Caleta de Famara
Making a name for itself in the tourism and water sports arena is Caleta de Famara in the north of Teguise. Although the village may appear sleepy, slumbering is the last thing tourists do here. Aside from the natural splendors, the exhilarating selection of activities keeps them awake. It certainly didn’t earn the label “European Hawaii” for no good reason.
Famara boasts a long history that dates back to pre-Hispanic years. In fact, people unearthed many aboriginal sites here in the 1960s. Experts also believe that other aged structures still lay hidden within the stretch.
La Caleta, however, is quite a young settlement. Before having inhabitants, the area only had stone warehouses for boats. Then, in 1888, several families from La Graciosa and Soo moved here. By 1909, its scanty populace grew a little to twenty-five. They occupied its only three buildings which stood along twenty-four storage places.
From a lovely secluded community, it then developed into a summer dwelling. To date, its most famous resident is no other than Cesar Manrique. He for sure created the most blissful memories in the little town as he chronicled with joy: “My greatest happiness is to recall a happy childhood, five month summer vacations in the Caleta and the Famara beach, with its eight kilometers of clean and fine sand framed by cliffs of more than four hundred meters high that reflected on the beach like in a mirror. That image has been engraved in my soul as something of extraordinary beauty that I will never forget in all of my life.” Perhaps these recollections were the force behind his lifelong dedication to the fusion of art, human, and nature.
Enclosed by pure nature and still with unpaved paths, La Caleta indeed has that untouched feel to it. With the absence of business establishments apart from the surf schools, bars, restaurants, and grocery shops, holidaymakers can focus and relish the beauty of Mother Earth. As a matter of fact, this devoid of usual tourist spot features is one of the reasons why they love the sandy oasis.
Famara is home to two stunning, pale golden sand beaches with powerful waves. On La Caleta’s right is the lengthy Playa de Famara. At six kilometer long, it is the largest beach on the island. A bit secluded and just as pleasant is Playa de San Juan on the left. Although its small in size, the surge of the waters in its small bay is as strong.
Wave riders hail them as paradise as almost all types of surfing—stand-up surfing, kite surfing, wind surfing, and even body boarding—are welcome in their azure waters. In fact, Playa de San Juan is host to an annual professional surf competition. Needless to say, swimming is not always possible in either of the two. In Famara beach, people can observe the flag to make sure it’s safe to swim. Red means a no-go, yellow is to do so with caution, and green is a thumbs up but only near the shore.