Discover the sacred mountain of Tindaya in Fuerteventura

Tindaya is a volcano located in the north-west of the island of Fuerteventura. It is a uniquely shaped peak that stands out from the other rather pointed reliefs on the island. The Tindaya volcano is considered to be of the Pelean type and has no eruptions. Its rock is grey-brown in colour, with red highlights due to the iron oxides present in the geological formation. The summit of the volcano is almost 400 metres above sea level.

Before settlers arrived on the Canary Islands, the natives called Tindaya the Montaña Sagrada, or Sacred Mountain. Scientists have discovered almost 300 symbolic engravings, known as petroglyphs.

All these rock engravings point westwards, towards the Teide peak on the island of Tenerife. Considered to be the home of the volcano god of the Guanches, the indigenous people of the Canaries, the ** Teide volcano** is visible on a clear day from the summit of Tindaya. Archaeologists have also found cave dwellings, a necropolis and numerous shells brought back from the coast.

It would appear that Tindaya was a place of worship for the Guanches. Even more intriguingly, there is some speculation that human sacrifices may have been made... Since the Guanches, the Spaniards have also written stories about the mountain of Tindaya, talking of witches and curses. It would seem that Tindaya has always possessed a special aura that tends to intoxicate the locals... Be that as it may, the mountain was declared a nature reserve in 1987 for the great geological and ethnographic value of its rock.

The village of Tindaya lies at the foot of the volcano of the same name. It's a small village with just 600 inhabitants, but one that still has a certain amount of interest, thanks to the mountain that towers above the village and its typically Canarian architecture.

Along the village streets, cactuses and white houses lead you to small restaurants, art galleries and hotels. The Chapel of Our Lady of Charity, or Ermita de Nuestra Señora de la Caridad, is a small religious building. Its single nave is dominated by a beautiful volcanic stone bell tower, and its façade is dramatically decorated with large bands of black paint.

The Tindaya mountain can be visited on foot. You can climb to the top without a guide, but you will need special permission from the local municipality. This can be obtained from the island administration's environmental council in the capital, Puerto del Rosario. Once you have your permit, you can climb the sacred mountain.

The hike takes around 2 hours round trip, and is 250 metres high. The start is to the right of the chapel of Notre-Dame de la Charité and is a steep climb. The summit rewards walkers with panoramic views over Fuerteventura and sometimes even Tenerife's Teide volcano.

🍴 Where to eat near Tindaya?

The sacred mountain attracts many tourists to the streets of the small village of Tindaya. In fact, there are plenty of options for you to stock up on food. Los podomorfos is a typical restaurant serving excellent tapas in front of the sacred mountain. The establishment is open from 1pm to 10pm, Friday to Monday.

📍 How do I get to Tindaya?

Tindaya is located in the north of Fuerteventura, a 20-minute drive from Puerto del Rosario via the FV-10 road.