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The El Hierro giant lizard (galliota simonyi) is native to El Hierro. Despite the significant presence of the reptiles on the Canary Islands, the species is, in fact, currently in danger of extinction. The Recovery Centre is located within the Guinea Eco museum, in Frontera. Visitors are encouraged to find out more about the push for giant lizard conservation during guided tours which take place every day of the year between 10 am and 6 pm.

The Calderón Hondo is one of the best-preserved craters in Fuerteventura. The volcanic formation lies to the east of the road that leaves Lajares, (municipality of La Oliva) in the direction of Majanicho. Fuerteventura is 30 million years old, so the eruption on the Calderón Hondo – which occurred between 50,000 years and 130,000 years ago – happened relatively recently in the island’s past. Calderón Hondo – together with Bayuyo, Las Calderas, and La Caldera de Lobos – is arranged in a direction northeast to southwest in Fuerteventura. Evidence of volcanic eruptions are found in the island badlands, terrain which can’t be cultivated to this day. The volcanos also created geographical features such as the Lobos islet, the town of El Cotillo, and the sandy extension south of Lajares.

The Colonels’ House (Casa de Los Coroneles), located on the outskirts of the town of La Oliva, capital of the northern municipality of the same name, is a stand-out example of Fuerteventura architecture. The seventeenth century mansion was abandoned and sat in ruins in the twentieth century until restoration in 2006. Visitors will be astonished at the gleaming Canarian patio, the majestic wooden balconies, and the towers with battlements (used to defend against pirate incursions). Wandering through galleries and corridors as well as the permanent exhibition – which invites tourists to learn about the history of the house, visitors will be able to relive the stately and military power exercised over centuries from the imposing building.

El Hierro is the youngest of the Canary Islands. It is also the island with the greatest volcanic activity. The visitor centre, accessed along the road to La Restinga, has two buildings: one of which takes an overview of Canarian volcanism and the volcanoes of El Hierro, while the other uses optical and sonic effects to reimagine the volcanic eruption of October 2011 that occurred underwater in the area around La Restinga.

The town of El Cotillo, on the north-western side of Fuerteventura, is an historic fishing village. Besides the culture and history, water sports are also offered. There are numerous outlets and schools with options such as surfing, kitesurfing, paddle surfing, windsurfing, and the newly-arrived wing foiling. With a wide variety of embarkation points in the area, sports fanatics can enter the water south of El Cotillo, on the east coast, towards the north coast (after the Tostón Lighthouse), or from the tranquillity of one of the local natural lagoons.

The Tefía Mill is located in the municipality of Puerto del Rosario, in the dry, open landscape of Majorero. It is one of the 23 mills declared as an Asset of Cultural Interest in Fuerteventura. A visit to a mill is a great way to learn about the economy of the island in past centuries. Since the arrival of the conquerors in the 15th century to well into the twentieth century, the mills ground grain to make gofio (or Canarian flour) for the local people, with the mill owner taking a share of the profits. Nearby, the Ecomuseum of La Alcogida has typical Fuerteventura architecture and showcases the traditional crafts of the island.

On the east of the Majorera coast, between Las Salinas and Gran Tarajal, is the Pozo Negro beach. The area is unusual in Fuerteventura for its dark sand, pebbles, and wide, geographically-significant valley characterised by spectacular badlands – or uncultivable terrain – created by a volcanic wash from the Liria and La Laguna craters thousands of years ago. Great for swimming, the Pozo Negro beach is quiet with a solitary, atmospheric ocean feeling. There are few tourists, two restaurants, a hostel with capacity for 60 people, and a municipal camping area with huts and caravans to rent.

Located in the municipality of Tuineje, a few kilometres north of the towns of Gran Tarajal and Las Playitas, the lighthouse reflects traditional Fuerteventura architecture. Just over 100 kilometres in a straight line to Morocco and the Port of Tarfaya, the navigation station is the closest point in the entire Canary Islands to the African continent. Standing 200 metres tall with wooden, cliff-top stair access, the viewpoint offers spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean. There is also a wonderful vista of the interior of the island with sights of the Natural Monument of the Cuchillos de Vigán. There is a jaw-dropping volcanic landscape and endemic birds such as Egyptian vultures, crows, and raptors (including the Barbary falcon).

The oldest rocks in the Canary Islands are located in a cave network in the town of Ajuy, north of Pájara. The geological wonder, that has been declared a national monument, consists of sedimentary substrates formed in the deep ocean during the Cretaceous period, between 100 and 150 million years ago. The dating of the caves is astonishingly far in the past when it is considered that the island of Fuerteventura was formed 30 million years ago. During a trip to the cave site, tourists can also visit a local fossilized dune and some old lime kilns located very close to the ocean.

The town of Sabinosa sits on a volcanic slope in the west of El Hierro. Despite being a quiet and isolated town, in recent years it has gained special prominence, due to the unbeatable conditions for paragliders. Elite athletes from all over the world have chosen this departure point for training and competition.