FUERTEVENTURA 10-DAYS ITINERARY: THE ISLAND OF EVERLASTING SPRING
CHASING THE SUN AT THE CANARY ISLANDS
The idea of a place where an eternal spring reigns, where you can enjoy beautiful beaches and sun all year round without having to spend a considerable amount on plane tickets and spend hours between plane changes; Fuerteventura is the perfect destination, not far from Italy and with cheap flight offers.
Fuerteventura is part of the Canary Islands that fall within the territory of Spain but thanks to its proximity to Morocco it enjoys temperate weather and an eternal spring that make it the ideal destination all year round.
The landscape that presents itself to you as soon as you set foot on the island is to have landed on a planet outside our solar system, it seems to have ended up on Mars, thanks to its predominantly dry landscape, consisting of rocks, sand dunes, reddish mountains and volcanoes that surround the entire territory and that give Fuerteventura the air of being on another planet if it weren't for the blue of the Atlantic Ocean.
If you are looking for nightlife, Fuerteventura is not for you; here pervades an aura of absolute peace and tranquility, away from the hectic hustle of the city, time passes slowly, calm is the unofficial motto of the island and it is not difficult to adapt to the slow rhythms of this peaceful island. It is the perfect place to relax and slow down, regaining control of your time. But Fuerteventura is also a paradise for aquatic sports lovers.
There is no particularly suitable period to visit Fuerteventura, the temperature never goes below 18 ° C in the morning even in winter, having said that take into account that February, the month in which I went, is considered full "winter", although the temperature always was around 20°C.
HOW TO MOVE AROUND:
Renting a car is essential to move around. Driving in Fuerteventura is quite enjoyable, the roads are wide, well maintained and everything is well connected. I suggest renting from local car rental companies to save money; based on my experience I feel to recommend the car rental agency CICAR, the process is extremely simple, you just book on the company's website and then pay directly at the airport, choosing whether to pay by credit card or cash, you will not be required to do anything other than to bring the car back with the same amount of fuel with which it will be delivered to you. Insurance is also included in the price, but beware of unpaved roads which are not covered by any rental agency insurance. I personally found myself extremely satisfied with this company, I appreciated the simplicity and transparency, the only sore point was the very long queue at the counter. You will find the parking lot as soon as you exit, a cross the street up on the stairs.
Fuerteventura is not a very large island in 10 days you can visit the main attractions and it takes about 3 hours by car to goit from North to South. Remember, however, that here the magic word is 'no rush', so take it easy.
Whether you come to Fuerteventura to relax on its fine sandy beaches, go trekking or dive into the water, here there is something for everyone.
There are not many hotels on the island, instead, there are many holiday homes, B&Bs, and room rentals, which are also the least expensive options and the best way to experience the island. As for what and where to eat, there is certainly no lack of choice between fish restaurants and tapas bars, there is something for all budgets, even if the prices remain European ones.
A great choice, especially if you rent a house and want to save up money, is definitely to do go grocery shopping in one of the supermarkets on the island such as HiperDino or Mercadona, with great prices and a vast choice. Amazing is the prices of fruits and vegetables, especially if you take into account the fact that thanks to the variety of climate on the Canary Islands, they don't import almost anything, so fruit and vegetables are really fresh and local.
I spent 10 days on Fuerteventura, as a base for my stay I chose a quiet residential area at El Cotillo, in the accomodation Casa Nami, i’ll leave the link below. It offers a perfect location just 40 minutes from the airport, to quickly reach the best places to visit.
Without further ado, here is the itinerary and the must-see attractions.
EL COTILLO:
Let's from the base of my stay, a small town in the north of Fuerteventura, El Cotillo is an extremely quiet area, where start you can enjoy its beautiful beaches, fish restaurants and there is certainly no shortage of numerous surf schools. In addition to the beaches purely intended for surfers, there is no shortage of those who want to enjoy peace and sun.
PLAYA LA CONCHA:
it's a horseshoe hollow characterized by white sand and crystal clear water. A small piece of advice, if you want to enjoy this beach, this applies to all the beaches of Fuerteventura, before it gets packed, I recommend arriving no later than 10:00 am. On almost all the beaches of Fuerteventura, you will notice some stone walls, they're called "corralitos", built by the locals to protect themselves from the wind.
PLAYA LOS CHARCOS:
a 6-minute walk continuing along PLAYA LA CONCHA, there is the wildest beach Los Charcos, mainly of rock, not really suitable for swimming.
PLAYA DEL CASTILLO:
you can park the car near the homonymous tower Castillo del Tostòn, an ancient pirate watchtower, and then continue on foot admiring the ocean and the cliffs near you. The access to the beach is by descending a short sand trail. It is the classic oceanic beach that stretches for km and is frequented mainly by surfers. It's definitely worth it to see.
NATURAL POOL AND TOSTON 'S LIGHTHOUSE:
Do not miss a visit to the famous lighthouse of Tostòn that stands as a guardian on the ocean. I particularly love lighthouses, may it be their nostalgic and poetic aura, but the sight of this lighthouse that rises above the bursting force of the ocean will leave you speechless, even more, special when the colors of the sunset create a contrast to the blue of the ocean and the black of the rocks, a true postcard landscape.
Here there is not only the lighthouse to visit but also the natural pools of Caleta del Marrajo. Park your car near the lighthouse and continue along the unpaved road. Before coming here, you need to inform of when the low tide is on apps such as "high tide" or similar, during the high tide the pools are in fact almost immersed.
But at low tide, these natural pools of crystal clear water appear before your eyes, and you can dive in and enjoy a nice bath with the lighthouse as a backdrop and the uncontaminated spectacle of these pools.
CALDERON HONDO:
A 24-minute drive from El Cotillo is located this ancient volcano, now inactive, Calderò Hondo. I had never visited a volcano before, the view from above the crater is beautiful, you can see almost the whole island and the contrast of the sea in the distance, the photos don't do justice to how big and deep it actually is, it makes you feel really small in front of this giant and its ancient magnificence.
To reach Calderòn Hondo, you can park your car along the side of the road or in the small parking lot at the beginning of the marked pathway, and then follow on foot.
Do not make the same mistake that i did and wear suitable and anti-slippery shoes, also if you travel in the winter months it is useful to bring a raincoat with you to avoid, due to the altitude, being surprised by a storm. To reach the crater there are two paths, one on the right, simpler, paved; and one on the left, a little more complicated and in some places extremely steep and slippery due to pebbles, which takes you directly to the edge of the crater.
Once at the top, breathe deeply and enjoy the beauty in the company of little squirrels who have made this place their home and who will approach you in search of food.
BETANCURIA:
Ancient capital of Fuerteventura, Betancuria is a perfectly kept gem within the island that will surprise you with its charm and vibe. It is a very small town, but once you arrive you will feel like you have been catapulted into another reality, with its cobblestone streets, its church, and cute restaurants.
If you are lucky you can enjoy its vibe by sitting in the square listening to beautiful Spanish music played live that will transport you to another place and time. On the way to Betancuria, you can also stop at the mirador with the statues of Guise and Ayose from which you can admire a big portion of the island.
BEACH AND CAVE OF AJUY:
Ajuy is known for two things: the beach of volcanic origin, with its black sand in contrast with the blue of the ocean where you can enjoy the sun; and its adjacent caves that you can reach through a path near the beach. The path to the caves is very easy and pleasant and leads all around the cliff into the huge caves.
CORRALEJO:
A 20-minute drive from El Cotillo, Corralejo is one of the main and most tourist destinations in Fuerteventura. It is also one of the very few places to find some nightlife. Corralejo's main street is full of restaurants of all kinds, boutiques, bars, and shops, giving the impression of being on Miami's busy Ocean Drive. Corralejo is the closest to city life in Fuerteventura, so if you want to fully enjoy its soul you can not miss a visit to the El Campanario mall center, a small outdoor mall where you can enjoy a cold drink or a plate of tapas while listening to some live music, and then end with a visit up to the bell tower that gives its name to the mall, with a view from the top of the whole city. Every Saturday from 10:00 am to 14:00 pm you can visit the flea market; Thursday and Sunday, the craft market.
But the main reason for my visit to Corralejo are the famous dunes of Corralejo; just outside the town, it is a natural park that extends for about 10 km consisting of large sand dunes, it basically seems to have been teleported to the Sahara if it weren't for the ocean. You can just park your car on the side of the road, there are several parking lots, and choose the best point to enjoy this strip of desert in Fuerteventura.
If you want to fully enjoy the whole experience what better way than to do it on board a buggy, relying on experts in the field who will take you on a 3-hour tour amongst Dunes and the volcanic lands of Fuerteventura. It is definitely an unforgettable experience.
From the Natural Park of Corralejo you can see the profile of the Isla de Lobos, it is in fact from the dock of Corralejo that ferries depart, and in 15 minutes at a cost of 15 euros will take you to this uninhabited island. Tickets for the ferry can be taken directly at the dock but take into account, that being the Isla do Lobos, a nature reserve, it is necessary to apply 3 days before departing for a free permit online on the website lobospass.com. Personally, I have not had the opportunity to visit the island, but if I had had the time I would have loved to enjoy it onboard a catamaran, snorkeling, and enjoying an excellent fish paella on board before going back. This would definitely have made my visit and experience unforgettable.
My last stop in Corralejo is the famous Popcorn beach, better known as Playa del Bajo de la Burra. Its name is because the beach is covered with small white corals that have so much the appearance of popcorn. Over time, unfortunately, the amount of corals on the beach has decreased visibly, due to tourists who decide to bring back home what doesn't belong to them. So, please, when visiting a place, remember to show respect for the area where you are, leave no trace of your passage, and do not take what does not belong to you.
The Popcorn beach is located along an unpaved road, so it needs attention while driving, even though I saw smarts whizzing as if it were a rally championship. Popcorn beach is situated near an almost abandoned fishing village. The atmosphere of the place is very wild and the view of the ocean is spectacular.
PLAYA DE JANDIA - MORRO JABLE:
Driving south of Fuerteventura 1 hour and 30 minutes from El Cotillo, Costa Calma is located, with a very different appearance compared to the rest of the island, it is much greener, managed, and much loved by tourists, thanks to the several resorts along the coast. It is the typical piece of land where you can enjoy peace, tranquility, and beaches, without giving up on the comforts provided by the resorts. In short, it is a seaside town fit for tourists. Still, this piece of Fuerteventura has quite the charm, thanks to its calm waters that make it perfect for a nice swim.
PLAYA DE SOTAVENTO DE JANDIA:
It is the second most beautiful beach I have seen, the first, in Nungwi in Zanzibar. It is a magazine beach, of fine golden sand and crystal clear water. It is definitely a must destination if you decide to visit Fuerteventura, see with your own eyes the spectacle of this place. To access the beach you go down an unpaved road to a parking lot adjacent to the beach. Playa de Sotavento is much wilder than that of Morro Jable; here there are no facilities of any kind, only you and some windsurf lovers, thanks to the location of the beach subject to the wind is the perfect place for this sport.
