Top 10 Things to Do With Kids in Fuerteventura

Keep the kids happy with our comprehensive guide to holidays in Fuerteventura for families

Simon Batchelor
Simon Batchelor 34 Min Read

Fuerteventura is, without a doubt, a stunning destination for a family holiday, with fantastic beaches and clear blue seas. Obviously, this makes it a perfect destination for a family beach holiday. But what do you do when the kids are bored playing in the hotel pool or building sand castles?

As this is a less developed island, it means entertainment facilities for families are not as common as on the larger islands such as Lanzarote or Tenerife. That should not put you off, though, as there are plenty of things to do with kids in Fuerteventura; you just have to search for them a little harder.

Fortunately, we have your back covered and have done all the hard work for you. You can keep the whole family happy and entertained with minimal effort if you plan, and use our guide to choose the top things to do with your kids.

1

Oasis Park Zoo

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  • Free collection and drop off
  • Free animal shows are included in the ticket price.
  • Plenty to keep the family entertained

Oasis Park is the perfect day trip for the whole family. It is the only animal park on the island and is large enough to fill a day out.

The park is located in the south of Fuerteventura at Carr. Gral. Jandía s/n, 35267, La Lajita, Las Palmas. It is effortless to access as they have a free bus service that collects guests from the most popular tourist areas. If you choose to make your own way, the parking is free, or you can use the public bus network with lines 01, 09, 10 and 25 all passing by the Zoo.

The ethos behind the Zoo is to help educate the kids, and adults in many cases, about sustainability, bio-diversity and animal welfare.

Oasis Park started life in 1985 as a camel farm that also grew small plants. It is now over 1,000,000 m2 in size, with 3000 animals from 1500 species and 8000 plants—all pretty impressive.

Daily, there are three shows with sea lions, reptiles and birds of prey on the entertainment schedule. These are free and are at different times of the day so that you can see all three shows in a one-day visit.

They also offer six experiences that need to be pre-booked via their website. These include up-close encounters with Camels, Lemurs, Sea Lions, Giraffes, Elephants, and an immersive botanical experience. Any of these would make for an incredible day. Although not cheap, you would be supporting a very worthwhile cause whilst giving your kids an unforgettable day out.

The standard entry ticket, which is good value for money, includes access to the 250,000 m2 Botanical Garden, Migratory Bird Reserve and an eco-tour. It doesn’t stop there, though. The whole family can enjoy four other free experiences: the Rescue monkey tour, Oasis Farm, Elephant time and Hippo time.

Inside there are two restaurants currently open, Oasis Market and Malvarrisco. Restaurant Patio Majoraro is temporarily closed and has no scheduled re-opening date. The restaurants serve international and Canarian food based on their general ethos of sustainability. They use only local and seasonal produce and do not charge inflated prices.

There are also snack bars and vending machines dotted around. Still, one superb touch is the option to buy picnic baskets so the whole family can enjoy eating near the crocodile lagoon or in the botanical gardens.

Oasis Park is an excellent way to spend a fun and educational family day out.

2

Acua Water Park

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  • Free collection and drop off
  • Plenty of rides and activities
  • Dedicated Children’s Area for little ones

Acua Water Park is in the Northern tourist area of Corralejo in Avda. Nuestra Sra Del Carmen, 41. 35660. It is the only water park on the island, meaning it has a captive audience, and this does show in how shabby it is in places

I don’t know any kids that don’t love a water park, except those who are afraid of water. Every parent knows a full day of activity, swimming, paddling and climbing, guarantees them a quiet relaxing evening. A chilled evening while the little angels recharge their batteries overnight for the next day’s onslaught.

Set on a site of 25,000 m2, the park offers 14 water-based attractions and a specialist children’s club for toddlers.

Access to the park is simple. By pre-booking, you can use the Parks own bus service to collect and drop off from Caleta de Fuste, Costa Calma, and Jandía. If you choose to go on the spur of the moment, the number 06 and 08 busses pass nearby, and parking is free if you arrive by car.

The park has plenty of types of slides for the family to enjoy. The kids will love the exciting sounding names such as Splash Race Track, Dark Cave and KamiKazes, which can get you up to 30 Km/h. Let’s hope Traffico (The dreaded Traffic Police) are not at the bottom, booking you for breaking the 20 Km/h urban speed limit; times are tough, so you never know.

After some high-octane rides, you can chill out on the Lazy River. The dedicated animation staff synchronises the Activity pool, which is free. They organise fun water games in the Activity pool, such as water polo and basketball. For one last thrill, there is the giant wave pool which can produce different sizes and shapes of waves to keep the kids on their toes.

For your safety, there are first responders situated throughout the site.

For younger visitors, Acua Water Park has a kids’ zone in the centre of the park. It has rides appropriate for their age brackets, such as mini slides, mini soft slides, mini-golf, and a children’s lake with water jets full of bright colours. Best of all, a free sun lounger area is just metres away. Parents can relax and enjoy a well-deserved rest while keeping an eye on their children.

There are several restaurants and ice cream parlours on-site and a gift shop so that you can buy some rubbish the kids insist on, which will be in the bin before flying home!

The park used to open all year round but now opens just before Easter and closes in November.

3

Water Activities

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  • Massive choice of activities
  • Something for all ages
  • Suitable for all budgets

Being an island means being surrounded by water, and the seas around Fuerteventura are crystal clear and teaming with wildlife.

You can have great fun just paddling or swimming with the family. Still, as an island, water activities abound, and Fuerteventura has a vast choice.

Snorkelling: An activity all the family, except the tiny ones, can thoroughly enjoy. You can walk into the sea wherever you are or go on an organised boat trip with snorkelling included. You can rent the necessary equipment in all the main resorts.

Surfing: If you already surf as a family, you can hire the equipment at the many surf stores. If you don’t surf, Fuerteventura has surf schools dotted around the coast. All of the surf schools accommodate children and total novices.

Jet-powered surfing: A new activity on the island is Jet powered surfing. On an electric-powered board, you get to speed through the clear waters off Corralejo beach. All equipment and training are included, and the experience has been likened to snowboarding on the powder.

JetSki Hire: This is an incredible adrenalin thrill for older kids. To ride them solo, they must be over 16. A passenger must adhere to height restrictions, so check before booking. There are only three authorised Jet ski stations – South: Jetski Morro Jable and Costa Calma- East: Jetski Caleta de Fuste, and – North: Jetski Corralejo. Jet skis riders technically need a boat license in Fuerteventura, so the three stations were set up to get around this.

Fishing: Again, you can go it alone and buy some fishing gear or even nets for the little ones to check out the rock pools or go on an organised fishing trip. I like organised trips as the skippers know where the fish tend to hide and can help teach the kids everything regarding bait and rods.

Kayaking: A great family experience as the little ones can be your passengers in the kayaks. They are plentiful to hire and cheap.

Giant Pedalo with slide: What great fun these are for the family. The kids will enjoy their private slide and swimming in the very safe waters. When they get tired, they can have a leisurely trip back to shore while you get a workout peddling furiously.

Dolphin watching: A massive range of boats offer dolphin spotting tours. Although there are no guarantees of spotting dolphins or even whales, the kids will love being out at sea. They will learn plenty of interesting facts from knowledgeable guides.

Glass-bottomed boat: This is one activity that gets the little ones fascinated. Being safe inside a boat with panoramic underwater views astounds them when they see all the coloured fish—one to choose for a great family trip.

Boat Trips: Fuerteventura is awash with boats for rent on organised trips or for your private use. It’s down to you and the family whether you prefer a sailing ship, catamaran, speedboat or even a pirate ship. Yes, there is a pirate ship where for 4 hours, everyone gets to be a pirate. There is pirate-themed entertainment, pirate games, and a zip line. No mention of a gangplank, though!

4

Go Karting

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  • Great Family Fun
  • Exciting for the Kids
  • Play areas and food available

Are your family petrolheads or love car racing in any form? If so, they will love spending time at Gran Karting or Karting Ocios Del Sur Tamaretilla.

Gran Karting has a 1000-metre-long outdoor track. It is based in Puerto del Rosario at Poligon Industrial Risco Prieto, Calle Heneken, 35600, just a 10-minute drive from the airport.

Karting Ocios Del Sur Tamaretilla is 20 minutes North of Costa Calma in the south and has a 1500-metre track.

Public bus services with numbers 02, 03, 10 and 16 pass near Gran Karting and numbers 01, 04, and 09 pass near Karting Ocios Del Sur Tamaretilla if leaving from Costa Calma.

Both tracks are open daily from 11:00 to 20:00 for the whole family to test their racing skills.

Karts are available for kids aged six upwards as long as they are over 1.25 metres tall. They have to be able to reach the pedals; it is not a thing against little people. And for everyone else, as long as you can fit in behind the wheel, you can drive. If you have kids that are not ready for the driving experience, they can still participate in the fun as a passenger.

The laid-back staff are patient and knowledgeable during the safety briefing. It is essential to ensure everyone gets maximum thrills for minimum spills.

Both sites have on-site children’s play areas and eating facilities. Gran Karting has a restaurant with views over the track offering hot and cold tapas and homemade pizzas.

5

Fly a Kite

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  • Cheap Family Fun
  • Every Family member can join in
  • Outdoors and Active

Now, this is going to feel a bit old school for some people, but this will be a novel change for the computer and internet generation. There is something very grounding about flying a kite.

It may look easy, but it isn’t, and there are a vast array of kite shapes, some for beginners and other forms for the more experienced kite flyers.

But for families, it is an activity every child can enjoy. With Fuerteventura having warm summer trade winds, it is the perfect environment for kite flying, and the West coast has the strongest winds.

You can fly a kite from pretty much anywhere, and with kites taking up so little space, you can take them with you on days out and easily give the kids hours of entertainment.

You could bring kites with you, but in a small village on the island called El Cotillo there is a dedicated kite shop called “Flying Family”. Not only do they sell every type of kite you can imagine, and some you have never thought of, they provide kite flying lessons. See, I told you it wasn’t that easy.

Kite flying is so popular on the island that there is a vast Kite Festival in Fuerteventura annually, usually in November, on the dunes near Corralejo. It started as an amateur event in 1987 and has grown to around 200 kites in the 2022 festival.

So if you are fortunate enough to be on the island at that time, go and see the spectacular kites, or take your own and join in.

To get the older ones interested in what they may think is an activity that is a bit lame, you can tell them about fighting kites. These kites come with steel or glass-coated lines to cut your opponent’s kite free, making you the winner. Kite fighting has become so popular and dangerous in some Asian countries that it has been banned. Advise them they need to get some practice in first before even thinking about this sport.

6

Visit Lanzarote

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  • Ferries run every day and are very frequent
  • You can take your hire car
  • You can fly to Lanzarote from Fuerteventura

Lanzarote has a much more significant tourist influx than Fuerteventura. Therefore the fun and entertainment options are fantastic. You can cherry-pick some activities for the family to take advantage of the choices Lanzarote offers.

You can catch the ferry to Lanzarote from Corralejo. You will arrive at Playa Blanca around half an hour after departure, about €18-20 per person lighter, although there are discounts for kids.

The ferries leave Fuerteventura at 06:15 and continue throughout the day. The last ferry leaves Playa Blanca at 20:00, so there is plenty of time to enjoy a day in Lanzarote. 

Operating the crossing are three ferry companies, Lineas Romero, Fred Olsen and Naviera Armas, so it is worth comparing pricing for different crossing times.  

Be aware that the ferries are very prompt and generally leave on time, so allow sufficient time for ticketing and boarding.

One advantage if you have a hire car is that most ferries allow you to take your vehicle between the islands. Still, it is advisable to book early as places are limited and check if your insurance covers you for travel between the islands.

Lineas Romero – This company is usually the cheapest. But, it is the only one that does not transport cars, only foot passengers. The crossing takes the longest at around 45 minutes as the ferries are small, which is worth noting if you plan to travel on a day with the sea expected to be rough. There is nothing like sea-sick kids to ruin the day!

Naviera Armas – These are the national carrier. Everything about them is mid-range, the price, the journey time and the ferry sizes. You can take your car, and the journey will take around 35 minutes.

Fred Olsen – These are the Rolls Royce service of this ferry route. They operate super fast ferries, which take just 25 minutes to cross the 13 kilometres. The boats themselves are of better quality, and the service is more akin to the ferries we are familiar with in Northern Europe. Again you can take your car on a Fred Olsen ferry.

You can also fly from Fuerteventura to Lanzarote with Binter Canarias, Air Europa and CanaryFly. All these airlines service the route, which takes about 2 hours as it goes via Gran Canaria. Prices are steep unless you are a resident of the Canaries, then they are cheaper than getting an Uber to the pub in the UK.

Once in Lanzarote, the options for a family day out are huge. You can learn more by reading our in-depth guide to Top 15 Things to Do With Kids in Lanzarote.

7

Family Beach Day

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  • Something for everyone
  • Time to focus on the kids
  • As active or as chilled as you want

So you’ve taken the plunge and decided on a family holiday to Fuerteventura – great choice! You can rely on the weather and amazing beaches.

From my experience, when my kids were little, they would happily spend the entire holiday on the beach and never get bored. They were similar ages, so they had matching interests. I can imagine it is a little more challenging if you have a toddler and a teen to amuse simultaneously on a beach.

First, you need to choose what style of beach would suit your family. Is it a windswept, rugged surfer-style beach or a super family-friendly beach close to amenities and facilities? With over 80 designated beaches, 6 of which are Blue Flag standard, you must choose carefully to get the best out of a beach day.

Here are some tips and tricks, though, to help a family beach day go smoothly. You will already know you have to be ready to be a loaded pack animal, as the number of things you need to take with you can be huge. 

If you are going to a more secluded beach without facilities, make sure you pack food, drinks, sunscreen, toys and a clothing change for the little ones. It seems obvious but if you don’t, the day will go downhill quickly. If your chosen beach has amenities, you can take less, but my experience says take everything because the one thing you forget will be the one thing they will want.

The main fun of a family beach holiday is that everyone gets time together in a relaxed and fun environment. Parents are less stressed without daily chores and work, so now is the opportunity to enjoy time with the kids. You can hire pedaloes, snorkel, surf or participate in other organised activities. Still, you can’t beat having close family time on a perfect white beach.

If beach days are wearing a bit thin, here are a few ideas to keep your beach holiday from going sour.

Sandcastles: We all love building them, but why not pack some favourite action figures, such as animals or princesses? These can amuse the kids by developing stories around their castles. At the same time, you must keep running to the sea with a bucket because the moat keeps emptying. I told you I’ve been here before!

Send them on a scavenger hunt: Create a list of things they can find as a team, like shells, coloured stones or sharks. I was joking about the sharks, and Fuerteventura doesn’t really have any, but if they should find one, it is best they tell an adult.

Balls: Beach football, volleyball or rounders are a great favourite for the older ones.

Picnics: Have a full-on beach picnic. Either pre-make everything or do it on the fly on the beach. But watch out for flies, as the kids don’t like sharing food with them.

Try Conchology: The correct term for collecting and studying shells. Get the kids to collect some special ones to take home, which they can use on an art project during the Winter months.

Synchronised wave jumping: You can’t beat all the family and little ones, all jumping over waves simultaneously. It’s great fun and will soon tire them out.

8

Bike or E-Bike Fun

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  • Great cheap family experience
  • Builds Confidence
  • E-bikes great for the less active

Cycling in Fuerteventura is a pleasure as, for the most part, it is reasonably flat. With stunning scenery, volcanic backdrops, sand dunes and amazing beaches, there are numerous breathtaking places to explore on a bike.

Not only great exercise but sustainable, and there are plenty of places, over 20 shops, to rent bikes from on the island.

Most rental shops now offer E-bikes for hire, making the experience a little less taxing for those less active. Maybe, it should be those people without electrical assistance?

Kids bikes are very well catered for with super mountain bikes, and if they are not yet confident riders, you can rent them with stabilisers or training wheels. If you have a toddler, there are trailers which bikes can tow or bike seats with safety harnesses to attach to the back of an adult bike.

Shop staff are highly knowledgeable about the best routes to follow. Tap into their local information and explain your family’s abilities; they can suggest a ride that fits in with everyone.

You can hire from some shops by the hour. It is best to research a bike store near you and call them or visit the shop to discuss what you want from your family biking experience. Then leave it to the experts to help choose the correct equipment for your family.

Rentals generally come with everything you need, such as a pump, repair kit, helmet, lock and, with some companies, a small map. 

A family bike ride is another memorable experience for the kids at very little expense. So go on, get on your bike!

9

Museums

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  • Fun and educational
  • A good way to amuse the kids if the weather turns
  • Free or very low cost

Fuerteventura has a massive network of places to visit that are of cultural interest. Most museums are either free entry or for a nominal charge.

They are not full-day trips but can be used as an educational distraction for a couple of hours.

Unusually these museums actively encourage interaction, so they are perfect for enquiring minds and sticky fingers!

Museo del Queso Majorero – Majorero Cheese Museum
This museum is a “must-visit” whilst in Fuerteventura. Here you will discover the process for making Majorero cheese and the peculiarities of the Majorero goat. At the end, you get the opportunity to taste this world-famous cheese. Wait till you see the kids’ faces after tasting it!

Museo de la Sal de Fuerteventura – Fuerteventura Salt Museum
Located less than 5 minutes from Caleta de Fuste, this museum shows how sea salt is obtained and its importance for humans. It originates from the late 18th century and also has an antique house of an original salt worker.

Casa Museo de Miguel de Unamuno – Miguel de Unamuno House Museum
Right in the centre of Puerto del Rosario, this museum recounts the four-month stay where the writer, playwright and philosopher lived during his exile in 1924. Although not famous to us in the UK, he was exiled for being a forward thinker.

Museo Arqueológico de Betancuria – Archaeological Museum of Betancuria
This house is built in the traditional Canarian architectural style. It houses the largest exhibition of works from the aborigines of Fuerteventura, the “majors”. The display has ceramics, carvings, utensils and other objects. There is also interesting information about how these primitives lived and their culture.

Centro de Arte Canario Casa Mané – Casa Mané Canarian Art Center
This picturesque house in Antiqua hosts the Museum of contemporary Canarian Art. There are paintings, sculptures and ceramics from more than 60 renowned Canarian artists.

Ecomuseo La Alcogida – Eco-museum La Alcogida
This “living” museum reconstructs an original town in Majorero. Located in Tefia, it is constructed of seven houses. Inside the houses, you will discover the daily activities of peasants and their lives in Fuerteventura. There are examples of the work tools they used and live demonstrations of farmers, ranchers and craftsmen.

Museo de la Pesca Tradicional – Traditional Fishing Museum
Set in a fantastic location is the Tostón Lighthouse, near El Cotillo, which is nearly 40 meters high. The museum educates you about the customs and techniques used by fishermen in the area.

Casa de Los Coroneles – House of the Colonels
This 17th-century Antigua mansion was the official residence of the colonels who governed the island of Fuerteventura. It was also designed as a fortress against rebelling locals but, fortunately, was never needed. It is interesting to walk through the rooms and halls and get a feel for the time, and you can also walk the battlements.

10

Visit Isla de Lobos

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  • Superb child-friendly Playa de la Concha
  • A unique experience
  • Limited for very young children

The tiny 4.68 square kilometres island of Los Lobos has been a nature reserve since 1982. It is uninhabited, although it does have four registered inhabitants. The name “Wolves Island” does not come from the wild dogs but from monk seals which lived there that were known as sea wolves.

You can get to the island easily using one of the regular routes provided by the ferries or water taxis from Corralejo. But there is a caveat. You must obtain authorisation to visit the island up to five days before your visit. The license is free, and you must carry it while visiting the island.

So what can you do with the kids on Los Lobos? Firstly, there is nothing here for really young ones, but that will be your choice as to visit or not. 

The main reason visitors head to the island is the stunning Playa de la Concha, a small sheltered lagoon with a sandy beach which is perfect for small children.

If you choose to visit, ensure you bring everything with you as there are no shops. Seriously, bring everything you might need. When visiting the island, you really should eat in the only restaurant in Los Lobos. It is family-run and, during peak periods, can be busy, so it is advisable to book a table as soon as you arrive on the island.

If the kids are older, you could rent bikes in Fuertaventura and bring them over on the ferry or water taxi. You can cycle the island, visit the spectacular viewing points, and stop at the Punta Martiño Lighthouse. There are walking trails all over the island, which you must keep to protect the natural habitat. 

There is fantastic snorkelling on the island, which would be an excellent activity for the whole family. Head for the old port “Pueritito de Lobos”. It is no longer a port but has incredible snorkelling with outstanding visibility underwater. Remember to bring your own gear as you cannot hire it anywhere.

I think the island offers a chance for the kids to see a different kind of world, without technology, roads, and cars and enjoy nature at its’ rawest. Only you know if your kids will enjoy the experience. Still, it is “an experience” and one not easily found in Europe.

Conclusion

Fuerteventura is known for its’ amazing beaches and clear, child-friendly seas. But if you are travelling as a family, you need more than those for a perfect family holiday. Keeping the kids happy ensures everyone has a holiday to remember. Fuerteventura is abundant in activities for all the family to enjoy, which is why it is such a popular family friendly holiday destination.

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I have lived in the Granada region of Spain for 18 years and still don't understand the Spanish and most likely never will. I live with my wife and two dogs in a Cortijo which is over a century old, made from stones, tree trunks and riverbed mud. I wouldn't have it any other way! Check me out at www.cortijoenrubite.com
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