What to see in Antigua, Fuerteventura
Windmills, Caleta de Fuste and the rural island
Antigua Fuerteventura, mills, history, and the most tranquil coast in the east
Antigua is the municipality in the central-eastern part of Fuerteventura that best combines the rural interior of the island with a coast of tranquil beaches. Its historic center, dotted with windmills and presided over by a 16th-century church, recalls the Fuerteventura period before tourism. In addition, its coastal nucleus, Caleta de Fuste, is one of the most family-friendly and peaceful tourist enclaves on the island. Between the two lies a volcanic landscape of reddish plains and malpaís that harbors aboriginal sites and century-old salt pans. You can check the live cameras of Fuerteventura to see the state of the sea and the weather before visiting the area.
The historic center of Antigua
The town of Antigua has the calm and authentic feel of the majorero interior. Its whitewashed houses with green-painted wooden doors and windows, its squares where markets are held, and its patios with bougainvillea preserve an image of Fuerteventura that coastal tourism has not altered.
The most important monument is the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Antigua, whose origins date back to the 16th century. Built over a previous chapel, it is a single-nave church with a bell tower that gives the municipality its name. On the other hand, the Molino de Antigua, declared a Cultural Asset of Interest, is another iconic image of the municipality and today houses the Majorero Cheese Museum next to a garden of cacti and native plants. Moreover, the Agricultural Market of Antigua is held on the first Sunday of each month from 9:00 to 14:00.
Caleta de Fuste
Caleta de Fuste, also known as El Castillo, is the most populated center of the municipality and the main tourist enclave of Antigua. Just minutes from the Fuerteventura Airport, it offers a quiet and family-friendly proposal: golden sandy beaches, calm waters, golf course, marina, and a wide range of restaurants and water activities.
Specifically, in the harbor, you will find the Castillo de El Castillo, a defensive tower built in 1743 by military engineer Claudio de Lisne. In addition, from Caleta de Fuste starts a coastal route of about 11 kilometers to Pozo Negro, which can be done on foot or by bicycle through volcanic landscapes and wild beaches.
Salinas del Carmen and the Salt Museum
The Salinas del Carmen, a few kilometers south of Caleta de Fuste, are one of the most unique living testimonies of the history of Fuerteventura. Their origins date back to the 18th century and they continue to operate producing salt using traditional methods. The Salt Museum integrated into the salt pans explains the entire production process and allows visitors to tour the active pools. Therefore, it is a calm, free, and very photogenic visit.
La Atalayita: the aboriginal site
In the Valle de Pozo Negro, south of Caleta de Fuste, is home to the Poblado de La Atalayita, the most important archaeological site in Fuerteventura. Declared a Cultural Asset of Interest, this pre-European settlement shows how the mahos, the island's aborigines, lived before the 15th-century conquest. Hundreds of small constructions between homes and corrals form the site. Moreover, the natural environment in which it is located adds a unique landscape value to the visit, which is freely accessible.
Natural landscapes
The municipality of Antigua contain some of the most spectacular volcanic landscapes of Fuerteventura. The Protected Landscape of Malpaís Grande is a lava field with a lunar appearance, resulting from volcanic eruptions millions of years ago. The Natural Monument of the Cuchillos de Vigán and the Caldera de Gairía offer hiking routes through a dry and reddish interior where windmills are the only vertical elements in the landscape.
Gastronomy in Antigua
The gastronomy of Antigua revolves around the products from the majorero interior and the sea. The majorero cheese, with Denomination of Origin since 1996, is the star dish: made with majorero goat's milk, it comes in three varieties: soft, semi-cured, and cured. It can be tasted at the Majorero Cheese Museum of the Molino de Antigua.
On the coast, the restaurants of Caleta de Fuste and the fishing village of Salinas del Carmen offer fresh Atlantic fish, grilled limpets, wrinkled potatoes with mojo and fish sancocho. For meat lovers, the baifo (roast kid) and goat stews are the must-try dishes from the interior.
How to get to Antigua
Antigua is in the central-eastern part of Fuerteventura, about 22 kilometers from Puerto del Rosario via the FV-20 (approximately 25 minutes by car). Caleta de Fuste is just 6 kilometers from the Fuerteventura Airport, making it the island's closest destination to the airport.
By public transport, the TIADHE lines connect Antigua and Caleta de Fuste with the capital and other municipalities on the island. Also, check the map of webcams in Fuerteventura to help you navigate the island.
Frequently asked questions about Antigua Fuerteventura
What is the Majorero Cheese Museum?
It is a museum located in the Molino de Antigua dedicated to the majorero cheese, the cheese with Designation of Origin from Fuerteventura made from goat's milk. It explains the production process and the livestock culture of the island. Open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00.
What to see in Caleta de Fuste?
Caleta de Fuste offers golden sandy beaches, the Castillo de El Castillo from the 18th century, marina, golf course, and access to coastal routes. It is the most tranquil and family-friendly enclave in eastern Fuerteventura, just minutes from the airport.
What is the Poblado de La Atalayita?
It is the most important aboriginal archaeological site in Fuerteventura, in the Valle de Pozo Negro. It shows the way of life of the mahos, the island's aborigines, with hundreds of stone constructions between homes and corrals. The visit is free.
How to get to Caleta de Fuste from the airport?
Caleta de Fuste is just 6 kilometers from the Fuerteventura Airport, about 10 minutes by car. It is the closest tourist enclave to the airport in the entire island.
What are the Salinas del Carmen?
They are historical salt pans from the 18th century that are still in operation using traditional methods. They include the Salt Museum, where visitors can tour the active pools and learn about salt production in Fuerteventura. The visit is free.
What is majorero cheese?
It is the goat cheese with Denomination of Origin of Fuerteventura, made from the milk of the native majorera goat. One of the most awarded cheeses in Canary Islands, it comes in soft, semi-cured, and cured varieties, with or without paprika.