Carol’s Guide to Cloudy Days in Caleta de Fuste
Fuerteventura is famous for its sunshine, but not every day is a beach day—particularly during the winter months. Occasionally, you may wake up to cloud, wind or simply a day that doesn’t feel quite warm enough for lying on the beach.
That doesn’t mean the day is wasted. Caleta de Fuste has plenty to do away from the beach, and the activities in this guide can all be reached on foot from Litha House. You don’t need to hire a car to find plenty of ways to enjoy your holiday.
Visit the African Market
The market is held on Tuesday and Saturday mornings and is commonly known as the African Market, although you will find all sorts of stalls and small businesses there. These range from clothes, jewellery and souvenirs to handmade items, cakes and bakes.
If you haven’t visited before, it is worth having a browse, and haggling is generally accepted. The official hours are usually given as approximately 8.30am until 2pm, but I prefer to arrive earlier, while all the stalls are trading and before people begin packing away.
To get there, walk up Caleta’s main street towards the island with the castle on it. Cross the main road at the pedestrian lights, turn left and continue for a few hundred metres. You will soon see the market stalls set out on the large open area beside the FV-2.
Carol’s tip: As with any busy market or crowded environment, keep your money, phone and other valuables safe and close to you.
Walk Along the Coastal Path
Caleta has a paved coastal path that is ideal for a walk on a day when it is too cloudy or breezy for the beach.
You can join the path outside the Elba Castillo San Jorge Hotel, only a couple of minutes from Litha House. Turn left as you face the sea to walk towards Nuevo Horizonte, or turn right to head back through Caleta towards the marina, beaches and Atlántico Centre.
There are quicker routes from Litha House to the beach and marina, but following the coast makes a much more enjoyable stroll.
Spot Fuerteventura’s “Chipmunks”
Along the path towards Nuevo Horizonte, you will often see the little animals most visitors call chipmunks. They are actually Barbary ground squirrels and have become some of Fuerteventura’s most comical and recognisable characters.
They are an introduced species, and visitors are advised not to feed them. However, you can usually watch them scampering between the rocks all along this stretch of coastline.
Find Caleta’s Not-So-Secret Natural Pool
If you follow the coastal path from the San Jorge towards Nuevo Horizonte, you will pass Caleta’s natural rock pool.
As the path reaches the headland, it curves out towards the sea before turning inland again. The pool is located among the rocks on this headland and is easiest to see around low tide. It was once described as Caleta’s secret pool, although it is not quite so secret these days.
Carol’s tip: Check the tide before you set out and wear sensible shoes. The rocks can be uneven and slippery, particularly when wet. If conditions are rough, enjoy the view from the path rather than climbing across the rocks.
Crazy-Golf Courses
Caleta’s crazy-golf courses form part of the Barceló complex and are located close to the shopping area usually known locally as the White Centre.
You will find them beside the pedestrian path between the White Centre and the beach. There are two courses to choose from, and they are open to visitors as well as hotel guests. It is an easy activity for couples, families and groups of friends of all ages.
Carol’s tip: You don’t normally need to book. A game can take anything from around 30 minutes to much of the afternoon, depending on your skill level and how many people are playing.
Ten-Pin Bowling
Ozone Bowling is located inside the Atlántico Centre, behind the amusement arcade. It has six bowling lanes as well as arcade games and other recreational machines.
It is good fun for families or groups of friends. We often go in the evening when meeting friends, but it also works particularly well on a cloudy afternoon.
The bowling alley does not take lane reservations. If all the lanes are busy, staff may ask you to come back later. That gives you time to browse the shops or stop for coffee or lunch elsewhere in the centre.
It currently opens from midday, but check its website for up-to-date opening times and prices before setting out.
Carol’s tip: Tuesday is currently Bowling Day. At the time of writing, one game costs €4 per person and includes shoe hire. Offers can change, so check the website before relying on it.
The Atlántico Centre
The Atlántico Centre has a large Eurospar supermarket and numerous shops on its upper level, selling clothes, jewellery, sportswear, fashion and souvenirs. It is a good place to browse for a couple of hours when the weather is less inviting.
When you have finished shopping, head down to the cafés and restaurants overlooking the central courtyard. During school holidays and local fiestas, the centre often arranges additional activities for younger children. There is also a small amusement area.
You can check current opening information on the Atlántico Centre website.
Carol’s tip: Gala Café is my favourite place for a coffee, and I often meet friends there. If you are yearning for British food, Central Station does very good fish and chips with mushy peas.
Yelmo Cines
Yelmo Cines is on the lower-ground floor of the Atlántico Centre. It is a good little multiscreen cinema showing a selection of blockbusters, new releases and family films—along with some enormous cartons of popcorn.
For English speakers, Tuesday is usually the day to check. Some films are shown in English with Spanish subtitles. Look for VOSE, which stands for Versión Original Subtitulada en Español. This means the film is shown with its original soundtrack and Spanish subtitles rather than being dubbed into Spanish.
You can check current films and screening times on the Yelmo Cines website. Select Las Palmas and then Fuerteventura to find the Atlántico cinema.
Tickets can be bought using the machines outside the cinema. The staffed ticket desk usually opens closer to the film times.
Carol’s tip: English-language screenings and times can change, so always look for VOSE in that week’s listings before making a special journey.
Thalasso Spa
One of my favourite ways to break up a holiday was to buy access to the Thalasso Spa and arrange a massage for the same visit. It felt like a proper holiday treat without taking over the entire day.
The Thalasso Centre at Barceló Fuerteventura Beach Resort has indoor and outdoor saltwater pools, hydromassage jets, bubble beds and a range of treatments.
The spa is within walking distance of Litha House. However, access arrangements for people who are not staying at the hotel can change, so contact the spa directly to confirm whether day access is currently available and book any massage or treatment in advance.
Carol’s tip: I used to time my visit so I could enjoy the water circuit and have my massage during the same trip. Ask about access, treatments and any age restrictions when booking.
The Marina
Puerto Castillo marina is approximately a ten-minute walk from Litha House. Visitors sometimes walk past without realising how many activities can be arranged from there.
These can include boat trips, water activities, the sea-lion experience and other activities for adults and children. There is no need for me to reproduce the full list here, as it can change and the marina does a much better job of showing what is currently available.
Visit the Puerto Castillo activities page to see the current options, prices and booking information.
Carol’s tip: Outdoor and water-based activities may depend on the wind and sea conditions, so check directly with Puerto Castillo before setting out.
Daytime quizzes, bingo sessions and live-music events.
Caleta’s entertainment isn’t limited to the evenings. Several bars hold daytime quizzes, bingo sessions and live-music events, making them a sociable way to spend a cloudy afternoon.
Most entertainment bars in Caleta are family-friendly, and children are normally welcome to accompany their parents. Individual venues can set their own rules, so check directly if you are unsure.
Carols tip: For current information, check Real FM’s Weekly Live Entertainment Guide.
Coming next: Carol’s guide to excursions you can book or join within walking distance of Litha House.
Explore More
Thanks for dropping by. I’m Carol, and I write these guides to help visitors discover the Caleta de Fuste that Andy and I have come to know and love over nearly 20 years of owning a home here.
If you’re looking for more holiday ideas, explore the rest of Carol’s Guides. You’ll find our favourite cafés, restaurants and places to visit, together with practical local tips to help you make the most of your stay.
And if you’re still deciding where to stay, I’d love you to take a look at Litha House—our spacious three-bedroom holiday home on the Amuley Mar I complex. It sleeps up to six, overlooks the shared pool and gardens, and is only a short, level walk from Caleta’s beaches, marina, cafés, bars and restaurants.
It is a location that lets you leave the car behind and simply enjoy Caleta from the moment you arrive.
Perhaps I’ll have the pleasure of welcoming you to Litha House one day.
