Things To Do in Corralejo

The main strip is crammed with standout international eateries – from Argentinian steak houses to Italian pasta places. But the pick of the restaurants are the Canarian seafood spots where you can find mouth-watering local dishes like mussels in mojo verde sauce, a spicy fish soup called caldo de pescado, and sea bass served with patatas arrugadas – those wrinkly potatoes locals can’t get enough of.

Corralejo’s nightlife is leagues ahead of the competition in Fuerteventura. Once the sun sets, people pile into Music Square at the bottom of Main Street. It’s crammed to the rafters with restaurants and bars, and has a main stage where you’ll find everything from local rock bands to fire dancers. Alternatively, music buffs need to check out the unplugged sessions worthy of MTV at the town’s live music bars. And if you’re looking to party, you’ll find the surfer crowd hanging out until dawn at the discos and bars by the seafront.

Protected by the government as a site of natural interest, these 10 kilometres of dunes are home to birds, lizards, even desert rabbits. In the middle, you’ve got a small lagoon, and eventually you’ll come to the windswept beaches with massive waves. If it all looks familiar, it’s probably because scenes from The Dictator were filmed here.

Corralejo is a shopper’s paradise. Besides the 2 main shopping centres, Las Palmeras and El Campanario, you’ve got Main Street, which is where all the best souvenirs are found. Lava jewellery, Canarian pottery and aloe vera products are just some of the items you’ll find. If you fancy stocking up on designer gears, Mango and Benetton are also on this busy thoroughfare.

Because of its supersized waves, Flag Beach has become a Mecca for kite-boarders. If you need to hire equipment or get in a few lessons, you’ve got the pick of watersports centres in town and on the beach. And with the rolling sand dunes behind, and Los Lobos Island in the distance, kite-surfing on Flag Beach is a great spectator sport, too.

A market springs up at the resort’s Acua Park every Tuesday and Friday between about 8am and 2pm. It’s packed with stalls selling jewellery, African craft items, souvenirs and beachwear. There are great bargains to be had here, so long as you don’t mind a little friendly haggling. In other shopping news, the main street has gift boutiques and big brands like Mango and Stradivarius..

This beachside restaurant, a stone’s throw from the harbour, serves up a fusion of Spanish and Italian flavours. Their bruschetta is as good as the stuff you get in Rome, and comes in interesting varieties like tuna, avocado and mozzarella. They do a mean cappuccino, too. And for pure indulgence, go for the molten lava chocolate cake or the tiramisu – they’re both freshly baked every day.

Infusion is a bistro-style restaurant run by three Brits who’ve made their home here. Chef David Ellis cooks up Spanish flavours with the occasional French or Cajun twist – try the langoustines in garlic butter with Bloody Mary salsa, followed by a melt-in-the mouth sirloin steak. You’ll find this place in a side street off the main drag.

If you fancy tapas for dinner, follow the yellow tapas sign at the harbour end of the main road to lead you to some of the more tucked-away authentic bars. Look out for seafood goodies like baby shark stew and mussels with chilli, plus Canarian specialities like papas arrugadas – salted new potatoes with a spicy dip.

Beach babes and surfers rock out to stripped-down acoustic sounds at Corralejo’s longest-running live music venue. Hosts Gary and Mandy create an intimate vibe for an international crowd of beach bums. The little stage is on live webcam, so you can wave at the folks back home. And there’s extra-cold Guinness on tap.

Set in 160,000 square metres of landscaped parkland, this fun park means business. There’s 10-pin bowling, an 18-hole mini golf course, fairground rides and solariums. And at the waterpark you can bomb down the fast river slide, get flushed away in the wave pool or have a mini-adventure in the kids’ area.

Corralejo claims the best nightlife on the island, and handily most of the bars and restaurants lie on the main street. You’ve got a good mix here, so you can choose between Irish pubs, surfer places and open-air bars playing traditional Spanish music. And there’s a clutch of discos that stay open into the early hours.

This week-long celebration takes its cue from the Rio Carnival – think big, bright costumes, thundering samba bands and floats festooned with decorations. On the final Saturday, after the floats have paraded through the streets, the whole town lets its hair down at a fun-fuelled after-party in the streets.