The most populated and well-known towns in Fuerteventura have developed in recent decades, primarily along the eastern coast or around the island’s current capital, which is centered on its port activity. However, historically, the island’s main activities were agriculture, livestock farming, and fishing. Evidence of these activities remains in the towns located both inland and along the coast, and they are worth exploring. Today, we invite you to visit five towns that maintain their essence linked to the history, culture, and traditions of the island, ordered from north to south.

El Cotillo

El Cotillo was always a fishing village, and until very recently, its population was under a thousand. Although it has grown in the 21st century, it still retains its maritime character, especially in the Muelle Chico area and its surroundings, where you’ll find restaurants specializing in seafood, offering fresh fish and shellfish at very reasonable prices.

In addition to dining, a visit to El Cotillo would not be complete without exploring its idyllic beaches. South of the town, you’ll find the well-known Piedra Playa, historically called Aljibe de La Cueva, or Playa del Castillo, located beneath the Tostón Castle, an old defensive fortification that you can visit. While Piedra Playa has strong waves that require caution, to the north of El Cotillo, there are protected beaches surrounded by reefs, perfect for family visits. La Concha Beach is the most famous, though you’ll also find beautiful small lagoons along this coastline, all the way to the Tostón Lighthouse, another highly recommended stop. Additionally, within the town, there are many schools offering surf and kitesurf courses, as well as bike rentals for physical activities.

La Oliva

La Oliva is the historical capital of the northern part of the island and the municipality of the same name. For centuries, it was the seat of feudal power, and as evidence of this, we find the most important civil architecture in the island, the Casa de Los Coroneles. This 18th-century mansion is currently closed for renovations. A great alternative is to book a ticket for the Ruta de Los Coroneles, a guided, theatrical tour where actors guide visitors through the village’s history, including stops at other visitor centers, such as the Museo de la Cilla, Iglesia de la Candelaria, and the market Mercado de las Tradiciones (all of which can also be visited independently).

Betancuria

Betancuria is the historical capital of Fuerteventura, as it was the first European settlement established on the island in the early 15th century, named after the Norman Jean de Bethencourt. The village of Betancuria offers a magical stroll through its peaceful streets, where you can visit the Iglesia de Santa María de Betancuria, the recently opened Archaeological Museum showcasing the lifestyle of the Mahos, the island’s indigenous people before the conquest, or the ruins of the San Buenaventura Convent, built in 1416. In the village, you can also observe traditional Canarian balconies and patios, agricultural tools like irrigation canals, a blood mill (powered by animals), and shops selling handicrafts and souvenirs.

In the surrounding area, within the Betancuria Massif, you can visit the Mirador de Morro Velosa, offering breathtaking views of Fuerteventura’s solitary and solemn landscapes, the Guize and Ayoze viewpoint where sculptures of the last Mahos kings stand, or the Betancuria pine forest. To the south of the village, you’ll find Vega de Río Palmas, where every year, on the third weekend of September, the pilgrimage in honor of the island’s patron saint, the Virgen de La Peña, culminates.

Pájara

The current southernmost capital of the island is Pájara, which also gives its name to the municipality. It’s accessible via the scenic FV-30, which offers stunning viewpoints and aerial views along its winding path from Betancuria or from its turnoff in the village of Tuineje. The town of Pájara has a tranquil atmosphere, and it’s a pleasure to explore its historic center with examples of traditional Majorero architecture, a traditional water wheel in the town square, and the star of the village, the church Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Regla, dating back to 1687. This church is a masterpiece of island ecclesiastical art, with a unique façade that features elements such as serpents, suns, moons, human heads with plumes, birds, and lions, believed to have been inspired by Aztec iconography or carved by artisans from Mexico.

The municipality of Pájara boasts some of the longest coastlines in Spain, making it necessary to mention its impressive and expansive beaches, such as Sotavento, Costa Calma, Solana Matorral in Morro Jable, and Cofete.

Ajuy

Although geographically situated further north than Pájara, the small fishing village of Ajuy can be accessed through the capital or from La Pared via the FV-605, a road that is also very scenic to drive. Ajuy is a small fishing town with only a few dozen houses, known for its fresh seafood restaurants and a unique black-sand beach, which leads to the town’s main attraction: the Natural Monument of the Ajuy Caves. This geological wonder offers a chance to see some of the oldest rocks in the Canary Islands, which are sedimentary and formed in the marine bed during the Cretaceous period, between 100 and 150 million years ago. Fuerteventura itself is estimated to be between 23 and 30 million years old, making the presence of these rocks on the surface a mystery. Exploring these ancient, greenish formations is a truly memorable experience, as is the walk to the caves, where you’ll also see unique lime kilns along the coast, relics of this now-abandoned industrial activity.

Also worth visiting, as you turn off the access road to Ajuy (FV-621), are the Palmeral de la Madre del Agua to the north and the Barranco de Las Peñitas to the east, which connects with the Las Peñitas Dam and the Vega de Río Palmas. In this impressive landscape of soft, white, shining rocks shaped by time, you’ll find the Ermita de Malpaso, where legend has it that San Diego de Alcalá and Father Juan de San Torcaz, accompanied by local shepherds, encountered the image of the Virgen de La Peña, the island’s patron saint to this day.