Caleta de Fuste on Fuerteventura is the least-visited resort in the Canary Islands according to Which? readers, offering a golden-sand beach with calm, family-friendly waters. easyJet flies there direct from Newcastle from as little as £16 this December, while Jet2 operates year-round direct flights from Liverpool John Lennon Airport with fares starting from £32.
Quiet alternative to busy resorts
The resort, on Fuerteventura's east coast, was the least-visited of the 15 destinations ranked by Which? readers. It attracts around a fifth as many visitors as the most popular resort. While well-known resorts such as Playa del Inglés and Playa de las Américas draw sun-seekers with sprawling hotels and lively nightlife, Caleta de Fuste offers a more laid-back setting for enjoying the winter sun.
Its main attraction is Caleta de Fuste Beach, a sheltered bay with golden sand, calm waters, sun loungers and parasols. The south-facing beach is well placed for soaking up the sunshine. In December, Fuerteventura enjoys sunrises at around 7.30am and sunsets at about 6pm, with temperatures reaching into the 20Cs.
Family-friendly and easy to reach
"The bay, with its fine, light-colored sand and small pebbles at water level, is ideal for children. Strong waves are rare. Various water sports are available," writes Hotel Plan. The resort is also easy to reach, with Fuerteventura Airport just ten minutes away by car, making it a convenient base for families and first-time visitors. One hotel guide named it the island's most convenient resort, particularly for a first visit, a family holiday or a stopover near the airport.
Caleta de Fuste is a short ten-minute drive from the island's capital, Puerto del Rosario. It sits roughly halfway between the northern destinations of Corralejo and El Cotillo and the southern resorts of Costa Calma and Jandía.
Activities and drawbacks
There is plenty to do in and around the resort, from browsing shopping centres and playing golf to snorkelling, diving and windsurfing. Popular excursions include visits to the 18th-century marina castle, the salt museum and nearby working salt flats.
However, Caleta de Fuste will not appeal to everyone. As a purpose-built resort, it has the same "manufactured" feel that has attracted criticism of places such as Playa de las Américas. In many ways, it is a smaller, quieter and more family-friendly alternative. World Travel Guide describes it as a man-made, low-rise resort designed for northern European visitors seeking a home-from-home holiday, with families firmly in mind.
Tourist arrival figures for 2024 show Caleta de Fuste recorded 430,663 arrivals, compared with 2,016,510 for the most popular resorts such as Playa del Inglés, Maspalomas, and Meloneras.
