Ireland day 1239. Tuesday 18 February 2025- Fuerteventura Day 08

Today’s summary	Day 7 walking the GR131. Today from Cardon to Pared. Rained in the morning but soon cleared up. Not quite as enjoyable as the other days because of the grey weather and also the scenery wasn’t as spectacular as previously. Plus had an argument with a pick-up truck driver who thought we were walking the wrong way (we weren’t). Arrived at Hotel Bakour in Pared by 1:30. Had a look at the stormy beach (closed off) and then relaxed by the pool. Dinner at the hotel
Today’s weather	Rain for an hour first thing in the morning then stayed grey until early afternoon. Strong north westerly wind. Appx 20c

Today’s overview location (The blue mark shows the location of our route)		Close-up location (The blue line shows where we walked) (Click button below to download GPX of today’s walk as recorded, or see interactive map at bottom with elevations corrected): GR131 Day 7 Pajara to Pared

Commentary

We had a bit of a shock when we woke up this morning. It was raining! This wasn’t at all what we had come to expect in Fuerteventura! But it didn’t deter me from taking an early morning dip in the pool – after all it’s pretty wet in there anyway, come rain or shine.

We were awake early, as usual, and had had breakfast and packed our bags well in time for the taxi to collect them and take them on to our next destination – Pared – at 9am. We decided that there was no need to hang around in the villa, even though it was only a short hike to Pared. We thought we would make quick work of it and give ourselves a half day’s relaxation at the hotel at the end.

The walking was OK though it was cloudy and dull for much of the way. Finally, the sun came out around noon, though there was a further shower soon after we arrived at Pared. The scenery was a bit drab, I have to admit, with quite a lot of the route being covered in a dried up river bed and on dusty 4×4 tracks. Added to these slight discomforts, midway along the route we were harangued by a slightly loco pick-up truck driver who shouted at us, insisting that we were going the wrong way. Anyway we weren’t, so we left him shouting futilely from the roadside as we rounded a corner on the path and disappeared from his view.

Having survived that encounter unscathed, we pressed on, pausing for refreshments (trusty Thermos again, and those chocolate peanuts from yesterday) near Las Hermosas (which itself appeared to be completely devoid of any facilities of interest to long-distance walkers). The rest of the walk to Pared was uneventful and we arrived at our hotel by 1:30pm.

We’re staying at the Bakour hotel – which I would describe as a good 3-star tourist hotel. I did feel a bit out of place wandering among the sun-loungers and parasols with my backpack and in my hiking boots! Anyway, we had time for a couple of cafés con leche while our room was being prepared, then took a quick hike down to look at the beach.

Pared playa is a favourite with sun-worshippers and surfers but today neither was in evidence. A full blown storm was in progress, which was compounded by what appeared to be a high tide. So the beach was completely submerged under a boiling mass of foam and gigantic crashing breakers. Spectacular, but definitely a beach best enjoyed from afar today.

Now we’re back at our room and planning dinner in the hotel later. But right now, Val’s busy in the pool doing her aquarobics with the somewhat scenic bikini-clad instructor. In fact on that note I think I might just have to go and join her.

Today’s photos (click to enlarge)


What a shock! A wet swimming pool!	In the dusty dry and slightly drab hinterland between Cardon and Pared

Football field in Las Hermosas	“…Take the middle tunnel under the road…” said our guidebook. So we did and promptly ended up in the middle of nowhere! Soon rectified by a short scramble up an embankment onto a nearby track

Looking south towards Cofete – I had imagined lying on a sandy beach with lagoons of tranquil ocean lapping at our feet. But in fact the sea was so stormy, and the so tide high, that the entire beach at Pared was under water. The coastguards had closed off access down to the playa and rapidly and vigorously reprimanded anyone who dared transgress	Val communing with her nautical heritage

*Giant cabra* farm near Las Hermosas**