Fuerteventura

three thousand hours of sunshine a year

With only 100km separating the 'Punta de la Entallada' from Cape Juby in Morroco is the closest Canary Island to the African coast.

It is easy to get away from it all on Fuerteventura, whether you venture into its famous dunes or head off for the volcanic landscapes of the interior. It is worth renting a car for a few days, or you can join an organised excursion. A more novel way of discovering Fuerteventura is to take part in a camel safari. These set off according to demand from La Lajita in the south of the island for guests in Costa Calma and Jandia and near to Lajares for those staying in Corralejo and Caletta de Fuste.

Another popular outing is a boat trip to the uninhabited island of Isla de Lobos, whose beaches are even more secluded than those on Fuerteventura. There are no roads and no cars here - any exploration you do will be on foot. You can also take a ferry to Lanzarote, only 35 minutes away from Corralejo. Founded in 1485, Antigua is another pretty little village with a handsome church. Set around a large black and white windmill, once used to grind corn for the local speciality gofio, the Molino de Antigua cultural centre nearby contains a fine cactus garden, a craft shop and changing exhibitions of art.

A more strenuous way of exploring the island is to go on a walking tour. You might visit a volcanic crater, walk along the dry riverbed of a barranco (valley) or climb up Witch Mountain at Tindaya. Stout shoes essential! As you wander round the island, pause for a while in some of its attractive villages like Betancuria, named after the Norman baron Béthencourt who discovered the island. An appealing collection of whitewashed houses, some with doorways and facades dating back hundreds of years, it was the capital of Fuerteventura until 1834. Situated near the church, the Casa Santa Maria complex contains a small museum, a bodega selling local produce and craft workshops. The village also boasts a museum of archaeology containing relics of the island’s original inhabitants - the Guanches.