Guide of Puerto Del Rosario (Fuerteventura)

Puerto del Rosario is the capital of Fuerteventura, in the Canary Islands. The islands officially belong to Spain, but they are located just off the  West African coast. Situated in the east of the island, Puerto del Rosario is home to almost a third of the island’s population. The town is famous for its lovely white houses and more recently, public art exhibits, such as the snail sculptures along the waterfront and the colourful murals dotted around.

A brief history of Puerto del Rosario

This former fishing village was initially called Puerto de Cabras, or Port of the Goats because the port was famous for shipping goats. Despite being located in a protected harbour, the town was of little importance in comparison to the ancient capital, Betancuria. However, due to its central location on the island, it was made the capital in 1860, and the name changed to Puerto del Rosario, which was deemed more attractive than Port of the Goats! Many people from the rural areas migrated to the town in the 1960s, and the town grew, then in 1976, due to decolonization of the Spanish Sahara and the Spanish Foreign Legion, the population grew even more. Today the economy is based around tourism, and it is a lively town.

What to do in Puerto del Rosario

The charming old town is excellent for a stroll, and a few years ago the local council decided to promote local artists and decorate the town with some modern street art. At the tourist office, you can get a map of the artworks that are located all over town. The former house of Miguel de Unamuno, a famous Spanish Basque essayist, novelist, poet, playwright, philosopher, and professor is open for the public to visit. His home on the island has been recreated for visitors to learn about his life and works. If you feel like doing something to get your heart racing, then why not try go-karting at Fuerteventura Gran Karting track? It’s a great day out if you have a family with teenagers or if you enjoy racing around a track for a few hours! It is also possible to go scuba diving near Puerto del Rosario, and several companies provide guided dives and courses for all abilities. If you want to relax, then you can be sure to find good restaurants in this town, Puerto del Rosario is said to have undergone a culinary renaissance in recent years, and there are some great modern restaurants these days.

Beaches around Puerto del Rosario

Playa Blanca beach is 1 kilometre south of the capital on the east coast, close to Fuerteventura airport. The beach has Blue Flag status and some little dunes at the back of this long stretch of golden sand. Los Pozos beach is a small beach in the town, also known as Playa Chica, protected by a human-made breakwater on its northern edge, there aren’t usually any large waves. Los Molinos beach is different again because the sand is black and there are large grey boulders around the beach. It is located on the west coast, by the small village of Los Molinos.