uses PR LZ 09. The last bus stop at Femés is near a little supermercado. There is a nearby roundabout with a palm tree at its centre and this is where the walk starts, around 370m (1215ft). First, take a look around the village – especially the plaza, church and a mirador overlooking distant Playa Blanca and Fuerteventura. There are bar restaurants, as well as the cheese-making Quesería Rubicón. A signpost for the PR LZ 09 stands at the roundabout, pointing up a tarmac road that gives way to a track. Climb past a notice for the Monumento Natural Los Ajaches, with views of Femés and the Valle de Femés.
The village of Femés sits on a gap at the foot of Atalaya de Femés
A goat farm is reached on a stony gap at Loma Pico de la Aceituna, at 414m (1358ft). Two mapboards and two signposts stand to the right. The PR LZ 09 heads right, and is easy to spot as it has a black plastic water pipe alongside. The PR LZ 10-11 heads left, followed on Walk 2 and Walk 3. The path crosses the steep and rocky Pico de la Aceituna, and while it is technically easy to walk, you cannot afford to trip or stumble. The rock comes in pastel shades, exposed to the elements by serious over-grazing. The view down the Barranco de la Higuera extends along the coast to built-up resorts and distant Arrecife. Despite the steepness of the slope, the path runs gently down and up, squeezing past prickly pears at one point.
Rise and cross a stony gap at 441m (1447ft), then follow the path round the steep, rocky slopes of Pico Redondo. The water pipe still runs alongside, and views stretch towards Playa Blanca and Fuerteventura. There are more prickly pears but otherwise the mountainside is bare and over-grazed. When a fork is reached above Degollada del Portugués, keep left and follow the path uphill, crossing a broad and stony shoulder around 440m (1445ft). The path descending to the right is used on Walk 4. The views are lost as the path zigzags downhill. The ground is entirely stony, dotted with a few tabaibal. Walk along a crest to a tumbled drystone enclosure and a marker post. Turn left and zigzag down into the Barranco de la Casita, passing a few prickly pears and crossing the bed around 240m (790ft).
The path climbs quickly to a little shelter beside an old rainwater collector, where a left turn leads gently up to a broad gap covered in bright stones, where there are also old marker posts, at 285m (935ft). At this point, it is well worth turning right to follow a path, or a track running parallel, along a gentle, stony crest dotted with tabaibal. The summit of Morro de la Loma del Pozo is crowned with a cairn and prickly pears at 324m (1063ft). It is possible to continue along the crest, descending towards the coast, to link with coastal paths. Enjoy fine views of Los Ajaches, with Arrecife, Lobos and Fuerteventura in the distance. Double back to the broad gap of bright stones and be sure to follow a path, not a track, down into the Barranco de la Higuera. The path runs gradually down across a rugged slope, then rises towards a pylon where a right turn leads down to a three-way signpost at around 260m (855ft). Walk 2 is joined here.
Turn left and follow a path towards the rock-walled head of the barranco. Swing right; the path is crudely paved in places, gradually rising across a steep and rocky slope. Stones and boulders are scattered everywhere, but the way ahead is obvious, exploiting soft beds of rock and eventually returning to the goat farm at Loma Pico de la Aceituna. Simply walk down the access track and road to return to Femés.
WALK 2
Femés and Pico de las Flores
| Start/Finish | Roundabout, Femés |
| Distance | 10km (6¼ miles) |
| Total Ascent/Descent | 420m (1380ft) |
| Time | 3hrs |
| Terrain | Mostly clear paths, initially stony and rocky underfoot, on steep, stony and rocky slopes, with a vague stretch later. |
| Refreshment | Bar restaurants at Femés |
| Transport | Occasional buses serve Femés on weekdays from Arrecife, Playa Honda and Tías. |
This short, circular walk takes in the Barranco de la Higuera and rugged little mountains alongside the Valle de Femés, between Las Casitas and Femés. Apart from a rugged descent soon after starting, most of the other paths are fairly easy and offer splendid views around the mountain range of Los Ajaches.
Route uses PR LZ 10, 11 and 12. The last bus stop at Femés is near a little supermercado. There is a nearby roundabout with a palm tree at its centre and this is where the walk starts, around 370m (1215ft). First, take a look around the village – especially the plaza, church and a mirador overlooking distant Playa Blanca and Fuerteventura. There are bar restaurants, as well as the cheese-making Quesería Rubicón. A signpost for the PR LZ 09 stands at the roundabout, pointing up a tarmac road that gives way to a track. Climb past a notice for the Monumento Natural Los Ajaches, with views of Femés and the Valle de Femés.
The path climbing from the Valle del Pozo to the gap of Loma Pico de Naos
A goat farm is reached on a stony gap at Loma Pico de la Aceituna, at 414m (1358ft). Two mapboards and two signposts stand to the right. The PR LZ 10-11 heads left, but almost immediately turns right. The PR LZ 09 heads right, followed on Walk 1 and Walk 4. A broad path, covered in stones and boulders, drops steeply across a rocky slope while exploiting soft beds of rock. There is crude stone paving later, then the path swings left and runs down to a three-way signpost in the Barranco de la Higuera, around 260m (855ft). Walk 1 joins from the right. Keep left, or straight ahead through the barranco, roughly following pylons to reach another signpost at 127m (417ft).
Take careful note of where the signpost actually points. Most walkers continue to the coast, which is covered in Walk 3, but our route follows a vague path running parallel to the track, just to the left, becoming clearer only as it drifts away from the track. This is the PR LZ 10-12 for Loma Pico de Naos. The path rises gently into Valle del Pozo, following a dry streambed for a while. Exit on the right past prickly pears and follow the path across a crest around 220m (720ft). The path is unmistakeable, looping in and out of gullies on the mountainside, passing more prickly pears and becoming rockier as it rises. Reach a track on a gap at Loma Pico de Naos, at 302m (991ft), where there is a turning space. The track leads, in less than 1km (½ mile) to bus stops at Las Casitas.
Looking along the Valle de Femés, from the slopes of Pico de la Oveja, to Las Casitas
A path on the left climbs south-west, later zigzagging uphill. It then has rock rising to the left, and tabaibal dotted around, before reaching a bare gap. At this point it is worth turning sharp left up a short path to a rocky little summit at 375m (1230ft) bearing prickly pears. The path continues from the bare gap, zigzagging uphill and reaching a fork. Keep left along the higher path, but if the other is taken in error, both paths rejoin later. It is again worth making a sharp left turn to climb to the summit of Pico de la Oveja, at 471m (1545ft), to enjoy fine views. On the way to the gap beyond, the slopes become bouldery and the path is more rugged. Either pass or climb Pico de las Flores, then continue towards buildings on the next gap. This is the goat farm on Loma Pico de la Aceituna, passed earlier in the day. Simply walk down the access track and road to return to Femés.
WALK 3
Femés to Puerto Calero
| Start |
