Entrance
Straightforard between the breakwaters. Entry at night would not be difficult, although there are no lights on the Western pontoons. The easiest place to berth is on the outermost of the three pontoons to the East - the first two now have gangways ashore, although the innermost is still detached. Take care as you swing round to port round the low inner breakwater to approach the pontoons. If there is not a large vessel moored there you may see a tender - which is on the end of a long thick floating line just waiting to catch the unwary prop.
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The outermost of these pontoons was broken and z-shaped when we tied up to it, but was repaired while we were there. It is probably the easiest place to go alongside pending any further instruction. There was no water or electricity on these pontoons at the end of March 2007, but that situation may change. Certainly there is a lot of work afoot in that area of the harbour, and it looks as though there may be a 'proper' marina there with better facilities at some point in the future.
Further into the harbour there is also now a third pontoon W of the two pontoons shown in the pilot at the E. end of the harbour. This has electricity and water and may well have space for a visitor (see below).
Formalities
We had been alongside the outermost of the previously detached pontoons for two days when the security guard - who had checked us out but not spoken before - came down and asked us to report to the port office with our documents. When we did so we were asked to move to one of the inner pontoons because they were repairing the one we were on (see above). |
Facilities and Charges
A Finnish couple we met in Las Palmas told us they had been on the Western pontoons for three or four days without being asked for any money, but it seems this situation may have changed while we were there. We paid E21 for a week on on the outermost of the inner pontoons. This charge is, like many places in the Canaries, based on length x breadth, so is much cheaper for a smaller boat like ours. The Port Captain also told us that because we had had to move from the other pontoon we would not be charged for water or electricity, although we could use them.
The harbour felt very safe and restful, even when the katabatic effect was in full swing. The gusts are relatively short-lived and most of the time it is a tranquil place to be moored. There isn't really much room to anchor and in view of the gusts and the cheapness and availabilty of pontoon berths there wouldn't seem to be much point in trying.
There are toilets in the ferry terminal, but no showers and no hot water. The mini-market at the filling station cum fuel berth is very expensive - better to walk into the town where there is a very large EuroSpar which has everything at very reasonable prices. There is a restaurant at the Cofradia de Pescadores that only cooks between 12 and 4 - to our regret we didn't try it while we were there. There is also a bar in the ferry terminal which shuts at eight o'clock. There is a reasonably well-stocked chandlery in the port.
Morro Jable itself has everything you might need and is a short walk over the hill. There is a tourist office beside the taxi rank (not far from the W. end of thebeach), but it shuts at 3pm. Very helpful when open, with plenty of free maps.
Communications
You can get a bus from the port into town, although it doesn't seem to stop anywhere every useful and it is not too far to walk anyway. Probably worth getting a bus back to the port if you have bought a load of shopping at the big supermarket.
There are several very reasonably priced internet cafes in the town, although I didn't find anywhere advertising a wireless connection.
Places to See
We hired a car for a day and I have to say Fuerteventura was the bleakest island we had seen - the landscape is mostly semi-desert. Betancuria is worth a visit, and it might be nice to drive down to Punta Jandia if you fancy hiring a jeep or don't worry too much about your hire car - it is a dirt road, but we saw plenty of normal cars (including hire cars) on it.
Morro Jable itself is a pleasant if uninspiring town There is a market on Thursdays down in the tourist complex, and the promenade along the seafront is very attractive with some good value restaurants.
For a detailed account of Fairwinds' time in Fuerteventura see HERE
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