The village of Tindaya in Fuerteventura

The village is 190 meters above sea level; the top of the mountain overlooking the village of over 200 meters.

The front panel opens a door surmounted by a round arch; left gable stands a small bell tower in dark volcanic stone. A second door opens in the Epistle wall. All the walls are whitewashed.

The dome has a basic elliptical, the major axis, oriented in a NE-SW direction, has a length of about 1200 meters and the minor axis length of 750 meters. All the faces have a triangular profile, with a high slope and a wrinkled surface; the top of the dome is at an altitude of 397 meters. The Montaña de Tindaya is a very different appearance from that of most other volcanoes of Fuerteventura which are Strombolian volcanoes.

This uniqueness has probably caught the imagination of aboriginal Fuerteventura that made ​​the Mountain Tindaya a sacred mountain (Montaña sagrada de Tindaya). It has indeed discovered near the top of the mountain many rock carvings in the shape of human feet (petroglyphs podomorphes): about 290 prints, almost all of which are oriented towards the west - towards the peak of the Teide on ’ island of Tenerife - or southwest - toward the island of Gran Canaria. The Pico del Teide, with 3718 meters above sea level, was considered the seat of god Guanches volcano Guayote. On clear days the Teide is visible from the top of the Montaña de Tindaya. These podomorphes prints suggest the aboriginal Berber origin of the Canaries, as similar prints are also in the Atlas Mountains in North Africa. In addition to the prints was found on the mountain of Tindaya, other archaeological remains, such as cave dwellings, a necropolis and a shell dump. The top of Tindaya seems to have been a place of worship where human sacrifices may have occurred. In the centuries that followed the conquest of the island by the Europeans of the mountain Tindaya remained surrounded by a special aura: it was often mentioned in local folklore and people avoided go up, because - believe -on - it was guarded by witches.

For its geological value the Montaña de Tindaya was classified as a Nature Reserve in 1987. Despite this status a stone quarry was authorized in 1991 to exploit the marbled red trachyte which is a very decorative stone; exploitation of stone has now ceased, but left a scar on the side of the mountain. The integrity of the mountain was also jeopardized by a controversial project by the Basque artist Eduardo Chillida (1924-2002) who wanted to create, in the top of the mountain, a giant cubic cavity, 50 meters wide, with two vertical wells and a horizontal tunnel for access and lighting of the room, and to symbolize the relationship of the mountain with the heavens and the sea. Despite opposition from environmentalists, the government of Balearic islands ordered a feasibility study to 11.8 million euros. Irregularities and suspicions of corruption - related to the market value of the trachyte which would be extracted - brought "Case Tindaya” to justice; the case has not been decided. The mountain was classified as a Natural Monument and Point of Interest Geological (Monumento Natural y Punto de Interés Geológico) in 1994. Mount Tindaya is considered the most emblematic natural monument of the island of Fuerteventura.

Because of this protection, and because there has been vandalism on the rock carvings, it is necessary to obtain authorization from the Environment Council (Consejeria de Medio Ambiente), to climb the Montaña de Tindaya. Climbing the volcano is by the west side and an altitude difference of 250 meters; it can be done in 2 hours round trip. Along the way a guard can control the authorization and provide guidance on the way forward. The departure is to the right of Our Lady of Charity chapel; we pass a transformer then follows a paved road; it must then turn right on a dirt road lined with non-stone walls; rather difficult climb then begins along a stony ridge and colored (brown, red, black, white). The arrival at the top reward these efforts with a splendid view of the surrounding area, especially northwest, on the Montaña Prieta (208 m) to the golden desert and curves. On a clear day you can see the peak of Teide on Tenerife.

Unamuno had been dismissed from the university and was forced into exile in Fuerteventura, from 1924 to 1930, following his harsh criticism against the authoritarian government of General Primo de Rivera. One can visit in Puerto del Rosario, the house he lived during this period.

We arrive at the monument to Unamuno by taking the FV-10 road towards Puerto del Rosario and then branching off on the FV-207 road to Betancuria. We can continue on foot to the summit of Montaña Quemada.