FUERTEVENTURA 4th Edition (2007)

Updated 9/01/2011

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Updates given below supplement the information provided in the guidebook. It is vital that this Update is read in conjunction with the text of the book, but note that the Update applies only to the edition stated and not to any earlier editions. (If you have an older edition of this book and want to "upgrade" to the latest edition at half price, click here.)

Information has been forwarded to us by users of the book, and Sunflower Books offers the data in good faith but cannot be held responsible for any misleading or inaccurate content in the Update. Unless indicated otherwise, what appears here has not been verified by the author or publisher, so please allow due caution when new or amended routes are suggested. Each piece of information is dated; bear in mind that some of the older observations may have since been overtaken by events or further changes. If, during your holiday, you are using the current edition of the guide and are able to provide any additional updating to add to this page, we will be pleased to hear from you. Please send information, preferably in hard copy, by post, to Sunflower Books, PO Box 115, Exeter EX2 6YU (or if you prefer, by e-mail, to mail@sunflowerbooks.co.uk).

The dunes of Fuerteventura are the home of very rare specialist birds, which come under the general heading 'prairie birds'. Some lay their well-camouflaged eggs directly on the ground, where they could easily be destroyed by jeeps and mountain bikes. To protect these birds, some areas of the island are under state protection - for instance, the Dunes of Corralejo. Please, if you are hiring a jeep or a bike, keep to the main tracks and do not travel cross-country.

MAP ERROR: The map on pages 88-89 is incorrect. The 31-10 is in the correct position and from there the numbers of course rise to 31-19! The overlapping map on pages 102/103 (for Walk 18) is correct. Many apologies.

NORTH COAST, GENERAL: I noticed that all the caravans have disappeared from the public beaches! (Praise the Lord ... they looked awful). And although I have not seen it myself, this should mean that all those lovely beaches around the north and Cotillo and the Faro del Toston are FREE again of all these monsters. (Canarian resident, 5/09)

COMMENTS FROM A USER We have just purchased villa in Fuerteventura. We are keen walkers and found no helpful literature from the tourist information office, although red signposts can be seen. My sister gave me your book as a gift. Did walk 17 yesterday and found the information and walk detail very helpful. A very good resource.

Car tour 3: The Casa de los Coroneles in Oliva is now restored and open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday from 1000 - 1400 and 1630 -1900. There is an entrance free. Tel: 928-861904. A Canarian resident says "apparently the house itself is beautiful, but there is not a lot to see inside, it is almost all empty. Still worth a visit, I would say." (5/09)

Walk 1, p.41. The timing at the beach of Playa de la Concha shows a timing point of 2hr 10min, followed by a time at the Jetty of 2hr 45min. However these points are only an easy 10 minutes apart, not the 35 minutes indicated, and we wasted half an hour waiting at the Jetty when we could have stayed on the glorious beach! However I'm not sure which of the two timing points is wrong. The shorter time is by coincidence confirmed on p.12 where the same beach on Lobos is shown as 10 to 15 minutes from the Jetty. Can I add that we have used the Sunflower Guides for Madeira, Costa Blanca and Fuerteventura this year and we have been very impressed with all the walks that we have tried - congratulations and keep up the good work! (User, 12/08)

Walk 3: It is worthwhile saying that all the paths are cobbled until you reach the track... The sign with illegible wording has gone, so no point to measure 10 minutes from... It would be more obvious to say that the bubble path is after the first rise in the undulating country. This path and the turn-off to the mountain are in the wrong place on the map (the bubble is at 28N 607164E 3176856N). The end of the walk is now buried in a new development with pipes and roads. We reached the road, turned right past a house with dogs then left past a purple reservoir(?) and then across to the road... The main street in Corralejo is now just that: "Main Street". Franco has been airbrushed out! (User, 11/08)

Walk 4: The "faint track" up on the sea-plain is now a clearly marked footpath. (User, 1/11)

Walks 5 and 6: The Casa de los Coroneles in Oliva is now open; see under Car tour 3. All the enormous fences are still up in the Oliva area. (Canarian resident, 5/09)

Walk 7: You need to take your passport to Medio Ambiente. At the Montana there was an official who did not let anyone without permission onto the hill. He also told us that walking poles were not allowed, but we did later meet a German lady using 2 poles "for balance". The walk was wonderful. (User, 03/07)

Walk 8: The top of the crest above the dam is some way NW of the direct line of the dam - not as shown on the map. The instructions from here are a bit confusing. (if you walk with your back to the bit of reservoir visible you go much too far north). I suggest: "With your back to the barranco just below the dam, head for the nearest round-topped hill following a faint track that heads slightly left but then veers right near the top. From here, head for the highest peak visible - you may be able to see a wall descending from the top, and there is a ruined building part way up that you pass some way to your left. Descend the rough ground to cross a stream bed, then aim for the shoulder to the right of the peak. When you reach it - with a sea view south - bear left to the summit."... The swing left below the summit is not on the map... It's more like 20 minutes downhill after the left turn and the turn-off left is after the second low hill that is crossed. There is no fence, but the track goes to a goat enclosure, and it is then 70 yards cross-country to the track with a wall... At the road, bear left to a green electricity pole with a red and white stripe. Turn right on this road. Cross a shallow barranco then continue to the right, past the school.

Walk 14: GPS users will already have noted that the north/south grid numbering on the map on pages 88-89 is incorrect. The 31-10 is in the correct position and from there the numbers of course rise to 31-19! The overlapping map on pages 102/103 (for Walk 18) is correct. Many apologies.

Walk 17: I would grade this walk "steep, but not difficult" - it can be done by inexperienced walkers. You can also follow the track to the abandoned Casas de Gran Valle and join the footpath from there. You can follow a path to the right to the house at Cofete, now inhabited by an elderly couple. You can visit the whole villa - don't miss it! See attached map. (User, 3/08)

New cycle tour suggestion: Here's a suggestion for a 54km cycle tour: The route is: Morro Jable, Casas de Joros, Las Filas, Puertito de la Cruz, Punta de Jandia, Puertito de la Cruz, Punta Pesebre, Puertito de la Cruz, Morro Jable. (User, 3/08) [Editor: This is essentially Car tour 2 without the Cofete branch.]