Which came first - the bird or the islands?

Well if you’re talking about the fluffy yellow bird or the Spanish Canary Islands, then the answer is the islands – all seven of them! The bird was actually named after the islands, not the other way around. And in case you were wondering, "Canary" is derived from the Latin canaria, "of the dogs", referring to the numerous wild dogs that once inhabited the islands.

The second largest of the islands (after Tenerife) is Fuerteventura. The meaning behind this island’s name is not cut and dried. One thought is that is comes from “Que forte aventure!” or “What a grand adventure!”, but the widely held thought is that it more likely comes from the translation of “strong wind”. The strong winds on the island certainly make it a paradise for wind sport enthusiasts, especially windsurfers, with an annual PWA (Professional Windsurfers Association) World Windsurfing event held there every year.

Fuerteventura also charms sailors, kite surfers, big game fishermen, surfers and divers to its shores. But besides sporting pursuits, the island has many other temptations. Situated just 100km from the Moroccan coast and on the same latitude as Florida and Mexico, the island has three thousand hours of sunshine and an average of only six days of rain each year. With the sea temperature never dropping below 18°C and the temperature in winter averaging 21°C, the majority of tourists visit the island for some winter sun.

Tourists have been coming to the winter get away since the first hotel was built on the island in 1965, shortly followed by the construction of the airport. Airlines such as BA, Iberia, Thomosonfly, fly from most UK airports and flying time from London is four hours.

More and more Brits who have fallen in love with the temperate island are now buying second homes on Fuerteventura. Some have even completely up stakes and relocated to start a new life on the island. Property prices on the island have risen 15-20% over the last five years and the growth is set to continue. Capital growth is currently running at circa 15% per annum and there is also the opportunity for high rental return with genuine demand for short-term holiday usage.

About 10km south of the airport lies one of the most up market areas of the island - Caleta de Fuste. Change is happening fast in Caleta with more buildings cropping up on every corner to help cope with the large amounts of tourists that descend on the island each year. The resort is purpose built for tourism with a man made beach set up for all the usual watersports, as well as boat trips, diving and even a submarine offering undersea excursions. The area also boasts the only (18 hole) golf course on the island, a brand new shopping complex, a wide variety of international restaurants, plenty of bars, a multi-screen cinema and a 10 pin bowling alley.

For interested buyers, there is the opportunity to purchase a completely refurbished one or two bedroom freehold bungalow on the popular Monte Castillo complex. Five minutes from the airport, 200m from the golf course and a ten minute walk to the beach, the complex has its own bar, restaurant, café, a fully equipped gym, mini golf, tennis; volleyball courts, children’s play area and large communal pool area.

Every fully furnished bungalow is approx 45-65m2 in size, has either a terrace or patio and is equipped with TV, microwave, stereo. Prices start from £75,000 / €108,000, up to 100% finance is available on these ex-timeshare properties and the rental season runs from 26 – 36 weeks per year with rental yields expected at €325 per week.

So if you’re in search of a place to invest where fluffy yellow birds fly or a safe, tranquil paradise where the sun always shines, beaches (all 152 of them) are aplenty and where sails are filled with warm winds, do as the birds do and head south for the winter … to Fuerteventura.

For further information, visit whereonearth.biz.