Feel the ancient stones beneath your fingertips. Welcome to the Ruinas Guanchas. These aren’t just ruins they are echoes of a forgotten people. The original inhabitants of Fuerteventura were likely of Berber origin from North Africa. They were skilled cave dwellers but also built simple stone structures. Imagine these very stones forming part of those ancient homes.
The Guanches as they are sometimes called lived a simple life. They relied on goats sheep and pigs for sustenance. They fished using palm nets. They ground barley wheat and beans into gofio a staple food. They made clothing and shoes from animal skins. Their shoes were called Mahos giving rise to the name Majoreros people with goat skin shoes.
The island was divided into two kingdoms Maxorata and Jandia separated by a wall La Pared. Sadly nothing remains of that wall today. Life for these early Fuerteventurans wasn’t easy. They faced constant threats from slavers who patrolled the surrounding seas. The Ruinas Guanchas offer a glimpse into their resilience.
Later the Spanish conquered Fuerteventura in 1405. Settlements were established at Vega de Rio Palmas and Betancuria the first capital. A census around 1440 recorded a population of only about 1200. Sadly the conquest brought disease and destruction. Many of the original inhabitants perished.
The Guanches left behind few archaeological remains. Some cave sites exist. More intriguing are the podomorph carvings at Tindaya a sacred place. The Ruinas Guanchas stand as a poignant reminder of their existence. Their simple lives and their struggles against the harsh environment and later the Spanish conquest.
These ruins whisper stories of survival adaptation and ultimately loss. Yet they also speak to the enduring strength of the human spirit. The spirit that built these very stones. Take a moment to appreciate the legacy of the Guanches. Their story is etched into these stones. It awaits your discovery.