Is there anything more rejuvenating than a sun-filled break in the Canaries? If there is, we want to know! For anyone visiting the beautiful Canary island of Fuerteventura, the region around Corralejo achieves the seemingly impossible task of being all things to all people. Along with its raft of stunning beaches, water sports and fabulous weather, the area is truly a nature lover’s paradise, with a host of fascinating sites that allow you to explore the abundance of natural beauty in peace and isolation.
So, once you’ve had your fill of sun, sea and sand, and you’ve explored some of the island’s fantastic high profile attractions, you might want to take a deep breath and step into the embrace of nature…
Corralejo National Park
The Corralejo National Park covers an area of just 2.5 x 10.5kms of coastal landscape, but it’s a site that’s dense with diverse natural beauty. On one side of the park, closest to Corralejo, the terrain consists of spreading white sand dunes as far as the eye can see, while on the other it is an otherworldly, ochre-painted volcanic region. If you want to make the most of the park, be prepared to don your hiking boots and get out under your own steam. You’ll be justly rewarded for your efforts.
Calderón Hondo Volcanic Cone
The park is an important archaeological and geological area, and one of the most spectacular sites to visit is the amazing Calderón Hondo volcanic cone. Its circular form rises starkly out of the landscape at Mascona and, at its centre, its crater is around 70 metres deep. If you’ve got the energy you can hike to the top to experience absolutely breathtaking views of the other volcanoes that make up the area, the majority of which were appeared more than 50,000 years ago.
Malpaís de La Arena Natural Monument
Another fascinating geological formation for which the park is famous is the Malpaís de La Arena Natural Monument, which was created as a result of a volcanic eruption more than 10,000 years ago – one of the last on the island. This protected monument’s beauty lies in that, as a landform, it is completely unspoilt by the hand of man. This allows a proliferation of unique and rare flora to flourish in the unusual ecosystem created by the lava.
The Beaches
There’s much, much more to the beaches of Corralejo than simply the promise of the opportunity to laze around and soak up the sun – although there’s plenty of that to be had as well. The region’s local beaches are ideal for hiking, walking, nature watching and taking in the unspoilt landscape.
Playa de Corralejo
For 3.5 glorious kilometres, the shores of Playa de Corralejo stretch from the heart of the resort down to Playa de la Barreta. If you’re looking for somewhere to take a leisurely walk and enjoy some stunning views, you’ve found it. On one side, the rolling dunes are laid out like a giant sandy picnic blanket, while on the other, Isla de Lobos decorates the panoramic ocean vista. Despite its popularity, if you stroll a little out of the way there are plenty of places to enjoy a private swim or sunbake, still within reach of amenities.
Playa del Alijibe de la Cueva
Situated on the beautiful northwest coast, the isolated Playa del Alijibe de la Cueva curls around the bottom of rugged cliffs – and is complete with its own castle. A former favourite landing site of pirates (hence the construction of the castle to repel them), this is a popular beach with local windsurfers and also quite a few nudists. If you don’t mind quite rough waters for swimming and love the idea of taking in some history while you relax, this tiny white sand beach will definitely appeal.
Isla de Lobos
While it doesn’t boast much of a beach to speak of, the appeal of Isla de Lobos certainly doesn’t suffer from that fact. Fifteen minutes away from the main island by a small ferry (which runs regularly throughout the day), the landscape is ideal for a gentle hiking excursion out of the small traditional settlement, El Puerito. If you want a glimpse back in time to see what Fuerteventura was like before tourism came to town, this is the place to get it. Aside from the small collection of cottages at El Puerito, there’s a network of pathways that take you past salt marshes, inland rock pools and even a disused lighthouse. It’s getting back to nature in the truest sense.
How to Get to Corralejo
As a major tourist destination, the Canary Islands are highly accessible from the UK, with numerous airlines, including Ryanair and easyJet flying the regular route to Fuerteventura Airport (FUE) in around 4.5 hours.
Once you land at the airport, instead of standing around in a taxi queue or trying to navigate public transport, arrive in style and comfort with a pre-booked Shuttle Direct airport transfer. A friendly driver will be there to meet you and whisk you right to the door of your accommodation in your choice of shared or private vehicle. Couldn’t be easier.
Where to Stay:
Arena Beach: Just a stone’s throw from the beautiful Corralejo Sand Dunes National Park, the Arena Beach offers all the facilities a discerning guest could expect and more. The comfortable, air-conditioned rooms all feature a balcony or terrace, there’s an excellent buffet restaurant for poolside dining, and the onsite spa and sauna offer relief for tired muscles after a long hike in nature. Within 10 minutes’ walk of the beach, the bright, modern Arena Beach makes the perfect base.
H10 Ocean Dreams Hotel Boutique: The adults-only H10 Ocean Dreams Hotel Boutique offers a peaceful escape in a quiet area of Corralejo. Just a few minutes gentle stroll to the beach and a short drive from the National Park, this outstanding hotel enjoys a host of luxury facilities. Relax and be pampered in the spa and beauty centre, dine on delicious a la carte meals in the restaurant, and enjoy the excellent entertainment programme. Home from home within arms’ reach of nature – perfect!
About Shuttle Direct:
H10 Ocean Dreams Hotel Boutique is the most trusted name in airport transfers in Europe and North Africa. We’ll get you from the airport to your accommodation without delay and our range of shared and private transfers are the best in the business. When you make a booking via our easy-to-use online booking system, you can rest assured we’ll take care of the rest. Fast service, friendly drivers and a door-to-door service – no wonder our customers love us!
