Fuerteventura calling – Road Bike winter training off the coast of Africa

In no time, we had booked a flight and accommodation in Fuerteventura and off we went taking our bikes along. Non-stop flights that take about 4 hours and leave early in the morning connect Fuerteventura well with the European mainland. An additional one hour time difference put us on the ground by noon. Although, we were greeted by Christmas music at the airport, 25 degrees Celsius, cloudless skies and views of the deep blue Atlantic Ocean finally gave me the desired summer feeling. We reached our hotel, the Playitas Resort with our rental car in about 45 minutes and wasted no time to getting on our bicycles for a first afternoon reconnaissance tour of the islands roads around our hotel.

Apart from the nearby village of Gran Tarajal and the beaches and mountains close by, the Playitas Resort hotel itself had plenty to offer for athletes and active tourists. Several outdoor pools, a gym, spa, tennis courts and many more activities promised a fun holiday.

We had studied the island’s map and road network prior to our departure and downloaded a selection of GPS files onto our Garmins. This has become common procedure for us and can only be recommended for any unknown destination to avoid the frustrations of getting lost or the occasional and surprising encounter with unpaved road sections during your trip.

We were positively impressed to discover that many of Fuerteventura’s roads had recently been resurfaced. The pavement was in mint condition and combined with almost empty roads and respectful drivers, the cocktail for perfect road cycling holidays was served.

Ideal conditions that were topped off by the epic island panorama of volcanic desert and fantastic ocean views. Just keep in mind to stay off the busy freeway around the island’s capital. Personally, we really liked the northern coast around Corralejo with the road running along some golden sand dunes towards El Cotillo and then the hilly South West. Both areas can easily be reached from the hotel.

You can find narrow, winding roads, minor mountain passes with fun switchbacks and climbs that take you up to an elevation of about 600 meters above sea level. Panoramic views across the island reward your efforts. Don’t only focus on elevation though, as strong and gusty headwinds can make your rides a lot harder. For riders with at least some experience of riding in the wind, this should not be a problem. We had stronger winds on two of our 6 days of riding. The sky was always blue though and we are told that short sleeves can be worn year round.

The hotel also offered a large fleet of rentals, consisting of MTBs, Fat Bikes and bright yellow BMC Road Bikes. A great fall back in case you don’t want to bring along your own bicycle. One morning we exchanged our wheels with some Fat Bikes in order to experience the rugged volcanic terrain first hand. The off-road adventure right around the corner from the hotel was just what we needed to get a different feel for the island. We greatly enjoyed being out in nature away from the main tourist areas of Fuerteventura.

Great views across the island.

Short Video Diary – German audio only, but check it out to see some great footage of the island and its roads, the Playitas Resort and much more.

Apart from our cycling experience, we also had the chance to try out the hotel’s pools and onsite gym and SPA. We were really happy with the offers in place. There is something for everybody.

We were never bored during our stay at Playitas Resort and almost forgot to eat. However eventually we always got hungry and the hotel provided the prefect answer for this as well. A well rounded dinner and breakfast buffet offered plenty of healthy and wholesome food for our active vacation.

After our workouts we enjoyed the resort with its ocean views or went to the nearby vtown for an esplanade stroll and a well deserved sun downer.

The spacious and quiet rooms ensure optimal conditions for recovery after riding.

Six full days on the island, 500 kilometres under blue skies and finally a summer feeling: priceless! Upon landing in Germany, we were greeted with 5 degrees Celsius and rain. We had a great time at Playitas Resort in Fuerteventura. A great combination of active cycling and recreation and a perfect escape from European winter depression. Great roads, cycling without many cars and perfectly warm weather conditions all year round. If you can do with the occasionally windy day, Fuerteventura is your place. My personal suggestion is to let go of the Road Bike for a day or two and check out the off-road options. A day on the Fat Bike is way too much fun and allows you to get to know the island from a different angle. Triathletes can also throw swimming into the mix. We were fascinated by the island, its vast array of options for rides and activities, the great food and much more. We already look forward to coming back to Playitas Resort in Fuerteventura.