Fuerteventura
Fuerteventura is the oldest and second largest of the Canary Islands at 1725km², and lies just 60 NM off the coast of Africa. It is also the most sparsely populated with about 85,000 inhabitants of which nearly half live in the capital of Puerto del Rosario. The island is renowned for having some of the best beaches in the whole of the archipelago and for its wide open empty valleys between timeless extinct volcanoes. The best and largest beaches are to be found on the east and south coasts with smaller isolated beaches on the rugged north and west coasts.
Fuerteventura was conquered for the House of Castile by Juan de Bethencourt, a French seafarer, between 1402 and 1417. His banner is now preserved in the town of Betancuría which was founded in his name.
The capital Puerto del Rosario (Port of the Rosary) was formerly known as Puerto de Cabras (Port of Goats) and is the main port of the island. A short drive to the south (5minutes) is the islands main airport which is close to completing a major enlargement scheme enabling it to take the largest passenger planes and handle the increasing number of visitors through a second terminal. The harbour has just undergone a huge expansion programme which has increased the capacity for cargo handling and seen a new deep water berth for some of the largest cruise liners. The capital is also undergoing an ambitious plan to "green" the city and make it more tourist friendly. The old part of the city with its narrow streets and traditional houses is close to the harbour and marina which is mainly for local boats and yachts. A large shopping centre has recently opened attracting many brand names to the island for the first time.
The island is split into the 6 municipalities of Puerto del Rosario, La Oliva, Betancuria, Antigua, Pajara, Jandia and Tujinahe. The north, east and south coast's are the main areas of tourism with the west coast remaining unspoilt and wild. In the west central area of the island a series of hills rising to over 800m forms the Jandia peninsula. The road infrastructure over the whole island is very good and well maintained, but be warned goats have right of way over all traffic on the island! Public transport, in the form of coaches, is also excellent being safe, clean and efficient.
The islands economy is mainly based on the tourist industry, with fishing and agriculture also playing an important part. Because of the island's proximity to Saharan Africa, the climate is semi-desert and vegetation consists of plants adapted to dry or saline conditions, such as date palms and cactus. But with the introduction of desalinations plants crops such as vegetables flowers and cereals are now grown successfully.
People often mistakenly think that if the winter is so warm on the islands then the summer must be overwhelming, but this couldn't be further from the truth. The summer in the Canary Islands is softened by the trade winds that refresh the archipelago serving it with pleasant mild summers with an average temperature of 24˚C. The sea is equally as warm with temperatures fluctuating between 19˚C in the winter months and 22˚C during the rest of the year. This, together with the estimated annual rate of 2,700 hours of sunlight for the island allows you to make the most of the day, whether you are on the beach, or out on the ocean sailing. Care must be taken regarding the amount of time spent in the sun. With the island being only 1700 miles north of the Equator the sun can burn the unwary and quickly, High factor sun cream and/or good protection in the form of clothing or shade is essential. For the same reason it is necessary to drink lots of water.
Near Muda, a peak 689 m (2,260 ft) high, stands a monument to the Spanish novelist Miguel de Unamuno, who was exiled on the island in 1924.
The island has 5 marinas, Corralejo marina, Puerto del Rosario Marina, Castillo marina, Gran Tarajal marina and Jandia marina as well as a few minor harbours with small marinas. All the Canary Islands have good, well sheltered marinas which are protected from the prevailing northerly winds. Some marinas can be exposed though when the wind shifts round to the south. Yacht charter is also popular and more companies chartering yachts are relalising the benefits of the all round summer climate of the Canary Islands. As yet there are not many charter firms on the island but more are starting up and there are more boats for charter from neigbouring Lanzarote.
View Satellite map of Fuerteventura
Useful Links
http://www.puertodelrosario.org/35017/paginas/asp/inicio.asp Puerto del Rosario Ayuntamiento (Council)
http://www.fuerteventura.com/Corralejo/corralejo-harbour.shtml Information on Fuerteventura
http://www.turismodecanarias.com/canary-islands-spain/?gclid=CPvykIe_vaICFdGX2AodnjT15g Tourist information
http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/marine/weather?03&LANG=en&WIND=g053 Passage weather
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Tourism-g187466-Canary_Islands-Vacations.html Tourist information
http://www.spanish-living.com/maps-spain/canary-islands Life style website for spain
http://www.puertodelrosario.org/35017/paginas/asp/inicio.asp
