Puerto del Rosario is the working capital of Fuerteventura, a harbour town on the east coast that took the title in 1860 because the ships called here. Until 1957 it was Puerto de Cabras, the Port of the Goats, after the animals shipped out of its sheltered natural harbour. Most travellers pass through on the way from the airport or the ferry. The centre, between the port and Avenida Constitución, is compact and easy to walk.
Puerto del Rosario
- 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
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When to go
High season
Nov – Mar
Winter is the island's busy season, and the mild, dry days suit walking the harbour front and the town streets.
Shoulder
Apr – Jun
Spring stays dry and bright, with the trade wind picking up along the east coast towards summer.
High season
Jul – Aug
High summer is the hottest stretch of a hot desert climate, the streets give little shade at midday, and Spanish holidaymakers fill the island in August.
Shoulder
Sep – Oct
Early autumn keeps the summer warmth while the August crowds thin out.
How long to stay
Half a day covers the centre, which sits between the port and Avenida Constitución and is easy to explore on foot. Stay longer and the town turns into a practical base: the airport is 6 km south, ferries leave for Las Palmas and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and the municipality itself runs almost 300 km² from the east coast across to the west.
Getting around
The centre is walkable end to end, from the port up to Avenida Constitución. Several bus lines run through town, and lines 3 and 16 connect it with Fuerteventura Airport, 6 km south near El Matorral; timetables are in the Moovit app. Naviera Armas runs regular ferries from the port to Las Palmas and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
The bus line numbers date from 2023, so check the current timetable before you plan a connection around them.
What to see
Destinations in Puerto del Rosario
Frequently asked questions
Is Puerto del Rosario the capital of Fuerteventura?
Yes. It became the island capital in 1860, taking the title from Antigua, because it had grown into the island's central port. Before that the old capital was Betancuria, inland.Why was the town called Puerto de Cabras?
Puerto de Cabras means Port of the Goats: goats were shipped from the harbour. In 1957 the name was judged unsuitable and changed to Puerto del Rosario, after the church of the Rosary Madonna in the town centre.How far is the airport from Puerto del Rosario?
Fuerteventura Airport lies 6 km south of town, near El Matorral. Bus lines 3 and 16 run between the airport and Puerto del Rosario.Can you take a ferry from Puerto del Rosario?
Yes. Naviera Armas runs regular services from the port to Las Palmas and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.What was the Tefía penitentiary colony?
The Tefía Agricultural Penitentiary Colony (Colonia Agrícola Penitenciaria de Tefía) operated from 1954 to 1966 in the village of Tefía, inside the municipality of Puerto del Rosario. It held prisoners and was used for the so-called re-education of gay men.