Fuerteventura - facts & figures

Fuerteventura is the second largest of the Canary Isles after Tenerife, it is also the driest and the least populated. Its area is approx 1731km squared, it is approx 98km long and its width differs from 30km accross at its widest point and only 5km at its narrowest. Fuerteventura is only 100km from the coast of Africa and frequently receives dust storms (Calima's) carrying sand from the Sahara Desert! The average temperature is said to be approx 22 degrees.

Fuerteventura is also the oldest of the Canary Islands and is mainly flat dry and sunny which, although wonderful for holiday makers creates a difficulty for agriculture making it the most sparsely populated with a population of 50,000. The passage of time has worn down the volcanic peaks leaving little to trap passing moisture. The local inhabitants have partially solved this problem by creating microclimates within which crops grow. Semicircular walls are built around the growing crops. These intercept and trap moisture from the prevailing winds. Volcanic ash is spread on the ground. This is porous and helps to absorb and retain the trapped moisture.

The main part of the island is known to the locals as 'Maxorata' the southernmost part is the 'Jandia (pronounced Han-DEE-ah) peninsula'. "La Isla Tranquila": The Canarian tourist board have prepared this software brochure of the 7 islands.

Caleta de Fustes

Caleta de Fustes is also known to tourists as 'El Castillo','Caleta' and now 'Costa Caleta'. You'll notice that the island has a habit of changing the names of things - like the name of its capital; Puerto del Rosario, which used to be Puerto del Cabras (Port of Goats).

Caleta de Fustes is a thriving tourist centre, but there are still many locals that live there. The town is still growing and there have been several developments in recent years, such as the 2 new Golf Courses, a good commercial center and the mass of residential building inland on 'Chipmonk Mountain'.

The Town

15 minutes drive from the capital & the Airport, Caleta de Fustes (or Castillo as it is also known) caters for all types of tourist. It is popular with couples and families looking for somewhere moderately quiet and also with those wanting an water sport packed holiday.

Nightlife

The nightlife is mainly restaurants with a number of music bars and one nightclub. Partying all night is (thankfully) more common in Coralejo.

Daytime activities

During the day you can dive, snorkel, windsurf, jetski, play tennis, fish or try off road motorcycling.

Near the 2 golf courses there is a new shopping centre (Centro Comercial Atlantico) which includes:

• Plenty of parking outside & underground
• Multiscreen cinema
• 10 pin bowling
• Numerous boutique style shops
• Solbank office
• Large EuroSpar supermarket
• Tapas Bar
• couple of decent restaurants
• a Burger King for emergencies (there is also a Mc Donalds over by the Golf course)

Beaches

There are two beaches in Caleta de Fustes; The main horseshoe beach which is next to the harbour - the Fuerteventura Cabildo have scheduled money to invest in the beach to improve it for the future. The new beach which is infront of the Centro Comercial Atlantico & the hotel Elba Sara is a fantastic man made creation. 3 lagoons which have been dug out of the volcanic rock. The tide comes in and keeps the water fresh, but they are perfectly safe due to the massive sea walls. A restaurant/cafe is situated on an island in the middle of the lagoons and has the most amazing view out to sea!