 | The village of La Caleta de Famara in Lanzarote |  |
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|  General presentation | _small.jpg "The village of La Caleta de Famara in Lanzarote. Famara Beach. Click to enlarge the image.") La Caleta de Famara is a fishing village on the northwest coast of the island of Lanzarote. The village has one of the most beautiful beaches of the island, but this range is especially suitable for surfing because of strong winds that blow almost constantly there; because of sea currents prevailing there swimming there is not recommended. The presence of this beautiful beach has sparked the construction of a bungalow area, located behind the beach, named the Urbanización Playa Famara, especially designed for surfers. The village has about 1,000 inhabitants and is part of the municipality of Teguise. |
|  Etymology and toponymy | | La Caleta de Famara, often shortened to La Caleta means "the little cove of Famara “Famara is a mountain hamlet located above the Playa de Famara, in the mountains to which he gave his name, the Risco de Famara. |
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| | | La Caleta is located at the northeast end of the plain of El Jable, a sandy desert plain between the mountains of the north of the island, the Risco de Famara and Risco de las Nieves, massive mountainous south of the island, the Montañas del Fuego; the plain of El Jable extends from Teguise, south to La Santa, northwest, and La Caleta, northeast. In this corridor winds circulate easily, those from the Sahara bringing the masses of sand that cover El Jable. _small.jpg "The village of La Caleta de Famara in Lanzarote. The archipelago Chinijo seen from La Caleta de Famara. Click to enlarge the image.") East of La Caleta rises the steep mountain range of the Risco de Famara, which forms a magnificent backdrop for the beach Playa de Famara. Like the rest of the northwest coast of Lanzarote, the village of La Caleta and the Risco de Famara are part of the Parc Naturel Archipelago Chinijo (Parque Natural del Archipiélago Chinijo).
Since Teguise, 13 km south, we arrive at Caleta de Famara via the LZ-30 road south-west and then branching off right on LZ-402 road; from the island capital, Arrecife, the trip is 26 km by road LZ-20 and LZ-30 and LZ-402 even. Shortly before entering the village of Caleta de Famara we see to the right of the road, a windmill pumping water, painted in white and blue, and beautifully restored. At the entrance you can turn right towards the Urbanización Playa Famara, to park in the beach parking lot. After the village, the road continues to Caleta de Caballo and then to La Santa. |
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| |  The village of La Caleta de Famara | _small.jpg "The village of La Caleta de Famara in Lanzarote. The cordilère Famara. Click to enlarge the image.") With its wind packed by the wind, streets invaded by clouds of sand and thorny bushes shaped ball, Caleta de Famara is a little appearance of a small town in the American West in a western movie. Visitors are advised to enter the village “¡Atención - Arena en calzada!”(Caution - Sand on floor) ; sand dunes encroach into effect on most streets._small.jpg "The village of La Caleta de Famara in Lanzarote. Avenida El Marinero. Click to enlarge the image in Adobe Stock (new tab).") The locality is crossed by the LZ-402 road - which takes in the village, the name of Avenida El Marinero, lined with cafes and restaurants; parallel to the avenue, a small promenade along the seafront to the small fishing port. Before arrival at the port, you will notice a house with large windows, which is the house where César Manrique spent his vacation during part of his childhood.
|  The Cordillera de Famara (Risco de Famara) | _small.jpg "The Caleta de Famara village in Lanzarote. The Risco de Famara seen from the viewpoint of Haría. Click to enlarge the image.") _small.jpg "The village of La Caleta de Famara in Lanzarote. The Risco de Famara seen from the port of Caleta del Sebo in La Graciosa. Click to enlarge the image in Adobe Stock (new tab).") The Risco de Famara (Escarpment Famara) is the largest mountain range on the island of Lanzarote; the Risco de Famara is as a mountain range, long and narrow, furrowed the sides of deep ravines; this chain is of volcanic origin, an old volcanic activity 11 million years, contemporary with the mountains Ajaches, but much older than the Montañas del Fuego in the south-west of the island. The Cliffs of Famara (Acantilados de Famara) are an excellent example of basaltic fissure emissions that formed the base of the island of Lanzarote. Cordillera stretches almost 23 km from the Morro del Hueso (371 m) to the south near Teguise, to the Punta Fariones, at the north end of the island, in the municipality of Haría._small.jpg "The village of La Caleta de Famara in Lanzarote. The Risco de Famara seen from the strait. Click to enlarge the image.") The Risco de Famara includes the highest peak of the island, the Peñas del Chache (671 m), where a radar station, and hence often soar hang gliders that slide to the Playa de Famara. Other viewpoints are strung along the mountain range and offer spectacular views of the valleys and on the archipelago Chinijo : the Mirador de Los Valles, the Mirador of Ermita de las Nieves, the Mirador de Haría The Mirador de Guinate and the Mirador del Río (479 m).
_small.jpg "The village of La Caleta de Famara in Lanzarote. La Punta Fariones north of Risco de Famara. Click to enlarge the image.") With its high peaks that retain the clouds from which water flows on its flanks, the Risco is less arid, greener and more fertile than the south of Lanzarote; in the 1950s they even tried to capture groundwater and lead them in the plain through tunnels; you can see the entrance of one of the galleries below the viewpoint of Haría.
It is from La Caleta de Famara that the sight of Risco is the best: the slopes, initially quite mild, are increasingly steep as the gaze is to the north, where they become real cliffs . |  Beach Famara (Playa de Famara) | _small.jpg "The village of La Caleta de Famara in Lanzarote. Famara Beach. Click to enlarge the image.") The Playa de Famara is the largest beach of Lanzarote and perhaps also the most beautiful with its picturesque setting; Beach Famara is 3 km long in its widest part, which is directly in line with the sandy plain of El Jable, then extends over 2 km to the north by a strip of sand, closer and rocky, at the foot of the steep slopes of the Risco de Famara; the widest part is bordered by a long line of sand dunes formed by the strong winds of the northeast._small.jpg "The village of La Caleta de Famara in Lanzarote. Famara Beach. Click to enlarge the image.") High winds are also the cause of impressive rolling waves that make the beach Famara the site of the most popular Canary by surfers and windsurfers. In contrast bathing and swimming are very dangerous, because of the presence of vicious currents submarines; the red flag indicating “hazardous Swimming” is almost always raised. However the beach Famara claimed several lives by drowning each year, even among seasoned swimmers. In 1982, a cargo cement has also been victim of currents, and its wreckage has long been visible in the middle of the bay.
_small.jpg "The village of La Caleta de Famara in Lanzarote. Famara Beach. Click to enlarge the image.") Many visitors therefore simply soak up the sun, away from low stone walls that protect them from the wind, especially nudists. Beach Famara offers a beautiful view of the Risco and on the island of La Graciosa; in winter, the view is often obscured by fog, and the beach is polluted by waste brought by ocean currents.
The Playa de Famara is located east of the village of La Caleta de Famara; there is a large car park behind the beach. To the west of the village is the St. John beach (Playa de San Juan), also popular with surfers, especially in October during the “World Qualified Series”. |  The subdivision Beach Famara (Urbanización Playa Famara) | _small.jpg "The village of La Caleta de Famara in Lanzarote. The development of Playa Famara seen from the Mirador de las Nieves (author Frank Vincentz). Click to enlarge the image.") The subdivision of Playa Famara is the oldest holiday resort on the island of Lanzarote, created in the 1970s by a Norwegian company. At the time of its creation the village had a futuristic architecture with semi-circular constructions that are still enjoyable today, but the natives of Lanzarote ironically called goat barns.The village offers bungalows with small gardens, villas and luxury apartments and a swimming pool and a small supermarket; Most bungalows are rented by vacationers, but some are rented all year round. The village is a haven of tranquility away from the tourist bustle of the resorts of Lanzarote like Puerto del Carmen or Costa Teguise. However the subdivision of Playa Famara has never enjoyed great popularity, probably because the strong breeze of Playa de Famara is not very suitable for families with children. Bungalows Playa Famara : Reception hours: Monday to Friday from 10 am to 12 pm and from 17 am to 19 pm. Phone: 00 34 928 845 132 Site on the Web: www.bungalowsplayafamara.com |  Hiking in the Risco de Famara | | A hiking trail linking La Caleta de Famara saline at the foot of the Mirador del Río, passing by Playa del Río, a beautiful beach which is accessible only by trail and by the sea. The route follows the path of salt workers (camino de los Salineros) that connected the village with salt; the salinas del Río are now disused. This walk, which runs along the escarpment of the Risco de Famara, offering impressive views of the island of La Graciosa and the Archipelago Chinijo. The trail 5 km in length, begins at bungalow resort of Playa Famara, where there is an information panel. The path is quite easy on about two and a half kilometers; then it becomes difficult due to washouts and rock falls that damaged the road. There is no possibility of refueling on the way. |
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| | |  Restaurant | | Restaurant El Risco | | The restaurant El Risco was designed and decorated - in turquoise blue and white tones - by César Manrique for his brother Carlos; the restaurant has been taken over and renovated by a new owner, Gustavo. In the main room is a large mural by Manrique, carried out in 1986, representing fishermen from the village; in the next room are some drawings of the artist on the theme of the sea. The restaurant, facing the sea, with a terrace of 9 tables with a great view of the beach and the Risco de Famara, and with the roar of the ocean; the opposite side, facing the village, there are a few other tables in the shade of a huge leafy. The quality of the food is up to the decor, with fresh fish specialties and grilled goat. The restaurant El Risco was distinguished by a “covered” in the Michelin Guide 2015. card price: 25 to 40 €. Address: Calle Montaña Clara, 30 Hours: Monday to Saturday, 12 am to 22 pm; Sunday from 12 am to 17 pm. Phone: 00 34 928 528 550 (reservations recommended). Site on the Web: www.restauranteelrisco.com | | Restaurant Sol | | The restaurant Sol has a terrace with views of the harbor and fishing boats. It offers Canarian specialties grilled fish and fried calamari. Restaurant popular with islanders and often crowded at noon and on weekends. Address: Calle Salvavidas, 48 Hours: 12 am to 22 pm. Phone: 00 34 928 528 788 Site on the Web: www.restaurantesolfamara.com |
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.jpg "The village of La Caleta de Famara in Lanzarote. Famara Beach. Click to enlarge the image.")
Situation.jpg "The village of La Caleta de Famara in Lanzarote. The archipelago Chinijo seen from La Caleta de Famara. Click to enlarge the image.")
Visits.jpg "The village of La Caleta de Famara in Lanzarote. The cordilère Famara. Click to enlarge the image.")
.jpg "The Caleta de Famara village in Lanzarote. The Risco de Famara seen from the viewpoint of Haría. Click to enlarge the image.")
.jpg "The village of La Caleta de Famara in Lanzarote. The Risco de Famara seen from the strait. Click to enlarge the image.")
.jpg "The village of La Caleta de Famara in Lanzarote. La Punta Fariones north of Risco de Famara. Click to enlarge the image.")
.jpg "The village of La Caleta de Famara in Lanzarote. Famara Beach. Click to enlarge the image.")
.jpg "The village of La Caleta de Famara in Lanzarote. Famara Beach. Click to enlarge the image.")
.jpg "The village of La Caleta de Famara in Lanzarote. Famara Beach. Click to enlarge the image.")
.jpg "The village of La Caleta de Famara in Lanzarote. The development of Playa Famara seen from the Mirador de las Nieves (author Frank Vincentz). Click to enlarge the image.")
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