The houses of Felipito at Fuerteventura

The houses of Felipito is a recreational area (in Spanish merendero) much sought after as a space for leisure and entertainment in the municipality of Puerto del Rosario.

This space is the ideal place to enjoy nature, local history, and the tranquility offered by Fuerteventura’s nature and its rural setting.

The merendero is located in Llano del Triguero, at the crossroads between Barranco de La Herradura and El Time, near the village of Guisguey, in the municipality of Puerto del Rosario.

The structure, part of the Fuerteventura Museum Network, tells a fascinating story, which further enriches this place.

The houses of Felipito allows us to discover how the Majoreros had to adapt the desert landscape to be able to cultivate in an era when the economy was based on agriculture.

Since it is not at all easy to cultivate in an arid territory, they had to exploit the scarce rainfall coming from the ravines.

Felipito exploited the limestone soil to create cultivation areas, adding gutter systems and pipes to channel rainwater.

He also built an enclosure made of limestone walls to protect the space from the constant wind and wild animals.

The house, like the rest of the property, currently used as a picnic area, reopened to the public in October 2021.

This wonderful snack bar includes barbecues, large tables and covered benches to protect them from the sun and wind, a children’s playground, Canary Island ball courts, and garden areas.

History and origin 

The picnic area “ LAS casas de Felipito” is named after Felipe Ruíz González, a popular figure much loved at the beginning of the 20th century.

Known as Felipito El Feo, Felipe lived on this farm with his family, dedicating himself to preparing the land for agriculture.

Visitors to the estate are amazed by the stone walls he built as the area’s only defense from the wind and stray animals.

He also built drainage systems and canals from the surrounding plain to convey rainwater and irrigate his lands.

This is a characteristic example of the struggle of the majoreros against the atmospheric agents and the aggressiveness of the island’s territory.

All this to obtain a surface sheltered from the wind and cultivable on arid land covered in limestone rock.

The original house reflects the modest rural homes of the past, typical of Fuerteventura, with three bedrooms and an attic.

This house and the rest of the estate have been restored by the Island Council of Fuerteventura to be preserved as part of the island’s ethnographic heritage.

Facilities and services

The houses of Felipito , managed by the Fuerteventura Island Council, offers various facilities designed to entertain visitors of all ages.

This picnic area called “merendero” includes:

• Barbecue areas, ideal for sharing a day with family or friends
• Covered tables and benches, offering protection from the sun and wind
• Playground for the little ones
• Canarian pelota courts, where you can practice this traditional Majorero sport
• Garden areas with native species such as bougainvillea, aloe vera, pomegranate trees, olive trees and fig trees
• Toilets and non-potable water

The picnic area, just a short walk from Puerto del Rosario, is easily accessible by car and is open to the public at the following times:

• Wednesday to Friday: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Saturday and Sunday: 11:00 am to 6:00 pm

Recommendations for visitors and rules to follow

To fully enjoy this natural and cultural environment, we recommend:

• Use the facilities responsibly, respecting the rules of coexistence
• Bring drinking water, soft drinks and food, as there are no shops on site.
• Respect the natural environment, avoiding abandoning waste and contributing to the conservation of space

Being part of the Fuerteventura Museum Network, it is essential to respect some rules of this incomparable natural environment, including:

• Dogs are not allowed in this area
• It is forbidden to light fires outside the designated areas
• playing football is prohibited
• climbing on stone walls is prohibited
• camping is prohibited
• collect garbage once you leave the facility

Las Casas de Felipito snack bar (merendero) is a unique space that blends the history, culture, and tradition of the wonderful island of Fuerteventura.

How to get to Las casas de Felipito?

Getting to Las Casas de Felipito from Puerto del Rosario is very easy and convenient, as it is only 8 km from the capital of Fuerteventura.

From Avenida Juan de Bethencourt, continue on the FV10 towards Guisguey – Los Estancos, crossing La Herradura until reaching your destination.