Good morning, if you’ve been following my Instagram, you’ll know that I spent the past week on the sunny island of Fuerteventura, in the beach-side town of Corralejo. Escaping the English winter for the favourable Spanish heat, instead. Scott and I have always loved the town of Corralejo, and we had wanted to return since the minute our plane landed back in England the last time we visited in 2017. The town itself is bathed in sunny temperatures year round, rarely dropping below 20 degrees celsius – and I’m going to be publishing an island guide to my favourite Spanish hotspot over the next week or so.
Today, I wanted to share a look into our trip, and the photos I took while exploring the streets of this sleepy town. A relatively quiet island, Fuerteventura is known for its barren roads and long, windy routes that overlook incredible mountains, sand dunes and crashing turquoise waves. This trip was our first that we rented a car for, since the price of renting was actually cheaper than if we had chosen transfers instead. Landing on the island at 6 p.m., we drove through the sunset and finally arrived in Corralejo (approximately 19 miles north of the airport) during the final rays of dusk.
This trip was also the first that we chose an Airbnb instead of a hotel. Again, we got a fantastic price for this Airbnb (get £30 off your first Airbnb stay with my link) and it was absolutely magnificent. Located just off the beach, we had a private sun terrace that overlooked the sand and water, with views of the picturesque Lobos Island just in the distance. In fact, our favourite spot to spend an evening on the island, Waikiki Beach Club, was just a stones throw from the apartment, and only took a 5 minute walk from door to door. (If you’re visiting Waikiki, their Patatas Bravas, Canarian Potatoes, Long Island Iced Tea and range of sandwiches are to die for!)
The second Scott and I step foot on the island, we switch off. I traded my walking shoes for sandals and spent the majority of the week lazing around in a relaxed slumber, which was perfect. Everything moves at a slower pace on Fuerteventura, with mid-day siestas and a beachy culture that promotes kicking back with a cold drink in hand.
Corralejo is widely visited for its water sports. If you walk along the beach, you’ll see no shortage of surf boards, wind surfers, kayaks and canoes as everybody takes to the water to enjoy their time. In fact, I’ve promised myself (and Scott) that when we return, we’ll take a few lessons in the town’s beach-side surf school. And perhaps even the mid-day excursion to Lobos Island for observing the biodiverse marine life while snorkeling.
It’s also a great island to visit if you’re interested in island hopping through the Canaries. A short walk north to Corralejo’s harbour, and you’ll be inundated with offers to take a water taxi or ferry to Tenerife and Lanzarote, both being only a short sail across the water. Again, this is something that Scott and I didn’t do, instead opting for refillable cocktails and sun loungers, but we’ve made a pact that the next time we visit we’ll make sure to fit all of this in.
The layout of Corralejo resembles one similar to a ‘strip’ nowadays, with most businesses vacating Corralejo’s old town to relocate closer to the ‘main strip’ of the town. Only a 15 minute walk from the start to the heart of old town, I can’t recommend enough that you dedicate an afternoon to exploring the intricacies of the town’s hiding spots. You’ll quickly notice that there’s a lack of chain businesses on Fuerteventura – with not a single McDonalds in sight across the entire island. Instead, the island is full of independent restaurants and stores offering island-exclusive stock.
You can stop by the two shopping malls – Centro Comercial El Campanario and Centro Comercial Las Palmeras – to check out the range of boutiques available. You’ll also spot a Zara and Bershka while walking the strip, which offer the store’s stock at a reduced rate since their items are manufactured in mainland Spain.
When visiting Corralejo’s old town, allow yourself to get lost among the picturesque streets. Stop by Baobab, a vegetarian cafe that is focused on providing healthy and nutritious dishes that cater to everybody.
My only problem with our trip to Corralejo is that we didn’t stay longer. I could have soaked in the Spanish sun for at least another week, and basked under the relaxed atmosphere of my favourite island. There’s no rush to do anything when you’re on Fuerteventura, which is one of my favourite things about it. Since it’s the smallest Canary Island, and has the smallest population therefore, there’s an easy-breezy feeling to everywhere you could visit.
Have you ever visited the island of Fuerteventura before?
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