Ship near Fuerteventura Canary Islands. Open the left menu Fuerteventura. Attractions and attractions in Fuerteventura
Fuerteventura is the longest, most virgin and at the same time the oldest of the Canary archipelagos, it is 22 million years old! Located about 100 km from Africa. The biggest attraction of this place is its coast, which covers more than 150 kilometers. In the west there are rocky cliffs and bays with volcanic sand, in the east - huge amazing beaches with air sand. Therefore, Fuerteventura is often called an island beach.
- Island: (Fuerteventura) Fuerteventura
- Area: 1660 km
- Capital: Puerto del Rosario
- Population: 103 thousand people
- Currency: Euro (EUR)
Fuerteventura - an island with a dry climate, strong winds and sandy soils - is an ideal place for growing aloe. And this plant is a symbol of Fuerteventura. Aloe products are among the most imported. For example, various oils, creams or balms. A characteristic element of the island's landscape are also windmills used for energy production.
The main transport hub is in the capital - Puerto del Rosario. Buses mainly travel along the southeast coast between the resorts of Corralejo and Morro Jable. Ticket prices are quite high - a trip from the capital to Corralejo costs about 3 euros.
It is worth using a car rental on the island - it will take about 2-3 days to drive around the island by car. Fuerteventura's roads are in very good condition, so there will be no problems with movement. Car rental can be found in the capital, the airport and in major tourist resorts, including Corralejo, Morro Jable or Costa Calma.
Attractions and Attractions on Fuerteventura
Fuerteventura is replete with interesting places to visit.
Corralejo - Sahara sand dunes and beaches
It is a former fishing village, and now the most famous Fuerteventura resort with a lively harbor. The impressive dunes of Corralejo are the most popular. The coastal, moving sands that the winds brought from the Sahara create landscapes of the African desert.
This sandy area, nearly 27 km, extends along the east coast (from the southern border of the village to Montana Roy hill). Sand dunes have been protected since 1982, since then it has the status of a national park - Parque Natural de Las Dunas Corralejo.
In Corralejo, you will also find some of the most beautiful beaches on the island. It is worth mentioning Playa de Bajo Negro, Playa de los Matos or Playita del Poris, forming a multi-kilometer sand belt. Cruises to Lobos Island depart from the local port.
Jandia Peninsula - the kingdom of white beaches
This is the most mountainous part of Fuerteventura, which pleases with beautiful, unspoiled nature and huge dunes. Jandia - a peninsula covering 143 km of area, and was almost completely protected as a nature park (Parque Natural de Jandia). Rocks dominate in the west of the peninsula, and picturesque beaches on the eastern dunes.
The most beautiful beaches are located on the south coast and are called Playa de Sotavento. The Jandia Peninsula is also known for popular tourist resorts, including Costa Calma or Morro Jable with its charming seaport. The beach at Cofete will also make a huge impression. To reach this place, you need to overcome the "hellish path" - on the side of the mountain, full of steep edges and sharp corners. However, it is worth overcoming this difficult path. Since at the arrival point you can see not only a fantastic beach, but also Villa Winter - a luxurious property of a German entrepreneur. According to some statements, it was here that General Franco met with Adolf Hitler.
Lobos Island - meeting with nature
This is the perfect choice for a day trip. A cruise from the north coast of the island (port of Corralejo) takes about 15 minutes. The small island of Lobos is located about 2 km northeast of Fuerteventura. The most attractive place for this is its virgin nature. On the territory you can see more than 130 species of plants and many birds.
Being on Lobos, it is worth taking a walk around the island longer - the expedition will take about 2-3 hours. Along the way, you can see the abandoned village of El Puertito, the small volcanoes of Los Hornitos in the form of black cones and the lighthouse - Faro de Lobos. It is also worth going to the highest hill of the island - Caldera de la Montana. From there you can admire the entire panorama of Lobos, as well as Lanzarote and the neighboring island of Fuerteventura.
Beatancuria - the most beautiful city of Fuerteventura
Many monuments have been preserved in Beatancuria.In the late 1970s, the old part of the city was listed as a cultural heritage of Spain. In the center, on the main square, the Church of St. Mary (Iglesia de Santa Maria) is considered the most beautiful sacred building on the island. The 16th-century manor house Casa Santa Maria is also nearby.
The ruins of the Franciscan monastery from the 15th century have been preserved on the northern outskirts of the city. The location of the city is surrounded by a valley that was once used to protect against pirate invasions.
Oasis Park
A combination of a zoological and botanical garden in almost deserted Fuerteventura. About 2 thousand animals live in the Oasis Park and 7,000 species of trees, shrubs and flowers. The biggest attraction of this place is the camels, the breeding of which is considered one of the largest in Europe (there are about 450 of them).
In Oasis Park you can see giraffes, lemurs, kangaroos, ostriches and meerkats. Visitors are also attracted to entertaining scenes with parrots, various tricks of seals, alligators, snakes and even sea elephants. Entrance to Oasis Park for an adult costs 35 euros, for children - about 20 euros.
The island is often called "European Hawaii" - it is here that the best conditions for windsurfing in Europe, especially in the south, prevail. The most recommended place is Playa de Sotavento, on the Jandia Peninsula. This is one of the longest beaches on the island (22 km long), and here every year the World Windsurfing Championships take place.
Montana Tindaya - the sacred mountain of Fuerteventura
This lonely mountain with a height of 400 meters is one of the most important archaeological sites on the island of Fuerteventura and the Canary Islands. For the original Guanches, the construction of Tindai was a magical and holy place. It was here that rituals, religious rites and sacrifices were made.
Mount Tindaya rises in the vicinity of the village of the same name (in the northwestern part of Fuerteventura) and stands out among the barren landscape characteristic of the island. The path leading to the hill is quite steep and difficult to overcome. But if you manage to reach this peak, then a fantastic picture awaits you.
Llano Cave
The cave was created as a result of a volcanic eruption a million years ago. Llano volcanic corridor has a length of 648 meters, a width of about 12 meters and a height of 3 to 5 meters.
In the information center we will see a rich exhibition on the geological diversity of Fuerteventura. The walls of the cave are covered with hardened lava, and the bottom of the cave is filled with a layer of sediment and fossils. The remains of extinct animal species were found there. Llano Cave is located in the north of the island, west of the Corraggelo Park.
Fuerteventura on the Canary Islands is an interesting place for tourism and recreation, visit it and you will have an impression of a lifetime!
TOURIST RESPONSES:
Fuerteventura is one of the islands of the Canary Archipelago, which is located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa.
Recently, the Canary Islands have attracted more and more tourists from around the world, you can really have a good rest there, but holidays in the Canaries in general and in Fuerteventura in particular have their own characteristics.
I would like to start with advantages of relaxing on this island.
So, the first plus of Fuerteventura is her long sandy beaches, and the beach season, which lasts there all year round. The beaches are very clean and the water is clear. In principle, swimming on the island is indeed possible in December and January, however, it should be noted that the water temperature in the Atlantic is much lower than in Europe - it is about 19 - 22 degrees and practically does not change during the year. Fans of warm water on Fuerteventura are unlikely to like it - the water in the ocean is frankly cool, of course, you can swim there, but in order not to freeze, you have to constantly move, and you can hardly spend two hours in such water. In summer, the air temperature is slightly higher - the thermometer rises to 30 degrees, and in winter the average temperature is about 25. It should also be noted that Fuerteventura is constantly blown by the winds, so that on most beaches there are waves all year round - somewhere they are slightly larger, somewhere then a little less.
The second plus of rest on Fuerteventura is very beautiful and almost untouched by man nature. There are very few inhabitants on the island, the population density is the smallest among the islands of the Canary archipelago, and tourism has begun to develop relatively recently - that is why you can admire magnificent unspoiled landscapes on Fuerteventura. This especially applies to the central part of the island - it is practically not populated, so those who prefer to enjoy nature in solitude can take a walk there. In this, it is especially favorably distinguished from Tenerife and Gran Canaria, where tourism has developed for a long time. Fuerteventura has not yet been visited and crowded with crowds of tourists (in contrast to the more popular Canary resorts).
Another plus of Fuerteventura - this island is the best suited for lovers of surfing, windsurfing, as well as kite. The island is constantly blown by strong winds, which creates simply ideal conditions for riding on a board. That is why Fuerteventura is considered one of the best resorts for lovers of water sports. It is also worth noting that in recent times a fairly large number of surfing schools have appeared on the island, including those engaged in training from scratch. There are Russian-speaking schools among them; the instructors are Russians who have left to live on this island. One of the best blackboard beaches is Corralejo.
The advantages of staying on the island include the friendliness of the locals- they are quite friendly, they are very warm towards tourists. However, they are not too intrusive, so that in no way will interfere with your acquaintance with the island.
Thus, Fuerteventura is the best suited for those who are not afraid of the cool ocean, for those who are engaged in or would like to try themselves in water sports, as well as for lovers of nature, tranquility and silence.
And now a little about cons of relaxing in Fuerteventura.
The first and rather significant minus is remoteness of Canary from Russia and lack of direct scheduled flights both from Moscow and from other cities of Russia. A flight to the Canary Islands from the European part of Russia takes at least 6-7 hours, so those who are used to short flights to the Mediterranean may not like it. In addition, there are no direct flights, so you have to fly with one or even several transfers. On the positive side, I can only mention the presence of a flight from the Irish airline-discounter Ryanair, which departs from Düsseldorf (Düsseldorf-Vice Airport, which is located in the suburbs). Dusseldorf, in turn, can be reached from Finland on the same Ryanaire. It is possible that in this way you can significantly save on a ticket, but, of course, this will not be the most convenient route.
The second minus of Fuerteventura is scorching sun (for the most part this certainly applies to summer). The distance to Africa is only 100 kilometers, the island is much closer to the equator than European countries, so the sun is very evil here - you will need to use sunscreens with a high protection factor and not be exposed to the scorching sun for a long time.
Another minus is directly related to the underdevelopment of the tourism industry - in Fuerteventura you will not find a lot of entertainment, souvenir shops, tourist shows, a large number of bars and discos. In most resorts of the island, after dark, life freezes, so lovers of the vibrant nightlife are unlikely to enjoy this vacation.
Also keep in mind that in Fuerteventura no special attractions. The capital of the island - Puerto del Rosario - is a small provincial town, whose population is only about 35 thousand people, so there are no museums and palaces, which, for example, are used to tourists who have visited Barcelona, \u200b\u200bMadrid or other major cities Of Spain.
Among the most significant sights of the island, I can distinguish the house-museum of the philosopher and writer Miguel de Unamuno, who spent part of his life on the island, the museum of Betancuria (the old capital of Fuerteventura), the zoo in the town of La Lahita, which is located on the east coast and, perhaps, the village La Oliva, where the governor's palace is open for visiting. Fans of excursion vacations will find Fuerteventura too boring, because on the island, in fact, there have not been any important historical events, and it is a beautiful yet quiet open-air reserve where you can fully enjoy nature and feel your unity with it.
I had a very “tough” flight to Fuerteventura. But his “rigidity” consisted only in the fact that I took the bus to Finland at 11 pm, arrived at Helsinki airport at about 4 am the next day, and I left for London only at 9 am. If not for a sleepless night, then everything would have been more than cool. Especially for the money. As I wrote, the flight was operated by Norwegian Air. For myself, I noted one plus and one minus - during the flight there is free Wi-Fi, but there are no free drinks on the flight, not to mention snacks.
Gatwick
In Gatwick (the second largest airport in London) I was waiting for a full inspection. I must say that I did not have such a serious search as in London. Respect to the British, well done. Gatwick has something to eat and what to buy, but there is no free Wi-Fi. And you also need to stock up with an adapter with flat holes, because our sample outlets are not there. As for entering the city, transit passengers can leave for London for a period of no more than 24 hours, provided that the passport has a Schengen visa. From Gatwick to the center of the English capital there are both trains and buses. Travel time is about 40 minutes. But since I had only 5 hours of docking, I did not take this opportunity and stayed at the airport to drink coffee and watch “Watch out for the car” on my laptop.
Next was the flight London - Fuerteventura by the same airline. Upon arrival in Fuerteventura, namely in the city of Puerto del Rosario, I took a taxi to get to the town of Corralejo, in which I had reserved apartments. For 30 minutes I paid a taxi driver 46 euros.
Canary Islands Geography
In general, the Canary Islands is a favorite vacation spot for European pensioners, many of which, in addition to everything, are also nudists. The most famous island of the archipelago is Tenerife. When planning our trip, we dismissed it right away, like the beach Mecca of German pensioners. Fuerteventura seemed to us more attractive. Surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing - there simply could not be young people. Therefore, upon arrival, I was very surprised to see almost no young people among the elderly. But, as I understood later (fortunately, the very next day), all young people hang out in places that do not immediately catch the eye of a newly arrived tourist.
Another feature of Fuerteventura is that there are no Russians there. Of course, they are, but in such an insignificant amount that it seems that they, or rather us, are not there. The third most famous island is Gran Canaria. Some of my friends were there. They liked it.
Corralejo
But I will dwell in more detail on Fuerteventura. Where exactly I will live, the boss decided, because it was he who paid for the stay. For me, he booked apartments in Corralejo, for which he was a huge Merci. This small town turned out to be one of the most crowded places on the island. Located in the north, a 30-minute drive from Puerto del Rosario, Corralejo did not let you get bored for a minute. Many hotels and apart-hotels, restaurants, bars, clubs, surf schools and everything else have made this town one of the best places to stay in Fuerteventura. In addition, there is both a rocky shore and a sandy one. Directly opposite is the island of Lanzarote, where you can take a day trip. And right on the Corralejo border are sand dunes. This gorgeous place is declared a reserve, it can not be built up. Without a doubt, this is one of the most picturesque places of the island.
El Cotillo
Further north, there is the fishing village of El Cotillo. For my colleagues, the boss rented a house there. Colleagues were satisfied.
Costa Calma
The second most popular resort of Fuerteventura is Costa Calma. This area is famous for 2 things - an extended strip of sandy beach and a zoo.
Morro Jable
And in the very south of the island is the resort of Morro Jable, which is especially famous among tourists from Germany. Most of all, I liked the lighthouse. Impressive.
All of the above resorts are located on the east coast of Fuerteventura. The west coast is not developed at all, there are even problems with roads, not to mention the presence of resort towns.
Where to stay
Hotels and apartment hotels in Fuerteventura a wagon and a small cart. Everyone can find something to their liking.
My apartments
My apartments were in a complex of 2-storey buildings with a large territory and three pools, located 5-7 minutes walk from the sea and 1 minute from the main promenade, party and shopping street. I had two rooms - a bedroom and a living-dining room with a fully equipped kitchenette - a large bathroom and a terrace. There was even a coffee maker and a washing machine. The cost of such a pleasure is 800 euros for 15 days.
With all the pros, I can not help but note 2 minuses - the apartment was quite cold, and there was a problem with the Internet. As for cold weather, all Aborigines noted a strong drop in temperature. Usually the island is much warmer, therefore, all buildings were built taking into account completely different climatic conditions.
Wi fi
Regarding the Internet, it was theoretically in my apartment, but in fact I was able to connect to it 1 time, while there was no speed. One such attempt was enough for me to decide to buy a local SIM with a bunch of megabytes, after which I used the phone as a portable Wi-Fi spot. At the same time, the Wi-Fi in the restaurants was quite decent, so sometimes we could stick in a restaurant on the beach for half a day (since I had to work). In my opinion, a great job - you sit in a restaurant, look at the ocean and drink sangria for a couple of euros. Thanks again, boss.
My apartments
Surf camps
In addition, you can not tell about surf camps. Fuerteventura is one of the favorite places for kiters, surfers and windsurfers. Therefore, there is a common phenomenon such as a surf camp - a cottage (usually from some kind of surf or kite school), made like a hostel, that is, when several people live in the same room and share a kitchen and a bathroom. As a rule, buying a course at school, you can immediately get accommodation in such a camp. It comes out pretty budget. But you need to understand what contingent lives in such houses. If you like a rampant and distracting lifestyle, then there is no better place.
What to eat
Food. This was a special theme of my trip to the Canaries. The fact is that Vika, as they say, is a “food” traveler. She preliminarily deduced all the information about what we must eat and drink. Looking at the list, I began to count the money - swordfish and goat meat could not be cheap. Fortunately for me, more precisely, for the fortune of my wallet, there were no percent of 20 dishes and drinks from this list on Fueteventura. Thanks to the shortened list, Vika and I found a middle ground for the gastronomic part of our trip - we always had breakfast at home, had lunch too (and sometimes didn’t have dinner at all, but just had a snack with nuts, yoghurts, etc.), and had dinner for one day in the restaurant The next one is at home.
Food at home
Food at home did not impoverish the gastronomic component - we ate the local milk, fruits, nuts, herbs, cheeses, jamon with melon (by the way, a typical Spanish snack). Must mention avocados separately. Before a trip to the Canaries, I never ate it. Now I am suffering, because finding an avocado usable in St. Petersburg is not an easy task. They are either rotten or not yet mature. For those who still can do this, I recommend a recipe: take an avocado, divide into 2 halves, take out a stone, remove very little pulp (so that there is more pit), put cottage cheese in the pit (better grained), sprinkle black on top pepper. Try it, I personally got hooked on such a snack - tasty, satisfying, healthy, low-calorie.
Restaurants
When we went to restaurants, we took what we ourselves could not cook and try - various types of tapas (snacks), goat meat, paella. What our dinner didn’t do without was at home or in a restaurant, it was wine. If we had dinner at home, then we bought wine in a supermarket, if in a restaurant, we took sangria. It seems to me that in my whole life I have not drunk as much wine as in 2 weeks in the Canaries. But it’s like with beer in the Czech Republic and vodka in Russia - how to be in the country and not drink its main drink. From purely Canarian alcoholic drinks I also recommend honey rum. Very tasty and inexpensive thing. Especially lovers of Bailey’s will like it - the Canarian hanir is stronger, but not as “heavy” as the Estonian Bath Tallinn.
So, to summarize.
In the Canaries, you should definitely try:
- Goat cheese,
- Kid’s meat dish,
- At least 10 kinds of tapas
- Jamon (possible with melon)
- Paella (if this is your first visit to Spain).
You also need to try at least 10 varieties of wine and drink at least a couple of shots of hani rum.
Now for the prices.
The price tag in stores is not low, especially considering the current euro rate. On average, we left about 1000 rubles for two for a trip to the store. In restaurants, we usually took 2-3 dishes and shared them (in order to try more), a liter of sangria and paid about 750-1000 rubles. per person (at a rate of 50 rubles per euro).
Things to do
If Vika was responsible for the food, then I was responsible for our cultural and leisure program. What’s called, who studied for whom.
Surfing
Personally, I went surfing. Having tried this thing in the Philippines, now I am always looking for waves and boards. Therefore, in the first place, it was this issue that began to be monitored. While still in St. Petersburg, I wrote to the guys from the surf school (I selected the school according to Tripadvisor reviews) and signed up for the lesson. Prices in all schools are approximately the same - 80 euros per lesson including equipment rental (board + suit), transfer to spot, training. If you need only a transfer and rental, you will need to pay 40 euros. Board rental costs about 15-20 euros. On average, a lesson with the road to the spot and back lasts 4 hours.
I don’t know, maybe I was unlucky with the season, but I tried to surf 3 times, always in different places, but I never managed to catch a wave in a human way. But what is there to catch the wave, even to stand on the board in the normal way did not work. The fact is that the waves there are strong and move from two sides. That is, while you wait for the wave on the left, you are already turning over on the right side. All of these failures could be attributed to my inexperience in this matter, but even experienced surfers were quite hard.
Other sports
I can’t say anything about the prices of kitesurfing and windsurfing, but all the information is on the network, and finding it will not be difficult. In addition to equipment for extreme sports on the island, you can rent a bicycle, which is also very popular.
Car rental
The second must-see item on your Fuerteventura vacation program is car rental. Without a car there is sad. Firstly, there are a lot of cool places on the island, and oh how inconvenient to get there by public transport. Secondly, if you have a car, you can visit at least 10 ski spots in a day to find the best one. Unfortunately, I have no rights, Vika at that time also did not have. But I arrived 4 days earlier than Vicki and during that time I managed to get acquainted with the Norwegian with rights at a surf lesson. We decided the next day after class (just as Vika arrived) to take a car and go around the island. Renting mikra cost us 40 euros per day. Gasoline separately. The longer the rental period, the more profitable.
Auto Island Tour
So, Lynn and I took the car, drove south to Puerto del Rosario, met Vika, and, guided by the map of the Lonely planet guidebook, went to explore the island. Landscapes are unreal. The feeling that you are on Mars is all around a red volcanic rock and there is practically no greenery. In settlements, of course, it is. But if you take the island as a whole, then I have never seen anything like it. Well, only if in Iceland. True, in Iceland the harsh north, and here the hot south. We reached the very Morro Jable, that is, to the very southern tip of the island.
Our entire path lay along the east coast. We did not dare to go west, because we were scared by the roads missing there, and none of us wanted to pay for the “crippled” car.
Zoo
Of the attractions that everyone recommends visiting, but where we did not go, because we found it uninteresting for ourselves, there was a zoo in Costa Calma. My colleagues rode there and spoke very flattering about him. So those who love beautiful flowers and animals need to call in there.
Betancuria
We went to Betancuria - the ancient capital of Fuerteventura, located in the crater of the volcano. This is what I understand the sight. The road passes at an altitude of one and a half thousand meters. One ride on this serpentine is enough to experience a storm of emotions, and the views are incredibly surreal. In the same area there is an observation deck, from where Betancuria seems to be a jackdaw city. We returned already in the dark, which added even more spiciness to our trip.
Lanzarote
Another excursion popular on the island is a trip to the island of Lanzarote, located directly opposite the east coast of Fuerteventura. Lanzarote is famous for its volcanic terrain and vineyards.
Night life
Well, now about what we have devoted the most time to - about the parties. As I wrote above, at first glance it seems that Fuerteventura is a vacation spot only for European pensioners. But it only seems. The island is teeming with lovers of extreme sports, but they all hang in the same places.
One such place is the Banana Bar. Grandfathers and grannies eat there during the day, and young people hang out at night. I was lucky because on my very first evening in Corralejo I went to a rock bar, where a Russian guy (also from St. Petersburg) met me. He and his girlfriend came to surf. That very evening they showed me the coolest places and introduced me to a bunch of people. That’s why I don’t mind traveling alone. I am alone for a maximum of one day.
Carnival
I cannot but tell you about the carnival, which we were lucky to catch. Every year, a carnival takes place throughout Spain, which is considered the second largest after the Brazilian. Each year a new theme is selected. We were in that year when the theme of the carnival was Halloween. I have never seen such a variety of costumes. Everyone dressed up as to what, and, for some reason, all the male comrades changed into female characters. Only Snow White had 3 pieces. This was rightfully one of the most detached parties the size of the whole island, which I happened to attend. In general, the atmosphere of Corralejo reminded me of my beloved Boracay. Only in jeans and a sweater - when the sun was hiding, it became very cold on the island.
Spaniards
In conclusion, I want to write a few words about the Spaniards themselves. These people are very emotional, open and friendly. But, on the other hand, they are terribly slow and lazy. They work from 10 to 13, then from 13 to 16 they have a siesta, and then from 16 to 18 - the second half of the working day. And so from Monday to Friday. Saturday and Sunday are weekends. My favorite word is maniac, which means tomorrow. One cash desk will work for the whole supermarket, the line will grow rather big, respectively, and the cashier will talk about life with each customer for 5 minutes. I needed all my composure so as not to break at certain points. My "Scandinavian" warehouse did not allow me to enjoy this way of life, but, on the contrary, made me lose my temper.
I didn’t mention one. About parking in the dune area.
Many tourists - the lucky owners of a rented car - leave their horses right at the edge of the roadway. Sometimes, this causes some inconvenience to other vehicles, forcing them to violate traffic rules - overtake crossing a solid line. In order not to create emergency situations, it’s enough to drive an extra hundred meters ahead and become in an organized parking lot or drive to a wide convenient roadside - everything is absolutely free!
Corralejo
Of course, we stopped in Corralejo, one of the largest cities on the island. Of the sights, a map of the city offered us to inspect the mill, and next to it is the Dino supermarket, as well as the promenade and the island of Lobos, or rather, the views and the marina from where the boats leave for it.
Probably, the city of Corralejo should have been wonderful. Cozy tiny squares flickered in the window, and the streets, I wanted to stop, but ...
Casa de los Coroneles
The Colonel’s house, in the city of La Oliva, today bears the loud name of the cultural center Casa de los Coroneles.
Until the 19th century, the house served as the official residence of the governor of the island. The house itself, apparently, has recently been restored, while maintaining the original shutters, entrance doors and balconies. But the outbuildings were much less fortunate - complete devastation and desolation. The only thing that preserves integrity and absolute closeness is a pond ringed by a stone tower; access by outsiders to it is closed, apparently, like hundreds of years ago.
It’s convenient to look here, on the way back after visiting Dune Carralejo and Carralejo itself, unless, of course, you live in it (many tourists stop here) :)
The museum exposition is not open every day. Entrance to the Colonel’s House is paid - 3 € / adult and 1 € / child ticket.
Oasis park
Oasis Park is a vast territory of wildlife, recreated by people on an absolutely, in my opinion, lifeless island.
I can’t even imagine what efforts and efforts it was worth turning the desert into a jungle. Well, how much fertile land needed to be delivered to the island, what kind of irrigation system needed to be developed and implemented ?! I'm already silent about animals !!!
Entrance to the park is paid, a single ticket (33 €) is valid for both parts of the park and the zoo and the botanical garden.
In the botanical garden, the most complete (where else if not in the desert) and the most interesting part (again, in my opinion) is the cactus park. The most diverse, the most incredible, the rarest specimens are all here.
Very interesting, but under the scorching sun in the heat it is almost unbearable. In the absence of the Maharers, only sombrero saves :). Stock up on water or buy it directly from vending machines in the garden. For real nerds, special tours of the cactus park are organized, called the Cactus experience - 15 €. Here, in addition to the public viewing, you will also be told all the secrets of cactus breeding (in English).
And the zoo itself is quite interesting. Actually, I am not a fan of zoos, and after visiting the zoo in Singapore, the others seem to me to be something completely not serious. And secondly, the animals, no matter in what good conditions they are kept, still feel sorry.
And here I suddenly wanted to.
I wanted to, went, looked, walked, liked it.
In addition to the Cactus experience, the ticket price does not include two more entertainment programs: Sea Lion experience - swimming with sea lions - (45 €) and Lemur experience - walking to the lemurs - (10 €).
Swimming with sea lions is a dubious pleasure. Judge for yourself. 45 euros for the animal touching its palm with your nose and twisting you one or two, well, maybe three times! The number of circles depends solely on the skill of the phogograph - he has time to make a digestible shot - all the bastard. Following!
I am familiar with lemurs in absentia ("Madagascar" everyone saw;)). King Julian - that’s all my lemur dating. Close acquaintances with these little animals have not yet made. Therefore, the choice of experience for me was obvious. A walk with lemurs - yes!
It was interesting? Highly! Not even in terms of new knowledge about lemurs (by the way, also English), but in terms of communication with these crazy animals. Kings! And everything around is the background, people are also the background! :)
The zoo offers four free shows with animals: Parrots Live, Sea Lions Live, Fauna Live and Birds of Pray Live. All shows are held at least twice a day, but to get to each, you need to try. Halls are scattered throughout the park at a decent distance. So you should choose the important ones.
We accidentally got to Fauna Live, we were shown snakes, crocodiles, boas, lizards, skunks (one even excelled :) Thank God, nobody got it);). With animals it was possible to take photos during and after the show.
It is forbidden to feed animals at the zoo. But there are exceptions.
At the entrance, for just 1.5 € you can buy a special set of products for giraffe and dry grass for donkeys. We fed a giraffe and a camel (next to the camels there was no “no feed” sign)!
You would see what a set of vegetables and fruits was offered to the giraffe for a snack! Fruits and vegetables from the Bessarabian market, not otherwise! Clean, not stale, juicy, resilient! I had to break them apart with my hands in order to stretch the feeding process. Do you want to feed animals, buy sets at the entrance, having screwed up cash desks. There will be nowhere else to buy!
If you are planning to visit the zoo, count on a whole day, if without your own transport. Free buses (in the morning before 10.00) will pick you up at the hotel, and in the evening after 16.00 they will take you to where you took them. Free oasis buses stop at almost any hotel on the island. Ask at the hotel reception and they will tell you where they stay.
If you are with a car, the time spent in the park is up to you. On average, according to Google, people spend up to 5 hours here. We did not become an average visitor and spent only 3.5 hours (we went through the entire park, watched one show and walked with lemurs).
Museum of Salt
There is no life without salt, although, on the other hand, salt, as the heroine of Lyudmila Gurchenko was broadcasting, is a white death. Be that as it may, salt is on everyone's table.
We are used to rock salt, some to simple salt, some to iodized salt, and some to sea salt. And here, on Fuerteventura, anyone can follow with their own eyes the process of producing foamy ocean salt for only 5 €!
Production is usually located near the most windy and stone coast, where the waves, hitting the rocks, turn into foam! It turns out that it is the foam that contains the maximum salt concentration. The wind drives the foam into a special channel through which it, turning back into water, enters the settling pond.
From there, gradually heating up and evaporating, it emerges into another, etc. In the end, the saline solution is poured in a thin layer across the field into a cell, where it crystallizes into salt.
So, in short, the process of birth of salt looks.
If you want more details, welcome to the museum, where in spacious and cool halls they will tell you about salty magic. More precisely, you will be given a brochure in a language convenient for you (except Russian) along with a sticker sticker that needs to be glued on your chest.
The Salt Museum is located just off the road outside Castillo Fueste, if you go south from the airport.
Betancuria
A tiny village in the center of Fuerteventura, which has long remained the main administrative center of the island since the time of the French conquerors. Due to its distance from the coast, this place has become a real protection of the population from pirate raids.
But, oddly enough, in none of the guides that caught our eye, this village was not recommended for a visit.
On the map, which was given as a greeting to all arrivals and which served as our main guide (of course, after the Internet), there was only a museum of archeology in Betancuria. Instead, the observation deck of Morro Velos and a monument to the natives, the then last rulers of Guize and Ayoze, were listed. Actually, we went to them.
Yes, I regret that I did not want to call in the tiny Betancuria. What is there to watch? - thought, looking at her from the height of the natives. But now I understand it was worth it. Snow-white houses, tiny streets and the oldest temple and the ruins of an ancient monastery ... It's a pity.
Church of Nuestra Senora de la Regla
The Nuestra Senora de Regla Church is a beautifully preserved 15th century temple in the wonderfully green town of Pajara in the center. In my opinion, the most beautiful church of the island of those that we have ever seen, and the only one that hospitably let us in outside of service time is completely free.
Fortunately for us, even though we specifically went to him, we visited him quite by accident. The ancient temple, hiding in the greenery. To my great surprise, the temple was open and crowded. As many as three tourist buses arrived to look at the Fuerteventura curiosity.
Nice cozy town with a dry river and great free parking
Los Molinos Tiscamanita
On the map was a mill, with an additional mark as the center of interpretation. Arrived. There is a huge tourist bus, tourists - at least run naked. where are people?
No pointers, no billboards, nothing. Well then, let's see the mill and go.
The mill turned out to be unexpectedly interesting, I think if you let the windmill spin, and you can grind the flour. All the parts are in perfect order, everything is blurry, everything is spinning, all the bolts are moving, all the doors are open - come in and start working.
My great-grandfather once had a mill, and land, and a farm. But in times of collectivization, all good was confiscated. It even hurts to imagine what they felt then. Only from my grandmother's stories could I imagine what a mill is. By my appearance, there was no trace left, only the earth and the stream were nearby. Everything burned out during the war. My grandfather described circles from scratch and said: “Here stood the mlyn, and here there was a bucket of comor, I’m engraved with grain malim. I wasn’t allowed to flour ...” In general, I just guessed what a mill was. And here it is a miracle!
Not finding anything interesting except this mill, we drove on.
Already at the hotel, after day trips around the island, in my room, looking at advertising brochures, I found information that in the Los Molinos Interpretation Center, tourists are offered to see a theatrical performance about the heroic struggle of the natives with the conquerors, about the fight of the Spaniards with pirates, in short, about the history of the island .
And of course, not a single tourist will be able to get through, or rather, not be able to drive through ariodic beauty.
I already wrote about the dunes.
About the black beach in Ahuy, too. Remained about caves and rocks
Ajuy Caves
Ahui Caves are located near the eponymous town in the west of Fuerteventura. A tiny fishing town, with tiny houses, and tiny streets that lead to the ocean with a black beach. Boats are everywhere, on the shore, on the beach, and even on the roofs of houses.
In general, we came to see the black sand and did not wait for a long walk over the ocean to the caves.
A steep but very well-equipped descent leads to them. Crumbs easily "march" up and down the shoulders of their parents.
At the foot of the cliff, which needed to be circled, stood an information board saying that here, at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, lime was being commercialized. As evidence, if you go to the caves, you can see a stone pipe in which lime was burned. And here was the port, a very important port for Fuerteventura - Puerto de la Pena - Port of the Rock.
But, there are other legends associated with this place. I know two different stories of these caves. One says that in these caves, pirates hid their ships and treasures (here you have the port). Another - the locals wanted to connect the village with the ocean in secret (here's the extraction of lime - they extracted lime and connected the ocean with the village;)). I don’t know which one is truer, but the attempts to deepen the cave are obvious, as is the fact that lime was mined here.
Very interesting place, very beautiful, very organic.
If you climb deep into the first cave (only, please, carefully), you can look out the stone window. Impressions like in a movie theater. The hall is dark, and on the screen is a film about the stormy ocean.
The second cave is more convenient for walking, flat, with a flat bottom, without boulders and stones, but less picturesque.
In addition to the caves and the black beach, which attract tourists here, Ahui boasts wonderful views from the rocky mountains.
La pared
Honestly, after the beauty of the cliffs and caves of Ahui, I no longer hoped to see something like this in Fuerteventura. But on the last day, when, it seemed, we saw everything on the island and calmed down, comfortably laying down in the shade on the sun loungers by the pool, we felt boredom. Jumped in and went in search of another beautiful beach in La Pared.
They didn’t find the beach, but instead discovered another magical place in Fuerteventura.
The blue ocean, breaking on the rocks into thousands of splashes, and the rocks are surprisingly yellow-orange, I would say, clay color! What could be more beautiful ?!
And if you have crackers or nuts in your bag, the local fauna will make you a great company and will dissipate it with its fussy dances. It will not be boring! And is it possible when windsurfers test their strengths in the waves.
The sun bakes incredibly, but the cool wind saves. We do not hope for a miracle wind, we use creams and caps !!!
And the last sight we visited was the lighthouse Faro de la Entallada.
Lighthouse Faro de la Entallada
A beautiful "spotty" building on top of a mountain on the southeast coast. The lighthouse is operational, but everything is closed and there is no security anywhere. There are few tourists, there are lovers of hiking. This, I tell you, is a feat for me. In the heat, in the desert, uphill! You have to be a big lover.
But no matter how you gather at the lighthouse, on foot or on horseback, you will never regret it. The road to the lighthouse is incredibly beautiful, snake-winding and narrow. And what landscapes are revealed below ?! The breathtaking. And goats striving to jump out on the road. Wild, probably, otherwise, why are they lonely and not in the herd, and where is their master, for a minute?
"Where are the deer from?" I thought when I first saw the warning sign. Goats are Fuerteventura deer
The Fuerteventura Island Reserve attracts vacationers with non-traditional resorts, non-modern entertainment centers and chic architectural masterpieces - this is not why tourists come here. Some are looking for a quiet and peaceful holiday on endless deserted beaches, others want to enjoy the pristine beauty of the unique natural landscapes, while others are ready to spend all their time waiting for the perfect wave to conquer it on a surfboard. However, there are also some interesting architectural sights, and some opportunities for entertainment.
It is worth telling more about the beaches of Fuerteventura, so we will talk about them in the next article, but about natural parks, a few architectural monuments and what else is worth seeing on the island read right now.
Oasis park
Oasis park is an absolutely unique place. This is a zoo, and a circus, and a botanical garden, and a safari center, which occupy a vast territory exceeding 800,000 square meters! And there are restaurants, walking areas and recreation areas, exhibition halls, lakes, etc. It is located near the small town of Lahita, on the isthmus of the Jandia peninsula.
In Oasis Park you can spend the whole day and not even notice it! Of great interest is the local luxurious, green botanical garden, which looks all the more surprising, given that desert landscapes dominate Fuerteventura. It occupies 250 thousand square meters and here you can see more than 1,500 varieties of plants, including a huge number of almost unique cacti (some reach 4 meters in height). It is curious that this green natural beauty was created here in just 30 years - in the early 80s, when the first plants began to be planted here, only a few palm trees grew in this area.
Walking in the garden is one thing, and in Oasis Park you can even see it almost all from above! To do this, you need to visit the research center, above which stands the Girre tower with a special observation deck. This tower is also used for observing rare species of birds found in the park. By the way, the places of migration of birds, which are territorially related to the park, are surrounded by special fences and tourists are not allowed to enter it - this is done in order not to violate the usual conditions for migratory birds.
Of particular interest is, of course, the local zoo. Here you can see more than 3,000 animals that belong to 250 species! Turtles, camels, crocodiles, hippos, giraffes, lemurs, monkeys and many, many others live here in conditions as close to natural as possible, in huge open-air cages. Some animals can even be touched or take part in their feeding. There is also a small dolphinarium where you can see the show of sea lions!
For visitors to the Oasis Park, various performances are regularly held with the participation of different animals, birds and reptiles. Those who want to have time to explore every corner of the park can be advised to rent an electric car or choose a more exotic way of transportation - a real camel!
In addition, the park has three excellent restaurants, there is a small farm with pets that you can help take care of, there is even a small market with all sorts of interesting handmade items, unusual souvenirs and local delicacies!
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American Star Ship
More precisely, this is only half of the vessel and it can be called a tourist attraction very conditionally. The history of this cruise ship is unusually interesting: it was built in 1940 and at that time it was the real pride of the entire American fleet, during the Second World War this ship, converted for military purposes, was used as an escort ship, and from 1946 began to carry ordinary passengers.
He retired in 1993 and they decided to move him to Thailand, where they were going to make a luxury hotel out of him. But there it was - during transportation it fell into several severe storms and was eventually thrown aground by Fuerteventura. During the shipwreck, the ship broke into two parts, the back sank, and the rusty bow can still be seen in the Playa de Garcia region. Against the background of this picturesque half of the ship, all tourists who come to the island try to take pictures.
Villa Gustav Winter
In the secluded western part of the Jandía peninsula, not far from Cofete Beach, is one of the few architectural attractions of Fuerteventura - the villa of the German industrialist and engineer Gustav Winter. It is known that during the Second World War the Jandia peninsula was a closed region, all the inhabitants were evicted from here and it was here that the German secret submarine fleet was kept in secret. Officially, these places belonged to the German company Dehesa de Jandia S.A., which was managed by Gustav Winter.
He built a two-story villa for himself and his family, which, according to many, was just a cover. According to various speculations and rumors, under the house in the rocks there were many large caves, which could be accessed only under water - they were supposedly used so that German submarines could hide here. According to another version, it was here that a secret clinic was located during the war years, where plastic Nazis were performed from the top so that they could start a new life in South America. Well, of course, there were rumors that the treasures of the Nazis were hidden here - this version attracts a lot of adventurers. Now the villa is owned by a Spanish construction company and it is planned to equip a hotel or restaurant in the near future.
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Waterpark "Baku"
On the whole island of Fuerteventura there is only one water park, which is surprising for a tropical resort center. Waterpark Baku is an open, impressive thematic entertainment complex, which covers an area of \u200b\u200b160,000 square meters!
Tourists are welcome here with numerous slides, pools, a sandy area for sunbathing, a jacuzzi, children's play areas, etc. Here you can even slide in a boat down a small waterfall, as well as swim in the pool with real sea lions, stingrays and sharks. Restaurants, cafes, a bowling center, a small golf course - all this is also part of the water park complex.
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Betancuria
The small village of Betancuria is one of the few located in the central part of the island. In addition, it is one of the first settlements that were founded on the island - the first buildings appeared here back in 1404. Until 1834, the capital of Fuerteventura was located here. Today Betancuria is one of the most picturesque and authentic villages of the island and tourists come here very often.
It is noteworthy that it lies in the crater of an extinct volcano. In its center you can see one of the island's oldest churches - the Iglesia de Santa Maria church. The first building on this site was built in the year the city was founded, but at the end of the 16th century it was burned. The church, which has survived to this day, was erected in 1620. You should definitely go inside and appreciate its beautiful baroque altar.
On the northern outskirts of the village you can see the picturesque ruins of the oldest Franciscan monastery of St. Bonaventure on the island. And here are two museums: a museum of religious art, with a collection of church art and photographs of almost all the churches of the Canary Archipelago, and an archaeological museum with five rooms filled with interesting finds.
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Basically, Fuerteventura is: waves, wind, surf, ocean, beaches and sandy valleys.
The most windless month in Fuerteventura is September and the beginning of October, and a strong wind blows in all other months.
Of course, there are not so many attractions here as on the neighboring islands of Gran Canaria or Tenerife, but this Canary island deserves attention!
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