Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura – An Island Of Unforgettable Beauty

With vacation period arriving soon, most of the people are already searching for this year’s perfect location. And, if you did not make up your mind yet, maybe you should take a moment and explore Fuerteventura – a place you will surely never forget and where you will return at least a few times more.

The Island of Fortune
Fuerteventura is one of the smallest but cosiest islands in the Canary archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. Located near the western shores of Africa, Fuerteventura is the second largest island in the archipelago with Tenerife only being bigger. Its name literally means “Strong fortune” and its natural habitat is so beautiful and unique that it made UNESCO protect it as a Biosphere Reserve. But that does not mean you cannot explore it, on the contrary. Just take a bike and go down its wild pathways. You can even rent a camel and enjoy the view while riding on its back. This is something you really should not miss because the island has amazing steppe and desert habitats to offer. There are also incredible volcanic areas that contain various fossils, and of course, there are miles of untouched coastlines.
There should not be any troubles reaching the island because there are regular ferry routes that can transport you between the Canary Islands. There is also an airport a few miles from Fuerteventura’s capital, Puerto del Rosario.

Cultural Heritage Left By The Ancestors
The oldest people living in Fuerteventura came to this island from North Africa, and they were called Mahorero or Maho, and they used to call their home Planaria, meaning “the flat land”. After them, many other nations left their trace here, from Phoenicians, Moors, French,  Spaniards and Portuguese. In the 19th century, the whole island was even divided by a high wall whose remains can still be seen today. The wall was a boundary between two rival kingdoms, but they were both soon conquered by another, much stronger power – the French. Fuerteventura’s beauty also attracted various pirates who wanted to take its riches, and for that reason, many forts and castles had to be erected for protection.

Places You Should Not Miss

There are many things one can and should see when visiting Fuerteventura, but history lovers just have to go to these sites:

Antigua Mill Craft Centre is a place where you can learn more about the native way of living. Apart from various crafts and sculptures, there is one particular machine that is quite characteristic for the island. That would be a “Molino”, or a great windmill that was used for making special toasted cereal flour called gofio. In ancient times, there were Molinos’ everywhere and now you can see its traditional engineering elements right here in the museum.

In La Alcogida Ecomuseum you can also check out some local traditions and customs such as cattle raising, some farming activities, and also a number of different crafts like pottery, brass, weaving, basketry, palm or wood handicrafts, and so on. All of these are carried out in situ, and if you like, you can try to perform them yourself.

And should you want to see how the elite used to live, then don’t miss a chance to go to The Colonels House, which was built in the seventeenth century by the family Cabrera Bethencourt.

But the absolute favourite of all tourists is the fabulous Seasalt Museum where you can actually see the complete salt production process. You will surely be amazed once you hear the incredible history of the salt as well as by the beautiful landscape that was created during the extraction process.

And if you are in the mood just to roam around then go to the historic city, and former capital of the island, Betancuria. Its plain white houses surrounded by the green gardens will splash your sights with amazingly harmonic colouring. The Cathedral of Santa Maria from the 17th century is a true masterpiece of the colonial architecture, so it is not a surprise that every islander will proudly talk about it whenever they get a chance.

Where To Stay During Your Vacation in Fuerteventura

Just like any other touristic place, Fuerteventura disposes of a great number of hotels, hostels, B&Bs to book as well as private apartments to rent during your visit. The island offers some of the most beautiful hotels that will surely make your stay a royal- like. Five- star hotels overlooking the Atlantic ocean undoubtedly make you wish to stay here forever. Every luxurious hotel in Fuerteventura provides you with all inclusive service, gyms, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, roof terraces, saunas and many other contents that would surely surprise you. For that reason, visitors sometimes have doubts as to whether to book one hotel or the other, since all of them literally compete to make your wishes come true.

Should you decide for a four or three- star hotel, you will also be more than surprised because hotel managers in Fuerteventura give their best to provide you everything you need, and all that for a decent price. Many of the three and four- star hotels have the same amenities as five- star hotels, and they include private beaches, nice restaurants, and excellent service. Hence, it is entirely up to you and your budget when it comes to the kind of a hotel you will choose during your residence.

However, if you are fond of private accommodation, you are welcome to search the Internet and find fabulous apartments you can rent, and thus, feel like at home, but at the same time enjoying the beauties of the magnificent island of Fuerteventura. Many visitors choose the apartments close to the beaches so that all they need to do is to walk down the stairs and head right to the beach.

Many tourists that have already visited Fuerteventura state that among the best hotels on the island is the popular Atlantis Bahia Real Grand Hotel. It has everything one can wish for, from a breathtaking private beach to an impressive spa and the best restaurants. Therefore, if your pockets are deep, you should definitely take it into consideration.

One of the famous four- star hotels is Atlantis Dunapark. The hotel has great offers, and one can book a double room for an incredible amount of $40 per night. Atlantis Dunapark is an appealing hotel with an excellent location, near the harbour.

In addition, if you favour the nature and its beauties, perhaps it would be a good solution to book a hotel that was built in the nature reserve (before planning regulations changed). Its name is famous to many tourists, Hotel Riu Palace Tres Islas. You could not imagine the views from the windows of this hotel. All the visitors are undoubtedly amazed by the breathtaking views across the dunes, so don’t miss the chance to be one of them.

Cuisine in Fuerteventura Will Take Your Breath Away

Travelling to Fuerteventura inevitably means trying something new, appealing and, of course, tasty. However, having decided to visit this amazing island, you are most certainly prepared to try fish, vegetables and fruits. But, you would not expect the island to offer you the best local cheese you ever tasted, addictive sauces, goat stews, and goat milk liquor.

For instance, every restaurant in Fuerteventura can treat you with local cheese, so- called, Queso Majorero. It is made of a very healthy goat milk, olive oil, paprika, and a mix of corn meal. Do not try to avoid this delicious gourmet wonder, because you would really be sorry for your decision.

However, if you are a fan of sauces, make sure you feel the pleasant taste of mojo picon while in Fuerteventura. Locals serve it with almost all dishes on the island, so it will be practically impossible not to try it. It contains only healthy ingredients including olive oil, dried paprika, garlic and a bit of vinegar.

But perhaps the best speciality on the island is goat meat. The locals have been raising goats for centuries here, and their meat is now made into a tasty recipe, the one no tourist can resist. Some of the tourists state that they would come back to the island just to eat the excellent goat meat dish.

And if you like liquors, don’t miss the chance to taste the liquor made of goat milk. You will be shocked to feel the incredible taste of this drink.

Choose The Most Interesting Activity While In Fuerteventura

If you are one of those active tourists who yearn to wander around and get familiarised with the environment, as well as with the activities available on the island, then feel free to choose among the numerous exciting activities offered on Fuerteventura.

You may start with pirates adventure. Climb aboard to the Pedra Santana ship, where you can enjoy playing treasure hunts, pirate games, and lunch and swimming are also included.

If you visit the island during the famous carnival, the fun is guaranteed for you. The whole island has a tradition to mark the carnival in a way, so some cities organise parades, live music and costume competitions. Hence, if you are a social type of a person, make sure you come to the carnival ready for competing, meeting extraordinary people and hanging out with newly met people.

Of course, Fuerteventura offers you other activities like windsurfing, visiting Oasis Park where you can see the rarest bird species, discovering the island’s tradition and visiting extraordinary windmills. Fuerteventura is indeed an inexhaustible source of interesting things to see and activities to do. Therefore, do not miss the opportunity to visit this great island.