A visit to the Island of Fuerteventura.

 We left Cardiff airport and flew to the Island of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands. Our base for our visit was the small town of Caleta de Fuste.

We arrived at Caleta de Fuste, a charming resort town on the sun-kissed shores of Fuerteventura. As our plane touched down, they felt the excitement of new adventures ahead. The warm Canary Island breeze greeted us as they stepped out into the vibrant surroundings.

As we made their way from the airport, the landscape unfolded before us: rolling hills dotted with volcanic rock, all framed by the deep blue of the Atlantic Ocean. The sun was high in the sky, casting a golden light that made everything shimmer. Caleta de Fuste welcomed us with its picturesque harbor, lined with quaint cafes and shops, and the inviting sound of waves lapping at the shore.

We decided to rent a car and explore the island. We drove to the South of the island to the town of Morro Jable. We stopped off for lunch and changed into our swim suits and hit the beach, as we sat there relaxing it dawn on that we were in the middle of a  nudist beach !

The following day we drove North to Carralejo where the ferry runs to the island of Lanzarote. 

As we drove over the mountains in Fuerteventura, the scenery unfolded like a breathtaking postcard. The rugged landscape was a patchwork of deep browns and vibrant greens, dotted with volcanic rock formations that jutted out against the brilliant blue sky. I could feel the excitement building in the car as we navigated the winding roads, the engine humming beneath us.

We the drove to over the mountains to Cotillo where we walked along the seafront to the look out Tower (De Rico Roque.)

We drove on via Antigua to La Guirra where there is a monument to a whale's skeleton.

Visiting La Guirra was a memorable experience, especially when we arrived at the striking monument dedicated to a whale's skeleton. The skeleton, elegantly displayed against the backdrop of the clear blue sky, was a testament to the island’s rich maritime history.

As we approached, I marveled at the intricate details of the bones, a reminder of the majestic creature that once swam the surrounding waters. The sunlight cast soft shadows, highlighting the structure’s grandeur.

The following day we drove up to the mountain area of Betancuria which is a National park,  the roads were steep and twisty but the views were dramatic. We came upon the village of Pajara, a typical Spanish village were we stopped off for a coffee where they only spoke Spanish, but we got by.

We drove on to the coastal Village of Ajury, were we stopped of for lunch, local fresh fish with Canarian potatoes. 

We then drove on a rough , bumpy track to Playa de Garcey on the West coast of the Island, which is home to the shipwreck of the American Star Ocean Liner.

The American Star Ocean Liner, once a majestic vessel, now lies in ruins along the shores of Fuerteventura, a haunting reminder of maritime history. Abandoned in the late 1990s, the ship was originally designed for luxury travel, but after years of service, it found its fate in the treacherous waters off the coast.

As we approached the wreck, the rusted hull loomed large against the backdrop of the azure sea. The contrast between the vibrant blue of the ocean and the decaying ship was striking. It was both eerie and captivating to see the remnants of what was once a grand liner, now overtaken by nature.

The waves crashed against the ship’s structure, further eroding its remains, while seabirds circled overhead, adding to the sense of desolation. Walking along the beach, I could almost imagine the ship in its prime, bustling with passengers and filled with laughter, now reduced to a skeleton of its former glory.

Memories of Fuerteventura