Corralejo, Fuerteventura (ES)

2021-12-08

Pleasure Island

Up until about a month before going there, I had no idea that there was an island in the Canaries called Fuerteventura. I knew about Lanzarote, Tenerife, and of course Gran Canaria because that's where my fellow Danes tend to go vacationing. So I've stayed clear of those so far.

Anyway, my friend who invited me co-founded RemoteWorkCommunity.com, which, as the name suggests, is a worldwide community of remote workers and other digital nomads. It started in Corralejo on Fuerteventura, so the concentration of fellow travelers down there has grown massive during the last coupla years. And Fuerteventura is now among the more expensive places in Spain.

Fuerteventura is a volcanic island, and there are excellent hiking routes just outside of Corralejo. Here's a sunset beyond some volcanoes.
Fuerteventura is a volcanic island, and there are excellent hiking routes just outside of Corralejo. Here's a sunset beyond some volcanoes.

Whatever good things you might hear about Corralejo, believe the hype. Apart from the regular Thursday get-togethers, there seems to be big and small events happening all the time. I was partying for 7 out of the 10 days and nights I spent there. I even went out and got shit-faced and pulled an all-nighter before taking the plane back. By the way, maybe don't do that.

Dining with The Boss at Retro – a cool rock'n'roll-themed American-style restaurant.
Dining with The Boss at Retro – a cool rock'n'roll-themed American-style restaurant.
Dining with a whole bunch of other digital nomads.
Dining with a whole bunch of other digital nomads.

Corralejo isn't very big, to say the least. But it's where the action is. Lively small-town social scene. Lots of restaurants, lot of bars, and what seems like comparatively many night clubs for such a small place. And that whole thing where the stores in the rest of Spain don't sell alcohol after 10 pm doesn't apply down here.

Of course, the music's mostly crap. But there's one place called La Chupiteria where you can rock out. The owners are metalheads, and they're more than happy to play Motörhead and Priest. Also, they serve mezcal. Good times!

Kiwi Bar is a common downtown congregation point for getting your party on.
Kiwi Bar is a common downtown congregation point for getting your party on.
... But you wanna go just across the street from it if you prefer metal to reggaeton, which you do, since you're obviously able to read.
... But you wanna go just across the street from it if you prefer metal to reggaeton, which you do, since you're obviously able to read.

So is Fuerteventura worth a visit? Hell yeah! But you wanna go to Corralejo – as I understand it, the other towns on the island are mostly locals and retired Germans. Corralejo is the international-community surf-and-party town.

Oh yeah, If you're a surfer, you'll be having a hell of a good time and catching a lot of waves. If you're not, you'll just be having a hell of a good time. Especially if you're into connecting with other digital nomads and travelers in general. You can go to https://www.remoteworkcommunity.com and join one of the many local Slack-based communities worldwide. It's free in every possible way, so no affiliation on my part except for friendship and wanting to spread the message.

Also, it turns out that the weather around 100 km west of southern Morocco is amazeballs. I went in late November, and apart from a bit of clouds, every day was warm and sunny. Can't say I blame my aforementioned fellow Danes for having such a hard-on for the Canaries.

Fuerteventura is mostly known as a surfer's haven. If you're into surfing, you'll love it there. If you're not, ditto.
Fuerteventura is mostly known as a surfer's haven. If you're into surfing, you'll love it there. If you're not, ditto.
Also, the island is largely a desert. So here's what a pop-up van grill party in the desert looks like. Good fun until the cops shut us down. Apparently is IS possible to play THAT loud.
Also, the island is largely a desert. So here's what a pop-up van grill party in the desert looks like. Good fun until the cops shut us down. Apparently is IS possible to play THAT loud.
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