6 Secret Places and Hidden Gems in Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura is well known for its amazing beaches, with hundreds of km of coastline and turquoise waters, but there's so much to do and see around the island!

If you want a break from laying in the sun and are willing to go out and explore, try visiting one of these secret and unusual places. They are away from the popular tourist route and you will get to see another side of Fuerteventura, one which is still wild and unexplored. So if you're looking for hidden gems and secret places in Fuerteventura, this is a good way to start your discoveries.

1. Barranco de los Encantados / Barranco de los Enamorados

This canyon is situated in the municipality of La Oliva and you will see an unusual landscape, formed by accumulations of sand under the sea, during the time when this area was still underwater and Fuerteventura's most northern point was around Lajares.

When the water retracted these unusual rocky formations surfaced and nowadays you can explore the area without anyone bothering you since there aren't many people who know about this place.

This is the location of the canyon but we have to warn you that the road that leads to it is unpaved, so if you have a rental car your insurance most likely won't be valid if you take the car offroad.

2. Windmill Route or Ruta de los Molinos

There are quite a few windmills in Fuerteventura (like the one pictured above), and you can look for them in places like Tuineje, Antigua, Tefia, or Tiscamanita. 

You can also visit the Centro de Interpretación de los Molinos, situated in Tiscamanita inside an old windmill that has been restored and transformed into a museum. You will also find there a museum dedicated to the Majorero cheese and a small cactus garden.

3. The caves of Puertito de los Molinos

The most popular caves in Fuerteventura are by far the ones in Ajuy, but the marine caves in Puertito de Los Molinos are spectacular and offer a one of a kind experience.

You have to plan ahead the day and moment of your visit since access to the caves is possible only during low tide, but it is totally worth it. The level of tides differs from day to day and month to month, so the caves are not easily accessible all the time, which is why we consider them one of Fuerteventura's secrets. The best month to try and visit the cave in September, during what is known in the Canary Islands as "Mareas del Pino".

4. La Cueva del Llano

This is a volcanic cave, actually a volcanic tube, of around 500 m long, which used to be open for visits. At the moment it is closed and you can't go inside it for safety reasons, but you can still go inside the visitor's center if you want to find out more about the geology of Fuerteventura. This place is located on the road between Corralejo and La Oliva, in the area known as Monumento Natural Malpaís de la Arena.

5. El Pinar

This is probably the only picnic area in Fuerteventura and one of the greenest parts of the island. There's barbecues, tables places to sit, a playground for kids and all in the shade of the pine trees, hence the name of El Pinar. During the weekdays there aren't many people here, so you will most likely have the place all to yourself.

If you visit this place in the winter or spring, especially after the island has had some rainy days, you will be surprised at how unusually green the landscape looks compared to the arid look of the rest of the island.

6. Salinas del Carmen - The Salt Museum in Fuerteventura

Although the Salt Museum is easy to reach even on foot if you're leaving from the resort of Caleta de Fuste, not many people know about it or visit the place, which is why we think that it's still one of the unknown places that you can visit in Fuerteventura. 

Las Salinas del Carmen is one of the largest and oldest places of this kind in the Canary Islands and these salt flats are still in use. You can visit the Salt Museum and learn more about salt extraction, plus you also get to visit the salines.

The ticket is around 5 euros and after your visit, you can enjoy a lovely meal at a great local restaurant called Los Caracolitos.

• Read more about it in our article about restaurants in Fuerteventura.

Go on a discovery tour if you want to explore first the main sights in Fuerteventura

If it's your first time visiting Fuerteventura, we recommend that you take a discovery tour which will show you first the most important attractions on the island. Afterward, you can continue exploring on your own since the place is incredibly beautiful and as you have seen by reading this article, it hides a lot of amazing places, waiting to be discovered.

Book online: Fuerteventura Panoramic Tour

• Full day trip (8 hours)
• Pick-up service
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before activity starts