Hiking the Hondo — A volcano walk on Fuerteventura

ByCraig Martin Updated onJune 24, 2013

Just outside the village of Lajares in Fuerteventura, Spain, sits a dome-shaped mountain-ette, the result of the island’s many volcanic changes. While we stayed with Azul Fit earlier this year, we took a few hours to walk it, with a group from the retreat.

Fuerteventura calderon hondo volcano hike canary islands spain 11 — Setting off across the volcanic landscape.

Fuerteventura calderon hondo volcano hike canary islands spain 09 — This was the first of many ground squirrels, who ran over to check out what we were up to.

Fuerteventura calderon hondo volcano hike canary islands spain 05 — From the crater, we looked across the north-western tip of the island, small villages and abandoned farms.

Fuerteventura calderon hondo volcano hike canary islands spain 03 — These small lizards were easy to find, sunning themselves with one eye on the circling raptors.

Fuerteventura calderon hondo volcano hike canary islands spain 06 — It was hard to get an idea of scale, but the crater rim was around a kilometer in circumference.

Fuerteventura calderon hondo volcano hike canary islands spain 07 — Oh. Hello!

Fuerteventura calderon hondo volcano hike canary islands spain 02 — Families wandering on the far side of the crater rim.

Fuerteventura calderon hondo volcano hike canary islands spain 04 — Click to enlarge this panoramic view.

Fuerteventura calderon hondo volcano hike canary islands spain 08 — Food? The squirrels will approach to eat out of your hands.

Fuerteventura calderon hondo volcano hike canary islands spain 01 — As we descended Calderón Hondo, we came across the abandoned ruins of farm buildings.

[box]We walked around the volcano rim with Gary, as an added excursion while at a fitness and yoga retreat on Fuerteventura. Read our review of Azul Fit.[/box]

Craig Martin

Podcaster and writer Craig Martin has been living on the road since leaving Auckland, New Zealand in February 2006. With a degree in Media Studies and English plus a penchant for Coleridge, he's still travelling.