Have A Great Holiday In Corralejo, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands

Corralejo is situated at the northern tip of Fuerteventura, once a small fishing village but now a thriving holiday resort where you will find everything you need for a fantastic holiday. Whether you are looking for a holiday relaxing on the beach or you are a budding explorer Corralejo is an ideal place to call home during your stay.

If you are into water-sports then Corralejo is a great place to visit, for beginners there are loads of schools offering lessons in surfing, wind surfing, kite surfing, scuba diving and snorkeling. For the experts there are many surf spots to enjoy right on your doorstep.

The town of Corralejo has masses of shops to browse around if you are looking for some tax free items. With many electrical shops selling anything from mobile phones and cameras to cheap cigarettes and booze. The clothes shops have many big names in fashion at great prices along with the usual knock off stuff that it's best to stay away from. Of course there are also plenty of souvenir shops for you to find a reminder of your holiday and gifts for those at home.

Lets start with the Sand Dunes, mile upon mile of white sandy beaches with some huge dunes to set up camp for the day and hide away from the world. Situated on the outskirts of Corralejo you will need transport to get there, car hire is recommended if you want to explore all of the dunes, or a regular bus service is available daily stopping at the Riu Beach Hotels. Take along a picnic as there is almost nowhere for miles and don't forget plenty of water. The sea can be quite rough along the dunes and not suitable for small children except on the calmest of days.

Heading back from the dunes you will find Flag beach which is a mecca for surfers, kite surfers and wind surfers. Whether you are an experienced old hand at water sports or just a beginner Flag beach is one of the most popular locations for locals and holiday makers. Again the sea is rough most days and not suitable for small children.

In the town you will find the most popular beaches for families, located in a bay the sea is much calmer and suitable for younger children. With fantastic views looking out to Lanzarote and the small island of Los Lobos, Corralejo town beeches are perfect for all ages. You will find plenty of bars and cafes serving drinks and snacks all day and sun lounger hire is available along with umbrellas for a small charge.

If you fancy getting away from all the hustle and bustle there are plenty of secluded beaches all along the coast of Corralejo where most days you won't see another soul but are just a few minutes walk away from the main resort.

So, ok, you may have paid for all inclusive food and drinks but there's a whole lot more to eating than the same old buffets usually on offer. There are so many cuisines to choose from in Corralejo there's bound to be something that takes your fancy. Tapas is my favorite and there are lots of places to eat it, even if it's not on the menu as tapas most restaurants serve it as starters so just order a whole bunch of them to share, don't forget to include Canarian potatoes with mojo sauce, an absolute delight!

Typical Spanish restaurants are plentiful in Corralejo and can be found mainly around the harbour and the back streets, look out for Spanish people eating out, they always know the best places. You will find plenty of locally caught fresh fish and seafood, steaks, suckling pig, kid/goat, rice dishes and a whole host of other tasty treats.

There are several Chinese restaurants on the high street all of them good, if you are particularly hungry try the all you can eat buffets where you can try a whole range of dishes and eat as much as you like.

There are also a few Indian restaurants scattered around the town just incase you feel like a Madras after a night of drinking.

Amongst others you will also find Italian, Portuguese and American style restaurants, there is not a McDonalds in Corralejo yet, the nearest is in Caleta de Fuste which is about 40 minutes drive away.

And of course we have plenty of English restaurants in Corralejo, with plenty of places serving the great English breakfasts of bacon and eggs, a must after a good night out the night before!

Whatever your taste in food Corralejo has a wide range of places to eat out from the cheap and cheerful to some really top class establishments. Be a devil and try something different, I dare you!

Maybe after a few days of sitting in the sun you find yourself getting a little bored and need to find something else to do, hire a car! Driving in Fuerteventura couldn't be a more relaxed experience, with hardly any traffic and no road rage the only hazzard are the wandering goats and maybe the odd mad taxi driver.

There are loads of great places to visit in Fuerteventura including many beaches that are only accessible with a 4x4.

At busy times of year it's best to hire a car before you arrive, although there are many car hire offices in and around Corralejo during the summer months it can be impossible to find any available.

Do not even think about drinking and driving in Fuerteventura, the police set up regular road blocks and stop everybody. If you are found over the limit you can expect anything from a 500 euro on the spot fine to a prison sentence, either way it's not a good idea!

El Cotillo is my favorite part of Fuerteventura, with miles of sandy beaches and some fantastic restaurants it's the one place i would recommend you don't miss.

To the left of El Cotillo you will find the big surfing beach with crashing waves the size of houses, a lovely place to sit and watch the surfers but not ideal for swimming or young children. To the right however are the lagoon beaches, as the name suggests there are lots of small lagoons surrounded by beautiful beaches gently sloping into the sea. There is a small cafe situated at the lagoons serving a selection of fresh fish, burgers, snacks, icecreams and drinks. A new toilet block has arrived too over the last couple of months. Please be aware there are lots of nudists walking around so if this offends you it's best to stay away.

My favorite restaurant has to be La Vaca Azul (better known as the blue cow) you will find it in the old harbour, you can't miss it as it has a large blue cow outside. Although the menu is mostly made up of delicious fresh fish there are loads of great dishes to choose from to suit any tastes, including steaks and pizzas. Try the fried squid, it's the best i have ever eaten! This restaurant is a perfect place to sit and watch the sun go down with a cold glass of wine and a romantic atmosphere. The service is good and the staff are very polite and friendly.

The restaurant Roque De Los Pescadores is also a great place to eat, situated in the new harbour with views over to the Tostan Tower. Here again you will find loads of fresh fish and seafood alongside many other great dishes. Again the staff are very friendly and the service is fantastic.

There are several other bars and restaurants in El Cotillo including a couple of English Pubs where you will find more traditionally English food for those fussy eaters. The Tostan deserves a mention which is in the old harbour, with lovely views and the food is very good too.

Oasis Park Zoo is down the south of the island in La Lajita about an hour and half from Corralejo by car. It's well worth a visit if you fancy a day out.

There are plenty of animals to see including giraffes, hippos, camels, monkeys, meerkats, flamingos and goats. The sea-lion show is very entertaining especially for the kids. One of the sea-lions jobs is to kiss the crowd so sit next to the aisle for that soggy treat! There is also an alligator and a parrot show, not at the same time I hasten to add.

There is a small petting zoo where you can see donkeys, chickens and goats etc. Here you can enter their pens and get up close and personal, it's a little bit smelly around the goats but great for kids.

The grounds of the zoo are set amongst beautiful tropical gardens with overhanging plants and trees for extra shade but make sure you use plenty of sun cream and wear a hat, it's a long walk and gets very hot.

There is a restaurant inside the zoo serving main meals, snacks and drinks and the prices are not bad considering they have you as a captive audience.

A covered play area is situated next to the restaurant where you can sit and have a rest and the kids can play without getting bored or burnt.

All in all the Oasis Park Zoo is a pleasant day out for any age group.

Alcogida Eco Museum is located in Tefia which is about 30 minutes drive from Corralejo. Made up of several buildings in traditional Canarian style the museum will give you a glimpse into the past residents lives on the island.

The buildings are made up of houses and workshops where you can see ladies making make, a potter at work, a baker and a donkey making grain. There are several other farmyard animals for children to meet including camels, goats and cows.

Guided tours and available in several languages including English or you can choose to wander around at your own pace. Traditionally dressed people are scattered around to answer any questions you may have and to provide demonstrations on authentic Canarian life.

There is a small cafe serving drinks and snacks and a gift shop selling Canarian goods.

If you have time after visiting the museum head down to Los Molinos, it's a tiny village on the coast about 15 minutes from Tefia, there's not much there except a tiny church, a great beach and a small shack restaurant that serves fantastic fresh fish.

The chipmunks on Fuerteventura live amongst the rocks, due to the large amount of rocks we have rather a lot of chipmunks. They can be found along the coastline and inland pretty much anywhere where there may be a source of food. It's perfectly safe to feed them and they will eat pretty much anything but have a passion for nuts which you can hand feed to them.

These friendly little creatures on the whole are safe to be around although occasionally they may try and nip your fingers.

The creatures are actually Barbary ground squirrels but for some reason all of the locals call them chipmunks.

Do wear lots of high factor suncream, it's windy here most days so you don't notice the burn until you get back to your accommodation and try getting in the shower, ouch! You don't want to walk round looking like a lobster for the whole week!

Don't step out onto zebra crossings thinking drivers will stop like they do in the UK. Cars are usually parked right up to the crossings so drivers can't see you till the last minute. The law says they have to stop but it doesn't seem to be compulsory!

Do try and learn at least a few words in Spanish, even if it's only hola (hello) and gracias (thank you) the locals are much friendlier if you try to make the effort. Most locals speak English but it's just polite to try and speak the language.

Don't shout at the locals if they don't understand you, it's as bad as shouting at a deaf person, come on, don't be ignorant!

Do try and sample some local food, there are some great places to eat out with lots of fresh locally caught fish, try not to stick to the battered kind.

Don't walk down the high street half naked, yes we know you don't want to miss a minute of the sun but would you do that in your own town? Didn't think so!

Do try and get out if you are staying at an all inclusive hotel, local businesses are struggling from lack of customers and the town seems empty. There's lots to see out there!

Lastly don't forget to have lots of fun, make the most of your holiday, forget about any worries you have at home and enjoy relaxing in the fantastic weather.