Fuerteventura
The semi-desert Island of Fuerteventura lies just under 100km off the coast of Africa (near the border of Morocco and Western Sahara). It enjoys a near-perfect climate with average monthly temperatures ranging from 17°C in January to 25°C in August.
Fuerteventura is the longest Island in the archipelago at 98km north to south and the second-largest Canary Island after Tenerife. The unforgiving barren and arid interior of the island shares much with it's African neighbours of Morroco and the Western Sahara including sparse rainfall, rocky-desert landscapes (the temperature of these rocks can reach 67°C on a hot day!) and simple flat-roofed white-washed villages.
Fuerteventura is perhaps most famous for it's beaches, with over 50km of stunning white and golden sand. Despite Tourism being a relatively recent phenomenon on the island, there is a well developed infrastructure with Golf Courses, a Zoo, a Water Park and numerous Marine Excursions. If you fancy something a bit more active, the Island offers great Surfing, Windsurfing and Kite Surfing as well as Big Game Fishing and Diving.
If you just want to take it easy, then those miles of white sandy beaches make the perfect getaway, even in peak season you should be able to find a relatively secluded spot for yourself.
In short, there is plenty for Families, Twenty-somethings and Sports enthusiastes alike.
Fuerteventura Beaches
The miles of white sandy beaches that disappear into turquoise waters make the beaches of Fuerteventura by far the best in the Canary Islands.
These perfect white sand beaches are not the result of sand being blown across from the Sahara Desert (as some Guidebooks claim) but are in fact composed of broken shells and other remains from marine organisms.
Fuerteventura can get very windy, though normally it is possible to find a sheltered beach somewhere along the east coast. It can be perfectly calm in Morro Jable and very choppy around the Dunes of Corralejo on the same day. If it is a little choppy, it can often be worth driving around a little in search of a sheltered cove.
The western beaches such as those at El Cotillo receive bigger swells and are popular with surfers, though there are some sheltered coves and lagoons there too.
There are so many gorgeous beaches in Fuerteventura that we could not possibly describe them all.
The following is a summary of the beaches by area, though this shouldn't stop you from exploring the rest of the Island's coast.
The North
Corralejo
In and around the centre of the resort of Corralejo there are several golden and white sandy beaches where the water is usually calm and therefore good for bathing. Since it is the centre of the resort these can become a little crowded in peak season.
Just south of the resort lies the spectacular Parque Natural de las Dunas de Corralejo, these enormous white-sand dunes cover a large area of the north-east of the island and can actually be seen in satellite images of Fuerteventura.
There are a few small Snack Bars/Restaurants located around the Dunes, with the best one being located beside the big Hotels, where you can relax under an umbrella with a cool drink.
The Dunes are now protected as a Natural Park , however this status came too late to save it from the 3 large Hotels in the centre of the Dunes.
El Cotillo
Around El Cotillo on the north-west coast are a series of beaches and coves, that are popular with Surfers and internationally-renowned for Windsurfing and Kite Surfing.
Some of the more sheltered lagoons are also suitable for bathing.
The South
Playas de Jandia
Between Costa Calma and Morro Jable lie the best (and longest stretch of) Beaches on the Island. The bleached white sand and shallow turquoise waters make this stretch of coast a beach lover's dream.
The beaches in both Costa Calma and Morro Jable are very nice and have blue flags (and therefore lifeguards), though it's worth exploring the beautiful coves that lie outside the main resorts. If it is a windy day, then the beach at the old part of Morro Jable can be a good bet.
On the windward (western) coast of the Jandia Peninsula there is a 14km stretch of sand. To get to these unspoilt beaches, you will need a 4x4 as there is only an unsealed track connecting them with the rest of the island. While these beaches are unspoilt and beautiful, there are strong winds and dangerous currents here which make bathing inadvisable.
The Centre
The black-sand beach at Gran Tarajal has a blue flag and is popular with locals, however the colour of it's sand makes it less attractive than the beaches of Corralejo or Jandia.
Located beside the Parador National (Spanish state-owned Hotel) between Puerto del Rosario and the Airport is the attractive golden-sand beach of Playa Blanca, although when compared to some of the spectacular beaches of this Island, it comes a distant second.
Fuerteventura Culture
Culture in Fuerteventura and in the Canary Islands in general is essentially Spanish culture with a little influence from Latin America.
There are however several aspects to local culture that are unique to the Islands.
Folklore Music
The traditional folk music of the Canary Islands, Folklore, can be heard at the major festivals and at other special events. At the big Fiestas there are often groups representing their respective Islands - each of which have their own traditional costumes.
A less formal type of Folklore music can heard at several bars and bodegas (usually away from the main resorts) where Locals get together for impromptu "sessions".
Lucha Canaria
Lucha Canaria is a type of wrestling - somewhat reminiscent of Sumo - that is popular in the Islands. It is a team sport with individuals taking turns in individual bouts. The Bouts starts with the participants gripping each other's shorts, the object of the game being to push your opponent onto the ground.
Transfer services
Promotional brochures of the island of Fuerteventura
| Margazine | The Guide - Fuerteventura | ReiseGuide |
Videos about Fuerteventura
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Links
| www.fuerteventuraturismo.com | www.fuerteventura.net |
| www.ifuerteventura.net | www.fuerteventuraguia.es |
| www.bakufuerteventura.com | www.fuerteventuraguia.es |
| www.fuerteventura5.com | http://fuerteinfo.net |
Map of Fuerteventura
Bigger map
« Shuttlespain