Tourism came late to this relatively quiet and unspoilt island.The first hotel did not appear until 1965 with the airport, El Mattoral, materialising over the next couple of years.
Dubbed by the exiled poet Miguel de Unamuno as "an oasis in the middle of civilisation's desert", this previously overlooked island has become increasingly popular with the European holidaymaking community.
In addition to the island's fine-looking natural landscape, Fuerteventura boasts some of the most stunning beaches found anywhere in the world. This aspect of the island's geographic make up, combined with the constant breezes, makes it extremely popular with water sports enthusiasts and sun worshippers alike and at least two of the sandy beaches have been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag award.
The islanders themselves total about 30,000 and like the inhabitants of the rest of the Canary Islands are warm and friendly and ready to fiesta at the drop of a sombrero.
