Fuerteventura
Discover the beautiful Canary island
Fuerteventura is one of the Canary Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean and is part of the
North Africa region, politically part of Spain. At 1,659.74 square kilometres (640.83 sq mi), it is the second largest
of the Canary Islands, after Tenerife.
The island's name is a compound word formed by the Spanish words for "strong" (fuerte) and "fortune"(ventura).
Traditionally, Fuerteventura's name has been regarded as a reference to the strong winds around the island and the
resulting danger to nautical adventurers. However, it might have referred instead (or also) to wealth, luck or destiny.
The first settlers of Fuerteventura are believed to have come from North Africa. The word Mahorero (Majorero) or Maho is
still used today to describe the people of Fuerteventura and is derived from the ancient word 'mahos', a type of
goatskin shoe worn by these original inhabitants. They lived in caves and semi-subterranean dwellings, some of which
have been excavated, revealing remnants of early tools and pottery. In antiquity, the island was known o.a. as Planaria,
in reference to the flatness of most of its terrain.
Explore Fuerteventura
Arrive and discover a pristine coastline with emerald green waters and over 150 km of white sand beaches. You're in
paradise and bathed in sunshine and relaxing negative ions from the sea breeze. The coast and the spectacular
volcanic landscapes are why the island is a Biosphere Reserve.
Fuerteventura is the oldest island in the Canary Islands dating back 20 million years to a volcanic eruption from the
Canary hotspot. The majority of the island was created about 5 million years ago and since then has been eroded by
wind and precipitation. On the seabed off the West coast of the island rests an enormous slab of bedrock 22 km (14 mi)
long and 11 km (7 mi) wide, which appears to have slid off the island largely intact at some point in prehistory,
similar to the predicted future collapse of Cumbre Vieja, a geological fault on another Canary Island, La Palma. The
last volcanic activity in Fuerteventura occurred between 4,000 and 5,000 years ago.
Fuerteventura was chosen among 500 European destinations by the Quality Coast International Certification Program of the
European Coastal and Marine Union as one of the most attractive tourist destinations for visitors interested in cultural
heritage, environment and sustainability. The best beaches to visit are Playas de Corralejo, Playa de Ajuy, Playa de
Cofete and Playas de El Cotillo.
Kitesurfing
Thanks to its positioning right in the path of the trade winds, this little windswept island is absolutely littered with kiteable beaches
Find out more!Food
Everyone knows Spanish tortilla and Sangria. But with goats nearly as plentiful as residents here, goat’s cheese is now an award-winning product. Fish is plentiful and fresh, as are vegetables and fruit.
Find out more!Natural Park
Covering an area of 26sqm, the bits and pieces of sands sparkle like diamonds in a vast expanse of dunes. The dramatic rise and fall of hills extend all the way to several beaches.
Find out more!Come visit us
We hope we could give you a first idea of how beautiful and magical the island of Fuerteventura is. Come visit us and see by yourself! By signing up to our newsletter we will let you know the places you have to visit in Fuerteventura to enjoy incredible holidays in the month of your choice.
Coded by Julia Zabini 👩🏼💻