Just prior to the Christmas festivities, Mr Nomad and I booked a last minute, rather impulsive get away. Winter had well and truly set in, work had been all consuming and the impending Christmas season weighed on our minds with the usual frantic organisation to squeeze in time to see our nearest and dearest around unforgiving work schedules. We seized a window of opportunity for an extended long (ish) weekend away and off we went to seek some winter sun.
Our jaunt took us to the island of Fuerte Ventura, the second largest island in the Canary Islands, the first being Tenerife. It nestles in the Atlantic ocean, a mere 97 kilometres (or 60 miles) off the coast of North Africa. It is an elongated island around 100 kilometres (62 miles) in length and a diminutive 31 kilometres (19 miles) wide. It has an area of 1660 square kilometres (641 square miles) and in 2023, the population was recorded as 124,152. Its capital town is Puerto del Rosario. Fuerte Ventura is known to have the longest white sand beaches of the archipelago which is exactly what Mr Nomad and I sought. We were on a very brief adventure so time was limited and we sought sanctuary; we were desperate for rest and relaxation.
There are around 152 separate beaches worth around 50 kilometres (31 miles) of those being pristine white sand and the remaining 25 kilometres (16 miles) being black volcanic shingle. There were certainly plenty of beaches to choose from. To our delight, our hotel, Occidental Jandia Mar on the Jandia peninsula was only 600 metres from Jandia beach, a stunning 12 kilometres of impeccable snowiness sandy beach lapped by crystal clear blue waves of the Atlantic ocean.
We had also sought the sun. The gloomy winter months of Great Britain were miserable and whilst not as cold as could be expected, the dreariness was taking its toll on us. The island has a hot desert climate which is reasonably mild but generally quite windy all year round. It lies on the same latitude as Florida and Mexico and temperatures rarely fall below 18c or rise above 32c. During winter months, the average temperature can be as high as 22c and in summer months, the average is a high of 28c. The sea regulates the air temperature diverting the hot Saharan winds away from the island so although Fuerta Ventura promised us glorious sunshine and warmth, we were not going to be stifled by heat, nor suffocated by humidity. The island is known for strong winds around the coastline, the summer trade winds and the winter swells in the ocean making it a popular destination for wind surfing, sailing, scuba diving and big game fishing.
For once, Mr Nomad and I wanted to do nothing. We would normally have sought some form of adventure but against tradition, we decided against any form of activity opting for a more leisurely pace. We had taken numerous books to immerse ourselves in, and we made a pact with each other not to make plans to do any excursions or trips. We were tired; 2024 was gruelling with more downs than ups and we yearned for quality time alone together, to escape from reality, to live in the moment even if those moments were brief.
The island itself is a volcanic creation and dates back to an eruption some 20 million years ago. The majority of the island came about in its present form around 5 million years ago and the last volcanic activity occurred 4000-5000 years ago so there was no danger of any eruptions while we were staying there. This does mean however that the island is virtually barren. The landscape is mountainous with the highest point at Pico de la Zarza at 2648 feet (807 metres) in the south west of the island, a stone’s throw from where we were staying. We resisted the temptation to trek up this peak and in any event, we had not taken any suitable footwear and flip flops were just not going to cut it.
There was no vegetation to speak of save for the lofty palm trees planted in the grounds of the hotel and there was no real wildlife. There was an abundance of wild cats and dogs and a healthy goat population, geckos and the Barbury ground squirrel but little else. There is however, a significant bird population mainly collared doves, swifts and finch species and lots of insect fauna including many different types of butterfly, moths and dragonfly. I was relieved to realise that there was a distinct lack of mosquito’s and bothersome flies which was refreshing. I had started using insect repellent in vast quantities, almost bathing in it to guard against being bitten but this proved unnecessary on this holiday.
Our accommodation was around 80 kilometres from the airport in El Matorral. The north of the island is reputedly known for its busy nightlife and bars but we had opted for the south of the island which was somewhat quieter. Our hotel was luxurious with its 4 star rating and all inclusive facilities and although the surrounding landscape rather desolate, the views of the Atlantic ocean were hypnotic.
There were two gorgeous swimming pools and a wellness centre which we made full use of. Mr Nomad and I enjoyed the sauna, the hot tub and the heated indoor swimming pool and although Mr Nomad was overjoyed at the ice shower, I gave this a miss preferring to resume my sunbathing spot poolside. The weather was exactly as promised and we whiled away the hours just lounging around and enjoying the slap up buffet style food in the fantastic restaurant. Mr Nomad introduced me to the joys of Sangria, a traditional Spanish drink which I may have drank far too liberally.
There were many activities that we could have partaken in such as visits to the Salt Museum in Las Salinas del Carmen, or a trip to the caves in Ajuy, or a jaunt to Cofete to view a beautiful beach known for being dangerous (and we do love adventures with risk!) but we remembered the pact and did nothing. We could have visited one of the four ports to hop on a passenger ferry to visit the neighbouring islands of Tenerife, Lanzarote or Gran Canaria but again, we chose to do nothing.
The extent of our activity was a stroll to Jandia beach for a day to soak up the glorious sun, and to relax on the gorgeous sand, and taking a dip in the mighty Atlantic ocean. It was incredibly peaceful and although the economy of Fuerte Ventura is driven by tourism, there were very few tourists or any other holiday makers at all. There was no battle for the sun loungers, there was no hum of chit chatter or banter, there was no clatter of cutlery or crockery at restaurants and eateries. There was very little noise at all, only the comforting sounds of the water lulling us into a heightened sense of tranquility. It was blissful.
Other than one day at the beach, we did not venture out of the boundaries of the hotel complex. There was no need as we were in beautiful surroundings with views of the ocean, the food and drink was delicious, plentiful and never ending and we were reluctant to stray far from the sun loungers around the swimming pool. We read the books, basked in the sun, downed the Sangria and achieved the rest and relaxion that we had longed for.
On our final day, we had enjoyed the mini break so much that we attempted to make arrangements to stay a little longer but it was not to be. We returned to the dreary winter at home in Blighty, back to work and back to the treadmill of life. We had missed our furry babies though, and it is always a delight to be welcomed back by them. We felt rejuvenated and looked forward to ending a challenging year on a high.
#alreadyplanningthenexttripaway
#missionaccomplished
#averagepeopleadventures
Nomadic Family Unit 
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