The Canary Islands lie approximately 100 kilometres from the south coast of Morocco. The seven main islands are known for their laid-back vibe, unique volcanic landscapes, national parks and stunning beaches. Here’s our mini travel guide to the second largest of the archipelago, Fuerteventura.
Fuerteventura has over 150 kilometres of white sand coastline to explore. Its beaches and dramatic volcanic landscapes mean that it’s the ideal holiday playground. Just offshore, you’ll find plenty of things to do, such as windsurfing and kitesurfing. And from luxury homes in buzzy Corralejo to laid-back apartments in sleepy villages, there’s somewhere for everyone.
Getting there
Situated just south of Lanzarote, Fuerteventura’s main airport, El Matorral, serves many European destinations. There are also two ferry routes between Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria.
Things to do
Isla Dos Lobos
Isla Dos Lobos is an uninhabited nature reserve filled with landscapes of salt marshes, small volcanic mounds and an idyllic beach called Playa de la Concha. To ensure the island’s preservation, the capacity is only 200 people at one time, so you need a permit to visit. But don’t let this put you off; most companies offering transport to the island provide this in the transportation price.
After stepping off the boat, you’re guided to the islands only restaurant, a small white building perched on the coastline, for a lunch of fresh seafood paella and croquetas. The restaurant wall is lined with windows, each with a slightly different view of the crystal clear Atlantic ocean.
You can spend the rest of the day exploring the uninhabited island and swimming in the beautiful turquoise water surrounding it. The boat stops for anyone who wants to go snorkelling on the boat ride back to the mainland. This was my favourite part of the day. We swam with thousands of fish, all of different colours and sizes and utterly unfazed by the human intruders. This is a boat trip you do not want to miss!
El Cotillo
On the North West side of the island sits El Cotillo. Spend a peaceful day by the Lagoons where the waters are calm, and once again, you can admire an untouched landscape. If you’ve never been to a nude beach, then this is the place to tick it off your bucket list. We got over the initial awkwardness and were strolling around topless in no time.
Parque Natural de las Dunas de Corralejo
Fuerteventura’s dune natural park was spectacular. I had never seen anything like it. It’s a protected area in the North of the island. The ocean is a pristine clear turquoise, and the coastline is covered in dunes that can reach up to 50 meters in height. This is a truly fascinating spectacle of land vs water. There are no shops so if you plan to spend the day, make sure you take all the essentials.
