Corralejo, Fuerteventura: A Cheeky Return to a Delightful Island
It’s only taken us 16 years to make our way back to this delightful little island nestled within the group of islands known as The Canaries. But alas, we’ve finally made it back!
A Honeymoon to Remember
Our first visit to Corralejo was in September 1998, celebrating our honeymoon. We stayed at the charming La Concha bungalows, perfectly perched on the edge of Corralejo. Even though it was a honeymoon, we brought along our son Lewis for the two-week stay. During our visit, we met a lovely couple named Alex and Debbie, who were our neighbours. To this day, Michele and Debbie still exchange birthday and Christmas cards, keeping the friendship alive.
A Luxurious Return
Fast forward to the present day, Michele won a week-long stay at the 5-star Gran Hotel Atlantis Bahia Real on Key 103. All we had to cover were our flights and drinks, as the stay was half-board. A brilliant win, I must say!
Our adventure began early, with a wake-up call at 03:20 for our morning flight from Liverpool airport. The car park’s auto-registration reader failed to recognise our car, but a quick chat with the control room sorted that out. After checking in and passing through security, we enjoyed breakfast (I exercised my great willpower and skipped the alcohol) and indulged in some duty-free shopping.
The flight was delayed by about 30 minutes, but we made up the time en route to Fuerteventura. Upon arrival, we had a private pick-up arranged for the 40-minute drive to the hotel. There, we were greeted with a glass of champagne at check-in—a splendid start to our stay.
First Day Delights
The early afternoon was a bit overcast, so we decided to walk into Corralejo, a brisk 20-25 minute stroll for us power walkers. We had a light lunch: an omelette for Michele and Canarian potatoes for me, both washed down with a couple of grande draft beers.
As the clouds cleared, we hit the beach for some sun-worshipping before our evening meal. The hotel restaurant, clean and well laid out, offered a variety of traditional roast meats (beef, chicken, and lamb chops) and an assortment of fresh fish. By 21:30, we were both utterly knackered and retired to bed.
A Sunny Beach Day
By 09:00 the next morning, we were awake and ready for breakfast—cereal, followed by freshly cooked omelette and croissants, all washed down with black coffee. Then it was off to the beach for a day of sunbathing. I managed to finish Alex Ferguson’s autobiography while Michele enjoyed her iPod. We both caught a bit of the sun; Michele always burns before getting any colour due to her fair skin, and even I turned a bit pink (first sunbathing session since Jamaica two years ago!).
After a sunny day, we enjoyed a Tex-Mex themed dinner before heading into Corralejo. We found the music square where we spent so many nights 16 years ago. A few mojitos later, a light shower sent everyone scurrying home. We caught a €4 taxi back to the hotel.
What’s Next?
Now, with a fresh new day ahead of us, the big question is: what shall we do?
If you’ve enjoyed reading about our holiday exploits, why not check out some of my other posts?
