Framed by humpbacked hills and overflowing with flowers, Betancuria is a beauty. It may be small, but this little village is big on legends. Hear tales of heroes, pirates and plunder as you follow a guided walking tour of the town, exclusively for your party. You'll visit the town museum and taste local cheese and rum, too. Fran, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘The story of modern Fuerteventura begins in Betancuria. It was founded in 1404 by French explorer Jean de Béthencourt, after he conquered the island. The church of Santa Maria was built just six years later and is the oldest church in the Canary Islands.'
Greet your guide at the meeting point and set off on your private tour of the former capital. A visit to the Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum will bring the island's complex history to life. Next, take a short walk into the countryside to explore the deserted ruins of San Buenaventura Convent – it's like a scene from a spaghetti western – and the adjacent Hermitage of San Diego – both destroyed by pirates in 1593.
Call in at the Church of Santa Maria to see a fine example of colonial architecture and peek inside to admire its collection of sacred art. Fran says, ‘The altarpiece you see in the church today was commissioned after the devastating pirate raid in 1593. It is so intricate that it took 34 years to complete.' Finally, we'll round off in a typical Canarian bar to taste an award-winning island cheese and local honey-flavoured rum.
