Puerto del Rosario

Puerto del Rosario is the capital of Fuerteventura.

About 39,000 people (2018) live in this harbour city at the east of the island - 1/3rd of the island's population. While it is the cultural and economic center of the island, it is not too interesting for tourists.

Nuestra Señora del Rosario church

Understand

The city was founded around 1795. At that time, the town of Puerto de Cabras was called "Goat Harbor". This very prosaic name was laid in 1957 in favor of the better-sounding Puerto del Rosario, "Port of the Rosary Madonna", which refers to a church in the center of the city. In the 19th century, the port was an important hub for burned lime and, in particular, the "Karmin" dye, which was extracted in the vicinity of the town. Puerto del Rosario became the largest island on the island and in 1860 finally the island capital.

The municipal area of Puerto is almost 300 km² and extends from the east coast of the island to the west coast.

Get in

By ferry

• 1 Puerto del Rosario. Several ferries run from Tenerife, Grand Canaria, Lanzarote. 

By plane

• 2 Fuerteventura Airport (El Matorral Airport FUE  ^IATA). Connections from many European airports, although some are seasonal.  

Bus line 3 and 16 go from the airport to Puerto del Rosario. Moovit has the timetables included, as of February 2023 Google Maps hasn't.

By bus

Bus station

• 3 bus station (in the city at "Avenida Constitution"). Many busses start here and reach every larger place on the island. Timetables are tailored to the needs of the islanders - the current ones are at Tiadhe. For the tourists, important lines are the line 1 to Morro Jable to the south, the line 3 to the airport and to Las Salinas as well as the line 6 to Corralejo to the north. 

Get around

On foot

The relatively small city centre sits between the port and the Avenida Constitución and is easy to explore on foot.

By electric kick scooters

The town is covered by an e-scooter sharing system. The service is provided by Superpedestrian Link Scooters and can be used with the according app. You can take an e-scooter anywhere and leave it in any designated parking area shown in the app. One ride costs €1 to unlock and €0.30 per minute (Feb 2023).

By bus

Several bus lines go through the city.

See

Goats in front of the town hall

• 1 Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Rosario. A small church in the city centre. 
• A few dozen sculptures are scattered in the city centre, in Calle León y Castillo, in the pedestrian zone Calle Primero del Mayo and along the promenade.
• Harbor promenade:

• 2 Fuente de la Explanada. fountain with scenes from inhabitants life 
• 3 Horno de Cal. historical lime 

• 4 Casa Museo Miguel de Unamuno. M-F 09:00-14:00. A museum for the Basque writer who lived here in exile. free. 
• 5 City hall. A sculpture of a goat family is in front of it, referring Puerto de Cabras, the former name of the city. 

Do

Playa Chica

Beaches:

• 1 Playa Chica (just outside the city). 
• Playa Blanca (between city and airport)
• Playa de Matorral (south of the airport)
• Playa de Layas and Playa de Barlovento (near Puerto Lajas north of the city)

Eat

Budget

• 1 Café Atlántico, 111,, C. Miño, 105. (updated Feb 2023)
• 2 La Saranda, C. Primero de Mayo, 40. (updated Feb 2023)
• 3 El Patio Restaurante Pizzería, C. Fernández Castañeyra, 3. (updated Feb 2023)
• 4 El Casino, C. la Cruz, 2. (updated Feb 2023)
• 5 La Alemana, C. Primero de Mayo, 66. (updated Feb 2023)
• 6 Arepas Llaneras Venezolanas, C. la Cruz, 19. (updated Feb 2023)
• 7 Cafetería Son Son, C. León y Castillo, 23. (updated Feb 2023)

Mid-range

• 8 Ciao Mare, C. García Escámez, 17. (updated Feb 2023)
• 9 Restaurante La Jaira, C. la Cruz, 26. (updated Feb 2023)
• 10 Casa Toño Restaurante, C. Alcalde Alonso Patallo, 8. (updated Feb 2023)
• 11 El Faro de Diego, C. García Escámez, 22. (updated Feb 2023)
• 12 La Galeria, C. San Roque, 19. (updated Feb 2023)