Fuerteventura Life and Visitor Travel Tips

(Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain)

Fuerteventura is a beautiful tourist destination and amongst the most popular of the famous Canary Islands. With a stunning coastline and numerous impressive stretches of sandy beaches, life in Fuerteventura is relaxed and many tourists choose to visit Fuerteventura to enjoy this enviable lifestyle, together with the year-round sunny weather and warm winters.

Useful travel tips and advice can be found at Fuerteventura's numerous tourist information bureaus, with a range of leaflets and posters also available in many shops. Fuerteventura is home to around 150 different beaches and offers superb conditions for surfing, wind surfing and sailing, appealing to all ages.

Tourism and Tourist Information (Oficinas de Turismo)

Fuerteventura's main tourist information offers a range of travel advice, including leaflets, brochures, maps, local travel guides and details about boat trips to the nearby island of Los Lobos. However, equally as good, the airport's tourist information office is a useful place to head before exploring the island and is open Monday to Saturday - 09:00 to 19:00, and on Sunday - 11:00 to 16:00 (tel: +34 928 851 250).

Puerto del Rosario Tourist Office
Address: Avenida Constitución 5, Puerto del Rosario, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain
Tel: +34 928 530 844
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 08:00 to 14:00

Caleta de Fuste Tourist Office
Address: Centro Commercial Castillo, Caleta de Fuste, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain
Tel: +34 928 163 286
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 09:00 to 15:00

Corralejo Tourist Office
Address: Plaza Grande de Corralejo, Corralejo, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain
Tel: +34 928 866 235
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 08:00 to 14:00

Morro Jable Tourism Centre
Address: Cosmo Centro Commercial, Avenida Saladar, Morro Jable, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain
Tel: +34 928 540 776
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 08:00 to 15:00

Language

Spanish is the third most widely spoken language in the world, after Chinese and English. Although Spanish is the main language in Fuerteventura, English, French and German are generally spoken and understood at most attractions, museums, hotels, restaurants, cafés, bars and other venues catering for visitors. In smaller towns and villages around the island of Fuerteventura, a phrase book is a useful item to bring.

Tipping

Tipping is quite discretionary in Fuerteventura and throughout the Canary Islands, with taxi drivers being pleased to accept a little rounding up when it comes to payment, although this is by no means a requirement. Restaurants always include service charges by law and these should be clearly stated on their menus, although a small tip will still be expected and very much appreciated. Hotel staff, such as luggage handlers, happily accept a tip, which may be just a Euro or two. Generally, no other public service workers in Fuerteventura expect tipping. Pay tips in cash, so that the person it is intended for receives it fully.

Sunburn and Sunbathing

Located close to the Sahara, the Canary Islands are known for their clear skies and fine, sunny weather, and Fuerteventura is no exception. Even on cloudy and breezy days, sunburn is a strong possibility, so always take sensible precautions, using high-factor sun lotions regularly during the day and be sure to drink plenty, particularly when sunbathing on one of Fuerteventura's many beaches.

Places of Worship

The national religion of Fuerteventura and throughout Spain is Roman Catholic, although many other faiths and major religions are also represented in Fuerteventura, including Protestants and Muslims. Many churches are available in the area, welcoming visitors to their regular services, although some may operate a fairly basic dresscode, where shorts are not permitted.

Smoking

In many buildings and on public transport, rules now restrict smoking and this is usually indicated by no-smoking symbols in prominent places. Spanish legislation now makes it illegal to smoke in many public places and the rights of non-smokers tend to prevail over the right to smoke, although most pubs and bars in Fuerteventura welcome customers who wish to relax with a drink and smoke.

It is always worth being diplomatic when selecting a place in which to smoke in Fuerteventura, with good advice being not to smoke unless others around you are already smoking.

Tips for Using the Euro

The Euro is made up of eight coins and seven paper notes and was introduced on January 1, 2002. The 12 original members of the European Union - Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain - planned the event for many years in advance, deciding upon a specific conversion rate for each country's national currency. The colourful Euro bills, which include holograms and shades of green, yellow, blue, mauve, and orange, are identical throughout Europe. Coins have one common and one national side, but they can be used in any of the member countries, regardless of the country of issue. Old currencies are no longer accepted as legal tender, although major banks will happily convert them into Euros.

Telephones and Emergency Numbers

• Emergencies in Fuerteventura - for police dial 091 (national) or 092 (local)
• For fire emergencies in Fuerteventura - dial 080 or 085 and for an ambulance dial 409 5530
• To call from one city code to another in Fuerteventura- first dial '0' followed by the Spanish city code and the main telephone number

Safety

As with all major holiday destinations and popular resorts, pickpockets are present in Fuerteventura and can be very quick and skillful. Always be aware of personal belongings and wear bags and cameras across your body when walking around Fuerteventura. Considering using money belts to safely conceal cash. Also, when parking in Fuerteventura, never leave valuables on show and if possible, use hotel parking areas.

Taxes

VAT (IVA) is always included in the price and refunds are unusual in Fuerteventura and throughout Spain. Tourists visiting the island from countries outside of the EU may claim a refund on this tax if the item was purchased for personal use and cost more than a certain amount. Fuerteventura shopkeepers can provide further details.