Fabulous Fuerteventura

Every day is a Saturday when we are travelling. We’re always excited for a Saturday, just like we’re always excited for a trip. Every day away is a new story, a new adventure and brings something different. I am now (almost) eleven years old and I have been travelling since I was just a baby of five months.

The best thing about travelling is….everything.

I can’t really pick just one thing. The food, the planes, the airports, the pools, the scooters, bikes and trains, the hotels, apartments and villas, the adventures, the wildlife, the weather – it’s like living a whole new life in a new place with new people and new things to see. And then there’s the beaches….

• 

• 

The beaches in Fuerteventura are some of the best in the world and they are all different around the island. The sand can be white, golden or even shaped like popcorn! Me and Kitty love to collect popcorn sand on the beach when we explore. It is white and crackly, and it feels nice under your feet. The sea around the island is all different colours of blue.

The lagoons have bright blue, clear, still waters whilst the beaches with big waves have inky blue waters that crash on the sand.

• 

• 

• 

Daddy inspired me to go to Fuerteventura. He went there to surf when he was younger, a long time before we were born. He said it was a beautiful, magical place and he thought we would like it too. And he was right. We first went to Fuerteventura when we were three and seven. It is so lovely, we have been there three times, but we couldn’t go last year because of Coronavirus. We hope we can go back soon.

• 

• 

• 

The weather is hot and windy in the winter, that’s why this island has its name ‘Fuerteventura’ meaning strong wind. The beaches have wind shelters made from from black volcanic rock that stop the wind and sand from blowing in your face. Once you are in the shelter, you can’t feel the wind at all. We like to make a cosy home inside the rugged rock shelter, and then go off to explore. I love the wind shelters on the beaches, where I can play with Kitty, make pictures in the sand and using the treasure we collect on the beach, like sticks, shells and seaweed. We love exploring the rockpools, looking for fish in the black rocks, with the waves crashing behind us.

Fuerteventura has really big waves for Daddy and gentle, smaller waves for me. Taking my pink surfboard into the blue sea and catching waves or paddling around with the sun on my face is my favourite thing to do. Even in winter, the sea is quite warm, but you still need to wear a wetsuit if you want to stay in the sea for a while. The water is so clear, that when I paddle around, I can see all the fish and sealife below it – it is incredible.

• 

• 

• 

When I think of Fuerteventura in my head, I see clouds of colour – peach, pink, yellow, orange and blue. The colours of the sunrise, the sunset and the sea. The land is red, with black rock and dotted with green cactus plants and aloe vera. There are volcanoes that stretch high in the sky and we climbed one on New Year’s Day, called Calderon Hondo. It was quite an easy climb, we saw cute chipmunks on the route and we ate sandwiches and apples at the top, as we looked out at the view to Lanzarote and the other small islands. 

• 

• 

• 

I feel like you can’t get anything better than the food you find in Fuerteventura – spicy and salty chorizo, tasty seafood paella, juicy and crunchy watermelon and mouth-watering garlic prawns. They also have the best creamy ice cream and fresh bruschetta. We ate lots of picnics on the beach and my favourite restaurant was the Italian, Sottovento, where we went for Christmas Day. It is the best restaurant in Fuerteventura. It has creamy, meaty lasagne and a beautiful sunset view. The waiters are really nice and friendly too.

• 

• 

• 

We have travelled around the whole island in Fuerteventua, but my favourite place of all is Cotillo. A small fishing village, with great restaurants, beaches and surf, it is perfect. The play area in Cotillo is just back from the sea, with a cafe opposite and we love playing there in the sun, especially when at home it is cold, wet and windy. We like to play with the Spanish children in the park, it is fun listening to them speaking Spanish and making new friends. The old harbour is really fun because there are lots of steps to play on and boats to watch, especially when the sun sets and the sky turns red. 

There is a small village near Cotillo called Lajares. I love the craft market there, where you can buy all things made by hand, like headbands, lip balms and art. The market is fun to explore and all the local artists come there each week to sell their work – it’s really interesting to see how creative they are. There is also a brilliant playground near the market, with a climbing wall, swings and a seesaw surfboard! 

• 

• 

El Galoso is a small bakery in Cotillo and Lajares. The best cakes, pastries and bread on the island can be found here, but also the best fresh smoothies and juices. There is always a big queue out the door – everyone knows it’s the best! But it is worth the wait! La Puntilla is a small ice cream shop that makes fresh, homemade ice-cream. My favourite flavour is the strawberry, and the giant ice cream cone outside!

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

We always go to Fuerteventura in the winter. It is especially good to break up our long wet Welsh winters. Last time, we even went for Christmas. Before we went, I wasn’t really liking the idea of having Christmas in a different country. I wanted to be in my own bed and be home with the rain tapping on the window.

Then we went away for Christmas.

I feel like I got to experience something new, a warm and sunny Christmas, and even though I didn’t think I would like it, it turned out to be amazing. Some of the best things in life are those you haven’t even tried yet, and unIess you try them, you’ll never know how good they might be. I realised it can be Christmas anywhere, as long as you make it fun. I was disappointed to come home and even more disappointed not to be able to go away for Christmas in 2020. But, hopefully, we can go for Christmas again, go to Sottovento, play at the beach, surf in the sea, relax in the sun and enjoy the delicious food. 

• 

• 

• 

We spend most of our days in Fuerteventura outside, exploring, climbing, surfing, swimming, walking, playing and eating! I love a busy, active holiday with loads of exciting things to do. Being outside in the wind and the sun, having so much fun. Fuerteventura is just fabulous!

Gracias, Fuerteventura! Nos vemos pronto!

• 

• 

•