Hike to Degollada de Cofete – Where Fuerteventura Is Still Wild and Untouched
There are places on Fuerteventura that defy time. Places where you feel the island still breathes as it did centuries ago – rugged, still, untouched. One of these places is the Degollada de Cofete, a mountain pass in the Jandía massif at the very southern tip of the island. Those who undertake this hike on Fuerteventura do not simply return from a walk. They return changed.
Starting Point: The Water Reservoir near Morro Jable
The Degollada de Cofete hike begins at a simple car park near the water reservoir of Morro Jable, approximately five kilometres west of the resort of the same name. From here, a dusty track leads into the Gran Valle valley – and into a world that seems entirely removed from the everyday world of tourism.
To get there, take the FV-2 from Puerto del Rosario heading south. You pass Caleta de Fuste, Tarajalejo and Costa Calma before finally reaching Morro Jable. Past the industrial estate »Poligono Industrial Morro Jable«, continue westwards – until you reach the junction with the small car park.
Gran Valle: The Wilderness That Enchants
Barely have you stepped onto the track before the Gran Valle opens up like another world. Barren mountain slopes frame the view, the light falls hard on pale stones, and the silence is so complete that you can hear your own breathing. Among the few plants that endure this wilderness are prickly lettuce, boxthorn and wild tobacco – hardy plants for a hardy land.
You occasionally come across the Jandía spurge (Euphorbia handiensis), an endangered endemic species of this region. Those who spot it inevitably pause.
The trail through the Jandía Natural Park passes an old ruined farmstead, then descends left into a sparsely vegetated hollow. Abandoned stone huts and neglected enclosures line the path – silent witnesses to another era, when people still lived and worked here.
The Ascent: Between Silence and Vastness
At a fork in the path, you leave the valley track and climb right over a pathless stretch up the earthen ridge. It is one of those moments in which a hike on Fuerteventura reveals its true character: no comfort, no handrail, just stone, wind and your own rhythm.
Reaching the top, you find a small path that first descends back into the valley. Old hose pipes, faded tracks and individual stone cairns as waymarkers accompany the onward route. Then the narrow zigzag trail ascends to the mountain pass Degollada de Cofete – at 363 metres above sea level.
The pass is flanked by the peaks of Fraile (683 m) and Pico de La Zarca (807 m), the highest summits of the Jandía massif. Between these mighty mountain walls, the view opens up – and it is breathtaking.
Degollada de Cofete: The Panorama as Your Reward
Those who reach the mountain pass of Degollada de Cofete immediately understand why this place is so special. The gaze sweeps across the vast northern coastline of Fuerteventura, over vivid blue Atlantic waters and steep mountain slopes. It is a panorama you cannot photograph – you have to stand in it, breathe it, feel it.
Until the 1960s, this pass was the only connection to the remote settlement of Cofete and the northern coast – a fact that makes the solitude of this route all the more tangible.
The Return and Refreshments in Morro Jable
The return journey follows the same path back to the car park. What was unknown terrain on the way up now feels like an old acquaintance – more familiar, but no less impressive.
In the resort of Morro Jable, numerous restaurants and cafés invite you to stop and refuel. Here you can let the impressions of the hike through the Jandía mountains sink in at a relaxed pace – over a coffee or a glass of local wine.
Tour Info at a Glance
| Start & End Point | Gran Valle road junction, ~5 km west of Morro Jable |
| Distance | ~8 kilometres |
| Hiking Time | ~3 hours |
| Elevation Change | 300 metres (ascent & descent) |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate |
| Refreshments | None on the route; many restaurants in Morro Jable |
| Equipment | Sturdy footwear, sufficient water & provisions, walking pole if needed |
Conclusion: One of the Most Beautiful Hikes on Fuerteventura
The hike to Degollada de Cofete is no gentle stroll – and that is a good thing. It challenges, it silences, it surprises. For anyone who wishes to experience the authentic Fuerteventura beyond beaches and pools, this hike in the Jandía Natural Park is essential. For it is here that the island shows its true face: rugged, honest, unforgettable.
