 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Resort Guides
Caleta de Fuste
Situated on the west coast of Fuerteventura, Caleta De Fuste is a modern, friendly resort that typifies that laid back atmosphere of the whole island. The horse shoe shaped beach of Caleta de Fuste is an ideal location for families with its easygoing, relaxed atmosphere and gently shelving beach. Watch out for the tide as it does tend to come in quite quickly and you could find yourself knee deep when you wake up from your afternoon beach siesta! Water sports are high on the agenda at this resort, there's plenty on offer here, such as diving, sailing, boat (and submarine) trips, surfing and windsurfing. Nightlife here is fairly low key, with most of the entertainment centered around the restaurants and the bars.
Transfer approximately 10 mins and 8 GBP from Fuerteventura Airport.
Corralejo
Situated on the Northern tip of the island, Corralejo is world renowned for its miles of golden, sandy beaches. Many come here from around the world to enjoy its sand, sun, sea - and especially its surf. The town itself is both attractive and modern with a wide variety of shops, bars and restaurants available to visit. The locally caught fish is one of the most popular delicacies and like most of the local cuisine, very good value for money.
Transfer approximately 30 mins and 24 GBP from Fuerteventura.
Costa Calma
The resort consists mainly of hotel and apartment complexes, plus a good choice of bars, restaurants and supermarkets, and apart from spending lazy days on the beach, visitors tend to relax and enjoy the amenities at their holiday accommodation. The main road into the resort is surrounded by palm trees and Canary pines, quite a rare sight on Fuerteventura. The highlight of Costa Calma has to be the long sandy beach, it is quite easy to find a sheltered spot here even during peak season. Windsurfers are particularly fond of this beach because of its strong offshore winds.
Transfers approximately 40 mins and 35GBP from Fuerteventura
Costa de Antigua
Costa de Antigua enjoys a great position; it lies towards the centre of Fuerteventura and is just 2km along the coastline from the main resort of Caleta De Fuste, which makes it an ideal base for exploring other parts of the island. Its elevated position means that visitors can enjoy spectacular views of the sea, as well as the islands stunning natural volcanic geography. It is a good choice if a relaxing, peaceful holiday in the warm winter sunshine it at the top of your priorities.
Transfers approximately 30 mins and 28 GBP from Fuerteventura airport
El Cotillo
El Cotillo is small and rustic with comparatively few tourist amenities although there are several restaurants and a small number of well-stocked supermarkets. The main attraction is the wonderful beaches and there are a series of sandy bays to the north of the village. To the south, you will find more long stretches of sand backed by cliffs. Although not essential, car hire is recommended and will add to your holiday enjoyment.
Transfer approximately 30 mins and 26GBP from Fuerteventura airport.
Jandia
Discover a soft white sandy beach stretching from the clear Atlantic waves to the vast sweeping dunes. Ideal for windsurfing and other water sports, Jandia is a modern resort with a small selection of shops and restaurants. Jandia is a 2.5kms long ribbon development on Fuerteventura, sandwiched between a fine beach and rocky barren hills. Jandia stretches inland for less than a kilometre and merges with the old fishing village of Morro Jable, further along the coast. The towns main attraction is its soft, light sandy beach.
Transfers approximately 1 hour and 50 GBP from Fuerteventura.
Nuevo Horizonte
Nuevo Horizonte enjoys a great position just 2km along the coastline from the main resort of Caleta De Fuste. The resorts fantastic position means that visitors can enjoy spectacular views of the sea, as well as the islands stunning natural volcanic geography. As it is a lot smaller than the other resorts, Nuevo Horizonte is ideal for those who wish to get away from it all. As such it is a popular choice for couples and families who prefer the less commercialized destinations.
Transfer approximately 10 mins and 8GBP from Fuerteventura airport.
Weather in Fuerteventura
|
|
Average Temperature:
Beaches
You won't need to go far on Fuerteventura to find a perfect beach, even if you are intent on seeking out solitude away from other holidaymakers. The best can be found around Jandia, on the southern tip of the island. Juan Gomez is one of these, with a stretch of golden sand, reached by turning off of the Morro Jable-Punta de Jandia road. In the same section of the island is the pebbly black volcanic beach of La Pared, right next door to the beach of Viejo Rey, a long stretch of golden sand flanked by dunes. For real peace and quiet the black volcanic sand of Giniginamar is recommended, surrounded by palm trees and other indigenous plants. For true remote beaches tourists can hire a 4 Wheel Drive and explore the tracks leading to the sea on the west coast.
Top Attractions of the Area
American Star Shipwreck - On a small remote beach (Playa de Garcey) on the west coast of Fuerteventura lays the wreck of a ship, The American Star. It takes a fair amount of time to get there but once you catch your first glimpse of the wreck, you are somehow drawn to the beach where she lies.
Betancuria - The original capital of the island, Betancuria was founded in 1405 by Norman conqueror, Jean de Bethencourt, but suffered repeated raids by pirates who eventually totally sacked the city and caused its citizens to move elsewhere. Today it has a small population of a few hundred, and relies mainly on day visitors who come to admire the restored Santa Maria church and explore the Casa Museo Arquebiologico, an interesting museum documenting the history of the island. Visitors can also watch local artists at work at the Casa Santa Maria, and pick up some local handcrafts at a quaint shop. There is a good restaurant beside the church and cheese and wine tasting is offered nearby.
Cuchillos de Vigan - The knives that characterize this space are extended structures perpendicular to the coast. The height of the space of mountain of Vigan is 462 m. In the peaks there are species of great conservationist value, like the cabbage of endemic cliff of Fuerteventura. In the coastal cliffs you are able to see many birds of interest, like the hawk of Barbary, the eagle and many more. In the coast of The Playitas a marine stripe is located where fascinating fossil and fauna lived over 100,000 years ago.
La Oliva - The village of La Oliva was formerly the home of the military governors of the island between the 17th and mid-19th centuries. The Governor's townhouse has been restored and is open to the public. Also in the centre of the village is the pretty church of Parroquiade Nuestra Seiiora de Candelaria, with a square bell tower and finely carved wooden door. The interior of the church features a painting of the Last Judgment, a baroque altar painting by Juan de Miranda and some wonderful trompe l'oeil work. The village also has an art centre exhibiting the work of Canarian artists.
Los Lobos Island - Nature Reserve - Just a short boat ride away from Corralejo you'll find the nature reserve of Lobos almost churchlike in its peace and tranquillity. You'll have the wonderful view back to Fuerteventura, and the chance to spot plants and birds not to be found anywhere else on the planet. The island rises from the sea like a great mysterious mass, with its crystal clear lagoons full of sea life it's very popular with tourists.
Mount Tindaya - The village and protected zone of Tindaya sits at the foot of the 401m mountain of the same name.
Tindaya was once regarded as a very religious place and the mountain was considered sacred. More than 100 carvings of 'feet' (podomorphs) in the smooth rock can still be seen today. These strange carvings which sit at the very top of the mountain were only recently discovered in 1978. The feet are said to be there to ward off evil spirits. From there, on a clear day, it is possible to see Mount Teide, the highest mountain on Tenerife.
Natural Park of Dunes of Corralejo - It is a vast formation of dunes spreads out in the middle of a wonderful landscape dominated by majestic golden sandstone mountains. The dunes are 3125 acres of the finest white sand and can be up to 50 metres in height. The sand dunes are an area of supreme natural beauty that is a protected nature reserve.
Oasis Park Camel Reserve - The camel reserve is one of the most important in Europe with more than 300 examples of the animal. The camel is the traditional method of transport on the island and which farmers used widely for toiling the hard earth. Camel safaris are available from the park.
Shopping
If you are looking at doing some serious shopping then Puerto del Rosario and Corralejo are the best places to go, but still are limited with the amount of shops. There are a few clothes, shoes and accessories shops containing various fashions. In Corralejo you will find mostly surfing shops! Puerto del Rosario is a little bigger and completely varied, like a lot of Spanish cities. If you are looking for brand names though and some real shopping then why not take a ferry over to Lanzarote for the day? A brilliant day out, loads of shops and you get a taste of another island!
In the tourist resorts you will find the usual electrical goods and popular souvenir shops, as well clothes and imported food and drink. Here you will also find a lot of local craft shops selling the local pottery and hand made banana leaves baskets, embroidery and pottery.
If you like the markets for a good haggle and great bargain there are plenty across Fuerteventura. Markets that are found in tourist areas are normally aimed at the tourism market selling, souvenirs and gifts, but around the island you will also find markets that provide for the local inhabitants, with the local farmers and produce makers selling their trade, such as local cheese's and confectionery! The markets are always a great day out to have a wander around.
Getting Around
By Bus
The buses are an excellent way to get around the island. It takes about 20 minutes to travel by bus from Caleta de Fuste to Puerto del Rosario, and the travel time from Puerto del Rosario to Corralejo is around 40 minutes. There is a bus service that runs between the major towns, but this is sometimes slow and will not get you too many of the natural attractions Fuerteventura has to offer. The bus is a cheap and reliable option for those that fancy seeing the island without booking an organised excursion
By Car
The best way of exploring the island is to rent a car. The island is 60 miles (100km) long and a maximum of 18 miles (30km) wide, so you can drive to any destination on the island and return within a day. Parking is easy to find in most towns, and often free. The roads linking the main population centres on the island are generally of a high quality. Some of them, such as that from Costa Antigua to the town of Antigua are very new and do not appear on most maps.
More creative ways of getting around include bike tours, seaplanes and ferries. Cool Runnings offers chauffeured tours using trikes, each of which can fit two passengers. Another company, Ventura, has motorbikes for rent and lead off-road excursions of the island.
By Taxi
There are lots of taxis in Fuerteventura and most of the towns have taxis ranks that are easy to find. The majority of the taxis drivers can speak a little English and will be able to understand where you need to go, if your Spanish is really bad then to make things easier if you write down your address for you destination clearly and hand it to the driver then he will understand! The taxis are usually in very good condition.
Nightlife
Fuerteventura nightlife can be whatever you want it to be, if you are wanting a party holiday where you can go out every night and dance the night away, Fuerteventura has an array of bars, restaurants and discos that enable's you to do just that until the early hours, depending in which resort you are staying in! Or maybe you are looking for more of a sophisticated nightlife where you can dine and drink under the stars, away from the hustle and bustle, in a bit of peace, quiet and civilisation, there are resorts in Fuerteventura that cater for that too!
If it's partying you want then there's no where better on the island than Corralejo or Caleta de Fuste these two resorts come to life at night, you'll find everything here from dance bars, piano bars and cocktail bars to lively discos. If you are looking for a quieter evening there are quieter bars along the high street or the town square is lined with restaurants where you can sit outside and enjoy the joint entertainment, a lovely pleasant evening.
In Caleta de Fuste, it is very similar to Corralejo, suitable for all, whether you are looking for lively or a relaxed evening you can make the most or least out of the nightlife there. With lots of lovely restaurants of all kinds, English, Chinese, fast food, steak houses, seafood, Dutch, Indian, Tapas and Spanish cuisine. Also bars that cater for families and groups, with dancing, karaoke, jazz nights, salsa, Irish bars, discos, live bands, tribute bands and so on! You can find everything here that will keep you well entertained into the early hours of the night!
Other resorts like Jandia, Morro Jable and El Cotillo are a lot quieter, perfect for a lovely romantic evening or relaxing quiet evening without a huge choice or variety of cuisine. There are beautiful restaurants and bars where you can sit under the stars and watch the world go by until the early hours! Around the quieter resorts and coastal villages you will find lots of little fishing ports too that again have little bars and restaurants that are perfect for a lovely evening and a walk after your meal.
Eating Out
There's ample choice of restaurants and bars in Caleta de Fuste. The nationalities of restaurants include Chinese, Mexican, Thai, Indian, Portuguese, Greek, and Italian, not forgetting steak and fish bars, tapas bars and bars offering British pub food. There is a wide range of restaurants to be found on Fuerteventura, and it is unlikely that the national cuisine of any particular country is not represented somewhere in Fuerteventura.
As Fuerteventura is an island that is surrounded by bountiful seas, a lot of the local cuisine is based on the fruits of the sea. Fish and seafood dishes are prominent, and the Spanish restaurants that have been on Fuerteventura for generations are expert in the creation of gastronomic delights based on the harvest of the sea. Other local dishes include Canarian potatoes, also called papas arragudas, which translates as wrinkled potatoes. These are small potatoes which were traditionally cooked in sea water, which being salty resulted in the wrinkled skin. They are served with mojo sauce, which comes in many varieties, the most common being a spicy red variety called mojo picante and a milder green version called mojo verde.
Many of the visitors to the island have very conservative tastes when it comes to their food. There are many restaurants, especially in the north of the island, that cater for English tastes. English breakfasts' are available in all the major resorts, and Sunday lunches can also be found.
Sports
The fact that Fuerteventura is a windy island makes it a perfect venue for water sports. However there are many other sporting opportunities to be had on the island.
Cycling
Cycling is very popular on the island and as there are so many miles of track, mountain biking is far more popular than road cycling. Having said this, lots of the tarmac roads are relatively new and in good condition.
Diving
One of the main attractions of Fuerteventura for followers of all water sports is the fairly constant year round temperature of the water. The Canaries stream is responsible for the fairly constant sea temperature, and this results in an abundance of sea life, that makes diving such a pleasure. If you want to do a diving course whilst staying in Fuerteventura, finding a fully certified diving school in any of the main coastal resorts will not be a problem as there are plenty! Most offer beginner and advanced courses for the more experienced divers and most also rent out diving equipment too.
Fishing
If you enjoy Deep-sea fishing and Big-Game Fishing, then Fuerteventura is another good place to come within the Canary Islands, especially during the main season from May to September. Corralejo, Caleta de Fuste and Morro Jable have a few companies that offer deep-sea fishing. The main species to be found off the coast in these regions are several varieties of tuna and marlin, swordfish and, occasionally, sharks. There is also some good bottom-fishing available all year round. There are zillions of fish around the coast of Fuerteventura, and the sport is good whether you're catching a few tiddlers for fun with the children, or after the big stuff from a boat.
Snorkelling
Snorkelling is a popular activity that is suitable for everyone. The clear pure waters around the island, means that there is a large quantity of sea life. There are snorkelling excursions that take you to the best sites.
Walking and Hiking
There are plenty of short walks between points serviced by buses, and it is also possible to go hiking over the mountains to experience the magnificent views to be had on the island.
Watersports
The strong surf around some parts of the island make Fuerteventura one of the best spots in the world for surfing. The reliable winds and a variety of water conditions mean that the needs of wind and kite surfers of any level of ability are catered for.
Body boarding and surfing are best practised at the north of Fuerteventura island, between Corralejo and El Cotillo. With constant on shore winds it is perfect conditions as waves can get up to five metres high! There are several places you can hire the necessary equipment if you don't want to bring your own or if you don't have one! There is also a few good places with good surfing and body boarding conditions along the south coast, around Morro Jable and Jandia.
One of the best places in the world for windsurfing are the Canary Islands and Fuerteventura is good too! It can be practised all along the coast from the north to the south, but there are very good conditions at Flag Beach and Glass Beach in Corralejo, plus Morro Jable and Jandia in the south. If you are a beginner at windsurfing then try Flag beach.
The school Flag beach windsurfing centre has some excellent instructors and doesn't just teach windsurfing but surfing, body boarding and kite surfing too! They have various courses available.
Parascending, jet skiing, water skiing, a trip on a speedboat and other active water sports are mostly offered in the main tourist resorts. You will even find the ever popular banana boats, pedal boats and sea kayaks that are also available for hire and are a good way of getting out in the water with the kids!
For the Family
Baku Water Park
There is something for everyone at this amusing location. Some of the activities and adventures that await tourists include a water park with slides and swimming pools for everyone to enjoy, ten-pin bowling alley, golf, as well as a variety of restaurants and shopping options.
Jeep safaris - buggy safaris
Jeep and buggy safaris are a rough and ready and exciting way of exploring the island. Going off road on one of these safaris means you can really explore Fuerteventura.
Karting
The thrill of motor racing is all there as you hurl around the track. Fuerteventura's International karting centre offers all the thrill of the race track and the excitement of speed. There are three different race circuits graded according to age. The adult circuit covers 1.5km. The junior race circuit is 0.5kms and there is an infants' track of 125m.
La Lajita Zoo
The little fishing village on the east coast of Fuerteventura has been put on the tourist map because it offers one of the island's main attractions, the La Lajita zoo. The zoo is home to a small selection of animals, but the main activities offered are parrot shows, horse rides and camel safaris. While waiting their turn visitors can relax under the palm trees at the zoo's bar, or try out one of a few seafood restaurants that have sprung up in the village.
Oasis Park
Spending a day at La Lajita is not just a trip to the zoo. The whole centre is one of the most exotic places on the island.
Oasis Park first opened its doors in 1985 exhibiting local plants. Now it encompasses a zoo, botanical garden, a massive garden centre, a camel safari base and a pleasant restaurant. Today it houses plants and animals from all over the world.
The first animals were chimpanzees which were followed by crocodiles and exotic birds. Today's residents include giraffes, zebras, antelopes, and even more exotic birds. Walking through the bird cages is like walking through a jungle and you can find many species of colourful and bizarre looking exotic birds as well as birds of prey. Shows by crocodiles, sea lions and parrots keep the adults as well as the children amused.
At the camel reserve there is more than 300 examples of the animal. The camel is the traditional method of transport on the island and which farmers used widely for toiling the hard earth. Camel safaris are available from the park.
There are a number of other facilities and activities available for children in Fuerteventura such as feeding chipmunks, hiring bikes, army games, snorkelling, flying kites, horse riding or you could go on a picnic.
Ten Pin Bowling
For an evening out - why not take the children ten pin bowling?
The Atlantico shopping centre in Caleta de Fuste has an up to the date ten pin bowling centre with all the mod cons.
There's electronic scoring and if you are playing with youngsters shutters that can come up to stop the ball running off down the gutter.
Water Park
The water park's slogan is "if you want to have a good time, you have to get wet." The water park is situated in Corralejo and has eight slides ranging in "thrill level". There is a deep pool for diving, you can swing across on monkey bars, there is a Jacuzzi and a computer system produces six different wave effects.
There is an area for younger children with slides and lockers are provided along with showers and a self service restaurant is on site. As you leave, if you pass your ticket through a machine you can view the photos taken of you and choose which you want.
|
|
|
| |
