Join us as we explore Fuerteventura, the oldest of the Canary Islands with its magnificent coastal and volcanic landscapes on this wonderful fully guided exclusive walking holiday. Stay at the Solos favourite – the four-star All Inclusive Elba Sara Beach & Golf Resort – perfect for relaxing with its enviable beachfront location when off the trails and experiencing this sunny island by foot.
Extras
We transfer to our hotel for the week, where we’ll have our welcome meeting with our walking guide.
Fuerteventura lies at the eastern end of the Canarian archipelago, only 90 kilometres from the African coast, just south of Lanzarote. With a land surface of 1,659 square kilometres, it is the second largest of the islands. Boasting truly unique scenery made up of vast dunes, a wild coastline and idyllic beaches, numerous volcanoes and canyons and remote villages – this is an ideal destination for a walking holiday.
For our first walk, we transfer to the port of Corralejo, in the north of the island, where we take a boat to the island of Lobos. Known as the ‘the island of the wolves’, it was once inhabited by sea lions, walruses and monk seals. Our walk will discover this fascinating island. The entire 8km perimeter of the islands can be explored with a climb to the highest point – Caldera de Lobos – which, at 123 metres, offers fantastic views of the island and the Bocaina Strait that separates Fuerteventura from Lanzarote.
If you fancy a change of scenery, a short bus ride away is the island’s capital – Puerto del Rosario. This bustling traditional Canarian port is easily walkable, and known for its strange collection of over 100 quirky sculptures by local and international artists dotted around the town. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can do a quick island hop over to neighbouring Lanzarote.
Today’s walk takes us through a very special landscape, discovering the ecosystem of shifting sands or ‘jable’ which occupies the 5km wide Isthmus separating the Jandía Massif from the rest of Fuerteventura. Our walk takes us for a few kilometres across the white sands that stretch across the entire territory, before heading towards the coast to the windward side of the Isthmus. As we approach this stunning coastline, we are greeted by the magnificent geological formations shaped by the relentless force of the ocean and the persistent trade winds. Over millions of years, these natural elements have sculpted the fossil dunes that stretch along Fuerteventura’s coastline, creating a truly awe-inspiring sight.
Our penultimate walk of the week combines two hikes in the extreme north of the island. During the first, we discover the island’s most recent volcanic complex. The route runs alongside five volcanoes and passes between craters and lava fields. We’ll discover a number of wonders, including Calderon Hondo – a volcano dating back some 50,000 years and part of a volcanic alignment that offers fantastic views over the north of Fuerteventura, the mountain of Tindaya and the neighbouring island of Lanzarote. The second hike of the day offers a complete contrast and a totally different experience. We set off to explore the white sand dunes that make up the Dunes Natural Park, a magnificent desert landscape, nestled between the volcanoes and the ocean.
Today we’ll enjoy a well earned rest and perhaps relax by the pool with a cool drink and enjoy the hotels facilities.
For our final walk of the holiday, we head for the Betancuria rural park and the island’s former capital – Betancuria. This beautiful village, with its traditional architecture, was founded in the 15th century by the Norman Knight Jean de Bethencourt. After visiting this historic village, we begin our hike along a path leading up to the crest of the Macizo. Here, we can admire beautiful panoramic views over the central part of the island, with its villages and mountains, surrounded by the massif. We descend to the small village of Vega de Rio Palmas, then below, to the Las Peñitas reservoir. We will discover an authentic oasis, with palm groves and a small stream running through, offering a desert landscape reminiscent of the nearby African continent.
Length: 11km
Ascent:640m
Descent:890m
Approx Walking Time: 5hrs
Transfer: 1h 20 mins in total
We say goodbye to Fuerteventura after a week of fantastic walking and depart to the airport for our flight home.
Renovated in December 2023, this friendly hotel is the perfect spot for winding down during a walking holiday. Enjoying an enviable location overlooking the ocean and the long sandy beach, the hotel sits in its own beautifully maintained grounds and has two large outdoor pools (one of which is heated in the winter) with plenty of sunbeds dotted around the spacious sun terraces.
Facilities include swimming pools, three restaurants (including Albatros buffet restaurant, La Nonna Italian restaurant, Tucan & Tex Mex restaurant), bars, evening entertainment, fitness room, a tennis court, ‘adult-only’ solarium by the sea with premium sunbeds, Balinese beds and lifestyle furniture and free Wi-Fi throughout. Preferential access to the nearby Thalasso Spa Espirides at the Sheraton Hotel offering a menu of treatments and massages (charges apply). Please note it is recommended that a reusable water bottle is taken for use around the hotel as they now offer water dispensers in the bars and restaurants trying to reduce their plastic waste.
All rooms are well-furnished and have en-suite bathroom, a private balcony or terrace and sea view. Amenities include air-conditioning, 55 inch satellite TV, Wi-Fi, a telephone, tea & coffee facilities ,safe (payable locally €4 per day), minibar (on request) and hairdryer.
Frequently Asked Questions
The transfer from the airport to the hotel is approximately 10 minutes.
Four guided walks are included in the programme. Your walking guide will advise you in resort of the daily programme. The walking programme is graded as Medium/Hard and you can expect to walk between 6– 11 km per day, with some ascents/descents, rough underfoot terrain and high altitudes involved. Below are the distances for each walk, however please bear in mind these are approximate and subject to change due to local conditions.
Lobos Island Nature Park
Walking Distance 6km approx
Ascent: 130 m.
Descent: 130 m
Approx Walking Time 4 hrs
The Jandía Isthmus
Walking Distance 11km approx
Ascent: 250 m
Descent: 250 m
Approx Walking Time: 4 hrs
Volcanoes and dunes in the Corralejo Natural Park
Walking Distance: 8km approx
Ascent:470m
Descent:370m
Approx Walking Time: 4hrs
The Village and Massif of Betancuria
Walking Distance: 11km approx
Ascent:640m
Descent:890m
Approx Walking Time: 5hrs
It is of paramount importance that you have the correct footwear. It is essential to wear walking boots that are comfortable and preferably lightweight, with some ankle support and a good grip. If you already have a pair of boots that you are happy walking in (including during hot/wet weather and on hard ground), then bring these along. Experience has shown that wearing 2 pairs of woollen socks adds to comfort.
The weather, even in summer, is unpredictable – particularly in mountainous areas. We would therefore recommend you travel with clothing suitable for all conditions, and suggest you use the following checklist as a guideline of what to take:
Walking boots with good ankle support
Waterproofs – jacket and trousers
Walking poles – recommended as they provide good support for the knees, particularly on downhill sections of walks and when conditions are wet/slippery
Lightweight trousers and shorts with pockets
Walking socks – several pairs
Lightweight fleece or jumper
Hat & gloves
Important Daysack/rucksack for walking days to carry picnic lunches
Umbrella – it can be used also for protection from the sun as well as rain
Lightweight drinking bottle to carry water whilst walking
Small first aid kit – plasters, insect repellant, etc
Good, high factor sunscreen, sunhat and sunglasses – the sun’s strength is often multiplied in mountainous areas.
Casual, cotton, lightweight daytime wear is the order of the day for Summer months.. Casual “layers” for the autumn and spring months and a warm jacket Medium weights for Winter is recommended for the cool mornings and evenings. Comfortable shoes are a “must” for sightseeing. The hotel prefers reasonably smart dress for dinner – gentlemen are asked to wear long trousers and a formal shirt. Beach towels are available from reception. A €5 deposit is to be paid and will only be charged if towels are not returned at the end of the week.
A full 10-year passport is required, valid for 6 months beyond the intended length of stay.
A visa is not required by holders of passports endorsed “British Citizen” for stays of upto 90 days in any 180-day period.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct visa, a valid passport and any other travel documents for your holiday. All information provided relates to British citizens who hold or are entitled to apply for a British passport. For the most up-to-date visa information please visit; Spain Foreign Advice
If you are not a British citizen and do not hold a British passport, you must make your own enquiries as to the applicable requirements. Alternatively, you can apply for your Visa with our preferred partner the Travel Visa company.
Compulsory vaccinations: None.
All clients are responsible for acquainting themselves with up to date health information of the countries being visited and where necessary take the required precautions. We recommend that you check with your doctor prior to departure as this information can change. You can also visit the travel health website for more information; Travel Health Spain
Euro
These are just a few of the tours, which may be available to you depending on the time of year and the numbers interested. Full details of all the excursions available will be advised at the Information Meeting. Prices may vary, depending on numbers etc and are only a guideline. All tours should be paid for in euros or sterling only. The exact amount will be given at your Information Meeting. Your Tour Leader will help arrange these for you but may not necessarily accompany you.
Please note:- Optional excursions are not guaranteed and are based on minimum numbers. The prices quoted are guideline only and may involve other non-Solos holidaymakers.
Island Tour
This full day will enable us to explore the island of Fuerteventura, visiting La Pared, Ajuy, Ermita de la Peña, Pajara, Betancuria, Vega Rio Palma, Antigua and a goats’ farm.Cost: Approximately Euro 55.00 (including lunch)
Catamaran Boat Trip
Including lunch. Don’t forget your camera, swim wear and sun tan cream. Cost: Approximately Euro 54.00
There is often confusion on the question of gratuities, since it frequently depends on the type of holiday, location and, of course, your attitude towards tipping, as to what is normally expected. In order to give you a rough idea, we have given appropriate guidance below.
Your Tour Leader will be on hand to offer advice or suggestions if required but gratuities are offered entirely at the sole discretion of the individual. We suggest a group collection to cover drivers, porters and hotel staff of €25.00. Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip. The tipping of housekeeping will be left to your individual discretion (a small amount left in your room on departure should cover this and would be much appreciated). As is customary, ‘the hat’ will be passed around for the driver and guide on all optional excursions. For any meals that are not included in your itinerary, or taxi fares, your Tour Leader can advise of an appropriate percentage to add on.
Average Temperatures
| Month(s) | Highest temperature | Lowest temperature |
|---|---|---|
| January - February | 21 °C | 15 °C |
| March | 22 °C | 16 °C |
| April | 23 °C | 16 °C |
| May | 24 °C | 17 °C |
| June | 26 °C | 19 °C |
| July | 27 °C | 21 °C |
| August - September | 28 °C | 21 °C |
| October | 26 °C | 20 °C |
| November | 24 °C | 22 °C |
| December | 22 °C | 16 °C |
“I’m sure you will enjoy it, I have been on three solos holidays to date and the people I’ve met have been great.”
“I’ve been travelling with Solos for nearly 20 years, on and off. The reason is for exactly what you want – you meet like minded people… and have loads of fun!”
“I’ve been on loads of trips with Solos over the years and can honestly say you will not regret booking your 1st one!”
“The feeling you have once you go away on your own is worth all the nerves before! I was so very anxious the first time but now having done it 4 times, I love it!”
