Probably everyone knows the Saturday market in Lajares, but there are other markets in north Fuerteventura that are really worth your time. Some are smaller, calmer and much more local. Here are the three I send friends, families and guests to.
CotiArte: the Friday evening market in El Cotillo
This one is just a stone's throw away from my studio, and the only evening market among the markets in north Fuerteventura that I know. The CotiArte market sets up every Friday in the public square of El Cotillo, just down the main street from where you enter the town. You arrive when the day has cooled down, the light is low, everyone is relaxed and the village is in a good mood. You can find lots of beautifully handcrafted pieces of art, jewellery or handmade pottery by local potters – what you won't find there are any mass-produced goods.
There is often live music, and the programme has included workshops for children and adults, which are free to join.
The market starts at 18:00 and goes until 20:00. Check out their Instagram profile for more info.
My tip for the perfect Friday in El Cotillo: check out the beautiful beaches, maybe go for a surf, have a late lunch in the old town, stop by the studio for a relaxing 2-hour pottery painting session, visit the market and then go to a nice restaurant. I’m a big fan of Olivo Corso Restaurant. Better to reserve your table, because it can get busy on the weekends.
Thursday & Sunday: El Campanario craft market in Corralejo
The market runs on Thursdays and Sundays from 9:00 to 14:00. It sells handmade objects, jewellery and nice souvenirs. Sundays are the busier day, with restaurants and cafés open and live music from around noon.
It is a short drive from El Cotillo, so I would combine it with something else in Corralejo, as with most markets in north Fuerteventura, rather than make it a stand-alone trip. Go on Sunday for music, Thursday for calm, and plan to finish before the 14:00 close.
Mercado de las Tradiciones in La Oliva: local food and crafts on Tuesday & Friday
The Mercado de las Tradiciones is held in the Casa del Coronel in La Oliva, on Tuesdays and Fridays, from around 10:00 until 14:00. The house once belonged to colonels, and in 1840 Don Pedro Manrique de Lara turned it into his own home, so the building is half the visit.
Around fifteen local producers sell zero-kilometre produce from the gardens of the Biosphere Reserve, along with cheese, olive oil, aloe vera, traditional bread and pastries, and crafts such as openwork ceramics and embroidery.
The easiest way to enjoy it is to buy lunch there: bread, cheese, fruit. Then drive back to the coast and share it on the sand.
How to plan markets in north Fuerteventura
The days do not overlap much, so you can build a loose week around these markets in north Fuerteventura. For a full list of times across the island, this Fuerteventura markets guide is a good cross-check. I would still confirm any hours the day before, because markets change.
Here is the pattern I would follow, based on the days above:
- Tuesday or Friday morning: La Oliva, for food and the old house.
- Thursday or Sunday morning: El Campanario in Corralejo, for crafts.
- Friday evening: CotiArte in El Cotillo, for sunset and music.
The short version
If you only remember a few things about markets in north Fuerteventura: Friday is the day when La Oliva in the morning and CotiArte in the evening both work, always check hours before you leave, and bring a bag for whatever you find. Whichever you choose, these markets in north Fuerteventura reward a slow pace. Your next step: read how I spend a slow weekend in the perfect Sunday in the north of Fuerteventura and slot a market into it.
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