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Fuerteventura The Hidden Jewel Of The Canary Islands
uerteventura - blessed Canaries to Africa, has an
with over 150 beaches - is embarrassment of beaches - some
one of the least spoiled are in deserted coves and little
and the least discovered of the fishing villages, others down
Canary Islands. little dirt tracks - but the most
popular ones can be reached from
With a dramatic volcanic the main roads.
landscape, little rainfall and
all year round warm temperatures, Not that main roads resemble
the desert landscape is unique those found in mainland Spain or
and large areas of the island are the UK. They are well maintained
protected parks. and mostly straight but the lack
of traffic is the first thing you
Visit Fuerteventura and you are notice. And the lack of traffic
stepping back to the way Spain lights. So far I've found one on
was perhaps 30 years ago - no the island - and that has never
high rise buildings and a relaxed worked!
and gentle way of life, clean
streets and beaches. Travelling is easy ... buses and
ferries are cheap, run to time
Unlike its more touristic and and integrate with each other so
built-up neighbours of Tenerife, you can get from, say, Caleta de
Lanzarote and Gran Canaria, Fuste to Corralejo with ease.
Fuerteventura is a place to come
to relax, unwind and step back in Caleta de Fuste is very much an
time. No dusk-to-dawn open air up-and-coming resort geared to
discos, no Club 18-30 ... a place families. You can find
where goats outnumber residents. restaurants of all nationalities
to suit all tastes and all
The island, the closest of the pockets.
described as "the land that time
There are shops and bars where forgot". It is the second largest
you can choose to have a quiet of the Canary Islands and coming
drink and watch the world go by. here really is like stepping back
Entertainment can be found - in time! Many people mistakenly
everything from live groups and believe the name of the island
cabarets to karaoke, quizzes and stands for "Strong Wind" and
bingo - but it is not as "in your although there is often a steady,
face" as Benindorm or the Costa pleasing breeze, this is usually
del Sol. There are even places a welcome relief that makes the
open to the early hours - but you hot temperatures a pleasure.
won't be disturbed if you want a
quiet night Even the airport here It also makes Fuerteventura a
turns off the runway lights and water sport paradise -
locks up at night time! windsurfing, surfing and kite
surfing take place all over the
Caleta has a golden sandy beach island.
set in a bay shaped like a horse
shoe. The gently sloping shore Landing at the airport, the first
makes for very safe bathing and thing you are struck by is the
this beach is the one most stark, lunar-like landscape. But
holidaymakers head for. But there explore beyond that and you find
is a south beach - reclaimed from vast sweeping sand dunes,
the sea and landscaped into small lagoons, little fishing villages
bays which are dotted with small and isolated sandy coves.
circular brick structures to
provide some privacy. Caleta de Fuste is an ideal base
for exploring this island being
Fuerteventura (Fuerte - strong: midway between north and south.
Ventura - happiness) has been
Heading north is Corralejo where restaurants and bars. As you head
the first few self catering into the village you will come
apartments appeared all those across the new harbour. To the
years ago. Now, it is a bustling left are vast golden beaches and
resort and the holiday industry to the right, lagoons.
has taken off in a big way.
On the left of the village is the
Approaching Corralejo the Forteleza del Toston, a round
landscape gives way to miles of stone fort built in 1790 to
immense shimmering sand dunes defend against pirates. And about
reminiscent of Saharan Morocco, 9 kms out the lighthouse Faro de
just 60 miles to the east. The Toston where you will find
famous dunes are now a protected delightful bays.
national park.
The beaches are made for water
Corralejo town itself still sports lovers and many
retains some of the charm of it's experienced surfers head to the
early days especially around the stretches of sand between El
old harbour area. From here you Cotillo and Corralejo. The lagoon
can see spectacular views of area is much calmer and peaceful
Lanzarote and the Isle of Lobos - - white beaches with crystal
well worth a visit if you find clear waters.
even the pace of life on
Fuerteventura a little too much! This village is a shrine to the
Virgin de Buen Viaje (good
Also in the north of the island travel) and these words can be
is El Cotillo, a paradise for seen painted on the cliffs
surfers. This lovely relaxed overlooking the old harbour.
village has some great beaches,
interesting lagoons and some good Heading from Caleta de Fuste to
the south of the island are the are in Spanish and German.
beaches of the Jandia Peninsula,
almost 20kms of vast white With so many beaches, not
beaches some over 1kms wide. surprising naturists also love
the island. It would be
This huge area includes golden impossible here to list them all
white shores which vary from but there is a very good guide to
pretty coves backed by low cliffs the best beaches - and to the
at the Costa Calma end to huge best naturist beaches - at the
dunes, vast desert-like areas and Holiday Fuerteventura island
lagoons. It also includes the guide web site at
beach immortalised on thousands http://www.geocities.com/holiday_
of postcards. The Playa de fuerteventura/
Sotavento is probably one of the
most photographed beaches in But Fuerteventura is not just
Europe. It is also a spot where about beaches. It is also about
surfers flock to. The PWA world sightseeing. One of the most
windsurfing speed and slalom awesome sights on the island is
event draws the best windsurfers the shipwreck of The American
every year and the world kite Star - a huge ocean-going liner
surfing championship was held in which ran aground in a deserted
2005. cove several years ago under
mysterious circumstances.
At the southern end of the Jandia
Peninsula is Morro Jable, another How this huge ship - once the
well developed resort with golden biggest of its class in the world
beaches and one which is well - came to rest there is another
loved by German package tour story and a controversial one but
operators. So loved, in fact, the sight of this towering wreck
that even many road signs here lying just yards off shore in a
deserted cove just outside Ajuy tapas and on the outskirts, some
is a very eerie and haunting rather exclusive properties.
sight. It is not easy to find but
again, try Arts and crafts are well catered
http://www.geocities.com/holiday_ for - Fuerteventura is not known
fuerteventura as the "island of sculptures" for
nothing! On almost every
From here, take the mountain road roundabout on the island, you
to Betancuria - former capital of will find a sculpture of some
the island - and you will be form!
rewarded with some truly
spectacular views and the town There are a number of museums -
itself is well worth spending a the craft centre at Antigua which
couple of hours in. is based around a converted
windmill and the arts centre at
Or try visiting Cofete - hard to La Olivia which has beautifully
reach but the beach runs for landscaped gardens and which
about 5kms, is white and sandy features many works by the
and has plenty of room and at the Canarian artist Alberto Manrique.
southern tip lies Cofete village Or La Alcogida, a living museum
- isolated and used mostly as a based around a village which
weekend retreat. shows you the way Canarians lived
years ago.
Giniginamar is ideal if you are
seeking peace and quiet. The There are many other parts of
beach, bordered by palm trees, is Fuerteventura that lie hidden
of black volcanic sand and in the from the mass tourism market -
village itself you can find local long may it remain that way!
About the Author:
Alan Hayes is a former businessman who now runs Fuerteventura Holiday Homes - a holiday letting, property management agency with apartments, villas and houses for rent. Visit http://www.geocities.com/fuerteventuraholidayhomes or http://www.rent-fuerteventura.com. For the guide to the Island visit http://www.geocities.com/holiday_fuerteventura
Source: www.isnare.com
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