We flew to the Canary Islands in December. It seems almost like a lifetime ago. In Slovenia, Covid was raging, everything was more or less closed or limited. Here, a new world of freedom opened to us. A world we have almost forgotten about in the past two years. Do not get me wrong, limits were still in place here too, and people actually adhered to them. But, life on Fuerteventura was relaxed even during Covid, at least compared to what we were used to at home.
Islas Canarias and babies
Now, we have been here for almost 4 months already, and while I was worried about all sorts of different scenarios, coming here with a baby, I can tell you I worried for nothing. The Canary Islands are an ideal location for travelling with a baby, Fuerteventura especially since it is flatter and calmer than Gran Canaria, for example.
Canarias in general love babies and they really do make it easy for you. You can find high chairs in almost all restaurants, cots are nothing special in AirBnb’s (you need to inform the owner you’ll be needing one though).
Babies in the Canary islands surprisingly eat too, so there are really no worries about baby food and other baby products. What you do need to note, you will probably not find the same products you use at home, so some flexibility is always good.
Coming from Slovenia, where we eat porridge from many different kinds of cereal, I was surprised that here you can only find oatmeal. But, as far as the fruits, vegetables, fish, and meat go, you’ll probably eat better than at home. There is lots of local produce, and by local, I mean Spanish as well as Canarian from different islands in the archipelago.
Healthcare
Coming here in December, I was mostly worried about how our kid was going to handle it. It turns out, I should have worried about myself more. But, after an episode of kidney stones, spending a night in Puerto del Rosario hospital, visiting a general practitioner in Corralejo a few times, and overcoming Covid, all in one month, I can say that the healthcare here is probably better than in Slovenia. The EU health insurance card also works wonders. I’d still recommend having private travel insurance too since there are some things for which you might need to visit a private practice. In Corralejo, there is an amazing general practitioner – dr. Kerstin Werner, who speaks German, Spanish, and English and takes on patients of all ages.
Rent a car
While we don’t necessarily use the car every day, it is hard to imagine being in the Canary Islands without it. Things worth seeing are almost without exception far away from each other. Make sure to find a rent a car before coming here, since there is a high occupancy almost all the time. Actually, it was almost impossible to find a car. We have been renting with AutoReisen, which was the only company that had cars available during the period of our stay here. Prices are still cheap compared to other parts of the world, but if you have ever visited Islas Canarias before, prices up to tripled in the past five years.
Finding a place to stay
If you plan on travelling here for a longer period, it is worth checking out the Idealista app. The prices here will be much cheaper than on Airbnb or Booking because the apartments on it are meant for long-term rental. Prices of accommodation are pretty unpredictable at the moment. I kind of thought they’d be the highest before New Year’s, but I am surprised each time I open Airbnb. I guess lots of people are travelling now that the situation with Covid is getting better. For example, if you were looking for accommodation with a kitchen on Lanzarote in March, the lowest price would be around 80 € per day.
Glorious food
Ah, glorious food. On Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria, there are lots of food options available. And while at a first glance, the food doesn’t seem anything special and it doesn’t look Spanish at all, you need to be patient and search a bit for hidden gems. If you come from Germany or England, you’ll be able to eat almost like at home.
Food on Fuerteventura
In Corralejo, for example, Pulperia Dejavu, Il Vessillo, and Tantaluna never disappoint for a quick bite or a dinner. Coffee Shop, La Lonja, and Happy Days offer good breakfast options. Be careful – La Lonja has a different menu for Spanish speakers. Single Fin and Alma both offer good burgers. Espiga de Trigo and Da Uli also offer good italian food. For a good steak visit La Mamma.
Many restaurants offer takeaway and Glovo delivery. In Puerto del Rosario, don’t miss La Tasquita – the food and the owner are both awesome. His love of food can be felt in every dish on the menu.
If you find yourself in Gran Tarajal, there are lots of great restaurants on the promenade. Do not go hungry to Paraja though. You’ll probably be disappointed.
Lajares and El Cotillo both have El Goloso, which you need to try for bread and sweets of all sorts. If you’re in El Cotillo also try La Vaca Azul for fish and ambient. As far as other bakeries go, Los Abuelos in Corralejo is a must-try. And while Villaverde is nothing special, El Horno is worth a drive there. There are of course lots of other restaurants too, many catering specifically to German and British tourists.
Ps: do not rely on Google maps. Restaurants tend to open or close pretty unexpectedly sometimes.
Food on Gran Canaria
As we spent only three weeks in Gran Canaria, and we were moving a lot, it is a bit more difficult to suggest anything. In Las Palmas you can, of course, get anything you’d like. We liked Lido 21 for a quick Italian snack close to the beach.
We were also amazed by Bruder by 1906 and Poke Station in Maspalomas and Humus in Vecindario. We also heard that La Burguesa in Vecindario and Terraza El Viento in Pozo Izquierdo are great.
We spent the majority of time in Taliarte, where there are lots of restaurants by the beach. Gran Canaria also has Glovo and other delivery options.
Shopping
Shops on Fuerteventura are open almost all of the time. There is not a day in the year when every supermarket is closed (except when you really need something). But, if you have the energy to drive a bit, you’ll always find something open. In Corralejo try out Mozzarey, for great mozzarella, Mojo shop for local art, which I love. And if you want to find some Slovenian people, drive to Lajares to Manawai Surf & Yoga Boutique.
The language
While in the south of Gran Canaria, English is a must, do not expect it anywhere else. It is not, that the people do not speak English, but, a little Spanish goes a long way here. Also, do not expect English in the hospital, because you’ll be disappointed. Corralejo and Lajares both have huge international communities, so there are lots of languages spoken there. If you know Italian, you can get by without Spanish in lots of places.
Ps: Spanish is fun. You can learn it here.
And while at home, I always thought about the Canary Islands as a surfing or windsurfing destination, I didn’t windsurf a day this winter. Join me next time, when I tell you more about our winter en Islas Canarias.
Until next time, check out our Instagram account for some Canary vibe.