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Fuerteventura is located to the east of Gran Canaria and southeast of Lanzarote and is the third biggest island in the Canaries. Due to its volcanic origins the climate is very dry and the vegetation is very sparse. This lack of vegetation is not just due to its volcanic roots but also due to intensive clearing in the medieval age.

Harsh volcanic landscapes are found all over the island; however you can find some green oasis’s in the valleys. Very impressive are the enormous sand dunes found in the northeast of the island, just south of the tourist town of Corralejo.

The American Star a stranded luxury liner can be seen beached in the southwest of the island. At a first glance Fuerteventura might appear bland but if you are willing to travel around you will find some fascinating spots, for example Betancuria, the former capital of the island.

If you go to Fuerteventura, with open mind and open eyes, you’re sure to find yourself charmed by the island eventually.

The Canary Islands have also been called the “Islands of the eternal spring”. All year long you will find very mild temperatures’ of about 20-25 degrees.

The climate is strongly influenced by the Gulf Stream and the “trade winds”. The “trade winds” bring a cool breeze from the northeast all year long. That’s why the thermometer rarely rises above 30 degrees, and if it does it’s normally due to the strong winds that come from the southeast, from the Sahara. The locals call this phenomenon of hot winds “Calima”.

Out of all the Canary Islands Fuerteventura and Lanzarote have the least rainfall throughout the year. However in winter time, when the sun is not so intense it can cool down quite a bit especially during night-time and especially when it’s cloudy or in the case of some occasional rainfall.

Fuerteventura is often called the “European Hawaii”. This comparison is especially justified in the winter, in this time heavy storms in the North Atlantic send powerful swells south. These hit, after a few thousand kilometres, the lava reefs of the north shore and produce excellent waves.

It’s not just the winter that has some excellent conditions to offer. All year long you will find surfable waves, making the island also attractive in summer time. This period is especially suitable for beginners as during the summertime the beach breaks start to work on the west and east coasts.

Best season for beginners: March – October
Best season for advanced surfers: October – March

Crowd factor: High in the summer months and on well known spots

Flights to Fuerteventura land at the airport Fuerteventura (FUE) that’s located south of the capital Puerto del Rosario. Spanair and Iberia connect to the airport directly from Madrid.

There are many charter flights from several European airports which also connect to the island by direct flights. Also you have the option to reach the islands by ferry; the ferries operate regularly between the other Canary Islands.