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An Introduction to FuerteventuraWelcome to Fuerteventura, the Peaceful Island, sunny all year-round and a renowned windsurfers' paradise. Come enjoy our white and golden beaches, crystal-clear waters and blue sky; and discover a land of contrasts, desolate plains and fantastic cuisine. The physical geography of the island is spectacular. The varied landscapes appeal particularly to trekkers and photographers while the protected nature reserves attract botanists and birdwatchers. The islanders have created a busy calendar of cultural and social events that give visitors an insight into their traditional way of life. Sports enthusiasts and outdoor types love it here because there are so many activities for them to participate in. There is no excuse to be bored or idle on Fuerteventura. What the Romans called Herbania is more than one island - in fact, it's two: Lobos and Fuerteventura. The little island of Lobos is found just at the northern tip of Fuerteventura, near the beaches of Corralejo, protected in order to conserve their beauty. From them, one looks over the Straits of La Bocaina, which separate Fuerteventura from Lanzarote by barely a half hour's journey. Morro Jable/Peninsula de Jandía: Expanding 30km across the south of Fuerteventura, the Peninsula de Jandía and its crystal blue beaches along Playa de Sotavento and Playa de Barlovento are the top reason for visiting the island. Puerto Del Rosario: Until 1957, Fuerteventura's whitewashed capital was known as Puerto de Cabras (Goats' Harbour) for its abundance of Billy-goats-gruff. The island is home to the Canaries' best stretch of beach in the south, the Canaries' most abysmal city in the east, and some decent beaches in the north. Major cultural events take place throughout the year. For example, classical music lovers from all over Europe gather in the Auditorio de Puerto Del Rosario and the Auditorio de Gran Tarajal in January, for the Festival de Música de Canarias. Puerto Del Rosario is the venue for many other concerts and recitals, including a jazz festival and a traditional music festival - the Encuentro de Música Popular. La Oliva acts as the host for the Festival Folklórico Esteban Ramírez and the village of Tetir puts on concerts too. The festivals in honour of Fuerteventura's two patron saints - Romería de la Virgen de la Peña and Fiesta de San Buenaventura - draw crowds of thousands. The same crowds gather to commemorate an important historical event, at the Fiesta Jurada de San Miguel Arcángel, and they turn up again to honour Nuestra Señora Del Rosario, Fiestas de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, Virgen Del Tanquito and Romería Del Pino. The islanders are keen to maintain their religious traditions and enjoy the social aspects of their festivals at the same time. The highway from Puerto Del Rosario to Corralejo (FV 1, which is well-signposted) hides lovely coves just behind the sand dunes of the Parque Natural de Corralejo. If you choose to enter this protected area, you should know that vehicles of any kind are prohibited throughout. Measuring 2668.7k2, the park takes up a great deal of the north of the island. Don't be surprised if you see goats munching away peacefully on top of the dunes or next to the highway, as these animals call this beautiful landscape their home outside coastal towns, Fuerteventura is quite undeveloped, providing mountainous serenity. Like Lanzarote, car rental is a must for those venturing to Fuerteventura on their own. The visitor will be pleasantly surprised at the range of food and drink available to be sampled on the island. Just as the landscape is full of contrasts, so is the cuisine. You'll find everything from safe international favourites for the wary tourist to unusual local specialities for the more adventurous traveller. There are delightful little restaurants and cafés and bars hidden away in the numerous tiny villages scattered all over Fuerteventura. Fuerteventura WeatherFuerteventura weather, similar to all of the islands in the archipelago of the Canaries has an all year round climate. With the West African coast with its dry and hot climate is close by, even though this is the case Fuertventura - as do the rest of the Canary Islands experience a 'Spring like' temperature throughout the year. Fuerteventura has very little rainfall, unlike the rest of the Canary Islands. Whilst tourists find this good, a lot of the locals can find it restrictive, especially the ones that are trying to grow crops for a living and increase economic development. Fuerteventura is known to be ideal for water sports enthusiasts, Because of the "trade winds" that blow off the Atlantic. The intervention of these winds across the Canary Islands result in stable temperatures throughout the year. The average daytime temperature in Fuerteventura remains constant at around 20°C all year round, which obviously is a huge attraction for the holiday makers! The water temperature ranges between 17°C and 23°C, the coldest time being January and February and the hottest August and September, so windsurfing newcomers are advised to visit the island during the middle of the year! Fuerteventura Tourist AttractionsFuerteventura has an abundant of sightseeing natural attractions, like its beautiful diverse landscape from miles of white sandy beaches with crystal blue sea lapping onto them, miles of amazing white sand dunes, tropical flaura and fauna, barren mountainous land, close by is the idyllic island of Lobos and the livelier island of Lanzarote! There is only one zoo safari in way of man made tourist attractions there are no other theme and amusement parks or water parks. The Zoo safari is in La Lajita, a small fishing village - with black sandy beaches, the village is a lovely day out in itself as it is gorgeous. But the Zoo Safari is a brilliant day out too. With over 200 species of birds, monkeys, lizards and crocodiles plus many more. It is open daily, from 9am till 7pm. All over Fuerteventura there are windmills that dotted about which are a faithful testimony to its farming tradition. They are being restored as tourist centre's with a vision to recreating the landscape of their working past when Fuerteventura was know as the Granary of the Canary Islands! Fuerteventura has the oldest history and the longest beaches of wonderful white sand of the Canary Islands, with a population of only 30,000 and over three thousand hours of sunshine a year! Although not as well known as some of the other islands in the Canaries, Fuerteventura is a beautiful island with definitely some of the best beaches in Europe with over 150 of them! It is well known however, for its full array of water sports activities from surfing to whale watching! It is a paradise for beach holidays! Lobos is located just 3km from Corralejo in the north of Fuerteventura, this tiny island takes its name from the seals which once inhabited it. Be prepared and take a picnic with you, then you can either explore the island by foot, or laze in the unsheltered sunshine and catch some rays. Or there is a little restaurant there, but it is quite expensive! Also surfers enjoy going over to the island as there is some great surf over one side! The cheapest way to get to the island is by ferry that departs from Corralejo around 10am. There is also a ferry to Playa Blanca in Lanzarote that departs from Corralejo also, from 8am every hour with two different ferry services the Armas and the Fred Olsen. Although the Armas is slower than the Fred Olsen, The Fred Olsen is a bigger and sturdier ship, which I personally thought made a nicer journey. Caleta de Fuste is in the east of the island close to the Airport, it is a man-made resort, purposely built for tourists! Although still lovely it hasn't got the charm that the rest of the island has! It has a man-made beach too with imported sand! It has a lively nightlife but it is nightlife that you would be happy to take the children out in! Because it was purpose built you will not find the traditional Canarian and Spanish restaurants - but hundreds of Chinese and English restaurants and the bars are typical 'holiday cheese' with a range of karaoke and entertainment bars throughout the resort! It is a lot more spread out though then its Northern resort Corralejo so get ready to walk a lot!!! Corralejo is in the North and is a lot livelier resort popular with English tourists of all kinds, families, groups of friends and water sport enthusiast's! With the Atlantico Commercial centre that has plenty of bars and restaurant in and surrounding it is where to go for a great night out! The beaches in the town are smaller and great for sunbathing but if you want picturesque scenery or water sports then flag beach is the place to go it is popular with windsurfers and kite surfers. Flag beach is just outside Corralejo town, there are plenty of restaurants, bars and toilets around the beach and life guards patrol the area too! With its crystal clear water and white sand that seems to go on for miles it’s no wonder that is used regularly for photo fashion shoots, TV advertisements, Music Videos and lots more! If you are a bit more experienced with your water sports then there are plenty of other beaches close by that are ideal! Jandia in the South here you will find undoubtedly some of the best beaches on the island, with over 20km of coast that has long stretches of pure white fine sand, endless lagoons and dunes, Jandia is definitely worth a visit even if you are not staying here! With the winds blowing all year round from the Northwest it is a Windsurfing paradise, with the P.W.A. World Windsurfing speed and slalom event taking place here every year in August! Nightlife here isn't as lively as other resorts it has a more laid back relaxed atmosphere! Although there are plenty of bar and restaurants around the resort. So although there aren’t loads to do in the way of Theme and Amusement parks, there is plenty to see in the way of natural beauty and places to go visit. Or there is always Golf and Water sports! Fuerteventura ExcursionsThere are a wide variety of mostly marine excursions available from the major resorts as well as Guided Walking, off-road Motorcycle Tours and Camel and Jeep Safaris. The following is a sample of what is available. Corralejo - El Majorero is the name of the Glass-Bottomed Boat which makes regular crossings to the small Island, Isla de Lobos, which is located off the northern tip of the Island. Catlanza offers the opportunity to sail across the Bocaina Strait to the beaches of Papagayo in Lanzarote aboard a Luxury Catamaran. The Camel Safari in Lajares (11km from Corralejo) offers the opportunity to explore the Calderon Hondo Volcano on the back of a Camel! Caleta de Fuste - The Oceanarium Explorer offers submarine excursions from the Marina. A Catamaran Cruise is also available from the Marina. Morro Jable - The Subcat Submarine dives to 30 meters in the beautiful waters just south of Morro Jable The Pedra Sartanaña is a Pirate-style sailing ship that sails from Morro Jable Harbour. Oasis Park – La Lajita - Oasis Park is a Zoo and Botanical Gardens in the south of Fuerteventura. The Zoo features over 200 species including Alligators, Monkeys, Giraffes, Zebras and Birds. The 200,000 Square meters of Botanical Gardens, which feature many Endemic Species and Cacti, can be enjoyed from the back of a Camel on the Camel Safari. www.lajitaoasispark.com Baku Water Park Corralejo - As well as being a Water Park, the Baku Village has Ten Pin Bowling, Crazy Golf, a Driving Range, Restaurants and Shops. The rides and facilities in this Water Park are very modern (the park opened at the end of 2004). www.bakufuerteventura.com Dive Sites Isla de Lobos - The Dive Sites around this small island are famous for their Volcanic Cornices and excellent visibility. Shoals of friendly Guelly Jacks, Two-banded Bream and Barracuda abound as well as the possibility to see Eagle and Spotted Rays and even the occasional Hammerhead Shark. The island and it's waters have been a nature reserve since 1982. Caleta de Fuste - The waters around this resort offer many Dive Spots consisting of mixed Sand and Rock floor. The local fish are well-accustomed to Divers and large Groupers of up to 1.5 meters can be hand fed. Other possibilities in this area are Dolphins, Turtles, Pilot Whales and even Whale Sharks. Jandia - There are several Dive Sites around Jandia as this area has been used by Scuba Divers for quite some time. Colonies of Garden Eels, Groups of Striped Bream and Moray Eels are just some of the species that can be encountered here amongst the Volcanic Cornices, Sand and the strange Sandstone Wall. Ajuy - A village on the west coast of Fuerteventura and it's waters contain huge caves, overhangs and other volcanic rock formations. Stingrays and Angelsharks are common in this experts-only location. Daytrip to Lanzarote: www.catlanza.com American Star Shipwreck: www.homepages.paradise.net.nz/dgriff/star.html Go Karting at El Cardon - Open 10am-8pm in the summer and 10am-7pm in the winter. It can be found off the main north-south Corralejo-Jandia road at Cardon on the turning for La Pared. The race centre has radio controlled cars, boxes, a cafeteria and terrace and captures al the excitement of the real motor racing scene. Golfing in FuerteventuraWhile Fuerteventura is not yet well-known as a Golfing destination, it soon will be with the island's second Golf Course (in Jandia) due to open later this year and 3 more Golf Courses either in-construction or in the planning stages. These Golf Courses will be located in Pajara, El Cotillo and Puerto del Rosario. Fuerteventura Golf Club Fuerteventura's first golf course, the Fuerteventura Golf Club was completed in 2002 and played host to the Spanish Open two years later in 2004. Located in the resort of Caleta de Fuste, the course was designed by Juan Catarineu who carefully considered local conditions (the wind) in the design. The 18-hole, par 70 Championship Course features large greens (average of 614 square meters) and fairways of up to 50 meters wide. The course has a good balance of challenging and easier holes and besides the wind there are also several water features to contend with. There is a Driving Range on site and the club house doubles as a 5 Star Hotel. La Pared Golf Academy This small Golf School with a 6 hole Pitch and Putt course, putting green and driving range is located in the south-west of the island. www.golf-in-fuerteventura.com/golf-in-fuerteventura.html
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