The Caldera de Gayría, Natural Monument at Fuerteventura

Caldera de Gayría Natural Monument  is a nature reserve , which is part of the closed hydrographic basin of the Agua de Bueyes.

The Caldera de Gayria reserve is located in the central part of the island, about 2 km from Casillas de Morales and covers an area of approximately 3,000 hectares.

This natural monument is made up of a series of volcanic craters, which are in various stages of erosion and have given rise to a unique and spectacular landscape.

Caldera de Gairía is one of the best-preserved volcanoes in Fuerteventura and is of great scenic, geological, and geomorphological interest.

It extends across a plain and the cone constitutes an incredible landscape landmark.

This nature reserve is a major tourist attraction on the island and can be visited via various trekking routes, enjoying the panoramic views of the area.

However, due to the fragility of the ecosystem, it is recommended to follow conservation rules and respect the natural environment.

Historical and ethnographic value

The natural monument of Caldera de Gayría has great historical and ethnographic value associated with economic activities:

• Pastoral, we can find structures such as shepherds’ souks, shrimp and canned goods
• In the agricultural field, however, you can see roses and loons in chains in the geographical area of the Caldera
• Aggregate mining was once an important economic activity, mainly for construction and ornamental purposes.

However, all of these activities are currently prohibited due to their negative impact on the environment.

It opens to the southeast and its western flank has been breached due to the continuous extraction of “Picon”.

“Picon” is a small volcanic stone used in gardens and parks in the Canary Islands as a “humidity collector” from the atmosphere.

In the monument, very few areas were used for cultivation because the soil is unproductive, infertile, arid and stony.

The reserve is almost 100,000 years old and the areas around the natural monument continue to be used as grazing land.

From the summit there are impressive 360º views covering much of the island, offering breathtaking panoramas.

The flora and fauna of the Caldera de la Gairia

The area boasts great biodiversity, with a wide variety of endemic animal and plant species, some of which are endangered.

It’s a type of volcanic formation composed of different types of dark-toned rocks on a base of basal complex lavas.

This Natural Monument is part of a group of volcanic emission centers, which include:

• Caldera of La Laguna
• Caldera de Liria
• Caldera de los Arrabales

Together, these volcanoes created a vast lava field known as Malpaís Chico and Malpaís Grande , of which the Caldera de Gairía is the oldest and largest.

The fauna of the reserve area includes a variety of rare and protected species.

The flora in the area is relatively uniform due to the influence of livestock, which has led to the predominance of substitute communities.

How to get there?

The Caldera de Gayria Natural Monument is located almost 29 km from Puerto del Rosario, a distance that can be covered in 30 minutes.

Starting from Puerto del Rosario , follow the FV-20 towards Morro Jable, leaving behind Antigua, Valles de Ortega and Agua de Bueyes.

It must be said that on the right side of the volcano there is one of the possible paths to follow, but it is only accessible from August to March.

During the remaining months, access to the Caldera de la Gayria would be prohibited as it is a productive area for protected birds.

It would be advisable to climb up the left side of the nature reserve , which leads directly to the top of the volcano, which is only 461 m high.

However, to climb to the top and see the recent volcanic formations, you have to be very careful due to the steep slope.