huge, and solely takes two hours to drive from finish to finish, so you could possibly rent a automotive 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 overwhelmed observe, 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 youngsters, 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 really like the concept of discovering the standard windmills dotted round too – apparently these that are one storey excessive are ‘feminine’, known as molinas, and the two-storey variations are ‘male’ often called molinos, with tons close to the oldest village on Fuerteventura known as Antigua.
There’s automotive rental at Fuerteventura’s airport however you may as well hire vehicles in many of the main vacationer centres if you wish to do a day journey.
Should you don’t fancy driving in any respect, there are day excursions to discover – this off-road tour of Fuerteventura is certainly on my listing, heading to Jandia Nationwide Park and stopping at one of many island’s secluded seashores.
Should you’re planning to rent a automotive to discover Fuerteventura, I’m an enormous fan of Zest Automotive Rental or you may as well evaluate charges at Uncover Automobiles
Discover the Ajuy Caves (Cuevas de Ajuy)
The Canary Islands’ volcanic previous nonetheless shapes them as we speak, 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 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 an odd twist of geology, some components of the caves are older than the island itself, courting again 100 million years (whereas Fuerteventura is barely round 30 million years outdated).
On the stroll to the caves, you’ll be able to 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 – sturdy currents imply this black sand seashore isn’t a fantastic 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 fantastic possibility with toddlers and younger youngsters, however enjoyable for older children: do put on wise sneakers quite than flipflops and bear in mind it’s a windy stroll on this facet of the island. Should 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 as we speak.
It’s not the one one on the island, nevertheless it’s probably the most accessible for households – you climb a stone path to achieve 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 when you can stroll across the crater, it’s not really useful with children (and never for adults if there’s sturdy wind both). Should you’re visiting within the hotter months, there’s no shade so it’s greatest to go to early within the day or later within the afternoon, although do verify 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 automotive park may be very rocky, so bear in mind in case you’ve obtained a rent automotive (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 convention throughout the Canary Islands, with an exhibition sharing info on how salt was extracted from the ocean water. After trying out the shows, you’ll be able to stroll by means of the salt fields, that are nonetheless in operation, to see the standard strategies in observe – plus there’s a store the place you should purchase the completed product too.
The museum will not be 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
Should you’re passing Fuerteventura’s small capital, Puerto del Rosario, on the island’s east coast, it’s effectively price stopping to discover.
Changing Betancuria because the capital in 1860, the small fishing village has grown over the previous 150 years however you’ll be able to nonetheless discover its outdated city, with buildings courting 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 so much are set in numerous parks, alongside varied promenades and in the course of roundabouts.
There are tons to see across the port although, together with ones impressed by the island’s goats and whales. Maintain 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 pretty 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 once we’ve stayed in Playa Blanca on Lanzarote – I’ve contemplated taking the ferry to Fuerteventura fairly a number of occasions however have by no means fairly managed to.
So whereas there’s loads to entertain on Fuerteventura for teenagers, I really like the concept 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’ll be able to 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 corporations operating between the islands, you’ll be able to evaluate 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
Should you’re in search of low-cost flights to Fuerteventura, there are some nice choices from the UK, particularly in case you’re in search of a bundle deal.
In addition to TUI and Jet2, you may as well discover among 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 specific airline will high my very own private listing…
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 flats to select from.
For extra concepts, try my information to the Canary Islands with children
*First revealed 2019, final up to date 2023*
PIN FOR LATER: THINGS TO DO IN FUERTEVENTURA WITH KIDS
Disclosure: This submit accommodates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I could 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.
Photos courtesy Depositphotos