My wife and I spent 14 days exploring this interesting and quirky Island. Getting to know its character and people made for an enjoyable, relaxing and, more importantly, warm winter break. I hope you find our tips on Fuerteventura in December useful.
Now, if you want a Christmas somewhere warm that doesn’t involve a 14+ hour flight then Fuerteventura and the Canary Islands are a decent choice. The main thing we wanted to avoid was getting stuck in a gigantic tourist resort. Fortunately, one of my wife’s Yoga friends runs an annual retreat in El Cotillo. She advised that the north of the Island, particularly Lajares isn’t over developed and has a chilled surfer / yoga vibe to it.
Flight Time to El Matorral Airport in Puerto Del Rosario: Approx. 4hrs 10mins
We booked with Ryanair and return flights came to £141 per person
Accommodation: AirBnB (of course)
Week 1 – Click here to see listing
Week 2 – Click here to see listing
A few questions we had before deciding to go:
- How warm is Fuerteventura in December?
- The early morning and evenings after sunset were quite cool. We took jackets with us to stay comfortable. For the majority of the day when the sun’s shinning you can be in your swimming gear. The temperature averaged 23C and you can easily spend a full day on the beach topping up your tan. It’s worth noting, when the wind picks up, it blasts across this Island. As you’d expect this is accompanied by large oceanic swells that should make inexperienced swimmers weary. The north shore surf was gigantic for 3 days.
- Is the sea warm enough in December?
- Yes, the water is mildly bracing at first, but you’ll quickly warm up. Dive in and enjoy.
Itinerary
Lajares & El Cotillo Beach
Larjares is located 5.2 miles inland from El Cotillo, 7.6 miles from Corralejo and 23 miles from the Airport. You’ll definitely want to hire a car to get around. We’d advise getting a 4×4 as there are a number of beautiful places to visit that you can only access off road. The best deals we found were on the Rental Cars app. Make sure you pick full insurance when you purchase through the app as you’ll likely get stung with extra charges on arrival. We booked with Goldcar, they were very friendly, informative and helpful. It was more expensive than hiring a car in Italy and the insurance package was more extensive and complex, but I got the sense this was due to tourists being irresponsible drivers. With the car sorted, Fuerteventura is now your oyster.
Starting the day in Lajares, you’ll want to stop by the El Goloso French Bakery We treated ourselves everyday with a coffee and naughty pastry – why not, you’re on holiday. Just adjacent to this is the local Superdino chain store, you can pick up cheap and delicious snacks for the rest of the day. We dropped in most days to stock up for our evening BBQ. If we’re in a warm location, a nightly BBQ is now a must for us.
If you like walking / hiking you don’t really need to leave Lajares, there’s a great little trek as you head north out of the town. The trail starts near the foot of Calderon Hondo a dormant volcano. It’s 278m at it peak and offers 360 degree vistas that you’ll want to absorb in full. As suggested by it’s name, the most breathtaking feature is the deep caldera that inspires a brief pause and contemplation of the earth’s titanic forces. It’s a truly impressive sight.
Fuerteventura in December is a surfing hotspot, driving around the north, boards on vehicles will be a regular sight. You’ll also notice numerous surf schools and businesses dotted around. All levels are covered so anyone can have a go if the swells allow. I picked locally and went with Joyas, located on high street through Lajares. Without your own gear be prepared to pay around 50 euros for a morning on the waves.
Like many people, we love spending time on the beach. El Cotillo was our chosen pocket of seaside bliss. Hours can melt away while you bask in the midday and afternoon heat. The spots we’d recommend for food and drinks:
Happy Catus Vegan Cafe – we adored this place. The owners were so lovely. The menu changes daily based on available and seasonal produce, which means you’ll always get fresh and delicious options. They have a great ethos with regards sustainability and healthy living. Definitely check out their Instagram profile for a hint of what you can expect. After our first lunch with them, my wife and I had never felt so healthy and alive.
Playa de Cofete
