Fuerteventura with Kids: Best Areas, Beaches & Things to Do

Disclosure: part of this trip was hosted by Pierre & Vacances, who provided our accommodation at Origo Mare. We paid for our own flights, car hire, food and everything else, and nobody had any say over what we wrote. Our honest review of the resort — including what we’d warn you about — is here.

We went to Fuerteventura for five days at the end of a winter that had gone on too long. Damian had started asking when he’d be allowed to wear shorts to school again, which I took as a sign.

We nearly didn’t rent a car. The plan was to stay at the resort, use the pools, and not think. Someone talked us out of it at the last minute and it turned out to be the decision the whole trip rested on.

Here’s what we learned: which area to base yourself in, which beaches actually have a toilet and somewhere to eat, and the two things we’d do differently.

Fuerteventura with kids, in short

• Best base for a first family trip: Corralejo — the dunes, a calm town beach and the boat to Isla de Lobos are all in one place.
• Best for shallow, sheltered water: the lagoons at El Cotillo, and the man-made bay at Caleta de Fuste.
• Easiest for a short stay: Caleta de Fuste — about 10 to 15 minutes from the airport.
• Do you need a car? Yes. We almost didn’t hire one and it would have halved the trip.
• Flight: 3 hours direct from Barcelona.
• The honest caveat: it is windy, and the evenings are cold enough for a jacket even when you’ve been on the beach all day.

Where should you stay in Fuerteventura with kids?

This is the question worth getting right, because Fuerteventura is 100 km from end to end and the island’s character changes completely as you go south.

Area	Best for	The beach	Did we go?
Corralejo	A first family trip — most to do in one place	Calm town beach; Grandes Playas and the dunes just south	Yes
Lajares	Quiet, self-catering, if you have a car	Inland — you drive to the sea	Yes — we stayed here
El Cotillo	Toddlers and non-swimmers	The lagoons — shallow natural pools behind a reef	Yes
Caleta de Fuste	Short stays, easy transfers, toddlers	Sheltered man-made bay, flat promenade	Yes
Costa Calma	Older kids, watersports, long open sand	Wide and windy — this is kitesurfing country	Yes
Morro Jable (Jandía)	A full week or two in one place	Long sandy stretch, seaside promenade	No — we drove past

If I were booking again with children the ages ours were: Corralejo. Not because it is the prettiest — El Cotillo is — but because on a wet-weather day or a tired day you can walk to a beach, a playground, a supermarket and a restaurant without getting back in the car.

We actually stayed in Lajares, inland in the north, and loved how quiet it was. It only works with a car, and we nearly didn’t have one.

Corralejo — the easiest base

Corralejo has a town beach that is the right size for walking along with small children, and it is a short drive from the dunes.

We also sat on that beach and watched kitesurfers instead of taking the boat to Isla de Lobos, which was a mistake — see below.

The Corralejo dunes

The Parque Natural de las Dunas de Corralejo covers 2,668.7 hectares in a coastal strip measuring 2.5 by 10.5 kilometres in the north-east of the island. It was first protected in 1982 and reclassified as a Natural Park in 1994.

Worth knowing before you go: it is not 10 km of sand. The dune field is the northern half; the southern half is volcanic landscape. Head for the northern end, off the road between Corralejo and the Grandes Playas hotels.

It is the closest thing to a desert any of us had walked in, and the boys ran until they fell over. Go late — the light and the temperature are both better, and the wind usually drops.

El Cotillo — the best water for small children

El Cotillo is on the north-west tip, about 8 km and ten minutes from Lajares. It started as a fishing village and is turning into a small town with good restaurants.

The reason to bring children here is Los Lagos, the lagoons just north of the village: shallow natural pools of clear turquoise water held behind rock and reef formations that break the Atlantic swell before it reaches them. Playa de la Concha has a horseshoe-shaped natural reef around it.

Go at high tide. At low tide the lagoons drain down to sand and rock pools and the volcanic rock is exposed — still fun for a toddler with a bucket, but not swimming.

We did not see a lifeguard or facilities at the lagoons themselves. The village is a few minutes away for toilets and food.

Faro del Tostón

Follow the dirt road north from El Cotillo and you reach the Faro del Tostón at Punta Ballena, on the island’s extreme north-western point — about 5 km beyond the village. The lighthouse dates from 1897 and houses the Museo de la Pesca Tradicional, the traditional fishing museum.

Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00–17:00. The island tourism board notes it has opened only intermittently since it was inaugurated, and I could not verify a current admission price. Phone 928 858 998 before making the drive.

Even if the museum is shut, the coastline out there is worth the dirt road.

Caleta de Fuste — the easiest with toddlers

Caleta de Fuste was our last stop before the airport and it is the one I’d recommend to anyone with a child under four or a stay of three nights or less.

• 10–15 minutes from Fuerteventura Airport
• A big man-made beach in a sheltered bay — calm, shallow water, no swell
• A flat promenade, which is the difference between a pushchair working and not working
• A small climbing frame built on the sand
• Restaurants, supermarkets and family activities within walking distance

It is the least characterful place on this list and by far the most convenient, and with a two-year-old convenient wins more often than it should.

Costa Calma and the south

Costa Calma sits on the south-eastern side, at the top of the Sotavento coast that runs south past Risco del Paso and Playa de la Barca towards Morro Jable. Costa Calma beach itself is 2,190 metres long; the wider Sotavento system runs to around 5 km of sand, joining into one stretch at low tide.

The famous turquoise lagoon forms at Risco del Paso and La Barca when the tide drops, and the PWA World Windsurf and Kitesurf Championship is held here — which tells you what the wind is like.

It took us almost two hours to drive down. If you are based in the north, treat the south as a long day out or don’t do it at all.

Inland Fuerteventura — worth one day

Betancuria

The former capital, in a valley beside a dry streambed. Cobbled streets, white houses, museums, cafés and mountain scenery — the prettiest village on the island and the only place we felt we were somewhere Spanish rather than somewhere touristic.

Mirador de Guise y Ayose

On the FV-30 at the top of the pass into Betancuria, with two four-metre bronze statues of Guise and Ayose, the last aboriginal kings — one ruled the north of the island, the other the south. Free, free parking, open all the time, and the view is the ocean and the sky merging into a single blue.

We had intended to visit the Mirador de Morro Velosa and found it closed. It opens Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00–16:00 and entry is free — but it has been shut entirely since September 2025 for a major refurbishment, due to reopen late 2026. Check before you drive up.

Museo de la Sal, Salinas del Carmen

We saved this for the last day because it is close to the airport. You watch salt actually being harvested, which is more interesting than it sounds and takes under an hour.

Tefia, La Oliva and Tindaya

Tefia has La Alcogida, an ecomuseum of buildings restored using original methods, showing island life before tourism. La Oliva has windmills and volcanic landscape. Tindaya we stopped at because there is a playground with a spectacular view of the mountain, and the boys needed to get out of the car — which is as good a reason as any.

Things to do in Fuerteventura with kids

Marked honestly: some of these we did, some we didn’t.

Isla de Lobos — and you need a free permit

We didn’t go, and it’s the thing I regret. We sat on Corralejo beach watching kitesurfers instead, and by the time we thought about it the day had gone.

If you do go, know this in advance, because families turn up at the harbour and are turned away:

• You need an authorisation. It is free at the time of writing, applied for online through LoboPass.
• 400 visitors a day maximum, in two sessions of 200: 10:00–14:00 and 14:00–18:00.
• Four hours maximum on the islet, matching your slot.
• Bookable up to 5 days ahead, up to 3 people per application.
• Book the permit before you book the boat.

The Cabildo is currently processing an ordinance to introduce an access fee that would go towards park maintenance. It is free as I write this; check before you travel.

The dunes at Corralejo

Did it, twice, and it’s the best free thing on the island with children.

Surfing lessons

Fuerteventura is one of Europe’s surfing capitals and there are beginner schools everywhere. We didn’t do this — our two were too young — so I can’t recommend a school by name.

Oasis Wildlife Fuerteventura, La Lajita

We didn’t go, and I’m including it because it is the island’s biggest paid family attraction and you will be deciding about it.

Current prices are around €41.50 adult and €27.50 for children aged 4–11, with under-4s free. It opens daily 09:00–18:00. Prices come from an authorised reseller rather than the park’s own page — check before you book.

Camel rides — read this first

Camel rides are offered at Oasis Wildlife, at about €15 adult and €10 child, and you can do the camel safari without paying park entry.

I’m not going to recommend it without telling you the rest. There is an active campaign against camel rides in the Canaries: a petition calling for a ban has passed 33,000 signatures and an international animal-welfare NGO has formally called for the practice to end. The criticism centres on heat exposure, working hours, saddle design and tethering.

Most of that criticism is aimed at Lanzarote’s Timanfaya operation, not Fuerteventura. The Fuerteventura operation is run around a conservation programme for the endangered Canarian dromedary and involves genetic research partnerships. I could not find an independent welfare audit of it either way.

We didn’t do it. If you do, go with your eyes open.

Which Fuerteventura beaches have toilets and food nearby?

This is the question I could not find answered anywhere before we went, so here is what we saw.

Beach	Water	Facilities within walking distance
Caleta de Fuste	Sheltered, shallow, no swell	Yes — restaurants, supermarkets, flat promenade, toilets
Corralejo town beach	Calm	Yes — the whole town is behind it
Costa Calma	Open, windy	Yes — resort behind the beach
El Cotillo lagoons	Shallow and sheltered at high tide	Not at the lagoons themselves — the village is a few minutes away
Grandes Playas / the dunes	Open Atlantic, exposed	Limited — hotels at the northern end only

The short version: if you need a toilet and lunch within a hundred metres of your towel, go to Caleta de Fuste or Corralejo. If you want the better water and can plan around it, go to El Cotillo and bring what you need.

Is Fuerteventura good for families?

Yes, with one caveat that nobody tells you: it is windy, and the evenings are cold. You can lie on the beach all afternoon and want a jacket by eight. Pack accordingly — we didn’t, quite.

The island sits 97 km off the coast of north-west Africa, which is what gives it warm weather almost all year and also what brings the wind that made it a kitesurfing destination. It is the second-largest Canary Island at about 1,660 km², roughly 100 km from tip to tip, and the whole island has been a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 26 May 2009. There are 326 km of coastline and 77 km of that is beach.

What I’d do differently: take the boat to Isla de Lobos, and not lose most of a day driving to the south and back.

More Fuerteventura and the Canaries

Top 10 places to visit in Tenerife

Pierre & Vacances Origo Mare — our honest villa review

The best sunsets in Fuerteventura

Top 10 things to do with kids in Lanzarote

Lanzarote Experience Tours — our review

Fuerteventura with kids: your questions answered

Is Fuerteventura good for families with kids?

Yes, with one caveat: it is windy and the evenings are cold enough for a jacket even after a warm day on the beach. Fuerteventura sits 97 km off the coast of north-west Africa, which gives it warm weather almost all year and also brings the wind that made it a kitesurfing destination. With small children, choose sheltered water such as the lagoons at El Cotillo or the man-made bay at Caleta de Fuste rather than the open Atlantic beaches.

Which is the best area in Fuerteventura for families?

Corralejo, for a first family trip, because you can walk to a beach, a playground, a supermarket and a restaurant without getting back in the car, and the dunes and the boat to Isla de Lobos are both close. El Cotillo is better if your children are very young, because of the shallow lagoons. Caleta de Fuste is the most convenient for a short stay at 10 to 15 minutes from the airport, and Morro Jable in the south suits a full week or two in one place.

Do you need a car in Fuerteventura with kids?

Yes. We almost did not hire one, planning to stay at the resort, and were talked out of that at the last minute. The island is around 100 km from end to end and the best beaches are spread across all of it. Without a car you are limited to whatever is within walking distance of where you sleep.

Do you need a permit to visit Isla de Lobos?

Yes, and it is free at the time of writing. Access is capped at 400 visitors a day in two sessions of 200, from 10am to 2pm and from 2pm to 6pm, with a maximum stay of four hours. You apply online through LoboPass up to five days ahead, for up to three people per application. Book the permit before you book the boat, because without an authorisation you cannot land. The island authority is currently processing an ordinance to introduce an access fee, so check before you travel.

Which Fuerteventura beaches have toilets and food nearby?

Caleta de Fuste and the Corralejo town beach are the two where toilets, restaurants and supermarkets are within a short walk of the sand, and both have calm sheltered water. Costa Calma has a resort behind it. The El Cotillo lagoons have the best water for small children but no facilities at the lagoons themselves, so bring what you need and use the village a few minutes away. The beaches along the dunes are exposed and have very little behind them.

How big are the Corralejo sand dunes?

The Parque Natural de las Dunas de Corralejo covers 2,668.7 hectares in a coastal strip measuring 2.5 by 10.5 kilometres in the north-east of the island. It was first protected in 1982 and reclassified as a Natural Park in 1994. Only the northern half is dune field — the southern half is volcanic landscape — so head for the northern end near the Grandes Playas.

How many days do you need in Fuerteventura?

Five days worked for us as a first visit, based in the north with a car. That was enough for the dunes, El Cotillo, a day inland at Betancuria and a long drive south. Seven days would let you do the south properly instead of losing most of a day to driving, and add Isla de Lobos.

Is the Mirador de Morro Velosa open?

Not at the moment. It has been closed since September 2025 for a major refurbishment due to finish in late 2026. When it is open it runs Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm and entry is free, which means it is closed on Sundays and Mondays. The Mirador de Guise y Ayose on the pass into Betancuria is free, always open, and has the two bronze statues of the last aboriginal kings.

Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Fuerteventura with Kids

Is Fuerteventura good for families with children?

Yes, Fuerteventura is an excellent destination for families thanks to its safe beaches, warm climate, and relaxed atmosphere.

Do you need a car in Fuerteventura?

Renting a car is highly recommended, especially for families, as it allows you to explore beaches and villages easily.

What are the best beaches in Fuerteventura for kids?

Costa Calma, Corralejo Beach, and Caleta de Fuste are among the best beaches for families with children.

How many days do you need in Fuerteventura?

A stay of 5–7 days is ideal to explore the island comfortably with kids.

Is Fuerteventura warm all year round?

Yes, Fuerteventura enjoys mild and warm weather throughout the year, though evenings can be cooler.