Interesting Fuerteventura

Its name may seem a mouthful, but that’s because this city is full of surprises for your discovery. It is part of the Canary Islands which is closest to the African coast.

The island surfaced from a volcanic activity about 20 million years ago. It is the natural forces of volcanic activity, wind, soil erosion and rain which have shaped the island of Fuerteventura to what it is today.

It is strategically located at the tropics to offer white sand beaches which spans around the island of clear turquoise waters. Blessed with an annual average temperature of 22º C or 71.6ºF, it is truly a surfer’s paradise and kite surfing with its consistently smooth Sahara dessert winds.

Fuerteventura is known to be the oldest island of the Atlantic island group; it experienced its last volcanic eruption 5 million years ago.

Its first inhabitants were presumably from North Africa due to the recent archaeological discoveries of finding earthenware and ancient tools in caves and semi-subterranean settlements.

Then the Phoenicians came around 11BC as recorded in Homer’s “Odyssey” in 850BC. Fuerteventura Island was greatly affected by adverse varied expeditions by the Spanish and Portuguese until 1405 when Jean de Bethencourt, a French conqueror, renamed the island to Betancuria after himself.

All remained status quo under military governors until Spain regained control. In the 1850s, Queen Isabel II announced a free trade zone standing on this island, making a change to its name, from Puerto de Cabras to Puerto Del Rosario.

Fuerteventura Island gained independence at the 20th century as it became part of Gran Canaria province. Its first airport was built in 1940 to set it on its runway as a tourist resort. Since 1960s, it has not looked back flourishing as a popular idyllic tourist preference. It is part of the Canary Islands Community.

So it is not surprising that Fuerteventura’s main industry is tourism. Its tropical temperature is felt throughout the year which is preferred by Europeans who can reach this idyllic destination by plane easily in two hours. Besides tourism, this island is packed with agricultural, fishing and business activities.

Another key tourist attraction on this island is the scuba diving activity; it is indeed not only a scuba diver’s paradise, it is also a fisherman’s paradise who is into big game fishing as the Atlantic waters swarm with all kinds of fish, such as whales, marlins, dolphins and rare turtles.

The island itself holds awe with its natural formation of vast plains, volcanic mountains and lava flow remnants which are open for visits although marked as protected sites.

Tourists on the island can enjoy windsurfing and kiteboarding from April till October, with its constant flow of winds and long stretches of famous beaches, like Corralejo, Gran Tarajal and Pájara.

Keen golfers will have their field day on the island too, as it comprised a fully equipped golf club designed by famed architect, Juan Catarineu, specifically catering to the wind conditions for the best of golf. The club boasts of a classic golf course of 1,500 km of green with a par of 70, with some great sea views.