Welcome to the beautiful unspoilt, sun drenched island of Fuerteventura
The perfect all year round holiday destination.
Fuerteventura lies at 28°20′N14°1′W, in the Atlantic Ocean and is the oldest and second largest Island of the archipelago known as The Canary islands. Although it is technically owned by Spain, the Canaries gained their independence back in 1983 and Fuerteventura is located about 2 hrs away by plane, . and lies just 100km off the Northern Coast of Africa. Unlike much of the mainland, Fuerte is very dry, arid and desert-like in appearance. Fuerteventura has a land mass area of only 1660 km², is 31km wide and 100 km long. It is quite long and thin in shape, with much of the interior covered by mountains and hills and the more inhabited areas and resorts now located around the shoreline. Although this was not always the case in the past.
Out and About in Fuerteventura
Driving from one end of the Island to the other takes around 90 minutes as most of the roads are single carriageway and most people are not in a hurry. One thing to watch out for is a single continuous line in the centre of the road as this means 'No Overtaking' and is there for your safety. Crossing the line at any point, and failing to comply with the local law will result in a hefty fine or 'multa', and the traffic police are everywhere! Overtaking is not allowed on lots of stretches of road, because the roads often follow the coastline, and the hills and bends prevent you from being able to see oncoming traffic. Although this is for your safety, it can be frustrating during the busy seasons, as there are all kinds of people and vehicles on the roads, some sightseeing at a snails pace, some stuck in the sand (but we'll cover that in a different section) and others in a hurry to get to work or catch a plane, so if you don't want to get stuck behind traffic on a single carriageway, then head for the Motorway.
The Motorway
Recently major financial investment has been put into the islands infrastructure, an a new network of motorways have been created. They are mainly dual carriageway and a lot more laid back than any motorway in the UK or Ireland, with only ever a few cars breezing past at any one time. But, this arterial network has made getting out and about much easier and quicker, especially from the airport to the resorts and back again. They are lovely newly laid roads, with large, clear signposts and are really easy to navigate. Okay, so the views are more mountainous and not quite as stunning as the coast road, and you do get a few mobile phone signal blind spots but you definitely get around a lot quicker. They are free to use, so there are no toll booths to navigate and they go from the North to the South. They are a great way to see the island if you have a hire car and want to explore.
Fuerteventura Airport
Fuerteventura has had a few airports over the years. Nowadays, the only commercial airport for the islands freight and passengers is conveniently situated in the middle of the Island, on the East coast, just outside of the islands capital, Puerto del Rosario. Holiday makers that are used to travelling from major international airports are often surprised when they get their first glimpse of Fuerteventura Airport as it is a small building, set on 2 levels and quite calm, with only a few planes taking off and landing at any one time. This too has recently attracted major investment and has been extended and renovated over the past decade. 
Fuerteventura Airport is now double the size that it used to be to allow more passengers through its doors and to provide a nicer travelling experience for everyone. There is now larger parking area with more spaces for coaches and hire cars, more check-in desks, upgraded and more accessible facilities including a lift and escalator, new modern cafe's, bars and restaurants, a newsagents and a small pharmacy. The one thing that has not changed is the massive fish tank thats located between the arrivals and departures. That's still the same and the fish are still swimming around happily in their underwater world, people watching and wondering what all the fuss is about.
Fuerteventura Airport Departures
Upstairs is accessed by going through customs and travelling up the stairs, escalator or lift. At the top you will come out in a huge departures lounge, with a panoramic view out across the planes and runway. Here you will find everything you need including a news agents and book shop, all kinds of retail emporiums, Artisan shops selling locally produced wares and gifts such as Aloe Vera and Goats Cheese, Tax Free shops selling tobaccos, wines, spirits, designer clothes and gifts; Perfumeries full of all the major brands and at much better prices than you get in Blighty! There are loads of seating areas for you to wait for your planes, plenty of well placed travel boards so you can check your flights status and the gates are only a few steps away, located at the front of the building, facing the runway. For those of you that need to be fed and watered there is a choice of cafe bars and well-known international fast food stands, snack options and vending machines. There is also an outside bar with a smoking terrace. Outside Fuerteventura airport are parking spaces for the Tour Operator coaches and hire cars, a large car park ( with payment machines ) a taxi rank usually full of spotlessly clean taxis and Minibuses and the bus stop.
Resort Transfers
Travelling times to resorts vary. If you are going via a Tour Operator, then please allow for additional stops along the way, as people are dropped off at their relevant hotels or apartments. Your tour guide will be able to give you an idea of how long it will take, after they have seen their itinerary. As a general idea (and depending on the traffic) if you are travelling by private car or taxi, then the travelling time from Fuerteventura Airport to the resorts in the North, such as Corralejo is about a 30 to 40 minutes. Parque Hollandes is about 15 to 20 minutes. The resorts of Caleta de Fuste and Nuevo Horizonte is about 5 to 10 minutes and resorts in the south, like Costa Calma or Jandia are around 50-80 Minutes. 
Fuerteventura Beaches
The Island boasts over 150 beaches of which most are beautiful white soft sand, which has lead the island being known as ‘The Caribbean of the Canaries’. The name Fuerteventura, loosely translated, means ‘Strong Fortune’, although many people believe that it means ‘Strong Winds’ as it is one of the windier Islands and a popular destination for wind surfers, kite surfers, surfers and other water sports enthusiasts. The island was declared a biosphere reserve by Unesco in May 2009, and certified among 500 European destinations by the Quality Coast International Certification Program of the European Coastal and Marine Union, as 'One of the most attractive tourist destinations for visitors interested in cultural heritage, environment and sustainability'. And within a minute of arriving here,... you can see why!
There are so many different beaches to choose from, so go out and explore. There are miles of wind swept sand dunes in the North, just outside Corralejo, sheltered lagoons just outside the sleepy fishing village of El Cotillo, long stretches of white sandy beaches in Sotavento in the south and family friendly sloping beaches in Caleta De Fuste. All around the island are beautiful coves, rocky outcrops, long sandy beaches and even the famous popcorn beach. So, grab your sunscreen, a good book, a nice cold drink and lay back and enjoy the Fuerteventura sunshine.
Nude Bathing in Fuerteventura
Fuerteventura Weather
The Island benefits from a temperate climate that very rarely drops below 14 °C, and unlike other holiday Islands, Fuerteventura does not close down for the winter and welcomes holiday makers all year round. The island is often referred to as ‘the island of eternal spring’ as the ocean adjusts the temperature making the hot Sahara winds blow away from the island. The winter months reach average temperatures of highs of 22 °C (72 °F) and lows of 15 °C (59 °F). The summer achieves average high of 35 (95 °F) and lows of 20 °C (68 °F), but throughout the year a phenomenon known as a Calima, can fill the sky with fine white sand from the Sahara and raise the temperature by around 10°C. Rain is pretty rare and normally figures of around 1.47 cm per year are recorded. October is the month most likely to experience rain, however sometimes light showers may occur, usually in April, November and Winter months.
Volcanic Geology
Fuerteventura was created by a volcanic eruption that dates back 20 million years, however most of the Island is only 5 million years old. The last volcanic activity in Fuerteventura was between 4 and 5,000 years ago. The Island is an elongated shape and its highest point is Mount Jandia, it is found in the south west that towers to a height of 807m. The narrowest point of the Island is only 5km wide and is known as the Istmo de la Pared (The Wall) and dates back to a time when the Island was divided into two areas and watched over by two tribal kings; Maxorata in the North and the Jandia Peninsula in the south.
Fuerteventura Tourist Information
The currency on the island is the Euro and the main language spoken is Spanish, although a local Canarian dialect is often heard among the locals. As Fuerteventura is a tourist resort, there is a nice mix of other nationalities too and English is widely understood and spoken, so holiday makers will have no trouble finding their way around. Menus and tourist information sources are also published in more than one language too. The people of Fuerteventura are some of the most laid back friendly and welcoming people that you will ever meet so the language barrier is very rarely a problem and there is always someone willing to step in and help out, but knowing a few words will always be met with a very warm welcome.
What's On in Fuerteventura
There is so much to do in Fuerteventura, whether you are a laid back sun worshipper or after something more adrenalin fuelled. There are countless bars, restaurants, excursions and adventures that await. The island has loads of history that you may wish to explore as well as amazing flora and fauna both above and below the waves. There really is something for everyone, from the young to the young at heart.
If you have any questions, then please get in touch.
Have a great holiday!