Cardón mountain at Fuerteventura

Cardón Mountain is located in the village of the same name with almost 100 inhabitants, 16 km from Costa Calma , in the municipality of Pájara in the south-east of Fuerteventura.

This Natural Monument covers an area of 1,266.8 hectares and stands out for its shape and its impressive height, one of the highest peaks on the island.

In the highest levels of Cardon Mountain, Espigón Ojo de Cabra , the summit of Montaña Cardón and Punta de La Galera stand out .

The landscape that the Natural Monument of Montaña Cardón displays has few contrasts in terms of colors and textures, but great beauty in its geomorphological forms.

The mountain massif has been shaped by long periods of erosion, creating a unique and spectacular landscape, becoming a place of great natural and cultural value.

In the areas surrounding the mountain there are areas with buildings, used for crops and currently abandoned, areas for livestock and even pilgrimage areas .

Also on Montaña Cardon is the Archaeological Complex of the Castle and the Sanctuary of the Virgen del Tanquito , to which many inhabitants of the island come on pilgrimage every year.

The path and sanctuary of Montaña Cardon

This Natural Monument is a high but accessible area with numerous marked trails.

Montaña de Cardón is a major tourist destination for nature lovers and offers a variety of hiking trails to explore the mountain and its surroundings.

The most interesting route is the one that leads to the small Sanctuary of the Virgen del Tanquito , located west of the El Castillo tower.

Next to the hermitage of the Virgen del Tanquito, a recreation area with an oven and a space for barbecues has been installed in the sanctuary.

The path is marked with stones for most of the route, until you reach a clearing where you can admire the most beautiful sunsets of Fuerteventura.

From this point you can enjoy a spectacular view of the north coast, reaching the entire Arco de Cofete, La Pared and Punta Pesebre .

Montaña Cardón is a place of great natural and cultural value that offers a unique experience to visitors interested in the history, culture and wild nature of Fuerteventura.

Characteristics of the Natural Monument 

The soils in this Natural Monument are poorly productive, infertile, arid, stony and eroded, and have not always been so arid.

The protected area of Cardón Mountain covers an area of approximately 395 hectares and was declared a Natural Monument in 1987.

The mountain features numerous ravines and gullies, some of which have barriers to retain water for agricultural use.

There is also a hanging aquifer, which feeds the wells used mainly to water the goats that graze in the area and some of the birds that populate the area.

Looking at the map of the municipalities of Fuerteventura , this area boasts the richest flora and fauna of the entire southern part of the island.

Montaña Cardón is home to a large number of vascular flora species, some of which are very rare on the island.

Nearby are important archaeological sites such as Las Hermosas , which houses residential, funerary and livestock buildings of the island’s ancient inhabitants.

We can also find ethnographic values , such as the Atalaya del Castillo , a place of pilgrimage for devotees of the Virgen del Tanquito.

How to get there?

The Montaña Cardon Natural Monument is located 67 km from Puerto del Rosario , a one-hour drive .

To get around Fuerteventura, especially in the very wild areas of the south, it is advisable to rent a 4×4 car.

Buses and other means of transport such as taxis do not operate in these areas, and you can reach this place with a rental car.

Starting from the capital Puerto del Rosario, follow the FV2 for 40 km until reaching the FV 511, then continue on the F V-56, FV-617.

Continue along the FV-605 towards Calle Chilegua, a dirt road with limited traffic.