Top 5 Reasons I Live in Fuerteventura

Here I give my top 5 reasons for choosing to live in Fuerteventura which I thought might be useful for anyone considering doing the same.

My top 5 reasons to live in Fuerteventura

1. Climate

It would be hard for this to not be my number one on my list of top 5 reasons to live here, particularly having lived in the UK for the first 58 years of my life.
It is an ideal climate in my opinion. The are very few extremes in temperature – generally never ridiculously hot in the summer, as it often is in southern Spain, and never colder than 15-16C during the day in the winter, and more often in the low 20s.

We get perhaps 9-10 days of rain a year, mainly in the winter. In fact, it rains so infrequently that I actually enjoy seeing the rain here – a stark contrast to living in the UK.

Having such a wonderful climate means that I can live a much more outdoor lifestyle all year around than I would be able to had I retired in the UK. Even in the depths of winter it doesn’t get dark until around 6pm. Having a phobia about early mornings I couldn’t tell you what time is sunrise – whatever they are.

We have been here for 3 years now and I have only worn shorts. Although some of my friends that have been here many years now dress like the locals in winter with jeans, jumpers and coats I think that is something I will never do. Sue thinks my thermostat has broken!

2. Cost of living

Not everything is cheap here as pretty much everything needs to be imported but having said that there is little that is much more expensive.

A few examples.

• Local council tax – I pay a little more per year here than I used to pay per month in the UK. The streets are lit at night, the rubbish/garbage is collected, the roads are repaired and every year I can go to the local council nursery and pick up 20 free plants for the garden!
• Petrol /gas – this is 40-45% cheaper here than in the UK (although a bit more than in the US).
• I don’t smoke or drink but cigarettes are about 75% cheaper and alcohol is 50% cheaper than in the UK. The cost of a drink in a bar here is much cheaper than in a UK pub and the measures for spirits are at least twice as large.

It is certainly possible to live in Fuerteventura cheaply that is for sure.

3. Landscape

Fuerteventura’s landscape is a bit like Marmite – you either love it or you hate it. When I first brought Sue here for a holiday, about 20 years ago, she thought I had brought her to the Moon as it seemed very barren. But the more we came the more she started to love it.

So much of it is unspoilt and it includes plains, mountains, volcanoes, secluded valleys, sand dunes and lots more. There are many beautiful unspoilt beaches. They have miles of lovely golden sand and clear water. Along with the climate, the beaches was one of the main things which drew us here for holidays initially.

The island is a Mecca for surfers, wind-surfers and kite boarders. They hold some rounds of various World Championships for these here too.

4. Lifestyle

Although I spent many years wearing a suit and tie for work I have never really liked dressing up. Well living here means I never have to as I can wear shorts and a t-shirt all year rond. Even if we go out to eat, or whatever, then shorts are an acceptable form of dress in all but a few places. And I wouldn’t eat in those anyway!

5. People

The Canarians are generally a very polite, friendly people. If you walk down the road almost everyone you meet will say hello, good morning, good evening etc. Ex-pats have actually chosen to live here so I think that makes them happier than they would be in their native countries. Holiday-makers are the other main group here and they are on holiday so naturally they are happy.

Also, coming back to the climate, I think it is noticeable in the UK, for example, that when the sun shines people are noticeably more cheerful. As it shines most of the time here that has a more permanent effect.

The island also has a very low crime rate. It is rare to hear about any serious crime here I am pleased to say.

If you have a different list of reasons why you like to live in Fuerteventura then please let me know in the comments.