8 things to do and see in Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura

8 things to do and see in Fuerteventura

There are those who have rightly observed that more than an island Fuerteventura it is a state of mind. Rather, "State of mind" as the English say who are at home here. Geologically it is the oldest island of the Canarian archipelago; by extension, however, it is second only to Tenerife even if compared to the latter (and Gran Canaria) it has just over 100.000 inhabitants. It is not the only difference. Fuerteventura, in fact, gives very little to worldliness and the wildest by night, while it offers a lot to those who love watersports e outdoor activities. In short, few discos, few monuments, but many beaches (where they are practiced surf, windsurf e kitesurf), And natural parks for those who love walking in the midst of nature. A desert and volcanic nature more similar to the environments of North Africa (Morocco is just 100 km away) than to Europe. For a list of hotels recommended by Booking.com click here. Below, we discover together the main attractions of the island. Happy reading.

1 Corralejo

Il Corralejo Natural Park (the municipality is The olive) is one of the main attractions of the Canary archipelago. After all, almost 10 kilometers of white dunes that join with the Atlantic Ocean are a unique spectacle in the world. A real desert by the sea where several beaches follow one another without interruption: from the best equipped and touristy ones on the north side (El Medano; El Viejo, El Bato Negro) to the smaller and wilder ones on the southern side (Los Martos, El Dormidero, El Moro, Alzada). Walking barefoot on the sand dunes of Corralejo is a beautiful experience, suitable for everyone, even children, as long as you always have the caution to use protective creams and have enough water with you to hydrate. El Medano has a center for lovers of surf e kitesurf (there are also instructors for beginners), while in the other beaches absolute relaxation dominates. Finally a curiosity: the nudism it is practiced everywhere. Don't be surprised.

2 Lobos Island

From Corralejo you can easily reach theIsla of Lobos, a small patch of land of just 4,5 square kilometers, famous for the presence of monk seals. Monk seals, progressively culled by local fishermen (although there is a government project that would like to reintroduce them), and hammerhead sharks which are still present today, and it is easy to see them swimming around while doing it snorkeling in the crystalline waters of this uninhabited strip of land. Don't worry though. The hammerhead fish, in fact, are harmless but if you are really afraid of them you can fall back on birdwatching or on a simpler, but equally suggestive, walk to discover the volcanic landscape of the island. To be seen!

3 Mount Tindaya

Tindaya is the most famous mountain in Fuerteventura. It is not very high, just 400 meters, and is not far from The olive, of which it is administratively part as the village of Corralejo. The mountain is not difficult to reach but it is at the center of a dispute with the heirs of sculptor Eduardo Chillida (1924 -2002) for the posthumous realization of a sculpture that the Basque artist had intended to create right in the mountain. The project, dating back to 1985, involves the construction of a cube about 50 meters deep, illuminated by two skylights that let the light filter through with the possibility of having an unusual view of the sun and the moon. A work that met very strong resistance at the time, also because the Tindaya was, and still is considered, a sacred place of the Cheek civilization (there are over 300 foot-shaped engravings of great archaeological value). In recent years, it seems that an outlet has been found for the start of the works and therefore, for the visit, we recommend trying to inquire locally (even better would be to try to inquire first) about theaccessibility of the site.

4 El Cotillo

From Corralejo you can also easily reach El Cotillo, ancient fishing village which has kept his almost intact seafaring atmosphere. The locality is frequented by gourmet eager to taste the delicious cuisine of the restaurants in the area, and from kitesurf enthusiasts which, especially in the southern slope of the playa (El Alijbe de la Cueva), find the optimal environmental conditions for the discipline. The other two beaches, on the other hand, La Concha e The Lakes, they shine with crystal clear waters and a relaxed atmosphere. In this bay, unlike Corralejo, nudism is not very common. If desired, the distance between Corralejo and El Cotillo can also be covered in mountain bike which, as we will see, is another popular activity in Fuerteventura.

5 Betancuria

To learn more about the history of Fuerteventura, a visit to is essential Betancuria. In fact, the importance of this small town in the hinterland it goes beyond local history. Betancuria, in fact, is one of the main points of reference for deepening the colonial history of the Canarian archipelago. The Norman leader founded the city in the early XNUMXth century Jean de Béthencourt which, immediately after the conquest of Lanzarote, passed to the colonization of Fuerteventura at the time inhabited by a proud Guanche community. The decision not to camp along the coast is explained by the frequency of the raids Moroccan piracy. Having chosen the location, Béthencourt had a series of houses and a chapel built. After that, they began to move there more and more Franciscans which, in the following centuries, contributed a lot to the primacy of the town, until 1834, the capital of the island (currently it is Puerto del Rosario). Today the city lives exclusively on tourism but has kept its own rural dimension Made of dry stone walls, palm trees and white houses. To see, the small archaeological museum (Arquelogical Museum of Betancuria) and the church of Santa Maria (Iglesia de Santa Maria) dating back to the XNUMXth century. The surroundings also deserve: dal Morro Velosa viewpoint tooasis of Vega de Rio Palmas, we highly recommend don't forget your camera. The breadth of the views and landscapes does not leave you indifferent.

6 Museum of the Queso Majorero

In Fuerteventura, there are more goats than humans. To be precise majorero goats, very docile variety whose name seems to derive from the ancient "Mahoh", identifier of the indigenous people stationed on the island (some say, however, that it derives from the “mahos” sandals once worn by shepherds). Etym aside, thegoat breeding for centuries has been the main activity of the area and therefore it is not surprising that the most famous dishes of Fuerteventura are precisely the goat stew and cheese. Especially the latter, the majorero cheese, not only boasts the designation of origin but it even has an entirely dedicated museum. THEl Museum of the Queso Majorero It is found to Antigua a few kilometers from Betancuria and absolutely worth a visit. Inside, several interactive exhibits including one virtual milking which for sure will not mind the children (if you move with children in tow). To be seen!

7 Jandia Peninsula

La Jandia peninsula, southwestern side of Fuerteventura, is the southern equivalent of Corralejo. Except that while the Parque Natural de Corralejo is mainly frequented by the British, the Parque Natural de Jandia, which includes almost the entire peninsula of the same name, is with a German majority. The massive Teutonic presence dates back to the 60s, although there are those who backdated the circumstance by bringing up the controversial figure of Gustav Winter. The latter, a German engineer who settled on the island in the 30s, was already accused of being a spy in Hitler's service and of having found shelter in Spain with the protection of Francisco Franco. To endorse this story which, however, it must be said, has never been supported by certain evidence, the construction of a mysterious villa in Cofete, a tiny village at the southern tip of Fuerteventura. The mystery arises from the fact that Winter never lived there. So what was the use of a villa in such an inhospitable place? Hence the most disparate hypotheses, including that according to which the house should have hosted Hitler in case of escape. Returning to the news, the main attractions of the Jandia peninsula are: Morro Jable (where, however, Winter resided permanently) and the adjoining beach of Playa del Matorral; Punta de Jandia where there is a lonely lighthouse much photographed by tourists; and indeed Cofete 10 kilometers from Morro Jable. The road to get there is very treacherous, which is why, in case you really want to see Villa Winter and the wild beach of the village (Cofete Beach) our advice is to be as cautious as possible or, at least, to do it on foot.

8 Sport in Fuerteventura

As mentioned at the beginning, Fuerteventura abundantly compensates for its worldly limitations with the possibility of practicing various outdoor sports. Surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing are all the rage (Caleta de Fuste, Corralejo e Morro Jable are the most suitable points) but also diving and golf are very popular activities. Separate mention for the mountain bike. The almost lunar landscape Fuerteventura makes it one of the favorite destinations for mountain biking enthusiasts. You can obviously bring the bike from home or, alternatively, rent it on site to discover the many coastal paths and the hinterland. There dirt road that connects Corralejo to El Cotillo is one of the most jokes. To try!