Fuerteventura by car: breathtaking views in freedom

Traveling around Fuerteventura with a rental car (if you don’t already have one here), can be an opportunity to enjoy the breathtaking views and the divine roads that exist in these parts.

It is clear that everything depends on your needs, on the style of holiday you want to do and, above all, on the budget you have foreseen.
If you want a sea and resort holiday without leaving your village because there is everything there (shops, restaurants, entertainment, beach, etc.), then it is clear that you just need to take a taxi or a local bus from the airport, download the suitcases at the hotel, enjoy the warm sun of Fuerteventura and, redo the journey in the opposite direction on the way back.

My travel style

Contrary to what was described above, I just can’t stand still. When I get back to the airport my Canon has to fry and, for this reason, as soon as I arrive in Fuerteventura, the rental car is a must, as in many other islands where you can’t move quickly by public transport or on foot.

Petrol in the Canaries is really cheap compared to the rest of Europe and traveling by car won’t be as expensive as in other countries. During my first trip to Lanzarore the price per liter of petrol was around one Euro. It was 2019, the year before the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic. I had rented an Opel Corsa and with €20 I stayed around for almost 4 days, touring every corner of the island (at moderate speed as a tourist of course).
At Christmas 2022, when I finally managed to return to the Canary Islands, the price of petrol in Fuerteventura was slightly higher and, I won’t deny that I was a little worried when I saw the “gift” that the car rental gave me when I arrived at the parking lot . I had asked for a car with an automatic gearbox (any one because for years I’ve been used to driving with the sequential outside the city, then when the frenzy of the traffic takes over I don’t want to worry except for the music on the radio or the crazy people trying to cut you off) .
Probably, due to the holidays there were only a few cars left and I found myself with a crazy Cupra Formentor which, a little intimidated, took me around the Christmas days.
Quite a different thing than my old Ford.

The spectacular roads of Fuerteventura

Needless to tell you that traveling by car in Fuerteventura is a pleasure especially for the endless roads that you will find.
Roads that pass between sand dunes, roads along the sea and sometimes difficult dirt roads. But the pleasure and beauty of Fuerteventura’s scenery while traveling leisurely by car observing all the beauty of the island, has no equal.

Being able to stop anywhere to take pictures or admire the landscape, or exit the highway because you see signs for a beach is the best of life. But the best thing about traveling by car in Fuerteventura and traveling in general is being able to stop off at a roadside restaurant.
Then discover new dishes, meet new people and talk to strangers. It is true that traveling on public transport you meet many people and make many friends (years of travel by train and international bus have taught me this), but the warmth of an island submerged in sun, sand and sea drags you to chat and new acquaintances.

There is little to do.

The other drivers

Here we would have to make a somewhat long discussion. There were moments where everyone seemed super nice and polite to me, others where some were honking and overtaking at high speed. Driving a car on the streets of Fuerteventura is definitely different than driving on the crazy Italian roads where I learned to drive.
The streets are freer, people are more relaxed and it often happened that someone stopped to let me back on the road after I stopped to take some side photos on the dirt road at the edge.
In my country it is often a war to get back on track if you go out for any reason.
Kindness is a rarity.

The petrol stations

At the first gas station it took me a while to figure out how it worked.
Immediately outside the Fuerteventura airport there is a petrol station but obviously there was a queue and I waited for the next one to fill the tank.
Result:
There were even more people because it was near the mall!
When I realized that everyone was making do and the gas station staff were busy at the checkout or at the bar, I went it alone, hoping to do everything right.
The Cupra Formentor scared me a bit and, once I made sure that it didn’t work with the flow canalizer and a full tank of plutonium like the De Lorean from “Back to the Future”, I decided to get petrol.
The second stop on Christmas day was easier.
In a petrol station in the middle of nowhere (one of the few open that day), it was me, the cashier, a couple of travelers (I think English) and three people at the bar (including the bartender).

In order not to risk it, I also took a few bottles of water and something to eat.
From Puerto del Rosario to Cofete beach, with detours to take pictures, stops, walks and relaxation on the beaches, I counted a day of 136 km by car, 11 km on foot and temperatures between 24 and 27° C (75-80° F).
Having lots of water with you and some crap to eat if you don’t find a restaurant open on a public holiday is always better.

But a Christmas like this, folks, I’ll remember it all my life!

Show!