The most beautiful towns in Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura – the island formerly known as Planaria or Capraria thanks to its flat terrain and abundance of goats – is brimming with history and enchanting towns. Strolling through the villages is like a journey through the island’s past, and as you walk you can just imagine what it would’ve been like for the island’s first settlers. It’s thought to date back to at least 300 BC, but some researchers say the first inhabitants on the island arrived as far back as 1,000 BC.

These first settlers would have engaged in grazing animals, livestock farming, agriculture and fishing, and their settlements are dotted across the land, each emerging in a particular era, each with its own back story. In this post we’ll take a look at the most beautiful towns in Fuerteventura and delve into their origins and history.

Ajuy

The town of Ajuy is right next to the Natural Park of the same name, where you can find some of the most ancient rocks in the whole of the Canary Islands. The main attraction there is Ajuy Caves, but you can also see a four million year old-plus fossilised beach, with sediments from the depths of the ocean floor.

And it gets older. The basal complex in Ajuy is formed of an abyssal plain of the oceanic crust from more than 70 million years ago, which emerged from the surface and formed the island.

You can visit the fishing village’s exquisite restaurants and sample some fresh fish and spectacular sunsets. Drinking in the sunset as you sit on a Fuerteventura beach is an absolute must.

Location:

https://goo.gl/maps/qf8BFu6ER8g2a9HV9

Antigua

As the name suggests, Antigua is one of the oldest towns in Fuerteventura, founded shortly after the conquest in the second half of the fifteenth century. This was when viticulture was becoming more widespread in Tenerife and La Palma, increasing the demand for grain and trade between the islands.

The town gradually began to become more prominent than neighbouring settlements, it being an obligatory stop on the route to the island’s capital at the time, Betancuria. It was eventually established as the island’s capital in 1834.

Antigua is now known for its preserved windmill, testament to the time when the town made its living from cultivating grain. Other iconic places to visit include Nuestra Señora de Antigua church, Casa del Portón and the Majorero Cheese Museum.

Location:

https://goo.gl/maps/RjVgVFJZ3Ddj3tbr7

El Jablito

The first houses in El Jablito were built in the fifties. People had started to build little beach houses, and on it went until the town we see today was formed, with streets, a park and a shrine to the Virgin of Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del Cobre.

But fishermen were visiting the area as far back as the 17th century, given the abundance of fish and seafood found there. Next, in the 1930s, it was turned into a military settlement.

Nowadays, El Jablito stands out for its charm and its people. There are few houses, but it preserves its glorious past and the spirit of true fishing villages.

Location:

https://goo.gl/maps/yajdaFhcPAuvp6Py6

El Cotillo

El Cotillo is an idyllic town that sits atop white sand beaches in the municipality of La Oliva. The first settlers arrived there in the seventeenth century. Its location on the stunning virgin coastline explains its fishing tradition – still going strong – and diners can sample the freshest fish in the town’s numerous restaurants.

Meanwhile, Tostón lighthouse stands tall, watching over El Cotillo and marking the perfect location to take in the stunning sunsets.

Location:

https://goo.gl/maps/FZWiUW89PTHKn4q78

Betancuria

Betancuria dates back six hundred years, and is home to the shrine to the island’s patron saint, Nuestra Señora de la Peña. The town was founded in the fifteenth century by conquistador Jean Bethencourt, and was the capital of Fuerteventura until 1834.

It may have a small population, but it has major historic appeal, and you’ll find legendary locations there such as the church of Santa María. This church was built in the fifteenth century, razed by pirates in the sixteenth century, and rebuilt in the seventeenth century. Betancuria Archaeological Museum is another highlight – it’s home to all manner of antiques that show what life was like for the first ‘majoreros’ (Fuerteventuran people).

Princess has the perfect hotel for you, whether you’re travelling with family, your partner, or friends. Club Jandía Princess, Fuerteventura Princess and Fuerteventura Essence are the perfect accommodation options to use as a base as you travel the island and discover all these picturesque towns in Fuerteventura.

Location:

https://goo.gl/maps/XiJWVJjJ1dQby2LAA

Categories: Canaries, Tips, Fuerteventura