Fuerteventura: the best hiking routes at a glance

Which hiking routes on Fuerteventura are most worthwhile?

The Cabildo de Fuerteventura lists several official educational routes in its Huellas Verdes programme. These include Calderón Hondo, which starts on the road from Majanicho near Lajares and leads to the volcanic crater on a marked, surfaced path.

Also easy is the Malpaís de la Arena route from La Oliva to the Montaña de la Arena volcano and along its northern side. The Cabildo gives around three hours there and back for this route. Both routes are suitable for beginners and families.

The Fuentes del Chupadero–Mesa de la Muda route from the FV-10 on the southern flank of Montaña de la Muda is of medium difficulty. According to the Cabildo, the ascent to the summit takes around two hours there and back. The path is moderately steep.

For those interested in culture, the Cabildo suggests the Mirador de Guise y Ayose–Betancuria route. It leads from the statues of Guise and Ayose along a gently sloping path to Betancuria. The Cabildo also recommends a visit to the Archaeological Museum; the total duration is around 2.5 hours including the museum visit, linear.

Which routes are suitable for coastal and volcanic landscapes?

The Cuevas de Ajuy lead from the beach at Ajuy along a coastal path with boardwalks and steps to the caves. The Cabildo rates the route as medium and gives around 1.5 hours there and back. The path lies in the municipality of Pájara.

The Parra Medina–Castillo de Lara route starts on the FV-30 near Parra Medina. It leads with a gentle climb through the Valle del Acebuche to the Castillo de Lara recreation area. The Cabildo gives a duration of around two hours, linear, at medium difficulty.

More demanding is the Toto–Vega de Río Palmas route. It leads from Toto to the Degollada de los Granadillos, down to the Presa de las Peñitas reservoir and on to Vega de Río Palmas. The Cabildo expressly describes the route as linear and gives around three hours.

The Montaña del Cardón–El Tanquito route leads from El Cardón on the FV-618 over Montaña del Cardón to the El Tanquito pilgrimage chapel. The official source lists the route in the programme; current detailed data should be checked with the Cabildo in advance.

What should you bear in mind when hiking on Isla de Lobos?

Isla de Lobos offers a circular route from the Muelle landing stage past the Faro on the northern side and the Lagunitas to El Puertito. The Cabildo rates the route as medium and gives around three hours. The route runs partly on sand.

For Isla de Lobos, the rules and access requirements of the responsible protected area authority also apply. Any visitor cap or reservation requirement should be checked before the crossing. The boat trip is expressly not included in the official route example.

The Cabildo points out that the applicable protected area rules and access restrictions must be observed on the island. Visitors should bring water, sun protection and windproof clothing. Sturdy footwear is recommended because of the sandy sections.

When is the best time to hike on Fuerteventura?

For longer hikes, October to May are typically more pleasant than the hottest summer months. This assessment can be derived from the AEMET normals: June to September have the highest mean temperatures and the longest sunshine duration.

According to AEMET, the mean maximum temperature at Fuerteventura Airport is 27.8 °C in August and 20.6 °C in January. Most precipitation falls in December with 26 millimetres, the least in June, July and August with 0 millimetres. Sunshine duration reaches 294 hours in July.

The AEMET climate normals refer to the 1991–2020 reference period, which has been used since 2023 in line with World Meteorological Organization guidelines. An official monthly AEMET table on sea temperature was not included in the available results; therefore no values are given for this.

Current values and warnings: CITA weather (cita.news/de/wetter.html) and AEMET. In hot conditions, the official advice recommends starting hikes early and avoiding exposed summit or coastal sections.

What rules apply in the protected areas?

Fuerteventura is part of the Canary Islands network of protected natural areas and is also a biosphere reserve. The respective spatial planning and use plans apply in protected areas. In the Corralejo Natural Park, walking on designated paths is permitted; walking outside authorised paths is expressly not permitted.

Stricter rules apply in the Tindaya natural monument area: walking is generally only permitted on released paths and accompanied by an authorised guide. The ascent may be temporarily restricted for conservation and management reasons.

The Cabildo generally advises using only authorised paths and tracks, because sensitive species and habitats can be damaged off them. Paths may also be temporarily closed; the official site lists corresponding closures and notices.

How do you plan arrival and return transport?

The starting points mentioned lie on roads or in settlements in the municipalities of La Oliva, Betancuria, Pájara and Puerto del Rosario. For several linear routes, a return transfer is required; the Cabildo, for example, expressly describes the Toto–Vega de Río Palmas route as linear.

For remote starting points, a hire car is usually the most practical option. When travelling by bus, routes, departure times and return options should be checked with the responsible transport company. On linear hikes, it should not be assumed that regular public transport runs at the destination.

The Fuerteventura al Golpito youth programme announced additional free hikes with free transport from Puerto del Rosario and Gran Tarajal. Named among others were Las Calderas, Betancuria–Toto, Tindaya–Esquinzo–El Cotillo and Cardón–El Tanquito. The programme was free in 2022.