Llanos de la Concepción in Puerto del Rosario

Llanos de la Concepción is now part of the municipality of Puerto del Rosario , but its history has roots in a much older past.

This municipality, created in 1837 during the liberal reorganization, included a vast territory in the northern part of Fuerteventura.

In 1926, the administrative reorganization of the island led to its incorporation into what was then called Puerto Cabras, now Puerto del Rosario.

This decision arose from the need to strengthen the flourishing capital, which already concentrated administrative and port functions.

The territory it occupies, since pre-European times, was part of the habitat of the ancient Mahos , the name given to the indigenous inhabitants of Fuerteventura.

The current enclave of Llanos de la Concepción was located within the former Maxorata, an area characterized by a predominantly pastoral economy based mainly on goat farming.

“Llanos” refers to its open, relatively flat topography within a landscape dominated by volcanic ridges and peaks. 

The name “de la Concepción” is linked to the Marian devotion that developed after the consolidation of Christianity on the island at that time.

Local economy

Like other villages in the interior of Fuerteventura, Llanos de la Concepción has developed an economy based on livestock farming and cereal cultivation. 

The loon technique, a traditional hydraulic system designed to collect and retain rainwater, enabled the cultivation of wheat, barley, and legumes.

All this in an environment characterized by scarce and irregular rainfall, typical of the island of Fuerteventura and its arid climate.

The valorization of this heritage, both material and immaterial, is not only a question of identity for the entire oldest island of the Canaries .

But also an opportunity to build a sustainable future that integrates the legacy of the past with the needs of the present.

Traditional architecture and ethnographic heritage

The town of Llanos de la Concepción preserves a valuable ethnographic heritage and traditional Majorera architecture.

This collection of material and immaterial testimonies tells the story, popular culture, traditions, and lifestyle that have characterized its inhabitants.

The whitewashed, simply constructed houses reflect the rural Canarian model and a functional layout adapted to the climate of Fuerteventura.

Alongside the houses, ethnographic elements of great interest are preserved: threshing floors, cisterns and dry stone walls that delimit the terraced fields. 

These elements shape a cultural landscape that bears witness to the centuries-old effort to inhabit and exploit a hostile environment.

The hermitage of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción

The church of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción represents a testimony to the profound devotion of the majoreros.

Before its construction, this area was known as Llanos del Otro Valle or Llanos de Santa Inés and the hermitage was built thanks to the collective effort of the inhabitants.

Don Joseph de Armas was the main promoter and guarantor of the project and the entire community committed itself, through a notarial deed, to its endowment and maintenance.

The hermitage of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción was blessed in 1798 and dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, a name that was later adopted by the city.

From an architectural point of view, it represents a sober example of rural religious architecture in Fuerteventura.

How to get to Llanos de la Concepción

Getting to Llanos de la Concepción from Puerto del Rosario is easy, following the FV3, FV20 and FV30 for about 20 minutes, with a distance of approximately 18 km.

Along the way you will encounter landscapes typical of the hinterland of Fuerteventura , which the rains of the last few months have transformed into breathtaking landscapes.

Because Fuerteventura is not just heavenly beaches, natural wonders, and hidden gems, but also an arid land that never ceases to amaze.