Fuerteventura is long, and where you stay decides what is on your doorstep. The north has the dunes, the Lobos ferry and the surf, the east coast has the airport and a calm family resort town, and the south has the island’s longest white beaches and its wind-sports centre. Most resorts are built around a beach and an all-inclusive plan, and the drive between the ends of the island is well over an hour and a half, so choose one base and take day trips rather than moving around. November is the start of the winter-sun high season, so book early, particularly for December.
Corralejo and Grandes Playas: for dunes, surf and Lobos
The north is the best base if you want the dunes, the Lobos ferry, Flag Beach and surf and windsurf lessons close by. Secrets Bahia Real Resort and Spa is the splurge here: an adults-only, all-inclusive resort on the Grandes Playas road beside the dunes, with views of Lobos and Lanzarote, a spa and several pools. It is a drive, taxi or bike ride from Corralejo’s harbour rather than a walk, which suits couples who want quiet.
Caleta de Fuste: for the airport and a calm family base
On the east coast, close to the airport, Caleta de Fuste is a purpose-built resort town with a sheltered, shallow beach, a harbour, shops and restaurants. Elba Lucía Sport and Suite Hotel, in the Nuevo Horizonte area, is the budget pick, with studios and apartments with kitchens, a pool, a mini club and a big sports centre. It is eight minutes from the airport, and free shuttles run to Castillo beach, the golf resort and the town. Catamaran cruises leave from the harbour here.
Costa Calma and Sotavento: for wind sports and all-inclusive resorts. Costa Calma sits on the isthmus between the north and the south, with a long beach on one side and the Sotavento lagoon nearby. Paradisus by Meliá Fuerteventura is a large all-inclusive resort right on Sotavento, with many pools, a kids’ club, an adults-only Reserve and the René Egli wind-sports centre across the road, and Meliá says introductory windsurf classes are included. SBH Taro Beach Hotel is the mid-range alternative, three minutes from Costa Calma beach, with an all-inclusive plan, a pool and sports facilities.
Jandía and Morro Jable: for the long white beach
The far south has more than four kilometres of fine white sand and calm water, a promenade, the harbour where the dolphin boats leave, and the road towards Cofete. Hotel Riu Palace Jandia stands directly on the beach at the El Matorral end, with a pool that is heated in winter, a spa, a buffet and a fusion restaurant.
Matching base to trip
For a romantic, quiet stay near the dunes, Secrets Bahia Real in Corralejo. For wind sports and a big resort, Paradisus at Sotavento. For a value-for-money all-inclusive near the beach, SBH Taro Beach in Costa Calma. For a polished beach stay in the far south, Riu Palace Jandia. For a self-catering family base near the airport, Elba Lucía in Caleta de Fuste.
Good to know
The wind blows most days, so ask for a sheltered terrace and bring a windbreak. Check what your board plan includes, ask about parking if you hire a car, and read recent reviews on rooms and food, particularly for the mid-range hotels. Prices are in general terms.
