Protected areas to visit in Fuerteventura

The Canary Islands with their spectacular variety of scenery is one of the Spanish territories where most protected areas are concentrated.  Both Lanzarote and Fuerteventura have been declared Biosphere Reserves due to the beauty of such marvelous places as Los Hervideros, the natural monument of the Tindaya mountain or the famous Corralejo sand dunes.

Fuerteventura has in total more than ten natural spaces specifically protected and through which we can travel from north to south and completely cover the whole island.

You can start from Wolfs' island which faces Lanzarote and the Natural Park of the Corralejo Sand Dunes as far as the Natural Park of Jandia, the largest of the island which covers almost the whole of the peninsula of the same name and is situated in the extreme south of Fuerteventura.

The southern area is traditionally a place for quiet tourism that fits perfectly with the natural environment where the hotels are situated.  Here you will find some of the best hotels in Fuerteventura such as the Iberostar Playa Gaviotas and the Playa Gaviotas Park, two of the most well maintained establishments that the Iberostar group have in the Canary Islands.  However, in the first phase that we are covering today, we start the journey in the well known Corralejo Park.

Corralejo as well as Jandia, is one of those places in Fuerteventura where the spectacular sand dunes have learnt to live with an excellent touristic infrastructure which highlights the level of hotels such as the Barcelo Corralejo Bay or the establishments of the Atlantis chain: Dunapark, the Grand Hotel Atlantis Bahia Real and the Suite Hotel Fuerteventura Resort, all of which are just a few meters from the Natural Park.

Belonging to the municipality of La Oliva, with a large network of trails, throughout the park, the area called Grandes Playas, the playa de Piedra Playa and monuments like the Church of Saint John the Baptist and others have been declared a Property of Cultural Interest.  These areas are interesting for those who wish to practice water sports and above all, hiking.

If we leave behind the Corralejo dunes and make our way more to the north of Fuerteventura and continue to the interior of the island we will find one of the most beautiful natural monuments of Fuerteventura, the Volcan de la Arena.

Situated just between Villaverde, La Oliva and Lajares, the landscape is volcanic with its own vegetation and characteristics (Malpais). You are allowed to climb to the top of the volcano (420 meters high) and it is well worth the journey and in particular the views you will contemplate from the top: the whole of the northern coast of Fuerteventura including Lanzarote.