Well worth it on Fuerteventura: Pico de la Zarza, the highest viewpoint

Pico de la Zarza, the highest mountain on Fuerteventura (807 metres). Challenge yourself. Take on a demanding walk along a vast mountain ridge. Up to the summit, full in the sun.

A stunning view

Fuerteventura is a glorious island with several magnificent viewpoints. Mirador Morro Velosa, for one, and Punto de vista sobre puerto de montaña as well.

When it comes to height there is always someone higher up the ladder. In this case that is the Pico de la Zarza.

From the summit you have a stunning view over the island. At least, if the sky is clear… otherwise, at that altitude, you can easily find yourself in the mist. Bit of a waste of that long walk.

Pick a sunny day

Which brings us straight to the first thing to bear in mind. For a ‘pico bello’ view it is wise to pick a sunny day. That is why we never fix anything in advance.

Some people have their holiday planned out day by day. We tend to decide what we want to do, and when, once we are at the destination. Being flexible makes ‘a good day’ more likely.

A vast mountain ridge versus a steep ravine

The route to the Pico de la Zarza runs along a vast mountain ridge. You walk, as it were, in one straight line along the ‘spine’ of the range.

With reasonable fitness that walk is perfectly manageable. It helps that the differences in height are relatively modest. For long stretches you walk without much climbing.

Even so, towards the end you have to dig in. From there on you get to do considerably more ‘climbing’. And then, at the summit, you enjoy that remarkable panorama.

Standing there, it is striking how steeply the mountain ‘drops away’ on the other side, mega-steep in fact. As though you could fall almost straight down. A spectacular contrast with the ridge you have just walked.

No shelter, no shade

Be very aware that this route offers virtually no shelter or shade. That has two major consequences.

• First, the wind can be ferocious. For us, as it happens, it was nothing like that bad. Possibly a stroke of luck, because the wind can certainly hit hard there. A detail: Fuerteventura literally means ‘strong wind’.
• Second, it can be scorching. That part was no picnic. So is a sunny day still worth it? Yes, but consider setting off early in the morning. That is where we went wrong for a while, out in the hottest part of the day.

Water first, the rest comes later

We are borrowing the slogan against sunburn as a slogan against dehydration. Water first, the rest comes later. You lose a tremendous amount of fluid during this walk of several hours.

Make sure you carry enough. At least two or three litres of water per person is no luxury here. Even if you go in the morning, just to be safe.

Pico de la Zarza: how to get there

Park your hire car in Morro Jable, by the sand and rock path, on the side branch of the Calle Sancho Panza. For that you can follow ‘Parkplatz Wasserreservoir’ in Google Maps.

From this general starting point the walk there and back takes about four or five hours.