CANARIES /
FUERTEVENTURA
Bienvenido a Fuerteventura
Whether you're thinking of taking a holiday in Fuerteventura,
booking a hotel, hiring a car, just looking for more information
or simply browsing for fun, let us simply welcome you to this
beautiful island.
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.
The weather conditions of Fuerteventura are very similar to
Florida and Mexico which are on the same latitude, which make
this the ideal holiday location.
There is nowhere else in the Canaries with as many enormous sand
dunes and long sandy beaches (more than one hundred and fifty).
Even though most of the land consists of stone and rock, these
are some of the most impressive beaches in the whole of Europe.
Approx 98km long and 30km across at the widest point.
In the history of time Fuerteventura is generally regarded as
the oldest of all the Canaries and its strange contours come
from various volcanic episodes. The last eruption occurred
around 7,000 years ago so you're pretty safe. Should you wish to
see some volcanic activity take a trip to the neighboring island
of Lanzarote, it's well worth it. See our Ferry page for details
on how to get there. You can also take a short boat trip over to
the small island of Los Lobos (only 6sqkm) and really get away
from it all.
Water sports are very popular in Fuerteventura. Every year
hundreds of surfers, windsurfers and divers descend on
Fuerteventura and during July the island is host to the P.W.A
world windsurfing speed and slalom event at Sotavento in the
south.
There are many new attractions inviting tourists to discover
different aspects of the Island's landscape and culture such as
the Betancuria Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography and Tefia
Craft Village to name but a few.
Have a browse through our site and see what's on offer. Its
miles and miles of broad sandy beaches and golden sand dunes
make Fuerteventura the ideal holiday resort for everyone.
Life's A Beach
Without doubt Fuerteventura has some of the most impressive
beaches in the whole of Europe.
There is such a vast expanse of sand here. From the Golden sand
dunes of Corralejo in the north to the miles of flat beaches in
Jandia in the south. This makes Fuerteventura an ideal
destination for the beach lover.
These are the beaches that charm thousands of tourists to this
beautiful island every year.
Blue Flag Beaches
Blue Flags are awarded each year to European and South African
beaches that meet certain standards.
There are several Fuerteventura beaches that have been awarded
the Blue Flag. As this can change from year to year to find out
exactly which beaches check out the Blue Flag Website.
The Standards The award of a European Blue Flag beach is based
on compliance with 27 criteria covering the aspects:
1) Water Quality
2) Environmental Education and Information
3) Environmental Management
4) Safety and Services
Some criteria are imperative (i) whereas others are guideline
(g). All imperative requirements have to be fulfilled, and in
addition a maximum number of guideline criteria.
All Blue Flags are only awarded for one season at a time.
If some of the imperative criteria are not fulfilled during the
season or the conditions change, the Blue Flag will be
withdrawn.
For more and current details go here www.blueflag.org
Safety
It is a tragic fact that every year people do drown while
bathing in apparently safe waters.
Most of the major beaches in Fuerteventura have lifeguards on
watch.
Make sure to check if there's a red flag hoisted. If there is,
the water isconsidered dangerous.
Undertows can pull you away from the shore and prevent even the
strongest swimmers from returning. If you do find yourself in
this situation, it is generally considered wiser to swim
parallel to the shore in the hope of finding a patch where the
undertow is not so strong.
Holiday Tips & Advice
Clothing
The best advice for anyone coming to the island is to travel
light.
Between late November and April you'll probably need a sweater
and light trousers for evenings, and possibly the odd rare
cloudy day and of course your swimwear. But any other time of
year you only really need the bare essentials such as shorts and
T shirts as its so hot.
It does rain occasionally but you won't need waterproofs unless
you're camping.
Dress is very casual here so don't worry too much. If you see
someone wearing a tie then it usually means they are a sales
rep. Topless bathing is permitted at all pools and beaches.
Nudity is pretty common at beaches out of town. You're on
holiday - chill out!
Hard to come by 'English' food
If you're a 'tea freak' then bring your own as good quality
English tea is hard to come by. Branston Pickle and "english"
sausages are also hard to find.
Apart from that virtually everything else is available, so don't
weigh yourself down with unnecessary food and drink only to find
you can buy it here. We've heard stories of people who actually
bring sugar and cornflakes.
Cigarettes & Alcohol
Most brands of both are available and much, much cheaper
than the UK or even duty free.
Electrical Supply
The voltage on Fuerteventura (and the rest of Spain) is 220V
AC, 50Hz - so most 240V appliances will work satisfactorily. The
plugs are mainly of the two pin (circular pins) variety. UK
adapter plugs can be purchased from most supermarkets and
hardware stores.
Mains Water
This is perfectly safe and fine for cleaning your teeth with
or boiling up for tea and coffee but has a very slightly salty
taste if you drink it straight from the tap. You're better off
buying the big 5 litre bottles from any supermarket in towns.
The ice used in bars and restaurants for drinks is 100% pure and
safe.
Phoning Home
Phones will accept coins, prepaid phone cards or even credit
cards.
To phone the UK (Ireland) dial 00 44 then the area code minus
the '0' then the number.
Mobiles
If you're planning to bring your mobile phone to the Canary
Islands contact your local mobile phone retailer.
Some phones will have to be altered to accept the Spanish
networks available in the Canary Islands.
Internet
Internet Cafés are springing up everywhere and most if not all
are on broadband. Many complexes now cater for internet users.
Accommodation
The main accommodation on Fuerteventura is either Hotels or Self
Catering Apartments. It's now difficult to find something if you
arrive on a flight only and in peak season it is advisable to
book something beforehand.
See our Accommodation section to check availability and the list
of accommodation specialists. Any of the companies listed will
be happy to fax/send you photos of where you will be staying
plus any further information you should require.
Taxis
Airport Taxi Rates 5/01/05 Taxis are easy to come by and they're
cheap compared to the UK. Taxis themselves are new and in
excellent condition. The drivers are very good and pretty
knowledgeable but don't expect them to know the name of every
villa.
If your spanish is no good have your destination address clearly
written down.
Car & Motorbike Hire
See our Car & Motorbike Hire section.
Post Office
Just about every town and village has a post office - Correos &
Telegrafos.
The stamps "sellos" (pronounced "sayyos") can be brought from
hotel receptions, shops and any post office.
Opening hours for the Post Office (Correos) are from Monday to
Saturday, 8.30 - 14.00. Closed all day Sunday.
Bars & Restaurants
There is a vast selection of both catering for mostly but not
limited to Spanish, English, Irish, Italian & German customers.
See our Bars & Restaurants section for more details.
Gay Life
At present no bars advertise themselves as such but of
course there are places .... Fuerteventura, a paradise in
the Canary Islands
Fuerteventura is in the Canary Islands and measures 210
kilometres from one end to the other. It is outstanding for its
magnificent white sand beaches and for the bright sun that
shines all year round. It is an essential destination for
windsurfing and scuba diving lovers. Here you will find
unforgettable spots.
If you want to enjoy broad, clean beaches, washed by tuquoise
waters, then Fuerteventura, in the Canary Islands, is for you.
There are more than 150 beaches in the north and south of the
island, spread over 340 kilometres of coastline. Meanwhile, on
the east coast you will find cliffs and small, hidden coves.
Their shallow, crystal clear waters are ideal for watersports:
sailing, water skiing, surfing, fishing... and, above all,
windsurfing: the island now has an important place on the
windsurfing World Cup circuit. There is a long list of beaches
where you can practise this sport: Corralejo, Cotillo, Jandía,
Caleta de Fuste, Cofete... This is also the case for scuba
diving. Fuerteventura is an ideal destination for diving fans,
thanks to the crevices, caves, tunnels, overhangs and rock
formations to be found on its ocean beds. Here you can go on
outings that are sure to leave good memories behind.
Its excellent climate, sandy beaches with dunes, stunning
natural beauty and modern infrastructure make Fuerteventura a
privileged destination for tourists. On the Jandía peninsula, in
the south, you will find the majority of hotel complexes, with a
full range of facilities. However, if you prefer a more rural
atmosphere, head for the inland villages, beautiful spots where
you can enjoy peace and quiet. The best way to get around the
interior is renting a car. There are many rental companies to be
found all over Fuerteventura. Otherwise, you can also get around
by bicycle or motorbike. The main towns are also linked by
regular guaguas (buses).
A good way to discover the island's most unusual spots is
exploring the tracks and trails that criss-cross the island.
Some are dirt tracks, others are paved, and they will take you
into the heart of the countryside. This is true of Mount Tindaya,
the island's "Sacred Mountain", and the Betancuria Nature
Reserve, the island's largest protected nature area. On the
coast, don't miss the broad beaches of Corralejo, the unspoilt
dunes of Jandía, and the coastal flavour of villages like Ajuy
and El Cotillo.
The island's artistic and cultural heritage can be seen in the
old town of Betancuria. One of the most unusual things in
Fuerteventura are its windmills, which you can see at various
different places around the island. Be sure to try delicacies
like the local cheese and dishes prepared with goat's meat.
Fuerteventura airport is five kilometres from Puerto del
Rosario, with services by airlines from many different
countries. The island also has scheduled boat and ferry services
to the rest of the archipelago, departing from Puerto del
Rosario, La Oliva and Pájara.
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HOTELS in CANARIES / FUERTEVENTURA
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![Sun River Club [ex Green Oasis hotel]](http://www.medhotels.com/cdn/images/thumb/20020815140813534135.gif)
![Dunas Jandia Resort [ex Dunas Canaries Resort]](http://www.medhotels.com/cdn/images/thumb/20031210104149398206.gif)
