Betancuria sits at 395 metres in the mountains of western Fuerteventura, 4 km from Antigua, with the church of Santa María at its centre. That church was the seat of a short-lived bishopric from 1424 to 1431. Jean de Béthencourt founded the town in 1404 and gave it his name, and it stayed capital of the island until 1834, even after pirates razed it in 1593. Travellers come for that history and for the hermitage of the Virgen de la Peña, the island's patron saint, in Vega de Río Palmas.
Betancuria
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Language
- Spanish; English, German in resorts
- Power plug
- Type C/F, 230 V
- Visa
- Schengen
- Time zone
- UTC+0 / UTC+1 (WET/WEST)
- Tap water
- Desalinated
- Tipping
- Not expected; 5–10% for great service
- Emergency
- 112
Things to do
All tours in Fuerteventura on GetYourGuide
Paid links: booking through them supports YowJourney.
When to go
High season
Nov – Apr
Winter-sun season, when Fuerteventura is at its busiest and the mild days suit a slow walk round the church and the old streets.
Shoulder
May – Oct
Heat builds in the inland hills and the bare slopes give little shade at midday, so walk round in the morning or late afternoon.
How long to stay
Half a day covers the town itself: the church of Santa María, the old streets around it and the ruins of the Franciscan convent. Add Vega de Río Palmas and the hermitage of the Virgen de la Peña, and the visit fills most of a day out from Antigua, 4 km away, or Puerto del Rosario, 21 km away.
What to see
Destinations in Betancuria
Frequently asked questions
Why is the town called Betancuria?
It is named after Jean de Béthencourt, who founded it in 1404 together with Gadifer de La Salle.Was Betancuria the capital of Fuerteventura?
Yes. It was the original capital of the Kingdom of the Canary Islands and later the capital of Fuerteventura, until 1834, when the role passed to Antigua. The island capital today is Puerto del Rosario, 21 km to the northeast.Why is the church of Santa María important?
In 1424 Pope Martin V created the Bishopric of Fuerteventura with its seat at Santa María, covering every Canary island except Lanzarote, whose bishop backed the antipope Benedict XIII. Once the Lanzarote diocese returned to Martin V's obedience, the bishopric was abolished in 1431, seven years after its creation.Where is the hermitage of the Virgen de la Peña?
In Vega de Río Palmas, in the municipality of Betancuria. The Virgen de la Peña is the patron saint of Fuerteventura.How big is Betancuria?
The municipality covers 103.64 km² and has about 800 inhabitants, which makes it the smallest municipality by population on Fuerteventura and in the whole of the Canary Islands.