Fuerteventura Guide

Sometimes called the ‘Island of Eternal Spring’, Fuerteventura has a pleasant year-round climate, tempered by the ocean, with most rainfall in autumn and winter. It’s a destination that will suit families, couples and young singles. With sunshine for 3,000 hours a year, this is a major holiday destination.

It is also a year-round surfers’ paradise, and also popular with kite-boarders, divers, game fishermen and whale, dolphin and big fish watchers. The rocky hills throughout the island also attract trekkers and climbers. Much of the interior is lavascapes, volcanic mountainous territory, plains and protected regions with some interesting wildllife that include chipmunks, geckos, the barbary ground squirrel, a rare vulture and migrating birds.

There are some old and picturesque towns and villages to explore too and there is plenty of golf. The main centre of nightlife in Fuerteventura is Corralejo, where you will also hear Latin and Spanish music, although all the resorts have their bars, clubs and restaurants - especially during the tourist season. Eating features menus with seafood and dishes made with the local speciality goat cheese.

There are many local specialities - sauces, stews, toasted cornflour ‘gofio’. Generally speaking, prices are comparable with UKShopping has come to Fuerteventura with Las Rotondas, a four-storey 30,000m² shopping centre in Puerto del Rosario; Corralejo and Puerto del Rosario are the best places to shop on the island but most of the resorts have a weekly market with craft items and copies of designer goods for sale. The resort smaller supermarkets tend to be more expensive than the superstores that locals use, so for best value go for these, such as Hiperdino and Netto.

Because the islands enjoy special exemptions from normal excise duties on tobacco, alcohol, perfumes and fuel, these items cheaper than in mainland Europe. If Fuerteventura isn’t enough for you, it makes a good jumping off point for some island hopping to Lanzerote, Gran Canaria and Tenerife, with the ferry voyage the best way to travel and enjoy.