Barranco de las Peñitas between palms and wild nature

Barranco de las Peñitas is one of the most fascinating places in Fuerteventura, a wonderful tale made of incredible oases of palm trees and mysteries. 

Via a path, retracing the scenic riverbed, you reach the Eremita de la Peña where there is an alabaster statue of the Virgin protector of the island.

The Barranco de las Peñitas at Fuerteventura is a very suggestive landscape of the interior of the island, located very close to the ancient capital of the island, Betancuria.

A very unusual landscape with large beaches and volcanoes and this magical place looks more like a little piece of Morocco transported to Fuerteventura. 

It is a path of palm trees and cacti, a rather arid landscape, which follows a path parallel to the course of a stream, practically dry.

To see how nature has transformed this place, just go to the Arco de las Peñitas, which over the years has been filed and shaped by the wind and sand. 

 

The Las Peñitas trail 

Barranco de Las Peñitas is one of the most evocative natural places in Fuerteventura and contains an extraordinary charm.

When wondering what to see in Fuerteventura, this attraction is an unmissable stop.

In addition to being an area of ​​great scenic interest, it also has one of the few dams on the island, built after the Spanish Civil War.

Now the Las Peñitas dam is unused because it is full of sediment accumulated over the years, so it barely collects water.

If we take the ravine route from Buen Paso towards Vega de Río Palmas we notice an oasis of giant palm trees.

Continuing along the path that runs along the entire ravine, you reach the Hermitage of the Vírgen de la Peña which is located more or less in the middle of the ravine.

Hermitage of Malpaso, whose name has been given since the 15th century, due to its dangerous location. 

For a certain period, this place housed the image of the Patron Saint of Fuerteventura, La Virgen de la Peña.

 

Arco de Las Peñitas, a spectacle of nature

Formed by wind erosion, the Arco de las Peñitas is undoubtedly one of those wonderful treasures that only Mother Nature can offer.

Setting off on an adventure on this route about 4 km from the municipality of Pájara in Fuerteventura offers unique emotions.

Arco de las Peñitas is a magnificent rock formation that the universe has bizarrely sculpted in the Betancuria Rural Park.

This arch is an unmissable attraction during a holiday at Fuerteventura and is one of the most beautiful places on the island, located a short distance from the Barranco de las Peñitas.

An unexpected humid environment in an eminently desert environment, which gives rise to a unique landscape of spectacular contrasts.

This arch gives the impression of having been created by the hands of a giant, who distorted the rock to give it its current shape. 

Its sinuous curves hypnotize the visitor, and have a powerful power to stop the flow of time.

Once you arrive at the Arco de las Peñitas it would be impossible not to admire it from almost every angle to appreciate its enchantment.

The rock mass is made up of the oldest materials in the Canary Islands, formed in the depths of the ocean approximately 120 million years ago.

Las Peñitas is one of the most unique climbing areas in Fuerteventura, where huge blocks of syenite (similar to granite) are hidden.

Getting to the Arco de las Peñitas

To reach the Arco de las Peñitas there are two paths that can be taken:

The first, longer one, starts from the Casa de La Naturaleza restaurant in the municipality of Vega del Río Palmas. 

Through the Peñitas ravine you reach the hermitage and then continue to the arch.

For the second one, you have to take the FV-621 road towards Ajuy and turn towards Buen Paso

From there, take the FV-627, which leads directly to the dirt esplanade of the ravine, where a few metres away is the start of the path that leads to Las Peñitas.

Las Peñitas has around 30 routes of varying difficulty, some of them up to 40 metres long and the ascent and descent can take around 1 hour.

The distance is short, but to reach the arch you have to overcome a certain slope and there is no marked path or trail.

Reaching the esch involves climbing a natural “staircase” made up of large rocks moved from above.

 

How to get to the Barranco de las Peñitas?

The path to get to Barranco de las Penitas is perfectly signposted and easy to follow, but obviously you need to have suitable shoes and sun cream.

Starting from Puerto del Rosario , follow the FV30 to Betancuria, a long route of 38.5 km that can be covered in 50 minutes by car.

We continue towards Betancuria, leaving behind Casillas del Angel, Almacigo, Valle de Santa Ines and Mirador de Guise and Ayose and Vega de Rio Palmas.

Once you arrive at Vega de Rio Palmas , continue for a couple of kilometers until you reach your destination, where an incredible view opens up.