Calderón Hondo – Where Fuerteventura Reveals Its True Nature
There are places on Fuerteventura that give you the feeling of seeing the island in its purest form – raw, ancient and enveloped in breathtaking silence. The Calderón Hondo viewpoint in the north of the island is one such place. Anyone who has visited it once will carry the images of this volcanic landscape of Fuerteventura with them for a long time to come.
A crater rim that breathes history
South-west of Corralejo, nestled in a hilly volcanic landscape between La Oliva and the hinterland of the dune town, the Calderón Hondo volcanic crater rises to a height of 278 metres. The name alone hints at what awaits you: a deep cauldron, shaped by forces older than any human memory.
Once you reach the top of the crater rim, a secured viewing platform opens up – and with it, a view into the roughly 70-metre-deep volcanic chasm. You stand at the edge and look down into a silence that feels like awe. All around stretches a lava landscape that seems almost surreal in its inhospitability.
Hiking along the volcanic chain in the north of Fuerteventura
The Calderón Hondo is not an isolated peak – it is part of an impressive volcanic chain in the north of Fuerteventura. Along this chain runs a nature trail that not only allows hikers to climb to the crater rim but also offers bizarre impressions of an almost alien world.
Hiking tours to Calderón Hondo are best started from Corralejo or the small village of Lajares. The paths are easy to walk, and thanks to the moderate altitude, the ascent to the volcanic crater is easily manageable even for less experienced hikers. You don’t need mountain boots – but sturdy footwear and plenty of water are essential.
Life in the lava: lichens as silent masters of survival
What grows where hardly anything can? In the barren volcanic landscape around Calderón Hondo, lichens have established themselves as masters of adaptation. The grey volcanic lichen covers the dark lava rocks like a delicate pattern from another world. The bright orange wall lichen stands out against the black rock – a colour contrast that, in its simplicity, is more beautiful than many a painting.
These plants are a reminder that life finds a way – everywhere and under any conditions. A small but touching detail of this volcanic landscape on Fuerteventura.
How to get to Calderón Hondo: Directions
From Corralejo (recommended starting point)
From Puerto del Rosario, take the FV-1 northwards to Corralejo. From there, start the hike through the lava landscape towards Calderón Hondo.
From Lajares
Also from Puerto del Rosario on the FV-1 northwards; after approx. 9 km, turn left onto the FV-102 towards La Oliva, then continue north on the FV-10 to Lajares (on the right).
Conclusion: A must-visit for nature lovers and hikers
The Calderón Hondo on Fuerteventura is not a highlight for beach lovers – it is the highlight for anyone who really wants to understand the island. Anyone who has experienced the volcanic landscape in the north of Fuerteventura from a bird’s-eye view on the crater rim will see the island through different eyes afterwards: deeper, more rugged, more authentic.
