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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 children, it’s an awesome 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 concept of Fuerteventura with children.
So why select Fuerteventura, the second largest of the Canary Islands? In addition to nice villas and lodges 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 decide of one of the 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 generally really feel like I haven’t seen daylight for about 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. For those who’re summer time holidays to Fuerteventura, that does cool the solar down properly although.
Hit the seashores
Is it a correct winter solar vacation with children should 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 – a few of the greatest seashores have very shallow waters corresponding 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.
For those who’re searching for concepts of extra adventurous issues to do in Fuerteventura for teenagers than sandcastles, it’s additionally an awesome location for water sports activities like windsurfing and kite browsing, because of the winds – very best 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 undoubtedly be successful with my daughter too – it’s additionally the positioning of the island’s annual kite competition.
Costa Calma seashore is one other great place should 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 faculties – the seashores fluctuate relying on the climate situations, however they’re all chosen for his or her light waves, good for inexperienced persons
Or for one thing a little bit completely different, try 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 should 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 should you’re contemplating visiting Fuerteventura in February half-term, that’s one to avoid wasting for subsequent time although.
You possibly can 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 previous and above, whereas there’s additionally a two-hour dolphin recognizing tour with drinks – or this longer dolphin-spotting cruise contains time to snorkel and a spot of tapas as properly.
You possibly can mix the prospect to see dolphins with a visit to Isla de Lobos too: this selection enables 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 also be tempting. Watch fish via 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 combined opinions (and I’m all the time reluctant to advocate swimming with sealions) but it surely appears one other in style possibility.
For those who want a slightly 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 aspect of the boat – much more enjoyable than strolling the plank. They’re additionally licensed whale and dolphin watchers so that you would possibly 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, often called sea wolves.
There are strolling trails everywhere in the island, or you possibly can relax on Playa de la Concha, a small sheltered lagoon with a sandy seashore. Convey all the things 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 successful with my daughter and whereas this Fuerteventura zoo isn’t the most cost effective round, there’s a formidable 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, it’s also possible to be a part of a camel safari (for an additional charge) and trip via the palm groves exterior the park in addition to an possibility to fulfill the lemurs (once more, for an additional charge).
There’s additionally a botanical backyard connected with over 2,300 forms of cacti and free buses run to the park, not removed from La Lajita.
There’s a give attention to schooling and conservation at Oasis Wildlife (beforehand often called Oasis Park Zoo), in addition to a piece on ethics on the web site, which is reassuring to see as properly.
You possibly can purchase entrance tickets with free cancellation, together with choices together with the camel trip
Uncover Fuerteventura’s wild aspect
On each Canary Island I’ve visited, I really like getting away from the vacationer resorts on the coast to find the wilder aspect – 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 simply 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 folks right here.
You possibly can even take a tour with goats as you head off the overwhelmed observe, discovering areas the place goat herders nonetheless reside and getting an opportunity to feed them (after which having some goat cheese in return). The five-hour trek is simply 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 the 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 heaps close to the oldest village on Fuerteventura known as Antigua.
There may be automobile rental at Fuerteventura’s airport however it’s also possible to hire automobiles in many of the main vacationer centres if you wish to do a day journey.
For those who don’t fancy driving in any respect, there are day excursions to discover – this off-road tour of Fuerteventura is certainly on my checklist, heading to Jandia Nationwide Park and stopping at one of many island’s secluded seashores.
For those who’re planning to rent a automobile to discover Fuerteventura, I’m an enormous fan of Zest Automobile Rental or it’s also possible to evaluate charges at Uncover Vehicles
Discover the Ajuy Caves (Cuevas de Ajuy)
The Canary Islands’ volcanic previous nonetheless shapes them in the present day, 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 and so they’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 elements of the caves are older than the island itself, courting again 100 million years (whereas Fuerteventura is simply round 30 million years previous).
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 an awesome 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 an awesome possibility with toddlers and younger kids, however enjoyable for older children: do put on wise footwear slightly than flipflops and remember it’s a windy stroll on this aspect of the island. For those who time your go to for near sundown, it’s probably the greatest 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 in the present day.
It’s not the one one on the island, but it surely’s probably the most accessible for households – you climb a stone path to achieve the highest at 278m above sea stage, 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 beneficial with children (and never for adults if there’s robust wind both). For those who’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 examine the sundown instances.
There’s parking at Camino Calderas, with the stone path ranging from right here – the final part of highway resulting in the automobile park may be very rocky, so remember should you’ve acquired a rent automobile (except 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 possibly can stroll via the salt fields, that are nonetheless in operation, to see the standard strategies in observe – plus there’s a store the place you should buy the completed product too.
The museum shouldn’t be removed from Caleta de Fuste, there’s additionally an enormous whale skeleton exterior the whitewashed museum constructing.
Try Puerto del Rosario sculpture park
For those who’re passing Fuerteventura’s small capital, Puerto del Rosario, on the island’s east coast, it’s properly 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 previous city, with buildings courting again to the early nineteenth century.
Alongside the best way, 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 course of roundabouts.
There are heaps to see across the port although, together with ones impressed by the island’s goats and whales. Preserve an eye fixed out for the city’s murals too, a part of an initiative began in 2011, with tons 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 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 a lot 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 aspect 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 a lot 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 evaluate ferry costs from Fuerteventura to Lanzarote on the Ferryhopper web site to seek out the most cost effective day journey from Fuerteventura
Planning a household vacation in Fuerteventura
For those who’re searching for low-cost flights to Fuerteventura, there are some nice choices from the UK, particularly should you’re searching for a bundle deal.
In addition to TUI and Jet2, it’s also possible to 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 prime my very own private checklist…
There’s additionally a large selection of family-friendly lodges 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 publish comprises 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 crucial by the point it’s February.
Pictures courtesy Depositphotos
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