Visit an organic aloe vera farm and discover how this succulent plant is sustainably grown in harmony with the environment. Aloe vera thrives in Fuerteventura’s rich volcanic soil as you will see firsthand at Verdeaurora, a family-owned bio farm that follows agricultural practices that respect the environment. No chemical fertilizers, pesticides, hormones or antibiotics are ever used in the production of the aloe vera, which help to maintain the fertility of the soil and reduce water consumption. You will watch, as one of the farmers demonstrates how to extract the juice from the leaves and preserve it. Although used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years, aloe vera has plenty of other applications, including as an ingredient in cosmetics, soap, shampoo and even drinks. Verdeaurora has also minimized its energy use by installing solar panels and by investing in renewable resources. The farm has even created an ornithological reserve to protect the birds on Fuerteventura.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Tour the bio farm Verdeaurora and see how it grows and processes organic aloe vera.
• Watch as the beneficial juice is carefully extracted from the succulent plant.
• Gain insight into the uses of aloe vera that go far beyond medicinal purposes.
• Discover how the eco-friendly farm has reduced its energy and water consumption.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Spend free time exploring a series of sea caves and an inland village that was the island’s first capital. The Ajuy sea caves are on the other side of Fuerteventura and on the way to this natural monument you will get a genuine feel for the island’s volcanic landscape. To reach the voluminous caves, you will follow a short trail through bizarrely shaped, fossilized dunes. The caves’ gaping entries will be quite the sight as will the geological wonders inside. The stone towers that you will see along the walkways are old lime kilns that were used when many of the local residences were constructed. Time will also be allotted for you to meander through Betancuria, a village that French explorer Jean de Béthencourt founded in 1404. Although the Norman Gothic-style Church of Santa María de Betancuria is the architectural highlight, the Museum of Sacred Art is also well worth browsing.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Walk through the high-ceilinged Ajuy Sea Caves, a Canary Islands natural park.
• Stroll at your leisure through the village of Betancuria, the island’s first capital.
• Marvel at the island’s volcanic landscape as you travel to and from its western coast.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Visit some of the most photogenic attractions on Fuerteventura, all of which are excellent settings to snap selfies with your phone or camera. Besides offering tips on how to take the best pictures, your guide will elaborate on the significance of each stop. In the island’s interior, you will visit a church whose façade is decorated with Aztec symbols and you will drive by the Guanches Kings, an elevated viewpoint with two towering statues of the kings that ruled ancient Fuerteventura. The viewpoint at Las Peñitas is also noteworthy as it overlooks a verdant oasis in the desert. For historical interest, there is the Casa de Los Coroneles, a 17th-century mansion that has been converted into an art gallery, that you will see from the outside. Near the island’s northeastern tip, you will pause for photos at Corralejo’s beautiful harbor before continuing on to an expanse of sand dunes that begins at the ocean and seems to run on forever.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Stop at some of the island’s signature attractions to take selfies and enjoy the views.
• Gain historical insight at a 17th-century mansion and driving by the Guanches Kings statues.
• Gaze out over a landscape of seemingly endless sand dunes that starts at the ocean.
• Pause at viewpoints that offer unique perspectives of Fuerteventura.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Be sure that your phone or camera is fully charged.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Cruise along the eastern coast of Fuerteventura in a sleek catamaran to a sheltered bay where you can swim and relax. The cruise will begin at Caleta de Fuste and head south towards a largely undeveloped area noted for its hauntingly beautiful arid landscape. Along the way, you will pass precipitous cliffs and small streams flowing into the sea. The catamaran will anchor in the natural harbor off Pozo Negro beach, a lovely stretch of dark volcanically created sand. Although there is a small settlement there, the beach is typically uncrowded because it is difficult to reach from land. You will have plenty of time to swim in the refreshing waters, relax as you please and gaze out over the barren, somewhat otherworldly landscape. A buffet lunch will be served on board that will likely include paella. Although it isn’t a traditional dish in the Canary Islands, paella has become exceedingly popular.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Enjoy a scenic cruise along the island’s eastern shore in a catamaran.
• Anchor in the sheltered natural harbor at Pozo Negro and swim in the sea.
• Savor a paella buffet and unlimited drinks on board the catamaran.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring a towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Tear through the countryside in a motorized buggy made for off-road adventure and come away with a unique perspective of Fuerteventura’s rural landscape. The thrills will begin in the coastal town of Corralejo after a briefing to help you maximize the experience. You can either drive a buggy by yourself or share one. Either way it will be exhilarating as you race from destination to destination. Venture through a fascinating rural area with its hidden valleys, old Majorero villages, volcanic lands, and breath-taking beaches. Drive along the coastal road to the sand dunes of Corralejo where you can feel the golden sand under your bare feet as you ascend to the top and take panoramic pictures of the unique landscape. Discover the volcanic area around the north of Fuerteventura and local villages, such as Villaverde, passing along rural and desert lands. On the return, follow the dirt tracks and drive close to old volcano craters where you can discover some amazing panoramic views of the two sister islands, Lobos and Lanzarote.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride through rural Fuerteventura in a motorized buggy that can easily negotiate the terrain.
• Have the chance to escalate a golden sand dune barefoot.
• Drive through rural and desert lands with uniquely beautiful landscapes.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Drive off in a three-wheeled trike to the inland village of Betancuria and discover the charms of the island’s former capital. Each open-air trike has handlebars like a motorcycle’s and features comfortable saddle-style seating for two. You can either take the wheel or just ride along as you head to the island’s former capital of Betancuria in a caravan of trikes. You will enjoy uninterrupted views the entire way and there is plenty to see. You will cross an expanse of arid mountainous terrain before reaching Betancuria, a historically important colonial city that was founded in 1404. The location was chosen because it provided a good defense against pirate attacks. As you motor along the charming streets, you will pass a collection of mostly whitewashed buildings, the most famous being the 17th-century Church of Santa María de Betancuria. You will follow a different route back to the trike station, so you can see the countryside from yet another perspective.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Take an exhilarating drive across the island’s volcanic landscape in an open-air trike.
• Drive through the colonial city of Betancuria, which was founded in the early 15th century.
• Enjoy unobstructed views of the magnificent scenery as you travel caravan-style.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Hike through the island’s mountainous interior following a route through varied terrain that the guide will describe in fascinating detail. After a brief visit of Betancuria, your walk will begin in Vega de Rio Palmas, a valley that stays relatively green and fertile from the rainwater that runs off the surrounding hills. If you wish, you can visit the nearby 18th-century Church of Nuestra Señora de la Peña, which holds a sacred statuette of Fuerteventura’s patron saint. Continuing on, you will pass through a nature reserve with abundant endemic plants, unusual geological formations and birds such as the endangered Canarian Egyptian Vulture. The hike will last about 1.5 hours and end at Buen Paso, a road from which you will transfer to the coastal town of Ajuy. A short walk to the ocean will bring you to the sea caves, which geologists say were formed eons ago in the oldest rocks in the Canary Islands. They are quite the sight to behold.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Follow a hiking path through the island’s interior and take in the scenic beauty.
• Look for native flora and fauna that the guide will point out and describe.
• Behold the voluminous sea caves at Ajuy, a geological phenomenon well worth exploring.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Spend hours relaxing at the dune-bordered beach at Corralejo or choose to be dropped off in town to shop and dine. The beach lies within the Corralejo Natural Park, which features the largest expanse of sand dunes in the Canary Islands. The coast offers a startling contrast to that desert-like landscape as the waters that lap the shore are bright turquoise and crystal-clear. You can’t help but relax in this visually dramatic, yet carefree setting. As an alternative, you can opt to explore Corralejo on your own. There is plenty to keep you occupied in this waterfront town. You might spend your time browsing the one-of-a-kind shops and dining on the local cuisine. Seafood such as stewed parrotfish is surely the most popular dish with goat stew running a close second. Wherever you wander, the ambiance will be laid-back and inviting as befitting a traditional Canarian beach town.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Relax however you wish on the wide, lengthy beach within the Corralejo Natural Park.
• Marvel at the sand dunes that border the beach, which are the largest in the Canary Islands.
• Opt for the alternative: shopping and dining in the town of Corralejo.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Enjoy a carefree day on two of the most popular beaches on Fuerteventura, an island known for having as many as 80 official beaches. You will first visit the beach within the Corralejo Natural Park, whose backdrop is the largest expanse of sand dunes in the Canary Islands. It is an ideal setting to stretch out in the sun and do nothing more ambitious than while away the hours. The beach is so large that you can easily find a secluded spot where the only people that you see will be the windsurfers offshore. Later in the day, you will head for an urban beach at Caleta de Fuste, a town just south of Puerto del Rosario. This stretch of sand rims a sheltered cove with shops and restaurants within easy walking distance. The tower near the end of the beach was built in the 18th century to defend the island from pirates.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Relax on two vastly different beaches; one surrounded by desert dunes, the other urban.
• Spend the time however as you please without a care in the world.
• Take advantage of the shops and restaurants near the urban beach in Caleta de Fuste.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring a towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.