WHERE TO START: Park a car in the old village of La Villa of Teguise and another car in the town of Famara or at the beach area that we have chosen for a possible dip in the sea after the walk. DISTANCE: 6.25 miles [10 kilometers], 7.5 or 8.75 miles [12 or 14 kilometers], according to the choice of route. DIFFICULTY: Low. DURATION: Two and a half, three, or three and a half hours, according to the route. WHAT TO BRING: Wear appropriate clothing and shoes. Bring water, some chocolate or snacks, a hat and sun screen. Do not forget your cell phone.. AFTER THE WALK: A dip in the sea at Famara beach. You can have lunch in Caleta de Famara or in Teguise.
We can start in the center of the old village of La Villa of Teguise. We will find the starting point in the northwest of the village, the Barranco del Ahorcado, which after a walk of approximately two hours, will take us to the base of the cliff of Famara. The trail is very simple and comfortable. It is very comfortable thanks to the firmness of the ground and the width of the trail, about 22-28 feet wide. At the exit of Teguise we find the old lime ovens, a fundamental element in the Lanzarote architecture. The structure of these ovens is very well preserved.
As an expert on the subject said, Enrique Mesa Alonso, “until the introduction of cement, lime was the product that was most commonly used as binding material. It was obtained from sedimentary deposits known as caliche and it had to be baked in specially designed ovens called caleras“.
Fifteen minutes into the hike a gradual descent to the sea begins. From this point your gaze is lost in multiple directions. At times we will only have eyes for the immense Famara cliff. But our eyes, inevitably get caught by the beauty of the islands of La Graciosa, Alegranza and Montaña Clara. Back on Lanzarote, the extension of the natural volcanic sand called jable seems endless from above and it gets less dry and yellowish as our gaze moves towards Mozaga, in the center of the island, and Soo (see picture at lower left), a village close to Famara. From the African continent, the jable is brought to this side of the coast of Lanzarote due to the predominant trade winds and it crosses the island from west to east, from Famara to the Guacimeta beach in Playa Honda. In this sandy soil some vegetation like a saltwort plant called barrilla, the aizoon or cosco, as it’s known locally, and gorse bushes or aulaga thrive, having adapted to its aridity and mobility.
Half way into the hike we run into some scattered buildings that, for some reason, occupy this natural protected space. The day for the outing started out sunny, but with a gusty wind that keeps us company very faithfully all the way through. Little by little, the day turns against us, with heavy and unfriendly clouds that can be seen on the horizon over the islands of the Chinijo Archipielago. Soon, it seems very likely, they will unload a few drops. The rain starts when we get to the place called Los Noruegos, just outside Caleta de Famara, with views of the kilometric beach. In the distance, we can see the multiple sports place into which the coast has transformed: the kites that fly over the foamy waves, the surfers crossing them from left to right, the tennis racquets, the hikers, and the beach soccer courts on the wet sand… Everybody is working out with the smell of salt and algae and the musical sound of the breaking waves.
Once we get to this point in the hike we have two options. To continue towards the coast seeking the urban area of Caleta, with its beer terraces and its restaurants serving fresh fish. This would be about two kilometers to the west of Los Noruegos, a walk of an additional 15 to 20 minutes. Or we can walk along the base of the Cliff of Famara, following the continuation of the trail that we can find at the end of Caleta, towards the last segment of the beach, which will take us about three quarters of an hour. During the beautiful month of September, with no wind and quiet, Famara is at its best. It is advisable to organize the hike by parking one car in Caleta de Famara or at the end of the beach, depending to the option we choose, and the other at the old village of Teguise. In Caleta there are few restaurants right by the sea shore, close to the old fishermen’s port. At the end of the beach, if we are well equipped, there are some pretty comfortable flat areas for a barbecue or a paella in between the cliffs. Back in Teguise, you can cap the day at one of its terraces or cafeterias that decorate and give life to the historic patrimony of the former capital of Lanzarote.