Endless beaches with white sand are not only in the Caribbean. You can also find them in Europe on one of the Canary Islands – Fuerteventura. Translated, it means a great adventure or strong wind, but you will definitely experience both. Our route was a bit more complicated from Budapest with a layover in Madrid, but we didn’t let that deter us. After all, where else in Europe can you find water temperatures above 20°C in mid-April?
Contents
Day 1 – Town of Corralejo
Day 2 – Island Isla de Lobos
Day 3 – Transfer to the south of the island
Day 4 – Morro Jable and Playa Sotavento
Day 5 – Beach Risco del Paso
Day 1 – Town of Corralejo
Arrival in Madrid is on Saturday afternoon and we fly to Fuerteventura in the morning, so we have plenty of time for a tour of Madrid. The city tour was arranged by our cousin, whom I would like to greet through this. Otherwise, we would have had to spend the night at the airport. We land in Fuerteventura at 8:05 local time and therefore have a full day. Time difference -1 hour. At the airport, we pick up a car from Plus Car. It is our third rental from this company, and they always offer the most competitive prices. On the way, we stop at Lidl, but we did not realize it is closed on Sundays. We continue north to the town of Corralejo, where we will stay for the first two nights. The following three nights are planned on the south side of the island. Along the way, we cross the national park with sand dunes Parque Natural Corralejo. The sand here is probably the whitest of all the Canary Islands. We were supposed to stay at the Dunas Caletas hotel, but luckily, due to full occupancy, they accommodated us in an even better place, Caleta Del Mar. The hotel is right by the ocean with a pool and closer to the dunes. Swimming in this area is not very comfortable because the coastline is not maintained. Be prepared for a rough entry into the water, with rocks and pits. According to the map, we were at the Playa del Viejo beach, even though it appears as one long coastal strip. All around are just sandy dunes, so you won’t find much shelter from the wind. The water may be a refreshing 20-21°C, but once we dare there, it will only get better on the south side of the island. We’ll swim as much as our strength allows and then slowly head back to the hotel.
It’s lunchtime, so we’re heading to the shopping center to find something to eat. The afternoon siesta is all about lounging by the pool at the hotel. Afterwards, we move west to the El Cotillo area. We park the car near the castle tower Castillo del Cotillo and the beach is to the right. Playa de la Concha is a tiny beach shaped like the letter U with almost no waves. We change behind the bushes and into the water we go, swimming in the ocean is not an everyday occurrence. Once we come out of the water, we need to quickly change into dry clothes so we don’t catch a cold. From the beach, we take a walk along the cliffs, leading to a turquoise cove and a surfer’s beach with rough waves. They are really brave surfers, considering those waves. At the end of the day, back to the hotel pool, and the first day is successfully behind us.
Day 2 – Lobos Island
Breakfast is at the buffet on the adjacent terrace with toast, ham, cheese, fruit, and sweets. The plan for today is a trip to Lobos Island. We will be in the sun all day, so we apply sunscreen on our face, neck, and arms before leaving. In the winter schedule, the boat runs less frequently, starting at 10:00 and returning at 16:00. But that’s plenty of time for exploring the island. The route goes from the port of Corralejo to El Puertito bay. The main circuit follows the perimeter of the island clockwise. In the village of El Puertito, there are a few houses and you could even swim in the shallow bay. However, everyone continues on, saving swimming for later. Camping, fires, and dogs are prohibited in the national park. The island has a volcanic surface with lava rocks, with greenery or red popping up here and there. It’s a pleasant walk on the flat terrain, where at the end of the island awaits an elevated wall with a lighthouse. It’s the first viewpoint of the turbulent ocean and the island’s interior.
We head towards the second part of the hike to the Montana de La Caldera crater. Don’t be tempted by the first turnoff, because the second one leads to the top of the crater. The summit of the crater is at 127m and is the highest point of the island. Prepare for a steep climb and strong winds. I ran about 10 meters with my hat, and only by chance stopped on a rock. The path along the ridge is fantastic, offering views of the beaches and sand dunes of Fuerteventura, and we even zoomed in on our hotel with the camera. You can see seagulls flying around, and if you film them for a long time, one might even attack you. From the crater, you also have a view of the Playa de la Caleta beach, where we will be swimming in a few minutes. We will take some panoramic photos and then head to the well-deserved beach. There’s nothing better at the end of the hike than to jump into the water. But before that, let’s apply some sunscreen again, as the sun has been shining non-stop today. Before boarding the boat, we enjoy our time at this beach; the harbor is only 5 minutes away. And as the departure time approaches, suddenly everyone gets up and heads to the harbor.
After the boat trip to Fuerteventura, we still have plenty of time for another beach.Caleta del Bajo. The presence of the Riu Palace and Riu Oliva hotels has a very positive impact on the cleanliness of the seabed and water entry points. Essentially, it is probably the cleanest beach in the north of the island. Let’s watch the sunset and slowly make our way back to our hotel to pack up for the morning.
Day 3 – Transfer to the south of the island
Today’s plan includes moving to our second accommodation in the south of the island and visiting as many attractions along the way. We start with breakfast and check out from our Caleta Del Mar. We set off on the road through the center of the island to our first stop at Casa de Los Coroneles in the town of La Oliva. It’s a former house of military officers that currently functions as a museum with a symbolic entrance fee. Inside, you can see models of ships or historical footage of Fuerteventura. From the balcony, there’s a view of a conical hill that nature beautifully shaped. We get back in the car and continue a few kilometers to the viewpoint with the restaurant Mirador Morro Velosa. The road to the top is closed off with a barrier, so we have to walk a bit. After a light meal, we can continue onwards. Next up are the bronze statues of the first kings at Morro Velosa Statues and the ancient town of Betancuria, which was the island’s first capital. In the historic center, we’ll visit the square with the church Iglesia de Santa María.
There are more viewpoints along the way, but we stop at another one where you can shoot videos of yourself jumping into a “chasm.” From the inland, we move to the west coast of the island, where one of the few black beaches, Ajuy, is located. The two-meter waves immediately convinced us that swimming was not an option. However, there’s no need to despair; besides the beach, we planned to take a walk along the coast to the caves. Water and wind erosion have created various natural formations. After about 10 minutes of walking, a large stone opening presents itself to us. We descend down the stairs, and the more daring ones wade through the slippery terrain inside. We return the same way.
Today, we still have a tour to the crater on the agenda.La Caldera de Gairía. The access road is a bit more difficult to find, so don’t expect pavement, it’s just a dirt road ending at a residential house. The crater is of course long extinct and the bottom is smooth, but still the road is an adventure in its own way. After all, how often do you just go down to the bottom of a crater. We didn’t meet any tourists here, just volcanic terrain and grave silence everywhere. The final section is quite steep and better footwear than sneakers would be useful. Inside the crater, there is a symbolic little hill where we play golf 🙂 The whole circuit is about 2km and takes about an hour and a half. And now, off to the Jandia peninsula and our second accommodation Relaxia Jandía Luz Apartamentos. On the way, we couldn’t resist a short stop at the beach Risco del Paso. It’s supposed to be one of the most beautiful beaches and even though we have it planned for the following days, we want to confirm that. It’s a long stretch of coastline with shallow waters. The water is knee-deep even 50 meters from the shore, so be prepared for a strong wind. We just got wet and quickly back to dry land because it was getting dark. We arrive in the town of Morro Jable around eight o’clock, check in, and head out for dinner. It must be said that they have really good pizza and beer here.
Day 4 – Morro Jable and Playa Sotavento
The southern part of the island gives us a more luxurious impression from the beginning compared to the north. We have a better apartment, a pool, and overall the surroundings and the town are better maintained. The beach Morro JableWe have a beach by the hotel. We are staying at the level of the Riu Palace hotel, recalling previous experiences with water cleanliness. It is one of the few beaches where it wasn’t windy and the water also seemed a bit warmer than in the north. Of course, it’s important not to forget to apply sunscreen; the Canarian sun is quite deceptive. We alternate swimming with sunbathing, or some may prefer standing 🙂 Before lunch, we walk to the lighthouse and return through the commercial street to the hotel.
We get in the car towards Playa Sotavento. It is a long coastal strip consisting of three entry points Playa de Sotavento – Mirador, Risco del Paso, and Playa de la Barca. The first is the Mirador viewpoint, where you will also find a sand dune straight out of postcards. Its size depends on the weather conditions, so it grows and shrinks. You will definitely take many beautiful photos and panoramas here, whether with the dune, the beach, or the nature. And don’t forget about the jumping photos 🙂 We return to the car and head to Risco del Paso beach. In this area, the most interesting features are the water streams weaving through the sand. You can swim a few meters and reach a small sandy islet, or simply wade ankle-deep in the water. This beach is a paradise for surfers because the wind blows tirelessly here. There is a struggle for every bit of shelter among the bushes, and don’t be surprised if you see nudists here. At the end of the day, we still want to visit the lighthouse Entallada Lighthouse. It is about 40 km northeast of Risco del Paso. The final stretch of the road has no guardrails, and we were just praying that nothing would come from the opposite direction. The road is so narrow that someone would have to reverse. Thankfully, everything turned out well, and we enjoy the sunset at the lighthouse. For our great success, we opt for pizza for dinner.
Day 5 – Risco del Paso Beach
On the last day, we saved the area of Cofete with Playa Cofete beach as a backup.. There is about 20km long unpaved road from Morro Jable. In the end, we decided not to risk it. Off-road is the only exception in car insurance. On the other hand, it is a great shame because it is the most untouched part of the island, so we definitely do not want to discourage you. As they say, sometimes risk is gain. We chose to swim in Morro Jable in the morning and then have lunch at Risco del Paso. We laid down among the bushes with nudists and tried snorkeling. Unsuccessfully. The hill behind us is a pretty nice mini-tour and you can take beautiful panoramas here. And of course, there are also inscriptions in the sand made of pebbles. In the evening, we enjoyed Morro Jable and the hotel pool for the last time. We are flying back to Madrid at 8:45 am.
