September 27, 2024, 6:53 am | Read time: 2 minutes
Kilometers of sandy beaches, golden dunes, and a very pleasant climate all year round – that’s why sun worshippers love the second-largest of the Canary Islands.
Individualists value the seclusion, the fascinating desert-like landscapes, and the wild cliffs in the west of the sparsely populated island. Constant winds make Fuerteventura a mecca for surfers and kitesurfers from all over the world – with great destinations to explore.
MY TIP
Lajares, the small village in the north of the island between Corralejo and Cotillo, has established itself as a totally relaxed meeting place for the surfing scene. It is one of the great destinations in Fuerteventura. In this street village, you’ll find charming boutiques, lounge bars like Cafe Candela, and the cool Return Bar on the outskirts, where free concerts are held sporadically. On Saturdays, a small art market is held in the market square.
Rather than the typical, though affordable, tourist traps, I prefer unique spots: for instance, the former church ‘Nuestra Senora de Candelaria’ in La Oliva, where you can enjoy local goat cheese and delicious pizzas. At Casa Marcos in a former mill in Villaverde, the locals eat tapas such as jamon serrano, roasted eggplants, kid, and octopus. The dishes are displayed on a slate board, which the waiter brings to the table. The beautifully renovated rural hotel Rural Mahoh, also in Villaverde, offers upscale Spanish cuisine. The finca’s beautiful cactus garden is also worth a visit.
Former working-class neighborhood Belleville — the trendy district of Paris
Mudflat hiking, wellness, and warm drinks Why Föhr is also worth a visit in winter
Travel calendar 2017 The best destinations for every month of the year
DID YOU KNOW THAT…
… Fuerteventura translates as “strong winds”? A more or less strong north-easterly trade wind blows over the island practically all year round. A unique phenomenon is Calima, a hot easterly wind that blows in from the nearby Sahara, causing the temperature to rise sharply and bringing desert sand.
… Fuerte is the oldest Canary Island of volcanic origin at 20.6 million years old?
… the last volcanic activity on Fuerteventura went out 4000 to 5000 years ago?
… Fuerte belongs politically to Spain, but geographically to Africa?
… the sand of the large shifting dune in the northeast consists largely of crushed marine animal shells (mussels, snail shells)?
…aloe vera cultivation began in the 1990s? The leaves produce a gel that is great for sunburn. You can now buy the corresponding cosmetic products all over the island.
The original of this article was published in 2017.