So you are planning a trip to the Canary Islands and you are still hesitating on whether you should visit Fuerteventura or Lanzarote?
In this article we will help you choose the islands that will meet your needs! and why not visit both of them.
In this comprehensive guide, we will share some practical information about Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.
Going to the Canary Islands for a vacation in the sun is a great idea.
No matter what time of year it is, the islands are always sunny, with a little wind but very few rainy days.
The Canary Islands are a lot of reliefs and mountainous massifs, hills, and very deserted and remote corners, with beaches and seaside nearby.
Each island is unique and has its own richness, all adapted to the desires of travelers and to your needs of escape.
Whether you go to Fuerteventura or Lanzarote, you will never be disappointed, believe me!
There are just a few differences to take into account and I will tell you about them in detail in this guide.
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Fuerteventura and Lanzarote: which island to choose?
First of all, let’s remember that the Canary Islands belong to Spain but are aligned with the Sahara, which guarantees you a sunny climate all year round.
If the sun is strong, the wind coming from Europe refreshes the whole and the islands have an average annual temperature of 21°.
Neither too hot nor too cold, you will have sun, and heat but also always wind that will prevent you from sweating and will force you to take your little wool for the evening.
Fuerteventura for beautiful beaches and sunbathing
Fuerteventura is known for being a deserted island and good for days at the beach.
The island closest to the coast of Morocco will make you see the Atlas Mountains if you are in the south.
The island is 100km long and we go to get a tan!
Much more desert than Tenerife or Gran Canaria, it is also drier, and you are definitely sure not to see a drop of rain all year long.
So most vacationers go to Fuerteventura to sunbathe and relax, it’s not the kind of place where there are a thousand and one things to do, but it is fantastic.
The island of Fuerteventura has some of the most beautiful beaches in the Canary Islands, with vast stretches of white sand.
The island is well named because there is also a strong wind all year round, which will make you happy if you like surfing, kitesurfing and other such sports.
In fact, in the north of the island, there are large dunes classified by Unesco, as the dunes of Corralejo.
Among the must-see places in Fuerteventura is Jandia Playa, a 12-kilometer-long beach located in the province of Morro Jable.
You’ll like the transparent waters and taking a nap on the sand, it’s pure happiness.
This part of the island is also necessarily quite lively, with beachfront stores and many bars and restaurants.
Generally speaking, if you like the beach, you should go to the northern or southern tip of the island.
Fuerteventura, and the Canary Islands in general, is not Ibiza, so don’t expect to have crazy parties every night or you will be disappointed!
If you plan to visit the island, you will certainly discover small villages with picturesque white houses and many aloe vera plantations.
There are really everywhere on Fuerteventura and a lot of producers offer visits to learn more about the planting methods, the properties of the plant, and many other interesting things.
On the other hand, the natural reserve of Los Lobos is also a must-see place in Fuerteventura!
Los Lobos is a very small island in front of Corralejo, separated by a very small piece of sea of 2km.
This natural space is located on a small island in front of Corralejo, home to wild fauna and flora still well preserved and protected from tourists.
It is a natural reserve of 14km where there is only a lighthouse and a restaurant, but where you can admire the fauna, the flora, and the local volcanoes.
You can even take a cruise on the turquoise waters around the island of Los Lobos.
Finally, much more touristic, if you want to see exotic plants and animals, Fuerteventura offers you the Oasis Park in the southeast of the island
You will see camels, elephants, parrots or sea lions shows, reptiles, etc.
You can book your ticket online to see 250 different species of animals from all over the world.
Even though the park is touristy, it is perfect for families who want to spend their vacations in Fuerteventura!
And finally, from Fuerteventura, you can easily make day trips to…Lanzarote!
Lanzarote for the volcanic landcapes
It is clear that Lanzarote has nothing to do with Fuerteventura, they are two completely different islands.
The first thing to know is Lanzarote is much smaller than Fuerteventura, we can compare it to a piece of rock in the water!
However, don’t be fooled by appearances because you’ll quickly realize that Lanzarote is even more culturally rich than Fuerteventura! That’s undeniable.
One week is a good length of stay to explore all that the island can offer.
You’ll be surprised by the very dark aspect of Lanzarote, the last volcanic eruption took place barely 200 years ago and the lava flows have forged the darkness of the island’s beaches.
This is surprising but at the same time sublime on this wild and desert island.
Here indeed, no Aloe Vera culture because nothing grows on the island or almost.
But you will not fail to visit white villages that contrast with the landscape, museums of all kinds, and unforgettable natural parks.
This particularity of Lanzarote shares a very wild and desert atmosphere, but really relaxing!
Well, now it’s time to list the must-do things you should do in Lanzarote.
For starters, the most beautiful beaches on the island are Arrecife, Punto del Carmen, and Playa Blanca which are the 3 places with a little more life and some semblance of big seaside towns.
But if you want to discover the real Lanzarote, go to Teguise, the old capital of the island.
You’ll find its church, Lady of Guadalupe, and its Sunday morning market, one of the biggest in Europe.
You will see traditional Lanzarote dancers and lots of entertainment.
If you like to know the history of the island and how the inhabitants lived at the time of the irruptions, we also recommend the agricultural museum where you can taste the goat cheese made there.
The other must-see visit of the island is the wine route, with many “bodega” (or cellars) that will show you how vines are grown on a volcanic land and on an island where it rains at most 1 day a year.
Now, we can’t talk about Lanzarote without mentioning the volcanoes, the main attraction of the island!
The island of Lanzarote has more than 300 craters on only 60km long, which is really huge for such a small island don’t you think?
Among all these, there is a must-see place: the protected natural park of Timanfaya also known as the “Mountains of Fire” which served as a backdrop for many films such as Planet of the Apes or 2001 the space odyssey.
Only a few buses are allowed to enter the park to protect the visitors. It is not possible to get out of the vehicle, let alone walk on the sharp lava rocks.
For food, the El Diablo restaurant is amazing, the meats are cooked with the heat of magma!
If you like volcanoes, don’t miss the volcano museum next to the park where the earthquakes and the sound of the irruptions that the inhabitants suffered for 6 years during the last irruption in the 19th century are recreated.
Also, a number of caves and cavities have been dug by the volcanoes. If you are interested, explore the Cueva de Los Verdes and Jameos del Agua.
In the latter, you can admire a small lake with albino crabs unique in the world, and an auditorium carved in the rock and designed by the architect of the island: Cesar Manrique.
Finally, the north of Lanzarote still has natural treasures to discover like the Cactus Garden. It is located in the old quarry of Guatiza in the village of Teguise.
More than 300 species of cactus are planted there, around a big mill and small basins, in a kind of crater with a 360 degrees view of the surrounding volcanoes.
Which is the best time to go to Fuertaventura or Lanzarote?
Before you fly to Fuerteventura or Lanzarote, take a look at the weather and annual temperatures.
The best time to go to the Canary Islands is between June and October.
As mentioned at the beginning of this guide, the Canary Islands have a fairly constant and regular climate throughout the year.
Pay special attention to the climate of Fuerteventura. As its name indicates, there is a lot of wind and the island is very dry, with not a drop of rain.
The lowest temperatures are between 14 and 18 degrees in the low season.
Between June and October, temperatures stabilize a little more, with the highest peak generally reaching 30 degrees, which is bearable.
