FULL MOON TRAIL: RUNNING BY MOONLIGHT IN TIJARAFE

The Full Moon Trail is one of the Canaries’ most iconic hill runs at night and takes place this year on 1 July in the La Palma town of Tijarafe. The event is hugely attractive for its incredible trails and landscapes, as well as the fact that it is staged at night under a full moon. Within a short time, it has become established as a must do for trail runners in the Canaries.

For information, see fullmoontrail.es

Sixty Blue Flags On Canarian Beaches This Summer

Sixty blue flags will be flown on beaches in the Canaries this summer, two more than last year. The figure puts the islands fifth in the ranking of Spain’s regions after Valencia (153), Andalusia (148), Galicia (125) and Catalonia (120), according to statistics published by the Spanish Consumer and Environmental Education Association (in Spanish, ADEAC), the body responsible for coordinating the blue flag scheme in Spain since its launch in 1987. Of the islands, Tenerife boasts the largest number of flags on its beaches with a total of fourteen, followed by Gran Canaria (thirteen), Fuerteventura (ten), Lanzarote (seven), La Palma (six), La Gomera (three) and El Hierro (two). Spain overall has been awarded 729 blue flags this year, 627 of them for beaches, 97 for marinas and five for tourist boats.

The flags will fly from June onwards. Spanish beaches have received six more flags than in 2022 and retain their status as world leaders held since 1994, The country has received 15 % of the total flags awarded, putting it ahead of Greece and Turkey.

International Travel Well On The Way To Full Recovery

The World Tourism Organisation (WTO) reports that a total of 235 million people travelled internationally in the first three months of the year, more than double the figure for outbound tourism in the same period in 2022, when the omicron strain of COVID-19 was spreading. The recovery of the sector is considered to be well under way given that the number of international tourists is now 80 % of the 2019 total. Europe has returned to 90 % of pre-Covid levels thanks to «strong intra-regional demand», whereas Africa and America posted figures of 88 % and 85 % respectively. Recovery in Asia and the Pacific region continued to increase, reaching 54 % of pre-COVID levels, but it is envisaged that this will accelerate further as of now given that most destinations, China in particular, have reopened their borders to non-essential travel.

In terms of sub-regions and destinations, Southern Mediterranean Europe and North Africa have also returned to pre-pandemic levels in the first quarter of 2023 while Western Europe, Northern Europe, Central America and the Caribbean are very close to reaching their figures, according to tourism website Hosteltur.

La Vaca Azul

El Cotillo in Fuerteventura is an ideal spot for campers and should be underlined in red in any decent travel notebook if the aim is to spend a few hours trying wonderful sea food. Of the wide range of places available to eat, one stands out by tradition for its quality ingredients and friendly service.

La Vaca Azul is one of the top restaurants not just in Fuerteventura but also in the entire Canary Islands. Set in a stunning location looking out over the Atlantic and the old harbour at El Cotillo, here you will enjoy excellent fresh fish and seafood dishes, along with an extensive selection of soups, salads, meats, rice dishes and home-made desserts.

Requena, 9. El Cotillo - Fuerteventura. T. 928 538 685.