Fuerteventura, a guide for Tourists
With clean bright sand fronting a turquoise sea, the beaches of Fuerteventura couldn’t be more enticing. All 152 of them, as they make up over a fifth of the whole island’s land space. Truly does Fuerteventura live up to its billing of Paradise Island.
Fuerteventura gained its name and most of its early fame, from Norman explorer Jean de Béthencourt. Upon conquering the island in 1405, he was reported to exclaim: “Que forte aventura!” Translating as “What a grand adventure!” it’s a phrase whose sentiments have been repeated by legions of holidaymakers ever since.
Béthencourt established Betancuria on the island’s west coast as the capital. Before the adventurer’s Spanish-funded plundering, the island’s original inhabitants, the Mahos, had lived a relatively peaceful existence. They were believed to have arrived from North Africa and earned their moniker from the goatskin shoe, maho, that they wore.
The goats have survived into the latest millennium but the Mahos have more or less died out. Indeed, there are more goats on the island than people. The existing capital Puerto del Rosario was even called Puerto de Cabras, Port of Goats, until a name-change in 1956.
Closer to Africa than the Spanish mainland, Fuerteventura is also the second largest of the Canaries as well as being the oldest. A mere 100km (62 miles) will bring you to the African coast, whilst Spain is far, far away, 1,350km (839 miles) to the north. Meanwhile, you’ll find its neighbour Lanzarote by travelling 11km (7 miles) in a northeasterly direction.
When it comes to politics, Fuerteventura, despite being part of Spain, enjoys a fair amount of autonomy – by virtue of 1982’s Regional Constitution. A member of the province of Gran Canaria, it’s divided into six municipalities: Antigua, Betancuria, La Oliva, Pajara, Puerto del Rosario, and Tuineje.
The majority of the inhabitants are involved in the tourist sector. So their business is your pleasure. Indeed, so hospitable are the locals that whilst you may be abroad, you’ll never be made to feel so much at home.
There are seven Canary Islands – which can not be entirely coincidental. It follows that Fuerteventura, just like its neighbouring isles, is a wonder of the world. And perhaps the best thing about the island is that you don’t have to travel halfway around the globe to reach it with all major European airlines flying in and out of its airport.