Fuerteventura: beaches, resorts and my travel diary
I have just returned from Fuerteventura and I could not wait to write this post to tell you about my vacation and relive, through the photographs I took, the highlights of it. I saw so many beautiful beaches that I do not know where to start. Better to start from the beginning!
UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Fuerteventura is a volcanic island, which originated from a series of eruptions that have resulted in the very particular form of it (currently the volcanoes are all off), located in the Atlantic Ocean, about 150 km West of Morocco. It is not as small as it may seem at first glance: it is the second biggest of the Canary Islands size and covers an area of 1,660 km². The path, however, is achievable in about two hours and a half drive (they are in the process of building the first highway – there is already a ready piece, but it is very short – and they should complete it in two years). It is inhabited all year round, not only by tourists, but also by people who have moved there to live and enjoy the year-round subtropical climate offering, which never deviates from 18 °-24°C. Mostly Italians (in the North of the island), British (middle) and Germans (in the south zone). The cost of living here is lower than in Italy, about 30% off. Tourism instead focuses on the two opposite poles of the island: to the north, around Corralejo, and to the South, near Jandia Natural Park. To be able to visit both I stayed a couple of nights in Caleta de Fuste, in the SettemariClub Barceló Fuerteventura (the only resort on the island that boasts the presence of a Thalasso SPA), and a couple of nights at SettemariClub Monica Beach Resort in Costa Calma. The Tour Operator Settemari sells both these 4-star resorts exclusively for the Italian market and has kindly hosted me!
Fuerteventura is fairly easy to reach. The flights are direct or, more easily, with a stopover in Barcelona. Otherwise you can choose to land at nearby Lanzarote and take a fast hydrofoil (at a cost of about 81 euro). It is an ideal destination for at least a long weekend, to cushion the journey, or for those who can afford it for one or more weeks of vacation! The more time you have available the better. I realized that there are really a lot of things to discover in Fuerteventura. The windy island. Wind can be a problem, certainly, but it takes a back seat in front of its beauty!
After only 4 hours and a half flight from Italy, I arrived at my first hotel, Barceló Fuerteventura. Caleta de Fuste is located about mid island and is perfect to reach all the other places. Also it located 15 km away from the capital Puerto Rosario, a European town of 30 thousand inhabitants that offers nothing interesting to tourists, except shopping. Here are some photos of my room and my first sunset in Fuerteventura!
The first day was entirely devoted to relaxation, I was in the pool of the resort most of the time and I ended the day with a happy hour on the beach in a bar overlooking the ocean, very impressive!
(Check out the blog post with the complete outfit HERE!)
The next day however, we woke up early and met at 9:00 am to start the excursion at the beaches, which is organized by the Barceló Fuerteventura also for his guests (lasts from 9:00 am to about 17:30 and costs 55 Euros) and it allows you to see some of the island’s most beautiful beaches. We started heading North towards the Duna Park, called by the locals “the little Sahara” ’cause of the presence of Sahara sand. Sandy dunes get lost in the ocean blue. How not to be enchanted?
Then we continued 5 km further up, toward the village of Corralejo, the most touristy of Fuerteventura and one of the most popular areas for surfers. Try the bar: the most characteristic are called Buena Onda, Banana Bar, Kiwi Bar and Tequila Beach.
Then we continued to the west, to El Cotillo area, among the most beautiful on the island. Coves of white beach and water like Caribbean Sea, including Playa de la Concha (shell) which impressed me much for its sand with pink streaks due to erosion of the remains of shellfish … Look what a beauitful place it was!
Just outside El Cotillo I discovered a huge aloe plantation. One of the main crops of the island is this. It contains more than 150 species of this plant by the magnificent property, both curative and aesthetic. Did you know that is a good remedy against sunburn?
Then we went down to the Ajuy area, the area of the caves and beaches of black lava. Here we got lunch, and enjoy a wonderful grilled and fried freshly caught fish. Then a short siesta, sunbathing. The sand was hot, but very strong and high waves made it very difficult to swim… But it was all too beautiful not to shot at least a bunch of pictures!
At this point, we came back to Costa Calma in the direction of our second village, the Monica Beach Resort.
The next day, the appointment was again early in the morning, at 9 o’clock for a new tour, this time by Jeep. The most southern part of Fuerteventura, in fact, is wilder and viable in part only on a dirt road.
After suffering for about 130 curves (although my traveling companions, super nice, made me sit in front of the jeep) we arrived in Cofete. Twenty-three kilometers of pristine beach, very windy, where cell phones do not work. Two years ago, the British film director Ridley Scott has chosen this beach as a location of his film Exodus, based on the epic story of the Jews at the time of their departure under the leadership of Moses. Despite the strong wind, the beach is very attractive but you can not swim ’cause there is too much current (bathing is prohibited).
Near Cofete Villa Winter is located. Once belonged to a SS colonel who, after the Second World War, escaped Germany to take refuge here. It is said of some legends about Villa Winter. There is speculation that it was a secret German submarine base, that would have been hidden in tunnels created in the basement of the house. Also that it was the operation of base Odessa (the one through which some senior Nazi officials, sentenced to Nuremberg Trials, managed to escape and flee to South America). Who really knows the truth?
After Cofete we headed to Faro de Punta Jandia, the southernmost point of the island!
For lunch they took us on a super cute restaurant called Los Pescadores (Pozo Negro), literally two elderly fishermen who cook the paella on the spot. They also need a whole hour to serve it, but it’s so delicious it’s worth all the waiting. After we went to the Sotavento, the beach changing morphology according to the tides. Here you can do windsurfing and kite surfing lessons (a bit expensive, 5 lessons for 500 €). This beach is often the protagonist of water sports competitions and beach parties.
Finally we returned to the Monica Beach Resort, close to the Sotavento, where I enjoyed a moment to relax in the pool before returning to my Torino, recharged and ready for new adventures!
I have not had time, but I was advised to visit the Oasis Park, a zoological park where animals are kept very well, although in semi-freedom. It is reachable by bus, which stops in all the hotel (cost of the ticket: 33 Euros). In the park there is also the largest botanical garden in Europe!
Many thanks to Stefania and Claudia for giving me the opportunity to share with them this wonderful experience. Below you will find the holiday group to complete! Hugs to all!
I hope you enjoyed my travel guide of Fuerteventura! Let me know in the comments below!
Happy Friday and good weekend!
MY TRAVEL GUIDES
