Fuerteventura

Visit Fuerteventura and you are stepping back to the way of Spain 30 years ago no high rise buildings with a relaxed and gentle way of life, clean streets and beaches. Unlike its more touristy and built-up neighbours of Tenerife, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura is a place to come to relax, unwind and step back in time.

With three thousand hours of sunshine a year, Fuerteventura is the closest Canary Island to the African coast with only 100km separating the 'Punta de la Entallada' from Cape Juby in Morroco and is the second largest (after Tenerife) of all the islands. Fuerteventura is blessed with over 150 beaches and one of the least spoiled and the least discovered of the Canary Islands. With a dramatic volcanic landscape, little rainfall and all year round warm temperatures, the desert landscape is unique and large areas of the island are protected parks.

The island, the closest of the Canaries to Africa, has many small beaches some are in deserted coves and little fishing villages, others down little dirt tracks - but the most popular ones can be reached from the main roads. Not that main roads resemble those found in mainland Spain or the UK.

Traveling is easy buses and ferries are cheap, run to time and integrate with each other so you can get from, say, Caleta de Fuste to Corralejo with ease. Caleta de Fuste is very much an up-and-coming resort geared to families.

There are shops and bars where you can choose to have a quiet drink and watch the world go by. Entertainment can be found with everything from live groups and cabarets to karaoke, quizzes and bingo but it is not brashly common as Benindorm or the Costa del Sol.

Caleta has a golden sandy beach set in a bay shaped like a horse shoe. The gently sloping shore makes for very safe bathing and this beach is the one most holidaymaker's head for.

Fuerteventura, meaning 'Fuerte' = strong & 'Ventura' = happiness, has been described as the land that time forgot. It is the second largest of the Canary Islands and coming here really is like stepping back in time!

It also makes Fuerteventura a water sport paradise with windsurfing, surfing and kite surfing take place all over the island. Landing at the airport, the first thing you are struck by is the stark, lunar-like landscape.

Caleta de Fuste is an ideal base for exploring this island being midway between north and south. Head north to Corralejo where the first few self catering apartments appeared all those years ago.

Approaching Corralejo the landscape gives way to miles of immense shimmering sand dunes reminiscent of Saharan Morocco, just 60 miles to the east. The famous dunes are now a protected national park.

Also in the north of the island is El Cotillo, a paradise for surfers. This lovely relaxed village has some great beaches, interesting lagoons and some good restaurants and bars.

On the left of the village is the Forteleza del Toston, a round stone fort built in 1790 to defend against pirates. The beaches are made for water sports lovers and many experienced surfers head to the stretches of sand between El Cotillo and Corralejo.

This fishing village is a shrine to the Virgin de Buen Viaje (good travel) and these words can be seen painted on the cliffs overlooking the old harbour. Heading from Caleta de Fuste to the south of the island are the beaches of the Jandia Peninsula, almost 20kms of vast white beaches some over 1kms wide.

This huge area includes golden white shores which vary from pretty coves backed by low cliffs at the Costa Calma end to huge dunes, vast desert-like areas and lagoons. It also includes the beach immortalised on thousands of postcards.

At the southern end of the Jandia Peninsula is Morro Jable, another well developed resort with golden beaches and one which is well loved by German package tour operators. So loved, in fact, that even many road signs here are in Spanish and German.

But Fuerteventura is not just about beaches. It is also about sightseeing.
Take the mountain road to Betancuria, a former capital of the island and you will be rewarded with some truly spectacular views and the town itself is well worth spending a couple of hours in Or try visiting Cofete. It's hard to reach but the beach runs for about 5kms, is white and sandy and has plenty of room.

Giniginamar is ideal if you are seeking peace and quiet. The beach, bordered by palm trees, is of black volcanic sand and in the village itself you can find local tapas and on the outskirts, some rather exclusive properties.

There are a number of museums like the craft centre at Antigua which is based around a converted windmill and the arts centre at La Olivia which has beautifully landscaped gardens and which features many works by the Canarian artist Alberto Manrique. Or La Alcogida, a living museum based around a village which shows you the way Canarians lived years ago.

Article Source: http://www.globetrekkerarticles.com

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