My budget-friendly version of a tropical island getaway – on Tenerife’s ‘unspoiled sister’
I SINK my toes into the powdery white sand and watch as turquoise waves crash on to the shore.
It resembles a tropical paradise, glorious sun beating down on the palm-fringed shoreline.
But I am not on a faraway isle in the Indian Ocean.
This is budget-friendly Fuerteventura, the second largest of the Canary Islands and about a four-hour flight from the UK.
This volcanic beauty off the coast of north-west Africa is considered an unspoiled alternative to tourist hotspots Tenerife and Lanzarote.
And now that Gatwick-based British Airways subsidiary BA EuroFlyer has added it to its flight map, with seats from just £40, the winter sun destination is super-easy to reach.
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The route operates twice weekly, on Thursdays and Sundays, during the colder season with a third flight introduced on Wednesdays in February.
I was staying in the five-star Secrets Bahia Real Resort & Spa, an adults-only oasis favoured by couples on romantic getaways but also those just after some downtime in the sun.
Despite the 25C heat when I landed, my taxi driver at the airport was keen to make sure I had packed a jacket, given that in Spanish-speaking Fuerteventura, the “fuerte” means strong and “ventura” translates to wind.
But from my car seat all seemed blissfully still and peaceful as we passed through rugged volcanic landscapes to the hotel, tucked away in a northern corner of the island.
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I’d booked a Junior Suite Deluxe with “frontal ocean view”, which sleeps up to three adults and is the perfect oasis with a calming neutral colour scheme paired with splashes of sea blue.
Each suite comes with a mini bar, fluffy robes and complimentary choc truffles left on your pillow to welcome you home at night.
Best of all is the view of Playa de la Barreta beach and, on the horizon, the bustling party isle of Lanzarote.
It was the perfect spot for much-needed rest and felt a world away from life back home.
I spent my first morning practising flow yoga on the beach.
Our instructor guided us through meditation then how to move our bodies to the sound of waves lapping on the shore.
The intimate size of class meant our teacher was able to suggest individual adjustments and stretches to ease the tension that comes from sitting at a desk for eight hours a day.
Seafood paella
But after a blissful session, it was straight to the beach for me.
It is not often I would choose beach over pool to sunbathe, given the lack of shade and comfort usually on offer, but Secrets Bahia provides the sort of luxury guests expect from a five-star resort.
I was given my own plush sunlounger, two fluffy beach towels and a windbreak offering privacy in which to read my book and sunbathe.
The food on offer is top-notch, too, and sets Secrets Bahia above many other all-inclusives I’ve visited.
There are seven restaurants and three bars on the resort, with plenty to satisfy even the fussiest.
Try pan-Asian teppanyaki at Himitsu, traditional Canarian fare at Chozo and catch of the day at the Seaside Grill.
The Market Cafe has succulent meats cooked to your liking and even Italian dishes served in a laid-back courtyard setting under the stars.
But the jewel in the crown for me was the Bay Lounge restaurant, accessed only from the beach and offering a dreamy view of sand and sea.
It was here that I tucked into melt-in-the-mouth sea bass ceviche, crispy prawns and, their specialty, seafood paella which was delivered to my table in a traditional round dish.
After a few days of proper relaxation and diving into all the fabulous food on offer, I chose to wander farther afield and explore the coastline which is part of the Parque Natural de Corralejo.
This tranquil nature reserve is easy to reach from the hotel and wraps around the north-eastern part of the island, featuring stunning sand dunes and crystal-clear rock pools — ideal for cooling your feet after a midday walk.
But for those seeking an adrenaline rush, you won’t even need to leave the hotel because there’s windsurfing, kayaking and snorkelling all on site.
Or you can try surfing elsewhere on the island.
For guests looking to wind down after a day on the waves, the Secrets Spa is the ideal retreat.
I booked in for a 50-minute wellness massage using eucalyptus oils, before taking advantage of the state-of-the-art hydro-therapy pool, steam room, sauna and plunge pools.
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As a solo traveller, I was nervous about heading to a romantic adults-only resort filled with couples on their honeymoons.
But I soon came to realise that a pair of flip-flops was the only companion I needed on this blissful island.
GO: Fuerteventura
GETTING/STAYING THERE: Seven nights’ B&B at the Secrets Bahia Real Resort & Spa is from £749pp, including flights from Gatwick in January 2024 and one checked bag at 23kg.
Book by December 16, 2023.
See.