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Routes and trails, What to see in Fuerteventura ?
Ascent to the Mountain of Escanfraga
Nov
Villaverde, at the foot of the Escanfraga mountain, is an ideal enclave for those seeking the tranquility of the rural environment, without giving up certain comforts. The fact of being close to Corralejo, one of the towns with the greatest tourist projection in Fuerteventura, makes Villaverde the perfect place for your holidays.
If you stay in one of our villas in this town, in addition to enjoying a private pool, you can carry out different sports activities, including bike excursions, hiking or horse riding. Going up to Escanfraga has been postulated as one of the routes with most followers in recent years, especially since the annual “Trail Escanfraga” test was carried out.
Escanfraga: The Great Unknown
Escanfraga for its conical shape and for the ocher tones it acquires at sunset, it has become one of the most representative visual landmarks of the municipality of La Oliva.
The Escanfraga volcano was formed more than a million years ago. During its eruption, several caves were created, among them the Llano caves and the Villaverde caves. Both of great scientific interest. The Cueva del Llano is one of the oldest visitable jameos in the Canary archipelago. It has a surveyed length of almost 700 meters, and in it lives a fantastic arachnid, a small and friendly opilion (Maiorerus randoi), similar to the spider and exclusive to Fuerteventura.
For its part, the Villaverde Cave was, for a long time, a refuge for the aborigines. Today, it is one of the most interesting archaeological sites in Fuerteventura.
The Escanfraga volcano rises up to 529 meters above sea level. It is considered the highest volcanic cone in Fuerteventura. This characteristic, together with its strategic geographical location, made it serve as a watchtower for centuries, even before the Franco-Norman conquest.
After the conquest and the Castilian colonization, the top of Escanfraga was the perfect place to watch, at the same time, the ports of Corralejo, Tostón and Playa del Pozo, being able to warn of possible pirate attacks.
Walking the path that separates the Plaza de Villaverde from the crater of the Escanfraga volcano is quite an adventure. Athletes call this ascent the heartbreaker. In just 9 kilometers of route, there are more than 350 meters of unevenness. Certainly, you need to be in very good physical condition to face the mountain and do it in just over an hour, but if your thing is not to run like the devil’s soul, we suggest you go up Escanfraga at your own pace.
The effort will be worth it. In addition to contemplating magnificent views of much of the north of Majorero, you will observe that the crater itself was adapted to dry farming. The climatological conditions of this space served for the cultivation of cereal. Cosco was also collected, and in the paratas orchilla and escán, two dyeing lichens that grow well in the area
Frequently asked questions about the climb to Escanfraga:
How to go up to Escanfraga?
A good reference to start the ascent to the top of Escanfraga and leave the vehicle is to arrive at the beginning of the town of Villaverde, right where the new school ( CEIP) is being built. On the right you will see several dirt tracks, which lead towards the Escanfraga mountain. Take the one with the most signs of being busy. The climb is zigzagging. However, so you don’t get lost, we leave you the route in GPX format (Download the Villaverde – Escanfraga route).
During the journey it is very likely that you will see guirres, Canary crows, and hawks soaring the skies. Nearby is one of the dumps enabled by the Cabildo de Fuerteventura, for the recovery of the guirre majorero.
How long does it take to go up to Escanfraga?
Going up to Escanfraga, without rushing and making stops to take some photos, will take you an average of 2 hours. So here you have a good plan for the morning of the weekend.
Is it advisable to do the Escanfraga route with children?
The road that goes up to Escanfraga has steep and constant slopes. Also, the wind tends to blow strong at the top. This is not a recommended route to do with children who are not used to sports.
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