One of the most beautiful ways to get to know the island of Fuerteventura is to take a tour of some of its most spectacular lighthouses. The lighthouses of Fuerteventura are precisely that image that forms part of the essence of the island. When you are here, it is worth visiting, as they will make your trip a unique and unforgettable experience.
If you want to discover a special tour, you can’t miss the lighthouses of Fuerteventura to fill you with a different energy and appreciate the island from another perspective.
Join us on this trip that we have prepared from the Lopesan Group Blog and become one more “sailor” who lets himself be taken to port thanks to the light of the lighthouses.
- 1 Fuerteventura, the second island with the highest number of lighthouses in the archipelago
- 2 The best lighthouses of Fuerteventura
- 2.1 Punta Jandia’s lighthouse: the eternal watchtower of the southern coastline
- 2.2 Lighthouse of Morro Jable: a spectacle worthy of the island
- 2.3 Lighthouse of El Tostón or Cotillo: the watchtower of La Bocaina
- 2.4 Lighthouse of Martiño: an opportunity to get to know more about the islet of Lobos.
- 2.5 Lighthouse of La Entallada: one of the most surprising in Fuerteventura
- 2.6 Punta Pesebre Beacon: not a lighthouse, but with the same functions of one of them
- 3 Fuerteventura, a place to get to know
Fuerteventura, the second island with the highest number of lighthouses in the archipelago
Of the eight islands of the archipelago, Fuerteventura is the second island with the highest number of lighthouses. In its 320 kilometres, we can find innumerable towers that form the lighthouse circuit and constitute a magical source of light on this Canarian coastline.
For this reason, we have written this article with the aim of introducing you to this beautiful island through an incredible tour of its lighthouses.
The best lighthouses of Fuerteventura
Here is a list of some of Fuerteventura’s most spectacular lighthouses. Let’s get down to business!
Punta Jandia’s lighthouse: the eternal watchtower of the southern coastline
We begin our tour with one of Fuerteventura’s most southerly lighthouses: the Punta Jandía lighthouse.
Dating back to 1864, it was the first lighthouse on Fuerteventura and the second in the whole of the Canary archipelago. One of the best things about visiting this lighthouse is that it is located at the exact point where a tongue of land ends, offering a sample of the volcanic landscape typical of the island.
The views it offers of the Atlantic Ocean and the landscape of the area are breathtaking. The Punta Jandía lighthouse is 19 metres high, like many on the island. On the inside, it has an information centre, part of the interpretation centre of the Jandía Natural Park.
Here we can learn all about the geological features, flora and fauna of the Jandía peninsula. Undoubtedly, one of the reasons why Unesco declared Fuerteventura a Biosphere Reserve in 2009.
Lighthouse of Morro Jable: a spectacle worthy of the island
We go from one of the oldest lighthouses on Fuerteventura to one of the most recent ones. The Morro Jable lighthouse, built in 1996, is one of the tallest lighthouses on the island, being able to project the light with a range of 37 kilometres thanks to its height of 58.60 metres.
To reach this impressive concrete structure, which fits in perfectly in the area, we must reach the municipality of Pájara.
At this point, you will find the Matorral beach from where you can see this beautiful lighthouse, with its 4 kilometres of white sand. This beach allows you to lose yourself in its beauty and just relax and contemplate the spectacular views of the ocean.
If you stroll along the beach of El Matorral at night, one of the attractions you can’t miss are the flashes that the Morro Jable lighthouse emits into the Atlantic every 10 seconds. Under the layer of starry sky, they can be admired in this part of the island.
If you are staying near El Matorral beach in Jandía, be sure to take those long, relaxing walks along the promenade. To lose yourself in the crystal clear waters of the area with its incredible scenery. It really is a complete disconnection from the world.
The range of beaches in this area of Fuerteventura is truly enviable. You have different options to enjoy them to the fullest, whether you are looking for beaches with all the services, or others that are quieter and more isolated.
If your thing is practising different sports, activities such as hiking and even bike rides, this place will be one of the best options to go with the whole family during your stay on this beautiful Canary Island.
Lighthouse of El Tostón or Cotillo: the watchtower of La Bocaina
At the north of Fuerteventura, in Punta Ballena, we find the Tostón or Cotillo lighthouse. This is one of the unmistakable postcards of the island, due to its design of white and red stripes that characterize it and make it so special to visit and photograph.
It dates back to the 19th century and, thanks to different projects, the structure currently has three towers, of which the lighthouse itself is the tallest and the one that, for obvious reasons, attracts the most attention.
This lighthouse was a breakthrough for the area. In the past, the island was isolated, and the ships had to brought food to the inhabitants of this place.
In addition, Punta Ballena was an obligatory stop from Lanzarote on its way to the African coasts, which is why it gradually gained relevance as a commercial port.
Today, the lighthouse keepers act as restaurants that attract tourists, while the lighthouse structure itself is a museum with information on the traditional fishing of the area.
A curious fact about the name “Tostón” is that it is taken from the currency that came from Portugal to flood this area of the island. It was also considered of great importance, due to the commercial exchange with the area of Madeira.
If you are at this lighthouse in Fuerteventura, we invite you to follow the circular, self-guided trail. This 0.8 kilometre route allows you to learn about the history of the lighthouse in an enjoyable and very different way. Undoubtedly a very nice souvenir of this “lighthouse” tour of the island.
Lighthouse of Martiño: an opportunity to get to know more about the islet of Lobos.
If you are in the town of Corralejo, a visit to the islet of Lobos is a must-do. If you take the boat from the port to the islet, you will find the Martiño lighthouse, an incredible spot where you can enjoy excellent views.
A special feature of this lighthouse, which dates back to 1865, is that it has been a magnet and a source of inspiration for many writers: the poet Josefina Plá, who was born and spent her childhood there, and the journalist and writer José Rial, whose first novel, “Isla de Lobos”, is inspired by their experiences on this islet.
On the other hand, José Antonio Rial, son of the former journalist, who followed in his footsteps as writer too, is also part of the entourage of writers who were born here and found their first ideas here.
Finally, the mother of Alberto Vázquez Figueroa, one of the archipelago’s great writers, was born in the lighthouse. It was her son who later gave life to the trilogy “Ocean”, inspired by Lanzarote.
Lighthouse of La Entallada: one of the most surprising in Fuerteventura
If there is one lighthouse in Fuerteventura that is truly iconic and magical, it is the Entallada lighthouse, due to the originality of its design of white lime walls and encrusted reddish pumice stones. To reach it, we must head towards Las Playitas via Gran Tarajal and take the road that takes us right to the place.
A fact about this lighthouse is that it is the closest point of the island to the African continent, barely 100 kilometres from the Moroccan coast.
Here we can appreciate the beauty of the Atlantic, with a unique panoramic view that also allows us to distinguish the Cuchillos de Vigán. These are a spectacular rock formation with a sharp appearance caused by the erosion.
Punta Pesebre Beacon: not a lighthouse, but with the same functions of one of them
We end our tour of the lighthouses of Fuerteventura with one which, although it is not a lighthouse as such, was used for the same purpose as the others. It guided ships approaching from the northern part of Punta Jandía.
The name, called Pesebre or Presebe, comes from the harvesting of barnacles in the area and, at the same time, from a lack of knowledge of the peninsular cartographers of the past. They didn’t know the original Canarian word, so they left it on maps as “Punta Pesebre”
As we mentioned earlier, although it is not a lighthouse per se, constructions of this type were intended to guide ships through the area. This is why you should include it in your route to visit the lighthouses of Fuerteventura, as it is part of the historical heritage of these constructions on the island.
Fuerteventura, a place to get to know
A visit to Fuerteventura is synonymous with relaxation and disconnection of all kinds, but there is also room for history and culture. In this article, we’ve looked at the island’s famous lighthouses and part of the route we recommend you take to get to know this marvellous Canary Island in depth.
The Lopesan Group invites you to pack your bags and come to discover every tip and every edge of the coastline of this fantastic island. There won’t be a day that goes by without discover something new that will entice you to come back many times in the future.
Don’t wait any longer to discover every corner of Fuerteventura: its paradisiacal beaches, its unbeatable range of water sports, restaurants, points of interest and endless activities await you! Fill your holidays with adventure and unforgettable memories in this magical place of the Canary Islands archipelago.
