WHY GO: Year round sunshine, riding some gnarly waves and soaking up the chilled out beach vibes.
FOR HOW LONG: You could spend as long or as little as you like on the Island, but I would say between 5 to 10 days would be ace.
WHAT'S MY BUDGET: £40-£50 a day would be more than enough. Again you can spend as little as you want or you can splash the cash. Its great if you’re on a small budget, your money really will go far.
WHERE TO STAY: Get away from the main port, and get to El Cotillo
GETTING AROUND: A hire car is a must, without one you are limited to seeing the best of the island - public transport is pretty non existent!
LANGUAGE: The islanders speak Spanish, but dependent upon where you are, English is well spoken and understood.
Fuerteventura is a hidden gem, mainly unspoilt and often overlooked by the other Canary Islands. Being so close to the African coast, yes, it does mean a lot of Brits tend to flock to Fuerteventura in search of some winter sun, but trust me, don’t let that put you off. The key to making the most of the island is to head as far away from the purpose built resorts and main port. El Cotillo is by far the best spot on the island to set up base for your stay. The old fishing village is full of charm, its quaint and at times you may be lucky enough to see a local fisherman bringing in his catch which you could be tucking into later that evening.
SURF:
Surfing on the island is an absolute must, whether you are a complete beginner, intermediate or a pro. The island has lots of surf schools that you can hire boards from and even take lessons with. The surfing vibe is relaxed, friendly and you can’t help but get addicted to the buzz of it all. You will spot locals checking out the surf at the top of the beaches, assessing whether or not to go in, but 9 times out of 10 they are in the water before you can say ‘hang on let me put my wetsuit on’.
Board hire: Go to Surf School Fuerteventura Shockwave to hire your board. You can choose a day option or they will cut you a deal for the length of your stay and guide you on the best surf spot for your ability.
Beaches: El Cotillo Beach, which is part of the North West of the Island. Be warned this is a very remote beach, with little refreshments and a scramble down onto the beach. But that’s all part of the fun, especially in the windy weather.
Post surf spot: Take a breather on one of the white sandy beaches in El Cotillo (North of the town). There are manmade stone walls that you can lay in and shelter from the wind. They are dangerously good and such a sun trap, you won’t be able to stop yourself from nodding off. If you need a wakeup call, then all you need to do is jump in one of the beaches blue lagoons, they are seriously refreshing.
SKATE:
The island is activity central, so on the off chance that the surf is flat or you just can’t go in for the second time that day, don’t worry there is so many other fun activities to get involved in….
Skate the streets: Nearly every surf hire shop has skate boards available to hire. Grab a board and get skating around the streets. Not only is this great fun, but it’s the perfect way to work on your balance outside of the water. Just don’t try to race the locals down the hills, you won’t win.
Dune buggies: Get yourself booked onto a Dune Buggy tour to explore the islands best bits. This can take a few hours out of your day and late afternoon seems to be the best time for this.
Electric bikes: Go crazy on a hire electric bike. There is no limitation as to where you can go and we took the off road route from El Cotillo to the lighthouse. It’s a pretty bumpy route but so much fun and worth it for the views along the way, especially once you reach the light house.
Road trip: Get in your hire car, pack your surf boards and take the coastal route from El Cotillo to Corralejo. The route is 1 hour approx. and will take you on a journey along bright blue waters and white sandy beaches. There are also some pretty cool villages along the way that look like they are made out of anything and everything.
EXPLORE:
If you’re anything like me and love the outdoors then I really can’t fault Fuerteventura for its rugged and wild scenery, which is why it’s a great place to get your comfiest footwear on and explore. There are so many different routes to choose from, but the ones that really stand out for me are the Volcano walks available. The one I really recommend is the Gairia Volcano, which is one of the best preserved volcanoes on the Island. This is located in the centre of Fuerteventura and the trek is fairly tough but totally worth the effort for the breath taking views from the top. There are a few different routes so I suggest checking out a route on many of the online websites about walking on the island; like the one linked above.
GRAZE:
Time to un-wind on the island? All those activities mean you certainly build up an appetite and when it comes to good food you won’t be disappointed. I am a massive foodie so wherever I go I need to know that I will be sampling the best of the best. So check out these top places to get your teeth stuck into….
Healthy spot: If you are looking for a healthy brunch, lunch or smoothie then Ocean Deli in El Cotillo is the place to go. I recommend the fruit granola and yogurt bowl, the poached eggs, or the avo on toast. When it comes to smoothies there are just too many good ones to mention here!
Traditional taste on the island: Vaca Azul is a family run restaurant with incredible food and beautiful views. Make sure you book a table, and try to get a spot outside in time to watch the sun set. I recommend getting the octopus and padrón peppers along with a glass of the local white wine.
Evening beverage: Ferrets Diner is a Swiss Bar (I know Swiss, not exactly what you were expecting?) with attitude. The tables outside are made from old surfboards, and there are blankets on hand to keep you cosy. It’s a chilled out surf beach vibe with some great tunes and beverages on offer. I may have gone there every night - don’t judge me.
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