Room with a view. Private pool. No hotel key required.

Sun beating down. Back doors flung open to a golden beach. Nothing planned beyond sunrise and a swim.

This is our complete 7-night Fuerteventura campervan road trip — the route, the park-ups, the surf spots, the natural pools and the things we wish we’d known before we landed.

We couldn’t bring our own van to the Canaries, so we flew in and hired one. And honestly? Fuerteventura is built for vanlife. Wide roads, big skies, endless coast — and just enough wildness to make every day feel like an adventure.

A week of simple living, Atlantic surf, and a reminder that sometimes the smaller the van, the bigger the view.

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Itinerary Overview

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Detailed Itinerary (7 Nights)

Day 1 – Corralejo → El Cotillo

The start of our Fuerteventura campervan road trip. We landed mid-afternoon, grabbed the van in Corralejo and headed straight west across the island.
First stop: El Cotillo. We hired surfboards, threw them in the van and drove straight to the coast.

Our park-up for the night was a simple clifftop spot above Playa del Castillo, found on Park4Night.

Back doors open.
Atlantic breeze rolling through the van.
First sunset of the trip.

In other words… perfect.

We hired with Caravamos in Corralejo — highly recommended.

➡️ Official site: Caravamos

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Day 2 – El Cotillo

We woke to the sound of waves and didn’t move the van all day.

Morning surf at Playa del Castillo.
Afternoon swims.
Kids exploring rock pools.

Sometimes the best vanlife days are the simplest ones — when you find a great spot and stay exactly where you are.

Dinner came from the tiny van kitchen, eaten outside while the sun dropped into the Atlantic.

Private pool for the day?

The entire ocean.

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Day 3 – Faro El Tostón & Natural Pools

We started the day at Faro El Tostón, the lighthouse standing watch over the island’s rugged northwest coast.

From there we headed into the nearby dunes. Pure white sand, and not a cloud in the brilliant blue sky.

We stopped at Playa de Los Charcos, where volcanic rock forms a series of sheltered natural pools known locally as Piscinas Naturales.

Beyond the lava shelves the Atlantic was crashing hard, but inside the pools the water was calm, clear and full of fish. It felt like swimming in a natural aquarium.

The kids spent hours hopping between tidal pools spotting tiny fish and crabs while we floated in the warm water.

Nearby we also stumbled across Popcorn Beach, where strange white coral fragments cover the shoreline — thousands of tiny pieces that really do look like popcorn.

By evening we parked up along the coast with a perfect view back toward the lighthouse and a stunning sunset.

Best part?

Our own private rockpool sat just a few steps from the campervan — literally on the other side of the sliding door.

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Day 4 – South to Jandía

After one last dip in our private rockpool we began the drive south toward the wide open landscapes of the Jandía Peninsula.

The scenery slowly changes as you head down the island — greener hills give way to bigger skies, long empty roads and vast stretches of sand.

Our destination was Playa de Risco del Paso, one of the most beautiful beaches on the peninsula.

Here the coastline forms a huge natural sandbar, and when the tide drops shallow turquoise lagoons appear between the beach and the open ocean. The lagoons form naturally behind the sandbar, leaving calm pools perfect for paddling, and teeming with little fish!

It’s also a famous spot for wind and kite surfers, with steady winds sweeping across the bay and miles of open sand.

We parked up right behind the beach and spent the afternoon doing very little at all.

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Day 5 – Cofete / Jandía / Ajuy

This was the biggest exploration day of our Fuerteventura campervan road trip — heading south into the wild landscapes of the Jandía Peninsula.

We started in Morro Jable, stocking up on supplies before leaving the easier coastal roads behind.
The road toward Cofete

Next we set off toward Playa de Cofete, one of the island’s most legendary beaches.

The road climbs high above the coastline, winding along the cliffs on loose gravel with tight bends and no barriers. It was fine… until someone appeared coming the other way.

In a campervan the progress was slow, so we decided not to push all the way down to the beach. Instead we stopped at the Mirador de Cofete.

From here the view was incredible — miles of empty sand backed by jagged mountains and the Atlantic crashing below.

Even from above, Cofete felt like the edge of the world.

If you do venture down to the beach, check your rental agreement first — some hire companies aren’t keen on the road.

Arco de las Peñitas

Next we headed inland to Arco de las Peñitas.

The climb to the arch is short but hot, following a dusty trail up through the rocks. At the top sits a huge natural stone arch with wide views across the valley.

The real highlight for the kids though was the wildlife — dozens of little Barbary ground squirrels popping out of the rocks and scurrying around our feet.

Ajuy — black sand and sea caves

By late afternoon we reached Ajuy, home to the dramatic black sand of Playa de Ajuy.

The volcanic beach feels completely different to the pale dunes elsewhere on the island. A short coastal walk leads to enormous sea caves carved into the cliffs by the Atlantic swell.

We had planned to stay the night by the beach…

…but a forecast storm meant the parking area was closed.

Yes — it actually rained on us in Fuerteventura.

Mirador de Sicasumbre

Instead we headed inland and spent the night at Mirador Astronómico de Sicasumbre.

This mountain viewpoint is one of the island’s designated dark-sky stargazing spots, far from towns and light pollution.

The clouds rolled in before nightfall so the stars never appeared, but the views were still spectacular — huge open panoramas across the island toward the Jandía Peninsula and the ocean beyond.

Wind sweeping across the hills.
Storm clouds building in the distance.
A van parked on top of the island.

Not quite the stargazing night we hoped for — but still a pretty special place to end the day.

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Day 6 – Inland Volcanoes & Northern Dunes

After days of coastlines and surf, it was time for a change of scenery. The inland of Fuerteventura feels almost otherworldly — volcanic craters, desert landscapes, and shifting sand dunes stretching as far as the eye can see.

Our first stop was Betancuria, a historic inland village with whitewashed houses, narrow cobbled streets, and the calm pace of a town untouched by the beaches. It’s a lovely place to stretch your legs, grab some lunch, and soak up some local history.

Next up was Calderón Hondo, an extinct volcanic crater. The hike is short but rewarding — just don’t fall in!

We then drove through Corralejo Natural Park, a stunning stretch of dunes and desert landscapes along the northern tip of the island. Shifting sands, volcanic rocks, and wide open skies make it feel cinematic — like a desert on another planet.

By evening we reached Playa Alzada, and luck was on our side. We scored a prime beach-front park-up with the van practically on the sand, doors opening to turquoise waves and golden dunes.

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Day 7 — Corralejo Wind Down

We spent the morning soaking up our final hours at Playa Alzada, sunrise yoga, finally finishing the holiday read! It was the perfect end to our Fuerteventura campervan road trip.

With an early flight the next morning, the smart move was to head back to Corralejo and park overnight at the van hire HQ. We emptied the tanks, brushed out the sand, and made full use of the on-site shower facilities.

That evening, we took a short stroll into town and treated ourselves to paella on the beach, watching the sun dip behind the Atlantic one last time. Calm, happy, and perfectly sunkissed.

First thing the next morning, we drove the hire car to the airport and said goodbye to Fuerteventura.

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The Reality of Vanlife (To Have This — You’ve Gotta Do This)

For every golden sunset shot, there’s:

• Showering in a cold rinse-off
• Emptying the toilet cassette
• Sand everywhere
• Cooking in the wind
• Figuring out water refills

But that’s the point.

To wake up on a beach with no one around… you trade comfort for freedom.

And it’s always worth it.

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The Van — Peugeot Boxer

Our hire van was a 2022 Peugeot Boxer, Dreamer D55 UP

• Solar panels for off grid living
• Well stocked with bedding, cooking utensils, espresso maker, cutlery and cups/plates. It also had camping chairs, a table, and a much needed beach umbrella.
• Compact but clever layout
• Rear fixed bed
• Small kitchen unit, large fridge
• Storage for boards
• There was no hot water but who needs that luxury!

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Swim & Surf Highlights

• Morning surf at Playa del Castillo
• Natural rock pool swims near Faro El Tostón
• Atlantic dip at Risco del Paso and floating in the lagoons

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VanFam4 Tips for Fuerteventura

• Wind can be strong — park nose into it.
• Carry extra water.
• Download offline maps (signal drops inland).
• Respect beach parkups — leave no trace.

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