Going Back To Fuerteventura – My 2nd Time In A Year And 2024 Recap
Going Back To Fuerteventura for my 2nd stay – Only 10 months since my last trip here. It was a bit strange really, as never did I think I would be back so soon. After last time I did say that I would come back – because I was disappointed that I never see the chipmunks, but I thought perhaps this would maybe be in a couple years.
I think what it was is that when it come to booking cheap flights on Black Friday this was a safe bet for me. I suppose it was the easy option really.
But, I am so glad I did make this choice. I definitely, felt like my stay last time was too short and this time around I had an extra day here, which I think definitely made the difference.
Although, to be honest I never really did much new (really) this time around. The chipmunks were evasive as ever and again unfortunately I never see them. I suppose it wasn’t the end of the world that I didn’t see them. I wanted to so I could tell my friend I see them but I didn’t want to obsess.
Last time here I kind of did – reading through posts on Tripadvisor etc. and trying to find places on google maps where people said they see them. It was such a hinderance last time so I kind of thought if I see them I see them and if not oh well – never mind.
I wont stop going back till I see one lol that can be my excuse.
I’m thinking if I just stop looking I will see one when I’m least expecting it. Always the way. I suppose it is just one of those silly things and once I see one of them then I will start seeing them everywhere.
I’ve read that they are pests and their numbers are out of control on the Island but this is actually laughable to me – as if so – where are they?
I don’t know but anyway – let’s talk about my trip to Fuerteventura for a 2nd time and Lanzarote for a 3rd time (In a year).
What did me and Teddy get up to?
Going Back To Fuerteventura (2nd Time)
So, I basically decided to come back to Fuerteventura (and Lanzarote) because I wanted to take advantage of the Black Friday flight deals. I am not really sure if I got much of a discount in all honesty, I think these flights are probably quite cheap anyway, but it was a good excuse to take a look on sites like Kiwi, Ryanair and EasyJet.
It was very good before COVID started getting bad. Especially with Ryanair’s £5 flight sale – with that I went to Dublin, Barcelona and Malta. By comparison – Black Friday 2024 didn’t seem like it had much on offer like this but really I think this but I kind of knew the Canary Islands should have some cheap flights to and from.
I will have to check the difference next year but I guess I suppose I wanted some sunshine after my last trip away. It was pretty cold and wet for the most part doing this. Croatia was OK but everywhere else seemed to be not like England miserable but not like the weather I could have had in somewhere like Egypt for example.
Also, last year when I booked on Black Friday it didn’t really work out that cheap really. Getting out there was cheap but getting back was about £65. I mean I know people will think this is normal but this year I booked with this in mind so I could get back home in good time and for only £4.00
So, it was pretty cheap. On this occasion, it cost me £19 to get to Lanzarote and £22 to fly back from Fuerteventura. I think maybe this was because I acted quickly. Last time I was booking for my friend as well and he kept telling me to wait and I missed the cheaper, better flights back.
We had to get a taxi at 12 o clock at night. It was cheaper than I thought it would be but still so glad to avoid that this time.
It was overall, a nice cheap trip away, weather was great apart from a bit of rain but best part I had no trouble or unexpected costs whatsoever.
*Note – this is a lie as I brought the keys home from the Corralejo Garden & Relax Hostel. It cost me £10 to post them back.
That was not a big deal for me – I actually toyed with the idea of going back to return the keys personally but anyway – I left England on December the 10th on a very cold miserable morning.
Leaving England For Lanzarote
I left England on a cold Tuesday morning. The weather was pretty terrible in the days prior to this with Storm Derragh hitting large parts of the country. It was very cold and the Sunday before I left I went to bed with the window open in my bedroom and this I’m sure is what give me a very nasty cold.
It was lucky that they didn’t make me do a COVID test at the airport like they was doing during 2021-2022 because I reckon I would have probably failed it. Not that I had COVID (don’t get me started on that) but I was definitely not well. Bunged up, snotty nose with a chesty cough.
Some people I suppose would have not gone away but my logic was that once I got into Lanzarote the warm weather would help me get over it quickly, and actually it did.
Going away in Winter makes so much sense I think – especially when it is cheap as the Canary Islands. I see why it is such a popular destination.
Although, I suppose it is bad really. My first night at the Beach House Hostel where I stayed I was told I was snoring like a beast (quite embarrassing). I did think god this is not going to make my stay very pleasant.
I gathered this was because my nose was bunged up but anyway after only 1 day – the next morning my room mate (A German), said to me at the breakfast table that I wasn’t snoring nowhere as bad as the night before.
So that was that.
The second day I still had a bit of a cough but this soon cleared up. The rest of my stay here was pretty good – and actually it was another very memorable trip. Better in many ways as this time I really (I think) got my bearings around.
4 Nice Days In Lanzarote
I think this worked out just right. I got into Lanzarote about 6:30pm – and I knew what I was doing this time. When I came here in February I ended up walking thinking I was near where I was staying in Arrecife.
I didn’t remember that when I came here the first time (only 2 1/2 months before) that I got the bus – so I never did that lol
It was a bit cold and windy on my first night really. It was OK, it was still just about T-shirt weather but it was good to get back and go to bed. It was warmer the next day and the next morning another thing which was good was I didn’t realise last time they did free breakfast at my hostel.
So, I had my breakfast and headed off to Puerto Del Carmen. It is pretty much just bars, restaurants, arcades and shops here with a beach in front. In my view going away just to eat and get drunk is a bit of a waste as much more to Islands like Lanzarote than just that.
So, here I Just ate and drunk my non alcoholic beers. Went to Lineker’s and the Native American Restaurant. A few other places too including the arcade to play Ghostbusters Pinball – that was cool and on this 2nd day I booked to go on the Lanzarote Highlights tour the next day.
The Lanzarote Highlights Tour
This was my biggest expense of the trip. I had to pay for this on my credit card (about £125) but it was a good day out. Worth doing I think.
Last time I did the Lanzarote Grand tour – this is usually cheaper but it was sold out this time so I booked the highlights tour.
It was quite similar but the difference was that we spent less time in Timfanya park (the Volcanoes) and on this tour we went down into Cueva de Los Verdes. This was pretty amazing – it was funny because a guy on the tour was celebrating his 57th Birthday and he was very vocal about this.
I thought he would shout “Everyone, It’s my Birthday” again for the millionth time and cause a cave in. He kept saying it on the coach, he said it when we stopped for breakfast, and for lunch. It was quite funny really but yes when we got in the cave I was thinking oh god he is going to cause a cave in.
I had a joke with him after this – he took it pretty well I thought. He said “that’s why I never said it” – He definitely got the joke. He seemed like he was having a great time and I did too really.
Inside the caves it was quite something. Just how all the rocks have formed and all the colours. They have concerts in here I think – very interesting.
But, definitely, the most amazing thing Inside is a kind of phantom pool of water. Looking at this you would think it is just a cliff face – like you wouldn’t want to trip and fall down there, but the crazy thing is this wouldn’t happen because its water. It is just invisible.
The really crazy part was the tour guide actually caught a lobster from out this pool. It was like he pulled it out of nowhere.
So, that was very cool. Then the final stop was Jameos Agua. This was a big reason I came on this tour because this is probably the most beautiful place I’ve ever been been to.
It wasn’t quite like my visit 8 months earlier as I knew what was there this time but still It was a nice last stop. 100% recommend booking a tour just for this.
My Last Day In Lanzarote
On my last day I pretty much did the same as I did on my 2nd day. Got the bus to Puerto Del Carmen and ate and drank. I went for tea in Goofy Burger, went for a burger at the American Indian place and actually the day before I found a cool African bar – so I went in there for a few zero beers.
I had a steak in here the day before when I first found it. It is funny actually because you can have a sirloin steak meal in Lanzarote for under £10.00 so I was pretty much having this every day. It is no wonder people think I’ve won the lottery lol but they do this in a lot of places.
I think it is because there is low taxes or it is tax free. Its no wonder people from the UK come here so much as what we have to pay in tax is definitely an excuse to get away from time to time.
Crossing Over To Fuerteventura
Last time I did this it was a lovely trip – I was up on the deck just looking over the amazing blue water but this time it was very (very) windy so I never went up to the top deck.
It was kind of making me a bit sea sick because the boat was rocking so much but the crossing is pretty quick really – about 45 minutes I think it is so it was over quickly enough.
So, I know some people come over for a day trip from Lanzarote and go back at night. I couldn’t imagine doing this – having to rush back to get the boat but maybe this is just me.
I personally, would definitely recommend the hostel where I have stayed at on both my stays here – The Corralejo Garden and Relax Hostel it is only minutes away from the ferry port.
I didn’t even need to use my phone to find it this time around to find it. It was very friendly here. Its got a kind of Zen Buddhist feel about the place. They had live music here in the garden on the first night. I didn’t actually go out but I could hear it from Inside. It was pretty good really.
I think if I could come to any place and not have to stress then it would be here. The 3 nights here were great – I think maybe next time I might come for longer but I was pretty satisfied with what I did over this time.
Visiting The Wildlife Park
Really this is probably one of my favourite places I been too. Just so peaceful and quite a lot here to see. Although, I thought I might have to miss out this time. I booked the tickets but that morning quite strangely there had been heavy rain. It was hammering it down very early 5-6AM
I was thinking whether I should just not go but I kind of decided I would risk it.
It was still raining when I got there but it did stop not long after. Apparently, this is not normal weather here – I was kind of worried it might be a hurricane but it was fine as the day went on.
I had a pretty good day here. What I was thinking the same as last time is it would be a nice place to go with the family. Although, saying that it is just such a nice and calm place to walk around. I think maybe this what I like about most zoos even the small one in Gibraltar it is just peaceful.
I think last time I didn’t watch any of the shows except the Parrots. This is pretty amazing because you can see them actually flying around. You can also see the Birds of Prey show where they had Vultures, Owls and Eagles are there too. Even the American Bald Eagle which is pretty impressive.
That was cool and I caught the end of the Sea Lion show – pretty cool also but this was sad for me because it was almost time to go and they was playing a soppy Phil Collins song. It was a bit emotional.
They was very well trained though and they looked like they were very happy animals. Their enclosure is pretty big and I haven’t seen one like this I don’t think. Sea Lions aren’t usually a big deal for me but anyway.
The only show I didn’t watch was the one talking about the plants – they have loads of cactus here. Maybe would have been interesting but I am more interested in the animals more than anything else.
The Next Day
A pretty chilled one really. This was what I would have liked to have done last time. Just having a whole day to walk around Corralejo to explore. I mean the main street I wouldn’t have minded seeing a bit more. Lots of clubs and bars. A bit like Puerto Del Carmen but better I think.
I had to kind of rush back really because I needed to use the laundrette but still I think it was a good exercise for getting a bit more ley of the land for next time I come over which I’m guessing I likely will.
So I went out in the morning for breakfast and a few zero alcohol beers. The night before I found a very nice bar (where I watched the football) they had these beers here called Free Dam for 3 euros a bottle.
It is just a lovely city. You have the coast with all the beaches you can walk along and they have all bars and restaurants along here. Live music in a lot of places too and then you can go into the town which I didn’t see a lot of.
I was there but I had to get back to do my washing. It was very vibrant with all the Christmas Decorations up. Lots of bars and restaurants but only place I went in was the arcade to play Pinball. The had a game Avengers Infinity Saga I think it was. This was pretty cool had a few goes on this and that was it really.
I did actually have to use Google Maps for about 5 minutes after this. It was funny because it was saying turn left to Amarillo and all I could think of was the song lol but I got back, done my washing and went to bed.
Leaving Fuerteventura
This was pretty quick and easy I knew where the bus stop was from before – I knew I had to get another bus from Puerto Del Rosario so there was no panicking like last time I was here.
I was at the airport with about 3 hours to spare. No rushing, no panic. I could very comfortably come back here every year I think.
It was sad to go really the complete opposite of gloomy England. I got into Luton the air was smoggy, people were moaning at me on the bus.
I had a kind of scrubs moment getting off the plane. I got off the plane and I see another plane being boarded I thought what if I just jump over the tape and get in the queue for the plane see where it goes lol
I always want to go away again when I get back. And it is funny I say that…
I shall not spill the beans yet lol
In Conclusion
On the bus to Luton Airport I was thinking about this – am I really just taking the mickey out of people. I seem to get away so easily whilst people must look at what I am doing with envy.
But I was thinking do people know how easy and cheap it can be to get to Lanzarote / Fuerteventura from Luton. £4 there £4 back and maybe £20 each way for the plane. It is quite simple really and I think I did say on Facebook – who is booking flights this Black Friday? I’m sure nobody actually did.
I could be wrong but maybe it is just that I have a Do It! kind of mentality. It would be good if others could see me and think I am going to do that as well but I guess it can be scary.
I’ve had enough bad travel experiences now to be more careful but hey I guess this makes it a lot easier for me with every new trip. Just knowing how to prepare etc.
My next trip I think will be the next kind of stage of this – I want to try and get out of Europe a bit more but for others knowing how to deal with certain situations wherever you go is a good thing to think about.
I shall finish up this blog post here but stayed tuned for my next adventure – coming a lot sooner than you may think…
Keen traveller and digital nomad looking to share my stories from my international trips with my faithful companion Mr Bean 2.0 (Alex Chivers).
