There aren’t many hotels which can virtually guarantee an arrival filled with laughter, but Iberostar Waves Gaviotas Park manages it. It’s late when we step into the reception area for the first time, but we’re jolted from our drowsiness when our children immediately throw themselves down the curling tube slide in front of us, which connects with the expansive foyer below. Often, it’s the little rituals you develop during the course of a holiday which make it so memorable, and a go on the “Reception Slide” before dinner becomes one of many during our seven-night stay.
Iberostar Waves Gaviotas Park's foyer has its own tunnel slide
Prior to my visit in May to this four-star property with my husband Jamie, and two children, Alba (four) and Jago (three) – one of Iberostar’s three resorts on Fuerteventura – my experience of family-friendly all-inclusives had been limited. Admittedly outdated preconceptions of garish colours, too much noise and little heed paid to the environment melt away immediately, though. The popular resort, a stone’s throw from both the five-star Iberostar Selection Fuerteventura Palace and four-star Iberostar Waves Playa Gaviotas, is the absolute sweet spot for families with young children – and we see plenty of couples enjoying a stay without kids, too.
Beyond the conventional family fun, with this trip I’m keen to show my young children that care for the environment can and should be woven into our daily lives, and that it doesn’t have to pause on holiday. I’m delighted then, when they naturally pick up on some of Iberostar’s sustainability schemes before we’ve even reached our room. They spy – decidedly fancy – water fountains in the corridors and this immediately opens up a conversation about why we shouldn’t waste water. The hotel is fully electrified, too, equipped with solar panels, and powered by renewable electricity.
Family frolics
The children squeal as we’re shown to our rooms. I’ve never seen a family suite like it (Family Suite Pool Access) – there are whimsical adjoining beds with murals adorning the walls above, and plenty of space to play. There is even a balance bike and a scooter waiting for Alba and Jago to zoom around on (these can be hired for €4 per day). The suite opens on to a terrace overlooking the kids pools, and the children squeal again as they peak out of the curtains and spy one of the water flumes just beyond. Jamie and I just smile at one another, realising the kids’ bed time may take a little longer tonight.
The children were thrilled with the pool-access family suite
There is a separate room for the grown-ups, with its own terrace, and we take a moment to luxuriate in the size of it all. It’s possible to add on an additional double room with bathroom, too (Junior Suite Pool Access), thanks to cleverly positioned interconnecting doors. Elsewhere, there is a coffee machine – thank the holiday gods – as well as carafes and large flasks to store water, a fridge, and a bin segregated for recycling. Since 2020, all Iberostar hotels have eliminated single-use plastics from the guest experience.
Beyond just the wonderful family rooms, Iberostar Waves Gaviotas Park is extremely well-equipped for those travelling with children. There is a signature Iberostar Star Camp kid’s club catering for ages 4-17, and Alba enjoys a morning cooking a Spanish dish at Monkey Club (age 4-7), while we take Jago to a dedicated playroom for under-4s. There is also an outdoor playpark and countless other little tastefully-appointed areas for children scattered around the resort.
Iberostar Waves Gaviotas Park is adjacent to the brand's two other Fuerteventura properties
The Star Camp team run energetic children’s discos, sometimes outdoors during the afternoon, sometimes after dinner in the hotel’s theatre, where the adults can sit back with a drink. Two months on, my family is still singing along to the songs we learnt!
In addition to two main swimming pools, there’s a big splash pool with an inflatable dome, probably designed for older kids, but which Alba and Jamie enjoy throwing themselves off hand-in-hand; a heated baby paddling pool with a slide; and a perfectly-sized children’s pool (mere steps from our terraces), which feels safe and compact enough that we let the children head up and down the little flumes on their own.
We watch from the side with our feet dangling in the water, sipping pina colada flavoured slushies from the pool area’s self-service Drink Truck.
Beyond the pools, Iberostar Waves Gaviotas Park has a well-equipped fitness centre and spa, and guests can take classes such as “aquagym” or yoga, with the resort’s activities and events all handily listed in the Iberostar app. We also take a few happy trips to the glorious Jandia Beach, which is only a short walk away – and conveniently takes us past a small public playpark.
The sweeping, sandy Jandia Beach is nearby
The hotel does not have its own loungers or bar on the beach, but we take towels and spread out on the expansive flat sand, running in and out of the clear water. We build mighty sandcastles too, armed with buckets and spades picked up at the hotel’s recycling point, where guests can leave behind items bought during their stay.
One evening, we turn left at the foot of the beach path, away from the main stretch, and explore beautiful rockpools, teeming with crabs and other creatures. Running adjacent to the beach is the Saladar de Jandia, a rich coastal wetland which is periodically flooded by the tides, creating a unique habitat for a rich variety of native flora and fauna.
Bountiful buffet
While the resort has only one main dining area, the buffet-style Maday Restaurant never gets old. It’s kitted out with kids’ décor and props at one end, opening out on to a big beautiful dining room in neutral tones. There’s a different theme each night, and while there is a dedicated children’s food area, the four of us tend to feast on wonderfully fresh fish and vegetables from the main buffet, and try lots of new foods – with the occasional demand for chips and ice cream from the kids of course.
A total of 93% of the fish and seafood served in Iberostar hotels comes from responsible sources, which opens up another conversation with my eternally curious four-year-old. Whilst the concept of a buffet may not sound very environmentally friendly on the surface, Iberostar has developed an AI-powered system called Winnow, which helps reduce waste by reading which types of food are left on a plate so the hotel can adjust their ordering practices accordingly.
To mix things up, we often eat lunch at the Erbania Pool Bar, and we enjoy listening to live music at its Friday night barbecue. There is also a disco bar and a lobby bar, open until midnight, as well as self-service beer taps, soft drinks and tea and coffee near Reception for any midnight cravings.
Sustainability success
The sustainability practices detailed so far are all part of the Iberostar Wave of Change movement – the brand’s roadmap for promoting a model of responsible tourism inside its hotels and beyond.
This initiative has seven areas of focus, covering environmental, social, and governance aspects: caring for people, commitment to local communities, protecting nature, promoting responsible consumption of fish and seafood, climate action, moving towards a more circular experience, and responsible growth.
- All Iberostar hotels have a dedicated 3R Department (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle), whose role is to ensure that all waste is managed appropriately to maximise its potential for reuse. They also lead awareness initiatives among departments such as housekeeping, kitchen, and maintenance to optimise resources on a daily basis.
- Iberostar is focused on nature-based solutions, so it works on the regeneration of green spaces and gardens featuring native plant species.
Iberostar Waves Gaviotas Park holds EarthCheck certification – one of the world’s most rigorous scientific standards for mitigating the effects of climate change. - In Fuerteventura specifically, Iberostar collaborates with Compost Majorero, a composting facility recognised by the council. Organic waste generated by the hotels is transformed into high-quality compost, which is subsequently distributed across the Canary Islands and beyond for agricultural use.
Iberostar Selection Fuerteventura Palace has established a partnership with Vidaloe, a local aloe vera farm and producer. Through this collaboration, the hotel is able to offer products made from locally grown aloe vera, supporting local businesses while reducing the environmental impact associated with transportation and sourcing. The hotel also sells the wears of local artisans.
Jet2 at Gatwick
My family and I enjoy pleasant return flights to Fuerteventura with Jet2.com, which has recently launched flights and holidays from Gatwick, making the airport its 14th UK base. The brand offers twice-weekly flights to Fuerteventura during summer, on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Details of the new Gatwick base include 29 routes for summer 2026, 23 for winter 26/27 and 34 for summer 2027. This represents over 1.1 million return airline seats for summer 2027. Other destinations highlights include the Balearic Islands, Greece, Turkey, Malta, Italy, Croatia, Bulgaria and an exclusive route to Lesvos (Mytilene), new for summer 2027.
Jet2holidays offers seven nights all-inclusive at Iberostar Waves Gaviotas Park, departing Gatwick on 27 September 2026, from £739 per person based on two adults and two children (aged 3 and 4) sharing. Price includes a 22kg baggage allowance and return transfers. All deals supplied are the cheapest available rates for the holiday(s) or flight(s) specified and therefore availability may be limited at this price. Prices were correct as of 29/06/2026.
Webpage: jet2.com
Tel: 0333 014 0236
Airport parking with Holiday Extras
Happy campers: Jennifer and Jamie's children Alba and Jago
Landing back from Fuerteventura late at night, I had been keen to book seamless airport parking. Holiday Extras offers seven days at Cophall Parking near Gatwick for £138 (based on a 9 August 2026 arrival). With “Flextras”, if you need to cancel or amend you can without charge.
Webpage: holidayextras.com
Tel: 0800 316 5678
