Snorkeling in Fuerteventura – Complete guide to the best spots

The beautiful island of Fuerteventura in the Canaries is famous for its long sandy beaches and one of the most famous holiday destinations in Europe among water sports fanatics. Due to the excellent wind conditions, it is a paradise for wind- and kite surfers, but the clear and marine life rich waters of the Atlantic Ocean feature some excellent snorkel places too. This guide includes everything you need to know about when and where to go snorkeling in Fuerteventura!

Fuerteventura snorkeling conditions

Fuerteventura enjoys a balanced climate with warm summers and mild winters, therefore water sports can be practiced all year round. To enjoy the most ideal conditions for snorkeling in Fuerteventura, the best time to visit the island is between June and October when the ocean temperature reaches 22-23C/71.6-73.4F and the average air temperature is 24-26 C/75.2-78.8F.

The island is a popular winter holiday destination too with pleasant weather to soak up the sun and take refreshing dips in the ocean. If you wish to come between December and April, make sure to bring a snorkeling wetsuit since the water temperature drops to 19-21 C/66.2-69.8F during these months.

Tip: as mentioned above, due to the constant wind, most Fuerteventura beaches are ideal for wind and kitesurfing, and only a few feature good conditions for snorkeling. If this would be a priority for you, consider visiting the less-windier Canary Islands such as Lanzarote, Tenerife, Gran Canaria.

Best places to go snorkeling in Fuerteventura

El Cotillo

El Cotillo is a popular, yet still quiet village on the North West coast of Fuerteventura with a few hotels and restaurants around. This small village is proud to feature a wonderful landscape and the best beaches on the island that are often mentioned among the top beaches of Spain.

The El Cotillo coast is pretty rough with high waves especially on the northern side, but the sheltered lagoons have shallow, calm water where swimming is safe. For good visibility, arrive early in the morning so you can experience some of the best snorkeling in Fuerteventura while observing various fish species swimming around you.

Isla de Lobos

The small Lobos island lies just 2 kilometers north of Fuerteventura and reachable with a short ferry ride from Corralejo. Since the area is strictly protected and declared as a natural reserve, the water is super clear here that attracts a wide variety of marine species including turtles and rays.

The deep reef that is stretching in front of Lobos Lighthouse is an excellent diving spot with big groupers and gorgonian fans to see, while the shallower lagoons on the wind-protected southern side of the island are known as the best places to snorkel in Fuerteventura.

Find Hotels in Fuerteventura

Costa Calma

The 2 km long golden sand beach of Costa Calma is considered as the best beach of the island, so it is not a surprise why the region became a trendy tourist resort. There are many great hotels, apartments, restaurants, bars and shops along the beach offering an ideal place for a relaxing yet adventure-filled vacation.

Water sports such as jet skiing, banana rides and windsurfing are popular. The wind often gets strong during the summer months, but on wind-free days Costa Calma could be an ideal spot to do some snorkeling in Fuerteventura. Put your mask on and swim around the rocky areas to find colorful parrotfish and wrasses besides the Classic greyish Atlantic fish species.

Tip: Make sure you read Spain snorkeling tips to learn what are the country’s best places to snorkel!

Caleta de Fuste

This new low-rise resort town on the east coast is a perfect family holiday spot thanks to its sheltered, shallow beach and extensive play areas along the shore. Golf lovers will appreciate the area’s golf courses (Salinas Golf Club and Fuerteventura Golf Club), shopaholics the large selection of shops in the Atlantico Commercial Center, foodies the excellent restaurants that serve international cuisine besides delicious Spanish dishes.

Caleta de Fuste is centered around a wide man-made sandy bay (Playa del Castillo) that offers plenty of space for all types of beachgoers. When the water is calm and clear, you can observe lots of fish inside the bay too, but for the best snorkeling experience, swim to the right along the rocky shore (into the direction of the shopping center) where bigger shoals of fish, crabs and sea stars can be found.

Morro Jable

Morro Jable on the south of Fuerteventura might be not the easiest location to get to on the island (it is an 80 km long drive from the airport) but those who choose this small town as their holiday destination or even just for a day trip won’t be disappointed. The area is famous for its wonderful white beaches, the Sperm Whale skeleton, the Loggerhead Turtle Nursery, the Jandi Natural Park and also known as one of the best Fuerteventura snorkeling places.

Get into the water from the Morro Jable bay and swim towards the rocky areas to see various fish species like barracudas, breams besides moray eels and octopus. Don’t miss out swimming around the cliffs in front of the church where often large rays can be found!

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