Fuerteventura is not for everyone – to some, it’s nothing more than a hotbed of mass tourism, with a glut of bars at which you can pretend you never left home. To others, it’s the ultimate beach holiday destination – close to Blighty, with 125 miles of perfect sandy beaches and a tropical climate.
Although new hotels and apartment blocks are springing up all over the island, Fuerteventura remains the least developed of Spain’s Canary Islands, so holidays here can be more affordable than trips to some of the better known islands. Lying just off the coast of Western Africa, the Canaries bask in 3,000 hours of sunshine a year – compare that to under 1,000 here in the UK.
The Canary Islands are divided into two provinces: at the east lie Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, and to the west, Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro. All are extremely popular with tourists, with the islands attracting 12 million visitors each year.
The flight time from the UK to Fuerteventura is under four hours and, with regular year-round flights priced at around £150, you could be on the beach before you know it.
Tourism on the island is strong during December to February, when Brits and Germans looking for some winter sun head for the beaches and revel in the warm climate.
Much of the Fuerteventura landscape is red sandy dunes, with scattered palm trees, meaning that whilst sun-worshippers may love it, sightseers should consider looking elsewhere. Saying that, the Las Dunas National Park, with its sugar white dunes and towering mountain peaks, is well worth a visit.
Golfers and water sports enthusiasts can’t go wrong on the island. The Caleta de Fuste 18-hole golfing development, on the north of the island, hosted part of the 2004 Spanish Open and Fuerteventura’s strong summer winds are heaven for windsurfers.
Many of the beaches on the island are nudist, so you may get a little more – or less – than you bargained for on a beach outing. Active sorts will love the numerous hiking trails, water parks and shopping complexes that dot the island.
Fuerteventura’s Caleta de Fuste and Corralejo in the north contain plenty of pleasant beach resorts, the latter set around a pretty fishing port and surrounded by lovely beaches. If you fancy exploring further afield, neighbouring Lanzarote is an easy thirty-minute ferry trip.
Package holidays are big business in Fuerteventura and those travellers hoping for something more than the classic week in the sun may be left disappointed by the island, but there’s no doubt that it’s the perfect place for some uncomplicated fun in the sun not far from home. Culture vultures should perhaps consider setting their sights elsewhere.
(Image: James Whitesmith)
