Parque Rural de Betancuria, Protected rural park in western Fuerteventura, Spain
Parque Rural de Betancuria is a protected rural area in western-central Fuerteventura with mountains, ravines, and valleys. The landscape features dry slopes with tabaiba shrubs, palms, and other plants adapted to drought conditions.
The area gained protected status in 1987 and includes the Ajuy Natural Monument with some of the oldest rock formations in the Canary Islands. These rocks date back to the early volcanic origin of the archipelago.
The park's dry slopes and ravines hold ethnographic structures such as gavias, nateros, irrigation channels, norias, lime kilns, corrals and gambuelas, showing how farming and water management shaped the land. The whitewashed building set into the rocky slope, with its flat roof and dark doorway, is one of these small rural constructions.
The FV-30 road connects the area and leads to viewpoints for exploring. Hiking is possible but requires sturdy footwear and plenty of water, as shade is limited throughout.
The area is home to Barbary ground squirrels introduced in the 1960s that adapted to the sparse terrain. These African rodents form an unexpected wildlife population on the island.
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