All posts by Fuertecharter Team

Events, Islote de Lobos

XVI Swimming Crossing Isla de Lobos-Corralejo 2014

Our favourite site for our boat trips from Corralejo on the 19th of October will be the exceptional setting for the XVI swimming crossing Isla de Lobos-Corralejo.

The narrow channel separating these two points of the already traditional swimming crossing is known as “El Río”, a 3.400m-long channel of shallow waters (no deeper than 10m); the enrolment to this crossing opened last August 4th at ten in the morning and closed on October 1st. The participation is limited to 220 swimmers. The usual average time for this crossing is 65 minutes.
The starting point in the Isla de Lobos is in “Punta del Marrajo” at 12 p.m, and it will finish in “Playa del Muelle Chico”, Corralejo.
This event has been organized year after year by the “Club Deportivo Herbania”, and this year they are organizing the XVI event and it will be one of high difficulty as it will take place in an area with strong sea currents, so the swimmers taking part in it must be really experienced.
This year the crossing presents a great innovation, extra difficulty that will make the event even more exciting. The thirty quickest swimmers will have the chance to perform a sweep-round, 7000m

long.
This event gathers amateurs and great swimmers that every year join it with the firm determination to reach the shore after overcoming the 3400m separating the two islands.

Enrolments usually take place in the web C.D.Hebania or straight in the club’s office. Fuertecharter’s team is the exceptional spectator of this crossing as we cooperate with safety in this event supporting the swimmers with one of our boats; it’s a strong current area and we must take the necessary safety measures to make the event succeed. This event has lots of followers and the sweep-round novelty will make it even more exciting. We’ll be meeting in the water, good luck for all the participants, we’ll be supporting you.

3400m long CROSSING:
•    Starting time: 12:00 h
•    Distance: 3400m
•    Starting point: Punta Marrajo (Isla de Lobos)
•    Finishing line: Muelle Chico de Corralejo (La Oliva)
•    Route of the journey: Southwest- Northwest
•    Difficulty: high
•    Tides: 1st high tide at 11:40 h / 2nd low tide at17:53 h
•    Participants: 220 swimmers
•    Average duration: 65 minutes
7000m CROSSING:

•    Starting point: 12:00 h
•    Distance: 7000m
•    Participants: The thirty quickest swimmers
Fuertecharter’s team

FuerteCharter | Travesía a nado Isla de Lobos Corralejo 2014

Beaches

Papagayo beaches, Lanzarote

In our articles we almost always talk about our neighbour Lobos islet, as a main destination of our boat trips from “Corralejo”. However today will tell you a little bit about the heavenly “Papagayo” beaches, in the island of “Lanzarote”, a destination we often visit too in our private trip CP8.

Papagayo beaches consist of five small bays, which spread along 2 kms, located in Lanzarote and belonging to the village of “Playa Blanca”, in the municipality of “Yaiza”.

These small bays are the most precious diamond of our neighbour island, because of their spectacular golden sand and their quiet turquoise waters which turn this nook into one of the most seductive heavens in the Canary Islands, where having a bath is almost a must.

The five coves are located in what is called the natural monument of “Los Ajaches” —officially declared as such in June 1987, and it was also declared as an area of protection for birds (ZEPA) in 1979, and area of high ecological sensitivity in 1990— a volcano massif of a great beauty, landscape and ecological relevance where paleontological remains with fossils from the Lower Pliocene have been found.

Each of them has a different name, and all of them are very recommendable to visit: Playa Mujeres, Playa del Pozo, Playa de Papagayo, Caleta de Congrio and Puerto Velas, Playa de Papagayo being the one where we usually drop anchor in our boat trips from Fuerteventura.

FuerteCharter | Papagayo beaches Lanzarote

In each of these five small bays there are low-lying boulders that in turn form other smaller sheltered bays which offer more cosiness and privacy to their visitors.

Its proximity to the tourist town of Playa Blanca, just five minutes away by car, turn these beaches into ideal places to relax while not being too far away from the tourist hot spots, but far enough to get away from the hustle and bustle, mainly in winter time, season in which it’s sometimes difficult to come across any more visitors in these beaches, thought of as heavens of unpaired beauty for almost exclusive enjoyment.

In summer they are more frequented, but their breadth makes it possible not to see them as crowded as the beaches in other tourist destinations.

In these beaches you find top quality conditions. As they are sheltered from the wind due to their orientation these beaches enjoy nice temperature, they have crystal-clear waters and almost no waves, typical from a Caribbean landscape. The views of the islet of Lobos and our dear Fuerteventura island make it possible to be lying in the sun while enjoying a work of art worthy of any of the best museums in the world.

These good conditions turn these beaches into an ideal place for children to run about safely without danger, to practise sports like beach tennis or fishing, to read, thanks to its peaceful silence, and go for long walks on the golden sand.

We highly recommend you to visit this piece of paradise if you haven’t done it yet.

Fuertecharter’s Team.

  

FAUNA AND FLORA, Fuerteventura

The seabream: A species found in abundance in Fuerteventura

Foto: © Fotonatura.org

The seabream is the most common fish in the world belonging to the Sparidae family, and one of the most common species in the island of Fuerteventura. It’s an exceptional inhabitant in our neighbour islet of Lobos, and we can watch it everyday in our snorkelling sessions.

Its Greek name is “Diplodus”, steming from “diplos” and “odus” (double tooth), and it makes reference to the fact that it has two different kinds of teeth: incisors, flat and sharp at the front part of the jaws, to cut and bite off (some species even present sharp canines); and molars, at the back, to crush the food.
The seabreams’ habits change with age, so when they are young they are omnivorous and as they grow up they become carnivorous, feeding on molluscs, some of them with shell, and on invertebrates they dig up. Within the different species, some of them are gregarious and you can find them in schools, looking for protection from potential predators or just around a food source, as for examples mussels. Other species, like the sharpsnout seabream or the zebra seabream, go alone and you can hardly see them in groups of more than 3 adult specimens.
Another characteristic of this family is that they are hermaphroditic, and the first stage of their lives they are male, and they become female later on, which is why the size of the female specimens is considerably bigger than that of male ones.
It’s a combative species, and during the mating season they can be quite aggressive, even endangering the life of their own breeds. Their breeding season is Summer.
Here, in The Canary Islands, and specially in Fuerteventura, we have the five species that make up this family: white seabream, (Diplodus sargus), annular seabream (Diplodus Annularis), common two-banded seabream (Diplodus Vulgaris), sharpsnout seabream (Diplodus Puntazzo) and zebra seabream (Diplodus Cervinus).
All seabream species have reached the 50% of their maximum size at the age of 4.

The white seabream (Diplodus sargus)
This is the one we find more easily in Fuerteventura Coast, on rocky seabed as well as between seaweed and sandy seabed, in shallow areas, between 0 and 50 mts deep.
It’s grey, light or dark depending on the camouflage it needs, and it has flashing silver sides. Young specimens feature dark vertical and longitudinal stripes at its sides, and in some sub-species, like the Diplodus sargus sargus or the white seabream, they disappear completely when they become adults, except the one they have at their tail. In other sub-species, like the Diplodus sargus cadenati, or black seabream, the stripes are lengthwise, and they never disappear. In the case of the Diplodus sargus lineatus the vertical stripes don’t disappear either.
They have 12 bones in the dorsal fin, and 3 in the anal one, and a black border in the tail fin.
They can be, maximum, 45cm long, weigh a maximum of 2kg, and live around 10 years.

FuerteCharter | sargo Fuerteventura

Annular seabream (Diplodus Annularis)
Silver uniform body with five vertical dark lines which disappear in the adult years. The pelvic fin and the beginning of the anal fin are yellowish. It’s very common in meadows of marine phanerogams, among 0 and 15m deep. The biggest specimen that has been found is 22cm long, and it lives around 7 years.

FuerteCharter | sargo Fuerteventura

Common two-banded seabream (Diplodus vulgaris)
This species doesn’t have any vertical stripes in its body, just one behind its head and one near the tail, and what characterises it are the thin longitudinal yellow stripes, a slightly blue colour in its head and a reddish stain on its eyes.
It’s often found in rocky areas, no deeper than 50m. The biggest specimen was 36,5m long, with a weight of 1,3kg, and they usually live around 9 years.

FuerteCharter | sargo Fuerteventura

Sharpsnout seabream (Diplodus puntazzo)
It also has vertical stripes that disappear when it becomes adult. It’s called this way after its snout looking like a beak, with tilted incisor teeth.
It inhabits deep areas, between 10 and 150m deep. It’s usually a bigger specimen, around 60m long, weighing up to 1680kg. It usually lives around 9 years.

FuerteCharter | sargo Fuerteventura

Zebra seabream (Diplodus cervinus)
Also known as real seabream because of its big size. Its body is slightly convex and it features vertical dark brown and silvery lines, which do not disappear with age. Old specimens have quite thick lips. It inhabits very deep areas, between 30 and 300m deep.
The biggest specimen is 55cm long and it weighs 2,74kg, although in spear fishing they have found 5kg specimens. It is the most long-lived of all the seabreams, being able to live up to 17 years.

FuerteCharter | sargo Fuerteventura

The seabream is a very coveted fish in sport fishing, as it’s very easy to catch, mainly the zebra seabream. In Spain, the smallest size allowed to be caught is 22cm.
It’s a very popular fish in the gastronomy of Fuerteventura, due to its versatility (it can be grilled, steamed, baked or fried) and also because it has a soft flavour and meat, rich in vitamins and minerals.

Fuertecharter’s team

 

Fuerteventura

La Peña Virgin: Patron Saint of Fuerteventura

From the 80’s in the XIX Century the pilgrimage to La Peña has been celebrated every third weekend in September. This is one of the most popular ceremonies for “majorero” people, framed within the festivities of “Virgen de la Peña”, affectionately known as “La Peñita”, patron saint of Fuerteventura since the XVII century.

The image of this Virgin is one of the Virgin Mary, Gothic French style and carved in alabaster by an unknown sculptor. It was brought to the island in the XV century by the Norman Conquerors, when they founded Betancuria.

It’s the oldest image of the Virgin in the Canary Islands after the image of “La Virgen de la Candelaria”, patron saint of The Canary Islands in Tenerife, disappeared in a heavy storm. It was dated from the XIV century.

FuerteCharter | Virgen de la Peña Fuerteventura

“La Peñita” gets this name after having been found by San Diego de Alcalá and Fray Juan de San Torcaz, Franciscan monks who inhabited the convent of Betancuria in the XVII century, in a cave that was hidden at the foot of a rock, in the ravine of “Malpaso”. According to the legend, the image may have been hidden there so it wasn’t stolen or destroyed by the “bereber” pirate Xabán, who devastated and destroyed the village of Betancuria in 1593.

The miracle of finding this image made it possible to build a little chapel in the very ravine where the carving of the Virgin was found, and the faithful went on pilgrimage to “El Barranco de Malpaso” for a long time, to present their prayers and offers to their dear Virgin. Until one day they were aware of how difficult it was to access there and also realised that the image of the Virgin was deteriorating in that chapel because of the humidity and they decided to build a new chapel in the neighbour village of La Vega de Río Palmas, which is the chapel of “Nuestra señora de la Virgen de la Peña”, inaugurated in August 1716, a place easy to access where all the devotees have the chance to visit “La Peñita”.

This chapel, with a classicist stone façade, houses the main altar that keeps the Virgin in a niche framed by a silvery sun, with a crescent at her feet. The image is white, maybe due to the bleaching of its pigments over the years, and it presents the Virgin and child on her knees.

The festivities of “La Peña” Virgin started to be celebrated on the 19th December, since 1599. By then, believers coming from all over the island came to the chapel in “El Barranco de Malpaso” but, due to the rainy season at those times often the attendance wasn’t very massive, as people took advantage of it to sow, and also because the water running down the ravine made it difficult to access the chapel. So, it was suggested changing the celebration to the 5th August, and later on it was fixed on the third week in September.

Nowadays these festivities are still celebrated on December 18th, and on August 5th “La Peña chica”, although at a local level, the festivity of the island being celebrated in September.

The Friday preceding the third Saturday in September (this year it was Friday 19th) thousands of “majoreros” from different points in the island set off on pilgrimage to the chapel, where they celebrate the different masses on Saturday and the Virgin is taken in a parade around the streets of the village. Some come on foot, some others ridding a donkey or camel to queue if front of the chapel of their dear Virgin, whom they lavish with flowers, prayers and offerings.

The festive atmosphere is provided from the very beginning by local musical groups, pilgrims, folksong associations and bands of musicians that provide their music and lyrics, some of them related to the celebration, as worship of the Virgin, some of them just emotional, like “isas” and “folias”, and even some playful songs such as “polcas”.

In the village they even adapt some spaces as roadhouses where you can taste delicious goat meat, “papas arrugadas”, nougat candy, caramel-coated almonds, pineapples of almonds or peanuts. Here you have the program of activities and a map of the area together with the bus schedule for those special days.

FuerteCharter’s Team

FuerteCharter | Virgen de la Peña FuerteventuraFuerteCharter | Virgen de la Peña FuerteventuraFuerteCharter | Virgen de la Peña Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura

¿Qué hacer en Corralejo?

Foto: minube.com

Corralejo es el principal centro turístico del Norte de Fuerteventura, localidad desde cuyo muelle parten nuestras excursiones al islote de Lobos, y el lugar ideal para disfrutar de unas vacaciones, no solo de sol y playa; así que aquí te proponemos una serie de actividades de ocio que puedes realizar, para sacarle el mayor partido a tus días de descanso; planes ideales para realizar en tu semana de vacaciones que hagan de ellas una experiencia inolvidable.


Corralejo Grandes Playas y Parque Natural de las Dunas de Corralejo
Si has elegido Corralejo como destino para tus vacaciones probablemente lo has hecho por la calidad de sus paradisiacas playas, de fina arena y aguas turquesas, cuyo máximo exponente lo verás a escasos metros de la localidad, en el famoso Parque Natural de las Dunas de Corralejo. Se trata de las dunas más grandes del archipiélago canario, espacio protegido desde el año 94, y formadas por una finísima arena blanca que con la luz del sol te despertará infinidad de sensaciones; son además hábitat de una gran variedad de aves y de especies endémicas. Un lugar de gran belleza, del que podrás disfrutar con niños, de muy fácil acceso e ideal para fotografiar. Desde estas dunas, que comprenden 9km de costa, podrás descubrir las grandes playas de Corralejo que, como una extensión de las dunas —ocupando 3,5 km de longitud, pero al otro lado de la carretera— son, para muchos, las mejores playas del norte de Fuerteventura. Comienzan en el Hotel Riu y son espectaculares playas de aguas turquesas con vistas a Isla de Lobos y la vecina Isla de Lanzatote, la costa este de Fuerteventura, a tan solo 5 km de Corralejo. Muchas de estas playas cuentan con servicios de vigilancia, chiringuito y parada de guaguas. Son muy tranquilas, con una baja ocupación, ya que son muy extensas; de fina arena dorada y con aguas normalmente tranquilas. Visita obligada, algo que no puedes perderte en Corralejo.

Excursión a Isla de Lobos
A poco más de 3 km de Corralejo, con salida desde el mismo muelle, contratas la excursión a este pequeño islote, también protegido por la variedad de especies de aves y por la calidad de sus aguas; un lugar donde el tiempo se detiene, en el que zambullirte en cristalinas aguas turquesas en cualquiera de sus dos playas, ya sea saltando desde su muellito o en la bonita playa de la Concha, donde serás espectador de lujo de las Dunas de Corralejo que te quedan en frente, disfrutando también de las vistas del volcán de morro Francisco. Las aguas que separan esta isla de Corralejo son de una riqueza excepcional, por eso es recomendable que contrates una excursión en catamaran con nosotros, ya que nuestros expertos marineros te contarán todos los secretos de este río de mar, te mostrarán las fomosas pardelas, habitantes aves excepcionales del islote, y los más afortunados podrán disfrutar de las tortugas boba, que reposan sobre el mar tomando el sol e incluso de delfines juguetones que te acompañarán unos minutos de trayecto. Y por supuesto, contamos con una zodiac para acercarte el puertito de Lobos, para muchos el paraíso, de origen totalmente volcánico. Esta isla es visita obligada, así que no seguimos explicando, tienes que descubrirlo por ti mismo.

La localidad de Corralejo y su gastronomía
Te proponemos conocer la parte vieja de Corralejo, pasear por su Paseo marítimo con las vistas ya mencionadas a la Isla de Lanzarote y al islote de Lobos, lleno de bonitas terrazas para tu disfrute. Aún quedan vestigios de la época en que este pueblito vivía de la pesca, lo descubrirás al llegar al muelle chico y ver sus pequeños barquitos de pescadores. En la calle de la Iglesia, peatonal, cuya vida se activa a partir de las 6 de la tarde, cuando ya te has cansado de la playa, podrás tomar desde una rica cerveza hasta cualquier elaborado cóctel, escuchar música en vivo en la misma calle, disfrutar de un rico aperitivo o de una exquisita cena ya sea a base de pescado local, queso majorero, tomates de la tierra… Son muchos los extranjeros que asentados en esta isla ofrecen lo mejor de su gastronomía con lo mejor de la gastronomía de Fuertventura, por lo que la oferta culinaria es amplia, rica y económica. También podrás disfrutar comprando tus regalos en el casco viejo, en pequeñas tiendas artesanales, o acudir a la concurrida calle principal, centro neurálgico de la localidad y por la que pasarás infinidad de veces, llena de locales, tiendas, supermercados…

Practicar Surf o Kitesurf en las playas de Flag beach, el Moro o El Burro
Fuerteventura es un paraíso para la práctica de estos deportes. Para el surf, por ofrecer playas con fondos de arena sin riesgo para iniciarte y por la variedad de sus olas, muchos días con el tamaño ideal para que sea una iniciación segura y divertida. Para el kite, porque muchos días contamos con el viento ideal para disfrutar de este deporte. Estos deportes se pueden practicar en familia y a pocos kilómetros de Corralejo, en las playas que limitan las dunas. Te recomendamos contratarlo con alguna escuela para que te inicie, explicándote los secretos del deporte, dotándote del material necesario y con experimentados instructores. Además que estas tres playas son como las antes mencionadas, de una arena fina que brilla con la luz del sol y una belleza espectacular…

El volcán de Morro Francisco
Y para disfrutar de la visión de Corralejo, en conjunto con la Isla de Lobos y Lanzarote, te proponemos una pequeña excursión de senderismo que te llevará a lo más alto de la localidad y que te hará sentir el origen volcánico de estas islas; se trata de lo que un día fue un gran volcán responsable de la formación de este zona de la isla de Fuertreventura. Una excursión de dificultad baja que no te llevará más de 1,5 horas y que te ofrece también una visión del resto de la isla a tus espaldas.

Fuertecharter | Corralejo
©fotosaereasdecanarias.com

Y son muchas más las posibilidades de disfrute de Fuerteventura que dejaremos para otro artículo, hasta aquí esperamos haberte ofrecido planes que, sin salir de los alrededores de Corralejo, hagan de tus vacaciones una experiencia inolvidable. Te esperamos en el muelle de Corralejo para llevarte a esa excursión a Isla de Lobos que te hemos recomendado, porque esa sí que no te la puedes perder.

El Equipo de FuerteCharter.

Islote de Lobos

Roman remains in Lobos islet

It’s many those who ask us what are those fenced in excavations we find in Lobos islet, so we will leave this article for those who want to know a little about the history of our neighbour islet.

At the beginning of 2012 it was found out, in the islet of Lobos, a site with archaeological remains dating back to the I century B.C and the I century A.D.

In November 2013 the diggings in the islet started, by means of a project called “Poblamiento y Colonización en las Islas del Atlántico”, aimed to study and research of these remains, and framed within the existing institutional agreement between the OACM in Tenerife (Autonomous Organization of Centres and Museums) and the Regional Office of culture and historical patronage of the Council of Fuerteventura.

As studies and diggings have been developing, hypotheses have been made, and nowadays it is quite validated the one which states that the site belongs to Roman settlements, maybe just seasonal, looking for sea snails in the islet— Stramonita haemastoma or thais, known in the Canary Island as “carnadilla”—, from which they got the purple dye they used for the noblemen’s outfits at those times. What has allowed us to validate this hypotheses is the discovery of more than 70.000 specimens of these molluscs. This kind of site is the only discovery in the Canary Islands, and other similar sites have appeared in the island of Mogador and other points in the Atlantic African coastline, which proves that this route was already used by these great empires (Punic, Greek and Roman) to stock up not just on “carnadilla” for dyes but also on fish, as the area was really rich in tunidae.

In the old times, purple on fabrics was the only sign of social distinction, from the Phoenicians to the Romans, as getting this dye was very expensive. From each snail just a few drops of the coveted dye could be extracted, used to dye the capes and garments of the highest offices; so this dye was an indicator of luxury and social distinction. Even the State itself was in control of its monopoly and organized trade and military expeditions to find the necessary products for the elaboration of this dye, which they then brought for its trade in the Mediterranean.

Lobos Islet’s site has 108m2 (18 x 6), and excavations are making it deeper and deeper, as the remains which appear are on slopes and even part of the found walls are still under the earth, some 2m deeper. The hypotheses point out that the structures that are being dug up belonged to the rooms where they stored these molluscs. Some remains of pottery are also appearing, surely containers where they stored the molluscs, as well as remains of household and kitchen utensils, pieces of iron and bronze, fish hooks and nails, remains of amphoras, pans, lids… even bone remains from the animals of the time (sheep and goats).

Excavations are expected to take place until the end of 2016 and they are being carried out by a team of eight professionals coming from the council of Fuerteventura, from the OAMC in Tenerife and the ULL, who keep shedding light on the history of the ancient settlers and colonists of these lands.

Fuertecharter’s Team

FAUNA AND FLORA, Fuerteventura

The “Vieja” in Fuerteventura: Cretan Sparisoma

Photo: © Rafa Santamaría

One of the most representative species of the marine fauna in Fuerteventura and its gastronomy is renowned Vieja (Cretan Sparisoma). 

In our daily excursions to the neighbouring islet of Lobos the presence of this species cheers up the sea bottom with vivid and bright colours, red and yellow in the female.

The Cretan Sparisoma belongs to the superclass of gnathostomata vertebrates, fish that have a bony internal skeleton (bony fishes), made ​​up of many calcareous structures and few cartilaginous ones. Apart from its internal skeleton it also has flaky bones in its dermis, which is known as exoskeleton.

Its mouth is small and terminal, and it can make very precise movements, as it has articulated dermal bones, where their teeth grow, which are very strong but lack replacement when they fall or break. Its teeth are partially or completely fused, forming a pair of plates in each jaw,  in the shape of a parrot beak, which is why it’s so often called parrot fish.

It inhabits rocky bottoms, feeding on small crustaceans and invertebrates. It usually feeds by nibbling the bottom, introducing in its mouth even rock particles. Once in its stomach, this is responsible for separating the bits of rock from small crustaceans and invertebrates that are hidden in them, and then it ejects pieces of rock in the form of sand, so, it’s a fish that contributes to the formation the sandy bottom.

Its body is oval, with rounded front part and tapered head, and it’s a species that presents great colour differences between female and male specimens. While the male is brownish, the female has bright colours: red, indigo and yellow. Males can be up to 50 cm long.

Another characteristic feature of this species is that individuals can change sex, because of strategies developed throughout history to perpetuate the species.

This species has the two reproductive organs, male and female, but initially only one part matures and it is defined as male or female. However, when the specimen reaches a certain age and, for example, if the partner dies, the sex organs of the specimen remaining alive atrophy and the hormones stimulate the other reproductive organs to mature so that the survival of the species is ensured.

FuerteCharter | Vieja Fuerteventura

FuerteCharter | Vieja Fuerteventura

The art of fishing has its peculiarities and there is a large number of amateurs and professionals who are devoted to fishing only this species, and have a vast knowledge and wisdom about it. They name their rigging in a different way to the rest of fishermen, and they have a special fishing rod, with a very long and flexible tip, usually made with intelligence and with few means. Even the name they give to the low tides can change over that given by the rest of fishermen.

According to these men of the sea, “La vieja” is an intelligent fish that tests you and even laughs at you if you do not know how to fish it.” Good technique is necessary and not just cheat them by casting bait into the water. It’s very whimsical about the bait, and it only likes small rock crabs. In Fuerteventura it’s common to see fishermen at low tide, crouching to capture the delicacy that will help them get their trophies.

This type of fishing can be done either from shore or boat. In ancient times, fishing from barge required two sailors, one holding the oars and another one holding a fishing rod at the back, to jerk at the right time, as the other hand was busy holding the “mirafondos”: glass used to see how the fish approaches underwater. The sailors had their own sign language with their legs, as their hands were busy with fishing rods and rows, to communicate without words so as not to scare the wise fish. Thus, with their legs, the sailor wearing the “mirafondos” told the one rowing if he had to give paddling strokes and in which direction. Today fishing takes place in motor boats and the presence of two sailors per boat isn’t required. It’s either float fishing with rod and reel or with air fishing rod.

“La vieja” is also whimsical about its habitat, so it can be found both in the intertidal zone and on the coast, and tends to move from one place to another frequently.
According to the fishermen, the best time to catch them is at dawn, as “la vieja” always rests in the same place (roosts), and in the morning it wakes up hungry, and it is harder to refuse a delicious crab.

Team FuerteCharter

Islote de Lobos

A visit to Lobos islet

Just 2km away from Corralejo, the islet of Lobos —which we visit daily in our boat trips—, presents a series of attractions well worth to bear in mind in our holidays.

To make it easy, in Fuertecharter we show you this short guide with the main spots to visit in the islet.

If you have a look at the presented diagram, number 1 is “el Puertito”, no doubt, for many, the most spectacular site in the islet, due to its full of life turquoise water — letting us see a sandy bottom typical of heavenly beaches— and to the big amount of big and small rocks that are shown by the low tide, making the landscape change considerably.

In “El Puertito” we find the only human settlements in the islet, crowded in summer but almost uninhabited in winter, and we also find the only restaurant in this islet, where you can eat fresh fish and “paella” every day.

The next tourist attraction is the “Centro de Interpretación”, a wooden building where the visitors can find big informative panels about the history of Lobos islet, its landscapes, flora and fauna… and where we can also see a scale model of the islet, which will allow you to get an overall idea of the islet’s orography.

Then we find “ La playa de La Concha” — called like this after its shape— also known as “La Calera”, as rhodolites were obtained in the past from this beach, calcareous structures of weeds that were used in the lime kiln, near the beach, to get lime to build Martiño lighthouse. This beach seduces all those who tread on its sand with the quietness of its crystal clear waters. This is a little bay closed by a stone and pebble barrier, which acts as a shield against the waves and turns it into a pool which is ideal to have relaxing baths.

Near this beach the visitor will find an unfinished salt mine, an initiative by Andrés B. Zala, neighbour from Corralejo, who tried to obtain salt to preserve fish until they could take it to Corralejo.

“Las Puntas del Marrajo y Saladero” are protrusions that act as breakers for what many consider to be the best waves in Fuerteventura. The wave emerging in “Saladero” is known as “Derecha de Lobos”,an internationally renowned wave which year after year attracts hundreds of tourist to our island. The wave in “Majarro” is also a long and noble right, much easier to reach for less experienced surfers.

The next outstanding point in the map is “La montaña de la Caldera” whose outline is very representative in the islet of Lobos. This mountain is a volcanic cone that belongs to Bayuyo alignment, of which we spoke in a previous article in our blog. It is 127m high (with impressive views of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura from its summit) and it’s half submerged, housing within it a black sand beach: La Caleta. Towards the wind direction, on the inner side of the caldera, there is a colony of yellow-legged seagulls, and on its most unreachable slopes shearwaters and petrels nest.

The next spot is “La playa del Sobrao”, and following the path we get to “El Faro de Martiño”, emblematic sea building to which we have also devoted an article you can also read by clicking on the following link. Under this building the traveller can find a small salt marsh called “La lagunita del faro” , created by the interaction of rain and sea water, and it’s characterized by a striking salt crust caused by quick evaporation, on which you can watch numerous birds like herons, curlews and turnstones.

And finally, the end of the track is marked by “Las Lagunitas”, with a very special ecosystem. It’s a hollow separated from the sea by a small sandbar whose bottom is relatively waterproofed by clay deposits. When the tide rises the sea water seeps through and creates lots of little ponds. Three species of plants define this ecosystem botanically: Limonium papilatum, Limonium tuberculatum (which have in Lobos their best populations) and Limonium ovalifolium canariense, a unique endemic species in Lobos islet. This species is able to survive under the water, even in case of large tides.

Near “Las Lagunitas” we also find the biggest lime kiln in the islet, whose fuel was extracted from nearby fossil marine deposits which are rich in limestone.

In our boat trips from Corralejo we surround the whole Lobos islet, offering sights of all the track we have told you about, but from the sea. We invite you to discover this wonderful islet, both from the water and walking through it.

FuerteCharter Team.

FAUNA AND FLORA

Turtle project in Fuerteventura

Some weeks ago we were talking about the beautiful specimens of Loggerhead Turtle that very often liven up our trips in Fuerteventura and we also commented on the existence in our island of an ambitious project aiming to bring back this specimen into the Canary Islands, which disappeared from our coasts 300 years ago, The Turtle Project. The Island Council of Fuerteventura, the Environment Department, the Biosphere Reserve and a group of volunteers have been working on this project, which has two basic lines of action, from 2006.

Reintroducing the Loggerhead Turtle

Some data confirm that sea turtles bred some years ago in Majorera coasts, but we suppose that the strong pressure exerted by the man on the coast made this species stop coming to lay their eggs here.
The Turtle Project intends to reintroduce the Loggerhead Turtle in the Canary Islands, more specifically in Fuerteventura, aiming to settle again a population of this species that, over time, will breed on the beaches of the Archipelago. With this purpose, they are requesting Cape Verde to give them a population of these turtles. The beach of Cofete has been considered, for several reasons, as the perfect site for the development of this project. 
In Cape Verde, in the island of Boa Vista, they have been studying the population of Loggerhead Turtles for several years, and one of the results of this study is that these turtles don’t always breed in the right place, and because of that, in some occasions the 80% of the eggs can be lost. It is precisely these eggs that Cape Verde is giving this project, trying not to jeopardise the population they have in that Archipelago.
Two turtle nurseries were set up in Fuerteventura, one in Playa de Cofete and another one in Morro Jable. The eggs were placed in Cofete and the first hatching was a complete success, which turns Cofete into an ideal habitat for the development of nests.

Once the eggs have hatched the new born turtles are moved to the nursery in Morro Jable, known as Cape Verdean  “Sodade” (homesickness). In this place the little turtles are looked after and fed — about approximately one year— with the aim of their reaching the necessary development to release them, increasing their possibilities of getting ahead once they are free, as newborn turtles are really vulnerable. After the first year it’s time to release them.
The Loggerhead Turtle is characterised for always breeding on the same beach they were born, so it’s expected that fifteen years later, when they reach their maturity, they will come back and breed on Cofete beach, witness of their creation.  This is the aim of the project, as if these turtles breed on our coasts they will repopulate the archipelago over the years. But in order to achieve a complete success of this ambitious project our cooperation is necessary, not just the one from institutions.  As we said in our previous article, this is a slow reproductive rate species, as not only do the females reach their sexual maturity between the age of 15 and 33 but they only lay eggs every two or three years. Moreover, once the eggs hatch very few of them become adults. 
For this reason, adding to the scarcity of beaches to nest the fact that many specimens die tangled in fishing nets, asphyxiated in the trawls, trapped in plastics waste… it’s considered that The Loggerhead Turtle is an endangered species.
Although we haven’t been able to move out eggs from The Cape Verde to Fuerteventura for some years, the Island council states that the hatching of eggs on Cofete beach is about to start again, thus aiming to increase the possibilities of success of this project.

Recovering turtles

Within the Turtle Project there is a second line of action: that of recovering and healing injured turtles, where institutions as well as a group of volunteers who have invested their time in this project are working on the reintroduction of these turtles. It’s necessary that all of us contribute to this recovery, alert on seeing an injured turtle so it can be rescued, healed and release again into the sea…
Just today we have had the chance to witness how a young specimen of Loggerhead Turtle, after having been recovered and healed, has been released in Grandes Playas, Corralejo, by environmental agents —landscape that we enjoy in our trips in Fuerteventura—. We leave you with the pictures we have taken of this beautiful turtle and we encourage you to be alert and contribute to this ambitious project…

We also encourage you to enjoy the sea and, hopefully, in the company of these turtles; we can assure than on countless occasions in our trips in Fuerteventura you can see them float on the surface in order to take the sun they need to increase their body temperature as they, as reptiles, must thermoregulate.

 FuerteCharter Team


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Fuerteventura

Dune Natural park in Corralejo

Our boat trips from Corralejo towards the islet of Lobos is characterised by the breathtaking views of its landscape behind us: The Dune Natural Parc in Corralejo.

This is a huge expanse of golden sand taking up 2668,7 yellowish hectares in stark contrast with the deep blue of our sky and the turquoise shades of the water in the Eastern coast of Fuerteventura.

The Dune Natural Park, where the islet of Lobos belongs too, was designated as such on the 15th October 1982, and it was definitely reclassified as Natural Park on the 19th December 1994 by the Law on Natural Sites in the Canary Islands.

The formation of the Dunes making up this park is completely organic, that is, they have originated due to the build-up, in the North of the island, of remains of shells of thousands of molluscs and other marine organisms with an external skeleton which has been disaggregated and pulverised. These remains are deposited there by the sea and once they get dry they are heaped by wind currents. The wind creates different shapes in dunes, as for example ripples, which are small waves, and the strength of the wind makes dunes not be fixed but move slowly, either independently or in strings that move crosswise the wind direction.

Dunes are a very fragile system, as any within-range obstacles in the dunes field will cause a change in its dynamics. Usually, in front of the dune fields some pre-dunes are formed beside the coastline, and being closer to the sea and wetter they don’t move, so some vegetation grows there which prevents them from moving even more. This pre-dune acts as a barrier, greatly stopping the erosive strength of the sea wind, mainly in stormy periods.

Under the several meters of deposited thin white sand you can sometimes make out the “malpaís” foundations (rocks with very sharp cutting edges), characteristic of this volcanic area.

The dunes border to the North with the village of Corralejo, and to the South with the “malpaís” in Montaña Roja, the Eastern border being this huge Ocean of heavenly turquoise waters where a dive can become the most idyllic entertainment.

The scientific value of these dunes is very important and they are inhabited by several protected and threatened endemic species, which is why they have been designated special protection area for birds (ZEPA) and, from the 13th July 1990, area of biological sensitivity, according to the Environmental impact prevention law. Among the birds we can find in the area we have the Houbara bustard (really scarce) Cursorius cursor, pteroclidae, ash-grey eaglet, the kestrel, anthus and calandrella rufescens or saxicola dacotiae.

And in what seems a true desert we find out the existence of some brave plants, able to stand the harsh weather in this area, the absence of sweet water, and the great salinity of the area. This is the case of the Androcymbium gramineum psammophilum, threatened and protected endemic species. We also find allium christophii, aeonium, narcissus jonquilla and hawthorns.

The Dune Natural park in Corralejo is one of the main tourist attractions in the island of Fuerteventura, and its dunes are the biggest in the Canary Archipelago, though the ones in Maspalomas (Gran Canaria) are also of great importance. In ancient times other sand dunes were also important like the ones in El Jable (Lanzarote), Jandia (Fuerteventura) or Guanarteme (Gran Canaria).

Sand dunes, apart from being a tourist attraction by themselves, gathering every day a great deal of tourists, are a clear indicator of beaches of quality and no doubt in the East of the Majorera coast the most heavenly beaches in our island of Fuerteventura are found, wrapped in this blanket of dunes of imponderable beauty.

El equipo de FuerteCharter