Fuerteventura is a Spanish island in the Atlantic Ocean that is part
of the Canary Islands. With an area of 1,660 square kilometers, it
is the second largest island in the Canary Islands after
Tenerife. The population is around
106,000. The capital is Puerto del Rosario. South of Puerto del
Rosario is the island's airport (FUE). The Canary Islands are an
autonomous region of Spain divided into two provinces. Fuerteventura
is part of the province of Las Palmas along with Lanzarote and Gran
Canaria. Due to its peripheral location within the EU, the
Autonomous Region of the Canary Islands has a special status, which
has a particular impact on customs duties and VAT. That's why you
can also shop duty-free on the flight to Fuerteventura and back.
Fuerteventura is south of Lanzarote, the two islands are only 11 km
apart. The ferry takes about 20 minutes from one island to the
other.
In summer, Fuerteventura is also the first choice for
windsurfers and kitesurfers in Europe. Ideal weather and wind
conditions make many enthusiastic surfers go into raptures again and
again. International competitions are held regularly at Playa de
Sotavento.
The island is around 100 km long and around 30 km wide. The numerous
mountains of volcanic origin are striking, they reach a height of up to
700 m in the northern part called Maxorata, the highest elevation is in
the south on the Jandía peninsula, the Pico de la Zarza is 807 m high
and is a windbreak for the tourist centers there . The political
division of the island into six municipalities is of historical interest
only, most of the tourist spots are recent.
Puerto del Rosario,
capital of the island on the east coast. South of the city is the
airport near El Matorral. The area of the commune extends to the west
coast, there are only a few points of tourist interest in the area.
La Oliva covers the entire northern part of the island, the town itself
is quite small, Corralejo, Villaverde, El Cotillo and Parque Holandes
are much more important. Isla de Lobos also belongs to the municipality.
Betancuria was the first capital of the island, it is a tourist
destination, as are the two smaller towns of Valles de Santa Inés and
Vega de Río Palmas.
Antigua with Caleta de Fuste
Tuineje with Gran
Tarajal
Pájara includes the entire peninsula in the south with the
tourist centers of Costa Calma and Morro Jable with Jandía and the
Jandía Natural Park with the small outlying towns of Cofete and Villa
Winter.
The capital Puerto del Rosario (25,000 inhabitants) is on the east
coast. Important centers of tourism are Jandia and Costa Calma in the
south and Corralejo on the northern tip of the island. Fuerteventura is
known for its beaches. If you want to drive a bit, you can lie alone on
a kilometer of beach. You can even choose the color of the beaches. From
white to yellow to black, there are all sorts of colors a beach has to
offer. You can also choose the waves. There are places where there are
almost no waves, but also places where the waves are so violent that
swimming is not recommended.
Ajuy
On the west coast of the
island lies the small fishing village of Ajuy. This is where the fishing
boats anchor in summer. In winter they head north because the surf can
get very strong here. Ajui is always worth a visit. A short hiking trail
leads along the cliffs, past impressive rock formations, above the
incessant surf, to the Cuevos de Ajuy (Ajuy surf caves). Then there is
the beach, which consists of black sand.
cofete
Cofete is a
small town in southern Fuerteventura on the Jandia peninsula. Cofete is
on the west coast, so it has nothing to do with the tourist strongholds
on the south coast. In the days of Franco's government, this was a
restricted military area. From here Franco pursued his interests in
Africa. Nearby you can also find Villa Winter, which is surrounded by
many legends, named after the builder.
The place itself is not
very big, but has a bar where you can take care of yourself. And there
is a not harmless, but very beautiful beach. There are hardly any people
here, you are pretty much alone here. In any case, it is worth a trip if
you have an off-road vehicle (gravel road). There is also a public
four-wheel drive bus. Around Cofete there are many places where you can
take beautiful landscape photos.
Corralejo
The town of
Corralejo is located in the north of Fuerteventura. In contrast to other
cities and towns on Fuerteventura, the tourist area and the town have
grown together. A natural line has been drawn from the dunes of
Corralejo to the city in recent years. Corralejo should now have around
18,000 inhabitants (16,400 as of 2014), because the city is getting
bigger and bigger towards the south. 20,000 guest beds are available,
making Corralejo the city with the most "residents" in Fuerteventura,
especially in summer.
You come to Corralejo from the south from
the airport. Passing the spectacular dunes, the first thing that comes
to mind is the spectacular architectural sin, two concrete palaces, RIU
hotels. Up to the road that separates the town from the dunes, the dunes
have been placed under nature protection.
Corralejo itself
stretches around a bay. At low tide, black tuff rocks dominate the
picture. Only at high tide you have a beautiful sandy beach. Here you
can also find a nice beach life with bars and restaurants.
Just a
few years ago, Corralejo was firmly in English hands. Many other Central
Europeans have only been guests here for a few years. The city has
become very international.
The main street runs from the south to
the old town. The nightlife of the city takes place on both sides. Here
you can experience live music in the evenings, but also go shopping.
There are also plenty of bars and restaurants in the old town. But
here, as a rule, Spanish cuisine is presented. Tapas are available
everywhere. Small supermarkets can be found everywhere. Here too there
is live music and nice corners to hang out.
There are numerous
ferry connections at the port. The main one is the hourly ferry to
Lanzarote. In just 12 minutes, the catamaran manages to get to the
neighboring island. A nice thing if you want to visit two islands in one
vacation.
There is always something going on in Corralejo. At
noon the buses come from other areas of Fuerteventura to offer tourists
shopping opportunities. There is no counterfeit market in Corralejo, as
we know it from Jandia. Only shopping here.
The town of Corralejo
consists almost entirely of holiday homes. Beautiful or less beautiful,
the fluctuation seems to be high. Many houses have a "For sale" sign.
Each of these houses has a pool, however small it may be.
The big
hotels for tourists have settled around the city of Corralejo. The
natural boundary here is formed by the dunes of Corralejo, which are
under nature protection. No new hotels are allowed to be built here. A
Canarian village has also been built in this zone with the hotels, the
Center Commercial "El Campanario". Here you can shop and pass the time
with coffee or ice cream. Or up the approx. 40 m high, old church tower
for free. From here you have a fantastic view of the whole city as well
as Lobos and Lanzarote.
Costa Calma is located in the south of Fuerteventura on the east
coast. If you are looking for relaxation without any stress, this is the
place for you. In the tourist town of Costa Calma, everything revolves
around the tourist. Everything is tailored to it. Malicious tongues
therefore also call the place Costa Koma.
Eternally long yellow
sandy beaches characterize the place. In the area of the village itself,
they are guarded and well stocked. To the south it gets less to the
lonely sandy beach. Here surfers and kite surfers share their territory.
There is always a certain swell and always wind. The beach invites you
to long walks.
In Costa Calma there are many Germans. But things
are quiet in Costa Calma. There is no need to fear the hype that is
familiar from Playa de Palma. The disco is off the beaten track and
closes early.
Driving west from Corralejo to the coast, you come to El Cotillo.
It's a small town that has only been in the tourist spotlight for a few
years - not least as a surfer's favourite. There, individual life has
not yet merged very strongly with tourism. This is ideal for individual
tourists. You experience more than just beach and sun.
The
tourist buses also stop by in El Cotillo. The goal is the fortress of
the old fishing village, where lime was also burned in the past. The
tower was used to look out for pirates at sea. An artist has exhibited
paintings in the fortress. This stop is probably enough for a glimpse of
El Cotillo. But besides the fortress, don't forget the place that offers
a lot of beauty. Attention: In the small Cotillo there are surprisingly
many good and very good restaurants - especially with Canarian and
Italian cuisine.
The place has a lot of peculiarities. It is
pleasant to look around there. From the fortress there is a beautiful
view of the coasts to the north and south. The lagoon beach in the north
towards the lighthouses is well suited for families with small children.
In the south, the waves roll harder onto the beach. In the very north
there is a light tower with a fishing museum.
There is a lot to
experience in Cotillo. The many surf schools stand out in particular,
since Piedra Playa, the "surfer's beach" of El Cotillo, is particularly
good for learning to surf. There are several surf schools in the
village, e.g. B. the surf school and surf camp FreshSurf or Riders Surf
N' Bike.
From Corralejo you can take the hourly bus to El
Cotillo. The direct bus connection with Puerto del Rosario is much
rarer. The best way to visit the place is with a rental car, since you
are more independent. The roads to El Cotillo are easy to drive on and
do not pose any problems for buses, and there are plenty of parking
spaces.
Jandia
Jandia is an artificial town that was created
purely for tourism. It borders Morro Jable, so you cannot see the
transition. The town got its name from the Jandia peninsula on which it
is located.
Jandia itself consists only of hotels, shops, bars
and restaurants.
The most important asset of Jandia is certainly
the beach. From Morro Jable, the beach with light yellow sand stretches
far to the east. Interrupted by a cliff, it then continues north towards
Costa Calma. Beach as far as the eye can see. There are sections of the
beach that are guarded, where you can rent loungers and where you can
buy fast food and drinks at a bar, but there are also sections where you
are very alone.
In the direction of Morro Jable, the waves can
hardly be felt. Going further east, the waves get stronger. At the
corner where you continue north, where a rock divides the beach,
everyone who likes high waves will have fun.
Jandia can be
reached via a well-developed trunk road, which then becomes the town's
main street: the town's shopping mile. All shops, bars and restaurants
are located here. All are on the north side of the street, so you always
have a view of the sea. Here you will find everything you want to buy or
not to buy on holiday.
On Thursday the African market takes place
on the market place of Jandia. You can then buy plagiarisms of all kinds
here. But you can also buy fresh fruit and vegetables. If you want to
buy something here, you should first of all keep an eye on your money.
Trading is always worthwhile. The first price you are told should never
be the last.
There is an extensive salt marsh between the main
road and the sea. It is under nature protection. Here you can admire the
quite pronounced tides.
In the west, the town begins with the harbor. There is a daily ferry
connection to Las Palmas. You have to reckon with the crossing with
about three and a half hours. The village of Morro Jable can only be
reached from the port via stairs. A rock face blocks the way, the road
takes a long detour.
The settlement of Morro Jable stretches up
the mountain. This is where the people who work in the hotels in the
artificial village of Jandia, a little to the west, live. From the port
you first have to go up the hill in order to then come back down to the
town centre. The town center has not yet been taken over by tourists.
This is where Spanish pensioners chat about this and that and drink
their coffee and beer.
The beach promenade is not far away.
Tavern to tavern lined up. You can eat Spanish specialties as you like.
The ambiance is great, the food is good. The beach is yellow with
fine-grained sand. There is something going on here until late in the
evening.
If you then go east along the beach promenade, you leave
Morro Jable and come to the artificial village of Jandia. The exclusive
hotels and clubs are located on the beach promenade. Apparently the
beaches belong to the hotels, but they are public and partly guarded.
Morro Jable beach merges seamlessly with Jandia beach. This beach has
something to offer for everyone. In Morro Jable the waves are still very
low. They get higher and higher towards Jandia. You can lie all to
yourself, but you can also take advantage of the bar offer and the
service for sun beds and umbrellas. You can rent boats and learn to
surf.
Pajara
The capital of the southern province of
Fuerteventura is Pájara. It's just a small village in the middle of the
island. They make fun of the wealth of the town. Because this is where
the taxes from Costa Calma and Jandia flow. So you can draw from the
full. The town hall is also stately. Located in the center of the
village, you make no secret of the fact that you are not poor.
There is even a freshwater swimming pool in summer. In view of the
prices for fresh water on Fuerteventura, pure luxury.
The
tranquil little place is still worth seeing. Here the locals show you
their way of life. Far beyond the hustle and bustle of our professions.
Quiet is the order of the day in the inn by the swimming pool. No one is
easily disturbed here. Here you can enjoy Spanish cuisine, inexpensive
but good. You should try the "Leche y Leche" coffee, an espresso to
which sweet condensed milk is added. If you stir it, it becomes a sweet
latte, if you don't, you have a special taste experience.
The
church in the town center has a beautiful portal with an Aztec-style
design. There is a lot of speculation as to how these works came about.
Here is the most plausible one: A rich monk came home after a trip to
South America and donated this portal.
It is definitely worth
taking a look inside the church as well. But please do not disturb a
service, a wedding or a baptism. After the celebrations, the church is
often closed and cannot be visited.
Puerto del Rosario
Puerto
del Rosario is the capital of Fuerteventura. That pretty much says it
all, the city is very matter-of-fact. Nothing really to see here. Unless
you want to find out about the real life of the people on Fuerteventura.
Then you've come to the right place.
The white of the houses
dominates the streets. Here live the people who live and work on
Fuerteventura. It is not tourism that dominates here, but normality.
Puerto del Rosario is the heart of Fuerteventura's infrastructure. The
whole economy of the island works from here. All important traffic
routes come together here.
If you come to Puerto del Rosario you
can experience the real life of the island. Here you can find real
Canarian cuisine in the simple restaurants, food made for the locals.
Luxury is not in high demand here.
Puerto del Rosario has nothing
to do with the tourism around it. Here live the people who live and work
away from tourism on Fuerteventura. The only highlight for tourists is
the "Rotondas" shopping center which has dozens of shops. The port is
also worth a look, as cruise ships are often anchored here.
Fuerteventura is home to the largest cultivation areas of aloe vera
in Europe. Anyone who thinks they are looking at huge fields will be
disappointed. After all, aloe vera is also used industrially here. You
can visit the fields, find out more about the plants and buy inexpensive
products in the factory outlet. The primary products of aloe vera are of
particular interest.
The aloe vera is also brought close to you.
A slice is cut from a ripe leaf and a juice forms which can be applied
to the skin. It's a weird feeling, but the juice gets absorbed into the
skin. It contains a lot of substances that help the skin to regenerate.
That is the tenor of the organizers: aloe vera does not heal, but makes
it easier for the body to heal itself.
A tour of the aloe vera
plantation and the associated factory actually gives you all the
information you need. In addition, the leaders are not members of the
factory. So you can allow yourself to tell the truth. If you don't buy
anything, you buy nothing.
The valley of a thousand palm trees
If you drive north from Pajara, you come to the valley of a thousand
palm trees. The term is somewhat exaggerated. There are many palm trees,
but far from a thousand. It is fertile area in the interior of
Fuerteventura. There is also agriculture here. The famous Canarian
potatoes are grown here. Vegetable gardens are blooming and there are
also tomato plantations.
It's not agriculture as we know it in
Germany, but small areas of cultivation. In between there are always
palm trees and houses of the locals. It's a very different landscape
than the rest of Fuerteventura. It's worth driving through here once.
The Water Park
In the south of Corralejo is the water park
(formerly Baku Water Park). It's on the road to El Cotillo.
This
amusement park offers all kinds of attractions for its visitors.
Sufficient parking spaces are available. Just watch the time, as the
park is only open during peak hours. It closes its doors in winter. The
site is easy to find, just drive straight ahead from the end of the
motorway.
When the park is open it offers a lot of attractions.
All have something to do with water to a greater or lesser extent. The
high slides are definitely a highlight for many children. The huge
wreck, once the park's landmark, burned down a few years ago and stands
on the now-disused site of the former zoo, which was once attached to
the water park and was closed when the Baku company was wound up while
the water park went to its competitor who runs a similar park across the
street in Lanzarote.
The Faro de La Entallada lighthouse
It is
an old Spanish garrison located here. The building is not only a
lighthouse, but also a barracks. In earlier times, troops were kept
ready here to react to attacks. A narrow road leads to the rock, where
there is a large parking lot. You're pretty high here. The viewing
platforms allow a view over the coast.
The complex is well
preserved. But it's worth staying here for a while and looking around.
You can let the ever-present wind blow around your ears, breathe in the
fresh air, enjoy the construction and take a little break. This is the
right place for a small picnic. The sunset here is fantastically
beautiful. There is plenty of opportunity to take pictures on the
viewing platform, especially when a ship is passing by.
The Oasis
Park
The Oasis Park Zoo is located between Costa Calma and Gran
Tarajal. First of all, this zoo attracts visitors with four shows. The
guest is guided from show to show. In between there are always
enclosures with animals or areas with special plants.
The parrot
show takes place in a showroom. Nothing spectacular. If you stay a
little after the show, you can still speak to the lady who was running
the show. She then likes to distribute her parrots to the hands of
interested visitors.
Next is the sea lion show. Not only do they
show their tricks, they are also led through the audience. You get a
very nice closeness to the animals. And they can do a lot too.
Then come the birds of prey. You have to climb a mountain where the show
takes place. You get very close to the animals. The show is professional
and well thought out. Along the way, you get to see how you get these
animals to perform their tricks.
The final show is the reptiles.
Also in the truest sense of the word to touch. You are shown the
crocodile and the phyton around your neck. Very worth experiencing.
There is also a zoo with all kinds of animals from all over the
world. An area with hippos, giraffes and elephants was recently opened.
Worth seeing are the highly endangered gazelles, which are bred here for
release in North Africa.
There is a spacious botanical garden
between the bird of prey show and the zoo. Here you can admire cacti and
other desert plants. Overall, the park is very lovingly laid out. Many
flowers typical of Fuerteventura are blooming. On another mountain you
can follow a nature trail with native plants and see wild waterfowl from
four artificial lakes from observation huts - very interesting
especially during the bird migration season.
The American Star
South of Ajuy lies the sunken wreck of the cruise ship American Star. It
sailed under different flags and under different names. So the name
American Star is only the most common.
In its proud days, the
American Star was a large and well-known ship that shuttled between
Europe and America and won the blue ribbon, the award for the fastest
crossing of the Atlantic. During the Second World War it was a resupply
ship, then it became a well-known cruise ship.
After many years
of various uses, the ship ended up in Greece, where it rusted away
without purpose for a long time. Here a shipowner bought the ship
together with an entire fleet.
In order to make money out of the
ship, it should be taken to Asia to serve as a floating hotel. A tugboat
with a Dutch crew was hired for this. The tug brought the ship to the
west coast of Fuerteventura. Here you got caught in a storm and you had
to part with the towed ship. The wreck stranded on the coast of
Fuerteventura, south of Ajuy.
Even today there are various voices
that doubt the course of events. The storm is said not to have happened
according to weather records (not verified), the route on the west side
of the island is said to have been atypical because of the
countercurrent (not verified), the ship is said to have been insured
above value (not verified) and the route is said not to have been
calculated be conclusive (a route via the Suez Canal would have been the
correct one) (not verified).
The wreck is not worth going into
the water and swimming to. Many divers attempting to inspect the wreck
have perished due to the strong currents.
Since 2007 the wreck
has disintegrated and is no longer visible (as of 2019).
The
dunes of Corralejo
If you drive all the way to the north of
Fuerteventura, you come to the dunes of Corralejo. If you want to have
the feeling of standing in the desert, you should go here. It's not a
desert, but a very, very wide beach. The sand consists of pieces of
mussel shells and the like. It is not Saharan sand, as is so often
claimed.
In the north, the dunes border on the eponymous town of
Corralejo. Here are two structural mistakes of a hotel chain (RIU
hotels, half of which is owned by TUI, Hanover), which should actually
disappear sooner or later because the dunes are under nature protection.
Actually. Going further south, the beaches become more and more idyllic
and lonely.
The old road to Corralejo also runs through the
dunes. There is another small parking lot in the middle of the dunes
where the tourist buses stop. Here you can park and enjoy the dunes for
a little longer than the quarter of an hour offered by the tours.
The Caves of Ajuy
North of the sleepy fishing village of Ajuy lie
the Ajuy Caves. They were washed out by the tides of the Atlantic Ocean
and today show the history of the Canary Islands. Incidentally, they
were not a hideout for the pirates, as some tour guides say, but storage
rooms for the lime kilns located above, the remains of which are still
preserved.
The island landscape
If you drive from the coast
into the interior of the country, you will always notice one thing:
Nothing is left of the history of the well-known green island, which was
covered all over with forest. Now you don't have to imagine the forest
that grew on the island at that time as you know forests in Germany. It
was a dense thicket of plants with only a few trees.
After
settlement, more and more of this stock was cut down, on the one hand to
create areas for agriculture, on the other hand to use the wood as
building material for houses and boats, or to burn it for the production
of lime in lime kilns.
The fields were irrigated with well water.
A pronounced agriculture developed until the water from the wells was
used up. At that time Fuerteventura was the granary of the Canary
Islands.
When the water dried up, agriculture died too, as
Fuerteventura rarely rains and there are no longer any plants that can
store the rain and keep it from flowing into the sea.
The
landscape in the interior of Fuerteventura is therefore characterized by
desert-like areas. Lichens settle on the hills, which then enable the
settlement of higher plants. This is a process that takes many years. In
addition, the free-roaming goats and other pests, such as the imported
Atlas squirrels, prevent any new beginning.
The areas look
completely different than those in Lanzarote. There is something
beautiful about standing in these areas or driving through these areas.
The Winter Villa
Hardly any other house in this world has as many
legends as the Villa Winter. The house takes its name from the architect
Gustav Winter, who worked in the Canary Islands during the war years.
One of the main reasons for the legends surrounding the villa is
undoubtedly the novel "Die Kette" by Wolfgang Kaes, which is largely set
in the Villa Winter. In fact, there's a lot of mystery surrounding the
villa as well.
Villa Winter is located on the Jandia peninsula in
southern Fuerteventura near the village of Cofete. It is particularly
striking because of the round tower.
Isla Los Lobos
In the
north of the island of Fuerteventura lies the small island of Los Lobos.
From the port of Corralejo there is a regular ferry service to this
island. The small island is easy to visit, but a circular hike takes
more than three hours. But it is worthwhile in any case. It offers a
unique view of the neighboring island of Lanzarote. The island has been
uninhabited for years.
Here you can while away the time by taking
long walks. It's definitely worth it. The coast of the island is
interesting, it has something to offer at high and low tide. It's a
quiet and comfortable thing. You can spend a nice few hours here. A
(free) permit has been required to visit the island since 2016.
beaches
Fuerteventura is known for its beaches. You can lie together
with many others on patrolled beaches, but you can also secure a piece
of the beach for yourself. This piece can be as big as you want. If you
want to drive a bit, you can lie alone on a kilometer of beach. You can
even choose the color of the beaches. From white to yellow to black,
there are all sorts of colors a beach has to offer. You can also choose
the waves. There are places where there are almost no waves, but there
are also places where the waves are so violent that swimming is not
recommended.
The beaches are on the east coast. In the north, the
beaches of the dunes of Corralejo invite you to swim. The further south
you go, the more lonely the beach becomes. You can't walk as far as the
beach is. You should take a sense of proportion and sunblock with you.
The beaches stretch along the entire east coast. In the south, from
Costa Calma to Morro Jable, they go almost in one go. There are
kilometers of beaches where there isn't a hotel or a house. Kitesurfers
and surfers surf their lanes in the sea. There's nobody on the beach.
The beach is clearly visible from the road. With an off-road vehicle you
can also get where you want to go, I would advise against using a car
(it is forbidden for rental cars anyway), because the paths are quite
demanding and the gravel could cause damage to the car. If you are good
on foot, you can do it without a car. A nice experience.
The
stands of Jandia are developed to a large extent. They start from the
north well before the village. If you want, you can walk along the beach
all the way to Costa Calma. But that is very far. From the north the sea
is quite wild, there are heavy waves. On the beach you have the usual
security guards and a few bars where you can quench your thirst. Don't
be afraid to head north, because the pubs get better north.
The
beach then bends towards the west. There is a rocky spot here that marks
this point. Morro Jable beach follows. The beach is initially
characterized by the salt marshes to the north of the beach. Although
the hotel castles are visible to the north and the road to Morro Jable
marks the area, the salt marshes have rightly preserved their
appearance. There is not much going on on the beaches, the waves are
moderate.
At the lighthouse of Jandia there is the first inn.
Here you can rent loungers and parasols. From here it gets fuller. Not
overcrowded, but fuller. A beach life as we know it and many people want
it too. In the hinterland of the beach, the salt marshes end and the
beach promenade of Morro Jable begins.
Morro Jable beach starts
at Jandia lighthouse. A beach promenade leads from the lighthouse to the
center of Morro Jable. The promenade goes up and down the hill. Here are
the expensive hotels on the north side. Over the fence you can get a
glimpse of these facilities. You also pay for the short walk to the
beach. Open the door and the beach is there. Guarded with all the
possibilities you know. Water sports with the associated schools are
very important here. There is a catamaran school directly below the
beach promenade of Morro Jable.
The beach ends at Morro Jable,
where the promenade provides an excellent backdrop for various
restaurants. Here you dine with a view of the sea. When the sun goes
down in the evening, you can sit here and enjoy the evening.
The
stretch of beach from Costa Calma to Morro Jable has a length of between
24km (low tide) and 27km (high tide) depending on the tide. The
difference lies in the area of the large lagoon of Playa Barco and in
overcoming rock groups that have to be walked on the beach at low tide
and climbed over at high tide. It is often hiked by beach walkers in one
direction (preferably north to south because of wind direction and
position of the sun). Since there are many small beach bars along the
coast, the hike can even be done without luggage.
The way back is
by bus, which runs 2-3 times an hour in both directions all day long. It
is also possible to walk only parts of the route, however the bus stops
are on the plateau above the beach and are not easy to find from the
coast. It is therefore recommended for those unfamiliar with the area to
take the bus to one of these stops and then walk back along the beach.
The pure hiking time is usually between 4 and 6 hours.
Because of the tidal flats in Playa Barca, it is important to be aware
of the tides, as the strip of beach in front of the lagoon cannot be
left when the tide is high. Tide tables are available in all hotels at
the reception. As in all mudflat areas, crossing tidal creeks can be
dangerous when the water is running off, even if it is deeper than
knee-deep. The location of the tidal creeks within the lagoon changes
from year to year.
There are still a few tomato plantations on Fuerteventura. However,
these are dying out more and more. The reason is that there are Dutch
companies that have more or less a monopoly over the tomatoes here. In
fact, the tomato plantations give most of the tomatoes to these
companies and get very little money in return.
Not only tomatoes
grow on tomato plantations in Fuerteventura, but also all kinds of other
vegetables. Potatoes, cabbage in different varieties and much more. A
little trick is needed to grow tomatoes on this poor soil: you keep
goats. These feed freely on the island or on stale white bread from the
island's hotels. They come when the owner of the plantation is there to
be milked.
The site of the plantation will first be scaffolded. A
tent is placed on this scaffolding, which is not airtight but keeps the
strongest winds away from the tomatoes and vegetables. This tent will
last a few years. Grooves are then cut into the ground and goat dung is
filled into them. This is where the small tomato plants are planted.
Everything is filled up again with the excavated earth.
The
tomato plants are watered from a well or spring. This is done via a hose
system that brings each plant its share of water. The tomato plants grow
over two meters high. They are tied to a pole and bear plenty of fruit.
Some of the plantations open to visitors can be tasted for free.
Anything you pick and eat yourself is free. If you want to take a few
tomatoes with you, there are scales at the entrance where you can weigh
how many tomatoes you took with you and a cash register. Here you put
the corresponding euros in. Often there is no cashier.
Unfortunately, it happens again and again that people from the
plantations not only take tomatoes and vegetables with them, but also
the money from the register. This contributes to the extinction of these
professions in Fuerteventura. Because the farmers don't earn much
despite their hard work. This culture should definitely be protected.
By the way, the tomatoes taste very aromatic, very different from
the supermarket tomatoes in Germany. If you know you're going to a
tomato plantation, take salt and pepper and maybe some bread and butter
with you. Many travelers even unwrap garlic and onions. And then please
think about the wages for the work.
Fuerteventura has a big problem with free-roaming goats that are in
the mountainous areas. They eat up all the fresh stalks and keep making
Fuerteventura a desert. In some farms they are also kept as breeding
cattle. Here they give milk for the goat's cheese, which is also
well-known and popular outside of the island. The males and females are
always separated from each other. This saves the cheese lover the smell
of goat cheese, which can only develop when the females have contact
with the males.
Males and females are therefore kept separate on
the farms. They are only brought together when there is a need for
offspring. But these groups are also kept separate from the dairy goats.
The traditional goat cheese production hardly exists anymore. The EU
has also carried its laws onto the farms of Fuerteventura. But there are
still stables where you can see the traditional production, e.g. B. at
Finca Pepe near Betancuria. Goat cheese is still made here. You should
definitely try it too. It doesn't taste harsh, as people think, but
rather very fresh. There are a few different varieties, mostly differing
in storage time. There's a difference when you compare goat's milk
cheese to cow's milk cheese.
In the stables where goat cheese is
made, you can also get many other delicacies of the island. But caution
is advised. Not everything is cheaper than in the shops in the tourist
areas. But do the farms a favour, if it's the same price. The goat
cheese dairies are also having trouble staying afloat. And definitely
try the cheese. This is mandatory.
With around 1,700 km², Fuerteventura is the second largest and oldest
of the Canary Islands. It is 100 km long and between 5 and 31 km wide.
Fuerteventura is of volcanic origin and about 100 km from the African
mainland. The number of residents is around 120,000, of whom around
30,000 live in the capital, Puerto del Rosario. Alongside Lanzarote,
Fuerteventura is an island that does not have a very large elevation in
the middle. As a result, there is hardly any precipitation here. And
when it rains (Fuerteventura is never recorded as having snow, unlike
Lanzarote, which has a known snow day), the water runs off quickly
because of the sparse vegetation. Fresh fresh water is one of the
island's most important problems. The water from the tap is produced in
seawater desalination plants. You shouldn't drink it.
The water
supply for the towns in the interior of the island has now been
established. Thick black hoses have been laid along the streets and
supply the population with water. The problem here is that the water
isn't cold, but warm to hot when it comes out of the tap.
The
desert island of the Canary Islands, shaped by wind and drought, is
heavily influenced by tourism, but offers many original insights. Sacred
features and rare animal and plant species can be found in the stony
interior of the island.
Due to the persistent trade winds, wind
energy can be used on Fuerteventura to produce a steady supply of
electricity. You can find some wind turbines here, especially in the
south.
A major problem on the island is erosion. The whole island
used to be overgrown with bushes, then it was the granary of the Canary
Islands. At some point the well water was used up and the wood burned.
Today there is almost no agriculture on Fuerteventura because there is a
lack of water. Fuerteventura is a semi-desert with desert tendencies.
The picture shows the Embalse de las Peñita reservoir, which Franco
created at the time, and which is now filled with eroded material.
Green hotel complexes
When you move into your hotel in
Fuerteventura, you're amazed at how many trees and bushes there are
here, almost all of which are artificially watered. The background is a
law that requires every new hotel to plant a tree or palm tree for each
bed it offers. The aim is to turn the island back into the green island
it once was.
Atlas squirrel
Almost everywhere on Fuerteventura
there are cute Atlas squirrels (also North African ground squirrels).
They are content with a barren habitat and multiply quickly because they
have hardly any natural enemies.
The squirrels come from Africa
and were introduced to Fuerteventura around 1960. Here they quickly
became a nuisance, preventing vegetation from settling because they eat
every fresh blade of grass. They are also becoming more and more
accustomed to humans, because they are fed illegally and thus become
more and more tame. The critters may be cute and cuddly, but one should
not forget that they are a threat to the island's delicate ecosystem. So
please don't feed them, no matter how hungry the dark brown beady eyes
look at you.
Spanish is spoken on Fuerteventura. But it is said that the worst
Spanish is spoken on Fuerteventura. This is due to the low level of
education. Under Franco, Fuerteventura was only of military interest.
The dictator Franco did not care about the population. And so education
remained uninteresting in the Spanish government.
Trying to catch
up today. The problem is getting well-trained teachers to Fuerteventura.
The teachers from Fuerteventura themselves are generationally behind the
teachers from the mainland.
That's why mostly non-island people
who want to make quick money work in the island's hotel complexes. For
example, there are a lot of students from Madrid here.
By plane
The normal tourist will arrive to Fuerteventura by plane.
The airport is located south of the capital Puerto del Rosario and has
European standards. It was greatly expanded in the 2010s. The airport
has only one runway, but it is designed in such a way that all types of
aircraft could land here.
Once you have landed, everything is
quite uncomplicated. The airport is clean, modern and uncluttered. Even
inexperienced passengers can quickly find their luggage, which is where
it should be relatively quickly. When you leave the baggage claim area,
the tour operator's employees are already waiting to direct you to the
transfer bus.
At the bus parking lot you can find the buses as
usual by number. No problem.
When you take off, you will first
find a large hall with many counters. Again, everything is modern and
well organized. In addition to Spanish, the staff can at least speak
English and German. There are also many shops in the hall, including in
the duty-free area.
You will quickly find the aviation security
checkpoint behind the check-in counters. It corresponds to the European
standard. There are always Civil Guard officers at the checkpoint.
After the aviation security check you come to the waiting room.
There are all sorts of ways to pass the time until departure. Many shops
invite you to go shopping and your physical well-being is taken care of.
There are two terraces where you can hang out. Smoking is also allowed
here, very rarely possible at Spanish airports.
The airline
Binter Canarias is based at the airport. The green and white planes
immediately catch the eye. They connect the Canary Islands in regular
service. You can reach all other important airports in the Canary
Islands from Fuerteventura with this airline.
By boat
You can
also reach Fuerteventura by boat. Ferry connections are constantly
changing, so it is difficult to give exact information.
The
transfer from Corralejo to Playa Blanca on Lanzarote is well-known and
popular. The "Volcan de Tindaya" ferry from the Armas company runs here
daily, usually every hour, to get from one island to the other. Driving
time: 25 minutes. In addition, the island of Isla Los Lobos is connected
to Fuerteventura by ferry.
There is a daily ferry from Morro
Jable to Las Palmas. The ferries are very reliable, delays are extremely
rare. It is enough to be at the port 20 minutes before departure to
complete the formalities. Check-in is very easy. It's polite and getting
what you want is fairly easy.
There is a well developed bus transfer network. All important towns
are connected with each other. The connections are regular and reliable,
the tickets are very cheap. The offer is not only used by tourists.
In order to get to the really beautiful places and beaches of the
island, it is advisable to rent a car. However, some highlights of the
island can only be reached via roads that are sometimes bumpy and
adventurous. However, the car rental companies on the island forbid
(probably from experience) to visit these places with normal cars. If
you want to reach everything on the island, you have to rent an off-road
vehicle. If you still drive on gravel roads, you not only lose your
insurance cover - in recent years there has been a bad habit that rental
cars are photographed on gravel roads and the rental company then
withholds the deposit ("serious undercarriage damage) - the
photographers receive a commission for this.
Taxis are extremely
cheap on the island. Shorter distances can be covered quickly and easily
by taxi. There are always enough cars at the taxi stands that you can
use. However, taxis are far too expensive for trips to neighboring
towns. You should take the bus.
The hinterland of the island is barren and desert-like and offers rather few sights compared to the neighboring islands. Fuerteventura is especially famous for its endless, white sandy beaches. The most impressive natural landscape are the dunes around Corralejo, which extend like a desert for kilometers into the hinterland. Popular excursion destinations are the cliffs of Ajuy and La Pared (west coast), the legendary Villa Winter (near Jandia) and the former capital Betancuria. The picturesque fishing village of Morro Jable is popular with tourists from Jandia. The archaeological excavation site "La Atalayita" is also worth seeing. This goes back to the time of the island's original inhabitants, the Majos. The uniqueness of the partially reconstructed buildings of this settlement makes it one of the most important archaeological sites on the island. How to get there: Turn off the FV 2 onto the dead-end road to Pozo Negro - after 3 km onto a dirt road that branches off to the right across a lava field. The museum has been closed for years, the outdoor area is freely accessible. Also worth seeing are the mill museum in Antigua, the open-air museum in Tefia, the saltworks museum in Caleta and the Gofio museum in Tefir. The archaeological museum in Betancuria has been planned for years, since then it has been a ruin and has closed (2019). The exhibition on the sacred mountain Tindaya is also closed (2019) and the mountain is no longer accessible to tourists.
Fuerteventura is a popular address, especially among surfers,
windsurfers and kite surfers. Especially in the summer months from
mid-May to mid-September, there is almost always a strong wind here to
practice your sport. The long sandy beaches are largely deserted. The
surfers don't get in the way of the bathers. Kitesurfers and windsurfers
have almost split up the area between Costa Calma and Jandia. The long
sandy beach offers everything a surfer's heart desires. waves, wind and
solitude. In the meantime, the south of the island and the inland are
being brought closer to holidaymakers in an ecologically friendly way
with electrically operated Segways. A whole new experience that
represents a serious alternative to traditional fuel tours.
The
west coast, especially the beach of La Pared, is popular with the wave
riders (surfers). There are no tourist centers here. Here, the wind is
usually weaker and gustier due to the wind jam, but there are good waves
on the open Atlantic side, which get particularly high in winter.
Life-threatening currents often form on the north and west coast of
Fuerteventura. Therefore, these areas are particularly suitable for
advanced surfers. You should never go out on the water alone, and also
refrain from bathing and swimming. Every year people die on
Fuerteventura's north and west coast who ignore these warnings. Since
Fuerteventura is a Mecca for surfers, there are now countless surf
schools with which even beginners can take their first steps.
Anyone who wants to learn windsurfing or kitesurfing will find the best
learning conditions in the south-east. Here, on a lagoon south of Costa
Calma, there are shallow areas of shallow water at high tide where you
can practice safely without the risk of being swept out to sea. There is
also a windsurfing center with equipment hire and a comprehensive range
of courses.
Of course, Fuerteventura has much more to offer than
water sports. Although the island is – without question – a Mecca for
surfers, it also has a lot to offer for other active sports enthusiasts,
such as hiking, mountain biking and – for those who don’t like it too
actively – also Segway tours.
The Spanish restaurants on the island offer a wide variety of fish
and seafood dishes. Apart from goat meat, all other meat is imported.
The same is also true for most vegetable products, except for tomatoes
and potatoes, as there is almost no agriculture on the island.
Nevertheless, some restaurants also offer vegetarian or vegan dishes. A
widely used spice is garlic.
You take your time eating here. You
can spend whole evenings sitting in restaurants and being surprised
again and again with tapas. There is also a not always good, dry red
wine. You should not miss the opportunity to visit a traditional Spanish
restaurant, even if you have booked all inclusive.
The nightlife on Fuerteventura is quite reserved. The island caters
more to family vacations. But there is also something for surfers and
other solo travelers. In Corralejo in the north of the island there is
live music every night. A cover band plays every evening on the main
street. There's rock 'n' roll here, well done. In the old town, a good
guitarist alternates with local folklore and a cover band.
In
Jandia there is a discotheque with current party music, but also a pub
with live music. The disco goes on until the morning, the pub with the
live music closes sometime in the evening.
In Costa Calma the
offer is similar. But here, too, the offer is moderate. Family holidays
have priority and the bars and nightclubs close early.
The
tourist places are distinguished by the tourists who come here.
Corralejo in the north of the island is very English. The nightlife here
also has an English flair. Here you can even watch football matches from
the English league in the city's many pubs. There are pubs that
broadcast Manchester United games, but also some from Chelsea London or
Liverpool.
In the south, the nightlife is very German. But not as
unusual as on Ibiza or Playa de Palma. Costa Calma and Jandia are firmly
in German hands. But you have adjusted to it. You get along well with
the German language.
There is always a nice location for a nice
evening on the island. You might have to drive a little. But the taxis
are also very cheap and the drinks are much more expensive than the
travel costs anyway.
Fuerteventura is a very safe island. As a tourist, you will hardly
come into contact with serious crime or even violent crime. Theft and
break-ins in hotel rooms or rental cars, on the other hand, occasionally
occur. Therefore, if possible, you should deposit your valuables in a
safe in the hotel and also leave nothing in the car that could interest
thieves.
In the villages, the Policia Local is responsible.
Everything that has to do with the police within a town is a matter for
the Policia Local. She is well equipped on Fuerteventura and also shows
presence. The blue and white patrol cars are painted a slightly
different design in each municipality.
Outside the built-up
areas, as well as in the case of criminal offenses, the Guardia Civil is
responsible.
The Guardia Civil Trafico is responsible for road
traffic. Speed cameras and breathalysers are very common, especially on
weekends and public holidays. You should absolutely obey the traffic
rules and, above all, refrain from drinking alcohol and drugs at the
wheel, because the fines in Spain are much higher than, for example, in
Spain. in Germany. As a foreigner without a permanent residence in
Spain, you have to pay the fine immediately. Otherwise the police may
confiscate the car.
In contrast to Mallorca, Fuerteventura is
very safe. There are no clubs celebrating here. Everything is rather
leisurely. The nationalities get along, but you also avoid each other.
You want to spend a comfortable holiday here. So you can also go to an
English pub and have a beer. That's very pleasant.
One of the main arguments for going to Fuerteventura is definitely
the climate. There really are no seasons here. Temperatures are always
moderate, so it never gets very hot. The humidity is kept within limits,
it is actually never oppressive. Almost everyone can live with this very
pleasant climate.
Although precipitation is rare, you can also be
unlucky in winter; in some years it occasionally rains from November to
February. Especially in late summer you can experience the weather
phenomenon Calima from time to time. This is a hot desert wind that
brings fine dust from the Sahara and can drive the temperature on the
island to over 40 degrees in a few hours. Anyone who has circulatory or
respiratory problems should refrain from physical activity and drink a
lot in Calima and high temperatures. Calima usually only lasts a day or
two and then disappears just as quickly as it came.
The Canary
Current makes the weather pleasantly mild in summer and warm in winter.
The only thing that changes in winter is that the days are getting
shorter.
Clouds always form on Tenerife and Gran Canaria because
of the high mountains. There is always uphill rain. The mountains in
Fuerteventura are not high enough to produce such rain. That's why there
is far less rain here than on Tenerife and Gran Canaria. Unfortunately,
this has the consequence that the island is becoming more and more
desert after deforestation in the last century.
Many
holidaymakers are drawn to the Canary Island of Fuerteventura every
year, both in summer and in winter, because the season here is all year
round.
There is plenty of sunshine in every month and even in
winter there are temperatures suitable for swimming.
The climate
on Fuerteventura is characterized by trade winds, which are winds that
blow 90% of the year from the same direction. The wind direction on
Fuerteventura is mainly determined by the north-west, north and
north-east.
The reason is the mostly constant Azores high,
whereby on the east side of the high the air is usually led south with a
strong current.
All vacationers know the constant wind on
Fuerteventura, which is sometimes annoying, but often perceived as
pleasant.
It is not for nothing that thousands of kitesurfers
travel to this island every year and precisely because of the constant
wind, the surfing world championships take place on the Costa Calma
every summer. By the way, it is called Costa Calma because the smallest
waves rush onto the beach here, not because there is less wind here. But
more on that later.
Of course, there is the least wind in the
shelter of the mountains, but there is also a special feature that is
not found on any other Canary Island.
It is said that the south
of each island has the least wind. This is also largely true, because
around Morro Jable on Fuerteventura the high Jandia mountains with the
Pico de Zarza (just over 800 m high) protect against the strong winds
from the north.
But also in the very north of the island around
the dune landscape, on the beaches of Flag Beach and in Corralejo there
is often less wind than in other places on Fuerteventura.
That is
here on the offshore island of Lanzarote. Only 10 km of Atlantic lie
between Corralejo and Playa Blanca, so the mountainous Lanzarote acts
like a small protective wall. If the wind comes from the north or
north-east, the wind will not hit the north-east of Fuerteventura with
full force. In this wind direction, there is usually 1 to 2 wind forces
less.
There is another effect of the “Lanzarote Föhn”:
On
the one hand, the air is drier than in the south and also often 2 to 3
degrees warmer than in the south. Many may not believe that, as we have
been able to prove with our weather stations in the north and south. But
this only works if the wind is blowing from the north or north-east.
In general, it must be said that the center of the island between La
Oliva and Antigua is also the warmest during the day. This is simply due
to the distance to the sea, since any sea wind cannot work here and the
sun can quickly heat up the lava rock. There are also differences in the
sunshine on the island. Most of the clouds (mainly cumulus clouds in the
winter season) also form over the center of the island, with northerly
winds many clouds are also dammed up in the Bay of Cofete on the
mountains. Accordingly, you will find the fewest hours of sunshine here.
Whereby "the fewest" are still around 2500 hours of sunshine a year.
There is most sunshine from about the southern part of Costa Calma
to Morro Jable. But also in the very north-east of the island between
the Parque National de Corralejo (dunes) up to Corralejo and further
over almost to El Cotillo.
The foehn from Lanzarote also has an
effect here, where the clouds “get stuck” or dissolve behind Lanzarote
and often bring sunny weather, especially to the northern half.
Let's take a closer look at the south of Fuerteventura: there are
drastic differences in temperature and wind between Costa Calma and
Playa del Matorral (Jandia) and Morro Jable. If there is usually only a
light or moderate wind blowing on the long sandy beach of Jandia, the
data from the weather station that has been installed on Costa Calma
since March shows high wind speeds - to the delight of surfers on Playa
de Sotavento. The name COSTA CALMA is explained by the main wind
direction from the north-west. This does not mean the wind strength, but
the small waves near the beach caused by the offshore wind. This summer,
gusts of around 70 km/h (8 Bft) were recorded on many days, with the
strongest gusts reaching 76 km/h (9 Bft). The prerequisite for such
strong trade winds is almost always a strong high pressure area in the
Azores.
With the strong wind, the region around the Costa Calma
is also one of the coolest corners on the island - not only felt. If you
suspect great heat in midsummer, the measurements from last summer
(beginning of April to the end of August), for example, show only three
days with more than 30 degrees C, sometimes the temperature did not even
make the 25 degree mark for weeks. The quite cool Atlantic air could
hardly warm up on the short way between La Pared and the Costa Calma,
and many a vacationer dug the warm jacket out of the suitcase. Already
in Morro Jable or towards the north between Gran Tarajal, Tuineje and
Antigua the Fuerteventura climate is completely different again. In the
north of the island at the station just before the dunes in Parque
Holandes, 14 days with over 30 degrees were measured between April 1st
and August 31st, i.e. 11 days more than on the Costa Calma.
This
is also reflected in the average temperatures: On the Costa Calma, the
average temperature from the beginning of May to mid-October was 22.4
degrees, in the north of the island it was 23.9 degrees and therefore
1.5 degrees higher on average . That doesn't sound like much, but it is
particularly noticeable at the maximum temperatures.
Some data on
the days with over 25 degrees at both stations:
We counted the
summer days with a maximum temperature of 25.0 degrees and more in the
period from March 15, 2017 to October 15, 2017 (i.e. a period of 215
days)
Costa Calma: 52 days with 25 degrees or more (163 days
below 25 degrees)
Parque Holandes: 156 days with 25 degrees or
more (59 days below 25 degrees)
Here you can clearly see the
difference between the south and the north of Fuerteventura! And in
order to get to know this very different climate on Fuerteventura even
better, further weather stations with high quality standards are needed.
Appropriate measuring devices are planned for this winter in La Pared,
in Triquivijate, in Villaverde and at Tefia.
If you want to have
a station on the island yourself, you can buy a WIFI station for
relatively little money and query the weather at your location on
Fuerteventura live from anywhere in the world.
Fuerteventura and
meteorology with passion Andreas Neuen (Parque Holandés) Thomas Globig
(Costa Calma)
The public holiday calendar is redefined every year by the individual
autonomous regions of Spain. For example, if a public holiday falls on a
Sunday, in some cases the following Monday or the preceding Friday is
also designated as a public holiday. Here are the public holidays that
apply throughout the island.
January 1: Año Nuevo
January 6th:
Epiphany, Los Reyes: On this day, children in Spain receive their
Christmas presents brought by the Three Kings.
March 19: San Jose
Maundy Thursday: Jueves Santo
Good Friday: Viernes Santo
Easter
Sunday: Pascua
May 1st: Day of Trabajo
May 30th: Día de las Islas
Canarias, Canary Islands Day
Pentecost Sunday: Pentecostés
Corpus
Christi: Corpus Christi
Ascension Day: Ascension del Señor
July
25: Santiago Apostel, Apostle James
August 15: Assumption of Mary:
Asunción
October 12: Day of the Discovery of America, Día de la
Hispanidad
November 1st: All Saints' Day, Todos los Santos
December 6: Día de la Constitución, Constitution Day
December 8:
Conception of Mary, Immaculada Concepción
December 25: Christmas,
Navidad