Fuerteventura 928 / Pop 107,000

©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd

Includes  Why Go? Puerto del Rosario...... 78 Fuerteventura lies just 100km from the African coast, and Betancuria...... 80 there are striking similarities not only with the landscape, Antigua...... 81 but also the houses, with their North African–style flat roofs Pájara...... 82 for collecting rainfall. In other ways, Fuerteventura emu- lates its neighbour Lanzarote, only with more colours. Its Caleta de Fuste & volcanoes resemble piles of saffron, chilli and coriander, sur- Around...... 83 real triangles of exotic spices. La Olivia...... 85 Most visitors, however, are more interested in mastering Corralejo...... 86 the waves and the wind than contemplating the abstract El Cotillo...... 90 aesthetics of the scenery. The second-largest island in the La Lajita...... 92 archipelago (after Tenerife), Fuerteventura has year-round sunshine and the biggest and best beaches in the Canaries. Costa Calma...... 92 The main tourist resorts lie at opposite ends of the is- La Pared...... 93 land. At the northern tip is Corralejo, beloved by British Playa de Sotavento de sun-seekers, while deep down south lies Morro Jable, largely Jandía...... 93 frequented by Germans and a markedly staider place. Morro Jable...... 94 The island was declared a Unesco Biosphere Reserve in 2009.

Best Beaches When to Go ¨¨High season runs from December to February, with ¨¨Playa de Cofete (p96) accommodation filling up well in advance; temperatures are ¨¨Parque Natural de slightly cooler with prevailing winds, but still pleasant. Corralejo (p86) ¨¨Late spring (April to May) is perfect temperature-wise, ¨¨Playa de la Barca (p93) although Easter can mean crowded beaches. ¨ ¨Playa de la Mujer (p85) ¨¨Spanish holidaymakers favour the islands in July and August, along with families travelling with school-age children. Temperatures often surpass 30°C, though it rarely Best Places to gets stiflingly hot. The Windsurfing World Cup takes place in Stay July. ¨ ¨¨Casa Isaítas (p222) ¨Autumn is a great time for festivals, including Corralejo’s Kite Festival and the Fiesta de la Virgen del Rosario in the ¨ ¨Hotel Rural Mahoh (p222) capital. Average daytime temperatures hover around the ¨¨Soulsurfer Hotel (p222) agreeable 20°C mark, while nights gradually become cooler.

e Fust de

Caleta

56 El Cotillo El

87 56 Corralejo

36 20 90 Rosario

enerife and Santa Santa and enerife del Puerto 10 32 58 64

in Puerto del Rosario here are also indirect Approximate distances only % 928 54 21 13, in Corralejo & ( % ( 902 10 www.fredolsen. 01 07; % ou can buy tickets at the port in ( lsen uesday to Saturday. Getting Around t 8 a r Corralejo El Cotillo Fuste Caleta de Costa Calma rasmediterránea Bo Fred O Fred es) Ferrieses) leaveseven times daily from Cor 902 45 46 45; www.trasmediterranea.es) Operates a weekly service to Puerto del Rosario from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (€33, six hours) on Saturdays. T T de Cruz Santa from boats Cruz de La Palma, but journeys are long and you’d be better on a plane. Bus the main bus routes covering Tiadhe has 17 across the island. destinations Ca isDriving is a pleasure here; the terrain and the roads excellent. Cicar is flat largely offices a reliable local car-rental choice, with the airport,at Puerto del Rosario and all the main resorts. ralejo for Playa Blanca 25(€27, minutes) in Lanzarote. Y Morro from service a also There’s Corralejo. Jable to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (€45, two hours, twice daily). Armas Naviera ROAD DISTANCES (KM) DISTANCES ROAD 8 Morro Jable 902 45 65 00; www.navieraarmas. Playa Corralejo for leave ferries daily Six com) Blanca (€26, 35 minutes) in Lanzarote. From Morro Jable, daily ferries leave for Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (€41, three hours) and to Santa Cruz de Tenerife (€70, 6½ hours). From Puerto del Rosario there are ferries to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (€35, 6½ hours) and Santa Cruz de Tenerife (€62, 11 hours) at 11am from T T ------902 40 04; 47 www. (www.binternet.com) (www.binternet.com) % ( (the island government depu (the island government (local authority).

Getting There & Away 8 cabildo

The militia was disbanded in 1834 and, New settlements spread slowly across the settlements New Béthencourt establisheda permanent Air aena.es) is 6km south of Puerto del Rosario in El Canarias Binter Matorral. has direct flights to Gran CanariaTenerife, and from whereyou can fly on to the other islands.

Fuerteventura airport Fuerteventura 8 in 1912, the island, along with others in a degree of was granted the archipelago, ofinstallation with the self-administration the iting their extraordinary former home: Casa de los Coroneles in La Oliva. tising for the Spanish crown). By the follow the island of officers however, ing century, a rival as militia had established themselves base in Lapower Los Oliva. Coroneles (the virtual took Colonels) gradually control of at enriching themselves affairs, the island’s the expense of the hard-pressed peasantry. can learn more about their reign by vis You island and, in the 17th Europeans century, occupied of the El Cotillo, once the seat At this time, kingdom. Guanche Maxorata control families took the Arias and Saavedra of the señorío est regions on the island. The mountainous of naturalmeasure a created also location defence raids. against those dastardly pirate ria, with Santa María de Betancuriaria, with Santa María evolving capital. The choice of location as the island’s supply water was determined the natural by is still evidence: in that the lush one of this is base, including a chapel, in the mountainousbase, including a chapel, came to be known as Betancuzone of what insula, as far north as La Pared; Maxorata Maxorata insula, as far north as La Pared; controlled the rest of the island. querors. Ruled by the Norman nobleman the Norman by querors. Ruled de Béthencourt, conquerors turned the Jean two the island divided into to find up in 1405 by a low 6km- separated tribal kingdoms occupied the southern pen long wall. Jandía inative Planaria (‘Plains’, due to the island’s to the island’s due (‘Plains’, Planaria inative more the considerably to flatness), overall Adventure), (Strong exciting Fuerteventura European con the first from which dates History in names had several has Fuerteventura unimag Roman’s the from ranging history,

Getting There & Away

Fuerteventura 76