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Hiking, mountain biking and cycling

Corralejo – Lajares

Location:
North of the municipality of La Oliva
Average time:
3 hours
Difficulty:
Medium
Distance:
8.73 km
Environmental Regulations:
Special Protection Area for Birds.
Description:
The route, which links the village of Corralejo with the village of Lajares inland, was formerly used to connect El Puerto de Corralejo with the rest of the villages that make up the municipality of La Oliva.
Without deviating from the road, we will drive through an area of notable scenic and geomorphological interest until we approach the so-called El Roque complex, formed by the Calderón Hondo and Montaña Colorada volcanoes. Both form part of a volcanic alignment whose activity significantly increased the surface area of the island to the north and the creation of the island of Lobos.
On this route we can find small communities of carallima burchardii, which today are in danger of extinction. It is one of the most important areas for the sighting of the Houbara bustard. We can also observe specimens of Canary stonechat, Tawny pipit, raven, buzzard and kestrels.

Corralejo – El Cotillo

Location:
North Coast of the Municipality of La Oliva
Average time:
7 hours 30 minutes
Difficulty:
Medium - High
Distance:
23,4 Km
Environmental Regulations:
• Special Protection Area for Birds.
• Site of Community Interest.
• Important Bird Area.
Description:
The route starts in the fishing village of Corralejo. A dirt track will take us to the Charco de Bristol, a coastal depression that is periodically flooded by sea water, where plant species of high biological value coexist. Among them are the toad, the sea grape, the “matomoro” and especially the salt marsh saltwort, an endemism of the eastern islands, which in Fuerteventura only inhabits this place and the Lobos island.
The rocky coastline is the result of the extensive lava flows emitted by the Bayuyo volcanoes, which only raise the shore a few metres. Along the coastline there is a succession of coves that are sheltered from the strong waves that lash the north of the island.
The track goes through a very rugged relief of scoriaceous basalts, which give rise to an irregular surface with a characteristic appearance. Hawthorn, “Tabaibas”, “Matamoro”, gorse and thyme are some of the species that manage to colonise the lava, but lichens are undoubtedly the main protagonists in the vegetation of the badlands.
At the western end of the sandy area is Majanicho, a shallow water bay where small fishermen's houses stand.
Caleta del Hierro and Caleta de la Seba are notable for their accumulations of sebas, a marine plant that grows in meadows creating an ideal environment for the reproduction of fish. The bottom tides "prune" these meadows, depositing the remains on the coast.
The track leaves the Malpaís at Punta Aguda and enters the sand. “Tabaibillas”, “Balancón”, sea grape, “coranzoncillos” and “salado” are some of the typical species of the sandy environment that can be found in this area.
Around the Tostón lighthouse there are several coves with white sand and crystal clear waters, ideal for water sports.

Lobos Island

Location:
Northeast of the municipality of La Oliva
Average time:
1 hour 45 minutes
Difficulty:
Medium-low
Distance:
7,2 Km
Environmental regulations:
• Natural Park.
• Included in the Natura 2000 Network.
• Special Protection Area for Birds.
• Special Area of Conservation.
Description:
This is a small islet of about 4.58 km2 located to the northeast of the island of Fuerteventura. Separated by the Bocaina Strait, the depth of which does not exceed 30 metres. The island can be seen clearly from Corralejo.
Its name is due to the fact that in the past the island was inhabited by Mediterranean monk seals (also known as sea lions), which are now totally extinct on the island. Fishermen eliminated the species, believing that their voracity reduced the marine resources of the area. Each of these animals requires 30-40 kg of fish per day.
The islet was inhabited until 1968 by a lighthouse keeper, Antonio Hernández Páez (Antoñito el Farero), and his family. The lighthouse was restored and nowadays it works automatically. The islet is part of the “Parque Natural de las Dunas de Corralejo”. It is home to more than 130 plant species and several species of birds, including the herring gull, the great bustard (at
certain times of the year) and the Cory's shearwater. The seabed is an underwater reserve area and contains a great ecological wealth. Its highest point is La Caldera, at 127 m.
The islet is a natural paradise, where we can find salt marshes, which are depressions in the land that are frequently flooded at high tide and are home to important concentrations of biodiversity such as limonium, ovalifolium or Lobos evergreens (an endemic species).

Calderón Hondo

Average time:
2 hours
Location:
Centro Norte del Municipio de La Oliva
Difficulty:
Low
Distance:
7 Km (Round trip)
Environmental Regulations:
• Special Protection Area for Birds.
Description:
This route features a double volcanic edifice, formed by the Colorada mountain and Calderón Hondo. This whole edifice is related to the Bayuyo badlands, which is an authentic geological extension of the island and is estimated to be around 50,000 years old. The volcanic slag and lapilli in this area have a reddish pigmentation due to the chemical composition of the materials, which are normally rich in iron.
Calderón Hondo has a perfect crater 70m deep and 100m in diameter, offering a fantastic view of the north of Fuerteventura and the south of Lanzarote.
This volcano and the surrounding cones are responsible for the increase in the surface area of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, as well as the creation of the island of Lobos. Close to the base of the mountain we can access small paths that will lead us to constructions related to grazing and seasonal settlement, some of aboriginal origin and which have been reused over time.

Corralejo – Lajares

Location:
North of the municipality of La Oliva
Average time:
3 hours
Difficulty:
Medium
Distance:
8.73 km
Environmental Regulations:
Special Protection Area for Birds.
Description:
The route, which links the village of Corralejo with the village of Lajares inland, was formerly used to connect El Puerto de Corralejo with the rest of the villages that make up the municipality of La Oliva.
Without deviating from the road, we will drive through an area of notable scenic and geomorphological interest until we approach the so-called El Roque complex, formed by the Calderón Hondo and Montaña Colorada volcanoes. Both form part of a volcanic alignment whose activity significantly increased the surface area of the island to the north and the creation of the island of Lobos.

Tindaya – Esquinzo – El Cotillo

Location:
West coast of the municipality of La Oliva
Average time:
4 hours 30 minutes
Difficulty:
Medium
Distance:
15,2 Km
Environmental Regulations:
• Special Protection Area for Birds.
Description:
This path was formerly used to connect the inland villages with the coastal villages. The landscape is notable for the stone ovens (used to obtain lime), the gavias (fields for cultivation), groups of Canary Island palm trees, remains of some aboriginal structures: cisterns, wells...
Continuing westwards, we find the coastline to the west. A cliffy coastline where a series of ravines flow into the sea, forming a series of wild and unique beaches. Cliffs that have their origin in the fault and sinking that the island suffered from the west. Where the sea roars like an enraged dragon and where the waves break furiously on the rocks and cliffs, splashing them and raising spectacular mountains of foam.
These beaches are called from south to north: Jarugo, Playa de La Mujer, Tebeto (with its puddle) and Esquinzo (Special Protection Area for Birds), where species such as the Houbara Bustard and the Canarian stonechat stand out). At the end of our route we can see from afar El Castillo del Tostón, an old defensive construction of the island, which nowadays is used as a tourist office and exhibition hall.

Vallebrón

The Protected Landscape of Vallebrón is characterised by an elongated spine with a knife-like relief, flanked by two large U-shaped ravines. The most easterly vertex of the spine corresponds to the mountain of La Muda, a place of historical interest for housing a site with a peculiar burial system.

Malpaís de la arena

Location:
Centre of the municipality of La Oliva
Average time:
2 hours 45 minutes
Difficulty:
Low
Distance:
8,64 Km
Environmental Regulations:
• Natural Monument.
• Canary Islands Protected Spaces Act.
• Special Protection Area for Birds.
• Site of Community Interest.
Description:
Less than 10,000 years old, Montaña de la Arena corresponds to the last eruptive episode on the island of Fuerteventura. It is a volcanic edifice some 120 metres above sea level and 420 metres above sea level. Montaña de la Arena, declared a Natural Monument in 1994, is made up of several craters, through which pyroclastic materials were emitted, and several lava vents located mainly at the base of the building.
A noteworthy aspect of these eruptions is that they create a number of caves and volcanic tubes that are of great interest from a palaeontological (several species that do not exist on the island today have been discovered) and archaeological point of view.
In the more humid areas we can find a large quantity of lichens, especially "orchilla" and "ajicán", which in the past were used for dyeing, generating economic activity on the island.
In this “malpei” (the typical Fuerteventura name for the badlands) we can see how the ancient settlers of the island used these lands to grow fig trees, prickly pear cactus, and pears. One of the highlights of this route is that for several kilometres we can see the land divided into stone walls, in the shape of a square, which were formerly used for livestock farming and agriculture.

Hiking

Traces of legend

An excellent guide to the trails of La Oliva. Volcanoes, beaches, history and much more.

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