A Mystery Trip to Fuerteventura: First Impressions & Arrival
Our mystery holiday courtesy of Journee was upon us. We didn’t open the envelope until we got to the airport, so we didn’t know for sure where we were going until that point. Our guesses, based on various clues and little giveaways, proved to be correct—we were headed to Fuerteventura.
The whole mystery aspect and the lead up to travel day were fun. It added an air of excitement and adventure to the holiday. The clues we received beforehand were enough to keep us excited but not quite enough to fully convince us that our guesses were correct. The Journee Passport kept us excited about the whole thing and helped with the travelling and the travel pack that we got was well done.
First Impressions
Even though we’d guessed it was Fuerteventura, I think Anna was a little disappointed that it wasn’t somewhere a bit more ‘unusual.’ We suspected it would be the Canary Islands but secretly hoped for somewhere more off the beaten track. Fuerteventura just sounded too mainstream—and that’s exactly what it turned out to be. It was well and truly on the beaten track, offering little beyond the usual tourist fare.
If you don’t want to read the whole day-by-day account, the short version is: we had a good time, the activities were enjoyable, the weather was great, and it was a nice holiday. However, as expected, Fuerteventura is VERY touristy, very mainstream, and very British. We tried to scratch beneath the thick veneer of tourism, but it was difficult to find much authenticity. It’s a shame because the island has a beautiful landscape, a great coastline, and endless opportunities for watersports and outdoor activities. However, it feels like just another European tourist resort—endless bars, restaurants, and shops selling the same tourist tat. You could be anywhere, and the island lacks its own distinct character.
Despite this, we made the most of our holiday and had a lovely break. It was a new destination for us, adding another pin to our travel map. We made good memories, but it wasn’t particularly special, and we probably wouldn’t go back.
Getting to Fuerteventura
Before I start, I’m not going to call it ‘Fuerte.’ I know that’s the standard shortened form for regular visitors, but we never felt like we befriended the place enough to warrant it, so it will remain Fuerteventura for us!
Getting there was easy. As usual, due to the long drive to the airport, we drove to Manchester the day before our flight. We stopped off at Cheshire Oaks for some retail therapy and dinner at Mowgli’s before heading to a Premier Inn in Altrincham for a comfy night’s sleep. The next morning, we headed to the airport.
The excitement built as we opened the Journee reveal postcard and travel pack, confirming that Fuerteventura was indeed our destination. The pack included details about our accommodation, the specific location on the island, and the planned activities and excursions. While the destination itself wasn’t thrilling for us, the rest of the itinerary sounded good, so we were eager to get going.
The usual airport malarkey was painless, and with the Journee pack to read and some research to do, the waiting time flew by. Soon, we were boarding our Jet2 flight, which went smoothly and landed in Fuerteventura on time.
Leaving the airport in a new destination, I always take stock of the vegetation—it’s often the first obvious sign that I’m somewhere different. The cacti, aloe vera plants, and palm trees confirmed this, but they were sparse against the dry, barren, volcanic landscape. The transfer to Corralejo, where we were staying, took us through stark scenery. It wasn’t particularly dramatic—just a raw volcanic wasteland. As geologists, it held some interest, but it wasn’t exactly beautiful or spectacular.
Corralejo: Our Base for the Trip
Our home for the next nine days was the tourist resort of Corralejo. I knew a little about it from the windsurfing world, as well as the beaches and surf spots on the island. It was surprising that I hadn’t been here before, but I think we’d always avoided it due to its mainstream nature. Given our request for somewhere peaceful and a little off the beaten track, we were surprised to find ourselves not only in the island’s main tourist town but also right in the middle of it.
Our apartment was above a café and a tourist tat shop, surrounded by a large pedestrianized shopping area and directly opposite a steakhouse. It was certainly central!
Despite its location, the apartment itself was really nice—decent kitchen, comfy lounge area, large bedroom, and an outdoor courtyard. It had all the amenities, good air conditioning, and even a washing machine, which came in handy.
After settling in, we explored a little, strolled along the seafront, and had dinner at a nearby restaurant called UGA-UGA, which overlooked the bay. Corralejo was packed with hundreds of restaurants and bars, interspersed with surf shops and stores selling the usual tourist fare—hats, flip-flops, fridge magnets, and other souvenir tat. We bought Anna a hat and a fridge magnet to add to our collection, but honestly, every shop sold the same things, and I doubt we could even identify which one we bought from!
We also noticed that it was Carnival Week in Corralejo. The festivities had started the day before we arrived, and a large stage was being constructed just down the road from our apartment. It was due to end the day after we left—more on this tomorrow!
After a quick supermarket run for supplies, and sunset over the bay we settled in for a quiet night. Tomorrow, we had a boat trip booked for dolphin and whale watching. Stay-tuned for the next instalment from our trip to Fuerteventura.
