There is one reason, and one reason alone, why the Canary Islands’ second largest sibling attracts so many visitors – the beaches. Whether you like your beach life slow and sedentary or quick and crazy, Fuerteventura caters for all. With the most glorious swathes of gold in the archipelago – some would say in the whole of southern Europe – the island is a Mecca to both sun worshippers and water sports professionals alike.
Shaped like a leg dressed in plus-fours, the 340-kilometre gilt-edged coast surrounds a relatively flat interior of gentle hills and sweeping plains. Goat herders and fishermen once ruled the island, living a simple life of relative solitude. Nowadays, tourism is the driving force, centred around the lively resorts of Corralejo in the north, Jandía in the south, and more recently, Caleta de Fuste on the east coast. We specialise in cheap holidays to Fuerteventura and have fabulous range of 3 star Fuerteventura holidays departing from the UK this year.
In all, the young and trendy surf set mingle with second home-owners from the less balmy regions of Europe. The latter happy for blue skies and high temperatures, and the former also seeking rolling waves and a rocking nightlife.
However, away from these visitor hubs the tranquillity of old is easy to find, even on the beaches - with such a profusion of broad sandy strips, towel space is never going to be a problem.
Away from the shoreline, desolate roads lined with squat, round windmills link tiny villages of sugar cube cottages. Here, the population ekes out an existence producing world renowned cheese and ruby red tomatoes.
Fuerteventura has 152 beaches, more than any other Canary Island. Here is a selection of the best for a few different purposes.
Unsurprisingly, fish is predominant in most of the island’s restaurants, especially those on the coast with swordfish, sea bass, octopus and limpets as some of the more favoured delicacies. Inland, the ingredients favour more pastoral palettes with goat, rabbit, gofio (roasted corn meal) and the famous Maxorata cheese on the menu. Most main dishes are served with the ubiquitous accompaniments of fiery red mojo sauce and wrinkled potatoes (papas arrugadas).
The café culture is most predominant in the quayside bars of Corralejo, Puerto del Rosario and Caleta de Fuste. An early morning knock back of industrial strength espresso will get you up to speed in no time.
Fuerteventura is nowhere near Tenerife when it comes to clubbing, but instead the island has a chilled out vibe with a smattering of heavy decibel clubs. Since this is a water sports Mecca, most of the ocean side bars lure the surf set with large screen video footage of rolling waves and board acrobatics.
You can take your pick of shopping experiences in Fuerteventura – stock up on duty-free goodies, capture some island souvenirs, add some colourful threads to your wardrobe or browse for some Canarian knickknacks at a market.
Corralejo’s retail therapy centres can be found on the main road running through town, Avenida General Franco. If you want to dress like a surfer, try No Work Team for bleached t-shirts and surf set sunglasses. Where the road intersects with Calle Gran Canaria, on weekdays you will also find a local market selling curious African artefacts and local handicrafts.
The Centro Comercial Atlantico shopping centre is the main star in Caleta de Fuste’s retail scene, with a variety of shops all under one roof selling jewellery, gifts, clothes and electrical goods. A market takes place on Saturday morning.
With most of the prices marked up for visitors, you will find lower price tags in Puerto del Rosario where tourism is not as rife. Most of the spending goes on along the two streets of Calle Leon y Castilla and Avenida Juan Bethencourt.