A Day Trip to Fuerteventura From Lanzarote

One of the best days out you can have from Lanzarote doesn’t involve Lanzarote at all. Just across the water lies Fuerteventura, the second largest of the Canary Islands, and it’s close enough that you can hop over on the ferry, spend the day exploring, and be back in time for dinner. The north of the island, around the lively town of Corralejo, packs in enough to fill a brilliant day out: enormous sand dunes, a golden desert running down to a turquoise sea, good shopping, great fish restaurants, watersports, and the extraordinary Popcorn Beach. With your own hire car you can push further still, out to the pretty fishing village of El Cotillo and beyond. Here’s how to make the most of a day on Fuerteventura.

Catching the ferry from Playa Blanca

The gateway to Fuerteventura is Playa Blanca, on the southern tip of Lanzarote, where the ferry port sits right in the centre of the resort. From here it’s a short and easy crossing to Corralejo on the north coast of Fuerteventura, taking somewhere between 25 and 35 minutes depending on the operator. Several companies run the route with frequent sailings throughout the day, so it’s a doddle to nip across for a few hours or a full day, and you can either buy a straightforward return ferry ticket and explore under your own steam, or book an organised day trip that bundles in the ferry, a guide and a coach tour of the island.

Getting to the port is simple. If you’re staying in Playa Blanca you can walk to it, and if you’re coming from elsewhere on Lanzarote there’s parking at the harbour, buses that terminate there, or a taxi. Many organised trips also include a free bus pick-up from the main resorts, which takes the hassle out of the early start. The crossing itself is part of the fun, with lovely views back to Lanzarote and across to the little island of Los Lobos as you go, so grab a spot on deck if the weather’s kind.

Arriving in Corralejo

You arrive right in Corralejo, the buzzy resort town on Fuerteventura’s northern tip, and it’s a good place to start. It has a laid-back, slightly surfy feel, with an old town of narrow streets down by the harbour and a good spread of shops, from big-name stores to little independents, if you fancy a spot of retail therapy. It’s an excellent lunch stop too, with plenty of restaurants, and being Fuerteventura you should seek out the local majorero goat’s cheese, widely reckoned the best in the Canaries, along with the usual fresh fish and Canarian dishes. Corralejo is also a watersports hub, with the wind and waves drawing surfers, windsurfers and kitesurfers, so if you fancy getting out on the water there are schools and hire outfits on hand.

The Sand Dunes of Corralejo

The star of the show, and the thing most people come for, is the Corralejo Natural Park, a vast protected expanse of white sand dunes stretching for miles along the coast just south of the town. It’s a genuinely jaw-dropping sight, a proper Sahara-style desert of rolling golden dunes running right down to a brilliant turquoise sea, and it feels a world away from anywhere. The beaches along the edge of the park are some of the finest in the Canaries, long, wide and pale, with the shallow, clear water perfect for a swim or a paddle. It’s a beautiful, wild spot to wander, sunbathe and take photographs. Do bear in mind it’s a protected area, so you’re generally asked not to climb on the more fragile dunes, and there’s little shade out there, so take water, sunscreen and a hat.

Popcorn Beach

A little to the west, near the village of Corralejo, lies one of Fuerteventura’s quirkiest sights: Popcorn Beach. It gets its name from the countless little white nuggets that cover it, which look uncannily like scattered popcorn but are actually rhodoliths, small pieces of a calcified seaweed washed up and bleached by the sun over the years. It’s become a real social-media sensation, and it lives up to the photos. One important thing to know, and to respect: these “popcorn” pieces are a fragile natural material that takes decades to form, so you’re asked not to take any away as souvenirs. Enjoy it, photograph it, but leave it as you found it so others can enjoy it too.

Hiring a car in Fuerteventura to see more

You can have a lovely day in and around Corralejo without ever needing a car, especially on an organised trip. But if you want to see more of the island, hiring a car in Corralejo is well worth considering, and it dramatically extends your reach. With your own wheels you can easily drive out to El Cotillo, a charming, low-key fishing village on the north-west coast, around half an hour away, with its old harbour, a historic lighthouse, cracking fish restaurants and a string of beautiful sheltered lagoon beaches that are gentle enough for children. It’s a gorgeous spot and a favourite escape from the busier resort.

If you’re feeling more ambitious, a car opens up the interior and beyond, from the pretty old inland villages to, at a real push, the Oasis Park with its botanical gardens and animal shows, or even the great beaches of the Jandía peninsula in the far south. Be realistic, though: Fuerteventura is a big island, and Jandía in particular is a very long drive from the northern port, so it’s better suited to a longer stay than a day trip against the clock of the last ferry home.

A quick word about Los Lobos

You’ll spot it from the ferry and from Corralejo: the tiny, uninhabited islet of Los Lobos, sitting just off the north coast. It’s a wild, protected little gem of volcanic landscapes, walking trails and one perfect natural lagoon, reached by a separate short boat trip from Corralejo.

It’s a wonderful half-day in its own right, though visitor numbers are capped and you need to book a permit in advance, so it’s not something to bolt onto a Fuerteventura day trip on a whim. We’ve a separate guide to visiting Los Lobos if it tempts you, and it should.

One Day in Fuerteventura is Never Quite Enough

Here’s the honest truth about a day trip to Fuerteventura: it’s a brilliant taster, but it barely scratches the surface. Fuerteventura is a great deal bigger than Lanzarote, and while you can pack the north around Corralejo comfortably into a day, the island as a whole, with its endless beaches, the vast Jandía peninsula, the old capital of Betancuria, the surf coasts and the sheer scale of the place, really deserves a holiday all of its own. Think of a day trip as a wonderful introduction, a chance to see the famous dunes, wander Corralejo, snap Popcorn Beach and get a feel for Fuerteventura’s slower, sandier charm. If it leaves you wanting more, and it usually does, you’ll know to come back and give the island the time it deserves.

For a fun, easy and memorable day out from Lanzarote, though, a trip across to Fuerteventura is hard to beat. Catch the ferry from Playa Blanca, spend the day among the dunes and the beaches, and you’ll come home having ticked off a whole second island.