With its 3,000 hours of sunshine a year, Fuerteventura is the perfect place to enjoy the rays and top up a tan especially when taking into account its excellent beaches. The mix of trade winds and Atlantic Ocean swells offer the perfect mix for watersports enthusiasts, so it is no wonder that they are attracted to the island all year round. Like its near neighbours, Fuerteventura has a rugged charm found only in the bays and volcanic slopes of the Canary Islands. However, unlike the busier islands of Tenerife and Lanzarote, Fuerteventura has managed to avoid over development and still offers a great deal of tranquillity and stark beauty.
Depending on who you ask, the name Fuerteventura derives from the Spanish word for ‘strong wind’. This is debatable, but the island certainly benefits from its exposed position, which has brought about all kinds of wonderful landscapes. From miles of giant white sand dunes bordering turquoise seas at Corralejo, to the rugged beauty of Betancuria, where powerful waves have kept developers at bay, the island’s natural parks are a haven for surfers, hikers, birdwatchers and stargazers.
But it’s the volcanic interior that provides perhaps the most arresting landscapes. And if you’re worried by that mention of volcanoes – don’t be. There hasn’t been a serious eruption on any of the Canary Islands in centuries. The volcanic geology does make for amazing vistas though, especially from inland peaks such as Tindaya and the moon-like Bayuyo boilers – a chain of calderas stretching southwest from the island’s northwest corner that offer exhilarating hiking.
The best ascent is probably the Bayuyo volcano itself, 5km west of Corralejo, for incredible views across the calderas, and along the island’s entire northern coastline. It’s a 7km round trip, rising to 257m over the course of at least four hours – but the effort will repay you forever.
