Surf Riders Fuerteventura

This hostel certainly has its acolytes and the young travelers who pass through come in all shapes and sizes, but they share a love of Corralejo's water-sports scene. It's a relatively quiet place during the day, but Surf Riders comes alive in the evening when people return from a day at the beach. Guests under 18 aren't allowed, and we saw a few mature travelers during our visit, but the hostel mainly draws young German, English, French and Spanish travelers in search of laid-back communal vibes. There are several hostels in this area, but Surf Riders draws plenty of repeat customers thanks to its reasonably well-kept rooms, free breakfast, plunge pool, and pleasant terrace area. The property is well maintained and repainted every year during low season. Plus Rider, the resident cat, makes an appearance every now and then, giving guests the feeling that they're visiting a friend's house. 

Surf Riders’ central location makes it an ideal base for exploring Corralejo and the popular beaches nearby. The nearest supermarket is a six-minute walk away, which is handy for stocking up on groceries. Expect a 10- to 15-minute walk to Carralejo's main street, which is lined with several chain stores, restaurants, bars, and the Las Palmeras shopping center. It's also about a 10-minute walk to the closest strip of sand. Several popular surfing spots and beaches are nearby, including Flag Beach, which is a 10-minute bike ride away. The harbor is a 10-minute drive from the hostel, and is a pleasant place to explore as the sun sets. Visitors can board a boat there for a day trip to Isla de Lobos. From the hostel, it’s difficult to miss the towering slides of the abandoned water park that’s a 10-minute walk away, though it's only open for the rare tour group. Expect a 40-minute drive to Fuerteventura's airport. 

This 16-room hostel has six private rooms with private external bathrooms, four private rooms with shared bathrooms, and six dorms. All are simple and clean, with fresh white sheets, patterned blankets, and twin beds. Private rooms have French doors opening onto tiny balconies, and wall-mounted flat-screen TVs with a selection of Spanish channels. Other features in private rooms include full-length mirrors, large wooden wardrobes, and two free bottles of water. Dorms feature wooden bunk beds, which are sturdy and comfortable. These rooms also have small lockers to store personal belongings. Unfortunately, there’s no air-conditioning in any of the rooms, but ceiling fans work well in mild weather (even it they're a bit noisy if at full speed). When high-season heat is on, though, the rooms can be warm. Wi-Fi is free. Note that none of the rooms have en-suite bathrooms. Instead, select private rooms have external private bathrooms. Dorms and the rest of the private rooms share communal bathrooms, which all looked clean and tidy during our visit. Hairdryers are provided. The towels are clean and fresh, but must be rented in dorms. Toiletries come with private rooms.

This property has all of the standard features that hostel travelers would expect. Two well-equipped communal kitchens with ovens, microwaves, and plenty of utensils make self-catering an easy option. There are also two large refrigerators that include a selection of colored trays corresponding to each room for guests to store their food. Outside, the pleasant terrace is decorated with surfing photographs, and has a comfortable seating area and pool table. A plunge pool is unheated, but offers a refreshing escape from the afternoon sun. On the top floor, a small rooftop terrace has sun loungers and overlooks the pool of neighboring hotel. Storage for surf boards, wet suits, and water-sports equipment is provided, and lessons for all types of surfing can be arranged. The hostel also hosts regular social events. A free continental breakfast is served every day. For security, there's a keypad code to enter the building at night. The hostel has free Wi-FI throughout the property, and the signal was decent during our visit.