1. Go to the Beach
The south of Fuerteventura is well known for its gorgeous beaches and clear turquoise waters. At just over 4 kilometres long, the beaches of Playa del Matorral and Playa de la Cebada run from the start of the Jandia strip into the heart of Morro Jable’s ‘old town’. Whether you’d rather sunbathe, snorkel, scuba dive, sail, stand up paddle (SUP), or enjoy a swim, it’s all available here. Dotted along the beaches are Chiringuitos (beachside bars), great places for lunch or an ice-cold beer.
2. Walk to the highest point in Fuerteventura
With 47,695 hectares of Protected Natural Areas and over 255 kilometers of marked hiking trails, there are plenty of great walks including the hike up to Pico de la Zarza. This is the highest point in Fuerteventura, at 807 meters. The trail, called PR FV 54, starts from the back of the Occidental Jandia Hotel, by the water pumping station. The walk takes approximately 3 hours to the summit and, although largely uphill, isn’t overly challenging. The peak is often shrouded in cloud, but on a clear day, you will be rewarded with the most stunning views along the virgin beaches of Sotavento towards the small village of Cofete. As with any walk in Fuerteventura, bring food, plenty of water, sun cream and ensure you have appropriate clothing and footwear.
3. Head out to Sea on a Boat Trip
Set sail in search of dolphins (and possibly whales), snorkel in the clear waters, and enjoy lunch onboard while moored beside the beach. A range of marine excursions are available from the harbour in Morro Jable. Enjoy family fun on a pirate ship, view the underwater world from a glass bottom boat, set sail aboard a catamaran, or head out on a personal sports fishing excursion. Most trips include pick-up and drop-off from your hotel, drinks and a light lunch.
4. Visit the Turtle Sanctuary and Huge Rays
Morro Jable Port is more than just a working harbour where you can watch the local fishermen land their catch. The Sea Turtle Recovery and Conservation Centre is free to enter (donations are welcome) and open to the public between 10am and 1pm Monday to Friday. Visitors can see a number of recovering loggerhead turtles and read all about the island’s turtle reintroduction program and conservation efforts. Many of the turtles here are recovering from injuries caused by marine debris such as nets, fishing hooks or discarded plastic rubbish. If you are really lucky, you’ll get the chance to watch the release of a turtle on Playa de la Cebada. Click here to see a video release.
Just in front of the Cofradia restaurant is one of the best places to see the enormous local stingrays. We regularly see two large butterfly rays, up to 5 common stingrays, 2 round stingrays and a few eagle rays – all from the comfort of dry land.
5. Enjoy fresh fish on Morro Jable’s seafront
Eat a traditional Canarian dish of pescado fresco in a seafront restaurant as the waves gently lap onto the shore just a few meters away. Fresh fish of the day is usually served a la espalda (butterflied) and served with papas arrugadas and mojo (wrinkly baby potatoes with coriander, paprika and garlic sauces) and salad. Fresh fish is usually, vieja (parrot fish), dorada (bream) or lubina (seabass). If you enjoy white wine, look out for Malvasia Seco from Lanzarote, a very crisp dry white wine that pairs beautifully with fish.
Other activities in the area: Visit the small remote villages of Cofete and Puertito de la Cruz via the dirt roads to the west of town, feed the parakeets along the Jandia strip or find your own private stretch of beach along the coastal footpath.
Further Reading
Morro Jable & Jandia
How to get to Morro Jable from the Airport
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