The walk to the caves at Ajuy

[dandare]

Well, went to Ajuy  (  for about the tenth time in 8 years)  yesterday,and yes its true, you now have to pay to walk to the caves!

You're stopped by an all language speaking kraut at the bottom of the cliff at Ajuy, and requested to pay 7 euros per adult, and 3 euros per child.

After proffering the likes of   " you're having a laugh",   and   " you're joking aren't you", I got
the reply " I don't understand vot you are saying. ; Ve haf a guide, and ve hav put ze toilets in".

Well, I've seen enough of the caves to know you don't need a guide ( a torch does the job ) and I'm not paying 7 euros to have a wee.

I told him politely where to poke his 7 euros, and went and had a cuppa at a nice cafe at the top of Ajuy, overlooking the beach.

The cafe owner implied that it was all illegal; no insurance cover, no permission from the council. etc etc. I think the cafe/restaurant owners are up in arms about it.

I certainly won't be taking people sightseeing there any more, just to line some greedy landowners pocket.

Times are bad, but not that bad.

OK, rant over.

[Spike On Q]

I've reported it to the local police in Pajara - he will shortly disappear

[admin]

Well done guys !

[Captain Sensible]

It's big news in the Spanish press at the moment; as it is illegal because it's in a National Park, on Costas land etc.

I'm surprised that he's still getting away with it.

[admin]

Perhaps  filming the exchange would provide evidence to help the police make their case.
(Unless he's a big lad.)

[emmi]

With exception of any poor folk who actually paid the Euros 7 to view the caves, this sounds like quite a funny story. Are you saying that this opportunist person just set up shop so to speak?

Where can I see the story in the newspapers please?  Got a link?

[tamara_k]

emmi - here you go, for example http://www.canarias7.es/articulo.cfm?id=304947

actually, from this article it looks like they do have some permissions/agreements of course, it's not necessarily true

[Captain Sensible]

The latest news

[tamara_k]

the news agencies copy the stuff off each other, it seems but rtv aguacabra has a funny pic as well

[Spike On Q]

Went to the local police today - they waved their arms about but say their is a legal challenge in place so only time will tell.
My guess is that there will be such a public outcry that a National Monument with 20 million years of history be compared with a theme park for private gain

[Spike On Q]

Please send your thought to the Ayuntamiento in Pajara

Link

English will do - but please be polite

[lionfish]

Sent my thoughts and, yes, I was polite. The area around the caves is one of our favourite locations on the island, but we will go elsewhere rather than pay the 7€ p.p. entry fee.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Spike - thanks for the link. I've sent my thoughts, politely!

[fifi]

I have sent my message politely too Paul.

[Sandy D]

Surely that isn't the only way you can get to the caves, there wasn't anyone  charging a fee when we were over in May, we walked over to the arch only to find out afterwards you can get there by walking from the road before it enters the village

[Spike On Q]

If you haven't done so yet please send your thoughts too the Ayuntamiento, it all helps

Link

We were there for 10 minutes on Saturday and two families, one Dutch the other German, went to walk up the cliff path only to be accosted by one of the "guides". They turned away and left Ajuy.

How embarrassing and disappointing it is to give our visitors, the life blood of Fuerteventura, such an impression!

[fifi]

The caves get a mention in Canarias& today.  Link

[Spike On Q]

God gave the earth La Forte Ventura 20 million years ago

A private company took this part of the earth from it's people in a couple of days in 2013.

The company then had the cheek to compare this historic National Monument with a "theme park"

[tamara_k]

fifi, this is the same article of 28 June, except in english.

this is a bit fresher, 29 June
http://www.canarias7.es/articulo.cfm?id=305019

somewhat more encouraging too - as the Cabildo says that there is no agreement or collaboration between them and the private company.

on the other hand, those guys claim that they have an agreement with the Canarian government and the ayuntamento, so there is no formal contradiction between those two statements.

I just hope the Cabildo has the final word when it comes to land use.

[el caballo hambriento]

I have sent a complaint to the Ayuntamiento in Pajara.

[raspberriesandcream]

So....can you get to the archway on the beach WITHOUT going that way? Have no desire to visit stinky smelly caves....but would like to take some photos of the arch!

[duncolm]

The path to the caves is a short route which comes to an end at the caves. It's a very pleasant short walk along a spectacular bit of coastline, even if you don't enter the cave (which I don't think of as smelly, they're large and airy and I've seen the sea washing through the one that it's easy to enter). It rightly attracts many visitors to Ajuy, which has at least half a dozen eating places depending on them.


The arch is at a separate location some distance to the north, and you'd take a route further inland to get there. TamaraK provided a map on her blog post about it - http://tamara-kulikova.blogspot.com.es/2012/12/ajuy-to-arco-del-jurado.html

[raspberriesandcream]

Yea ive seen that...thanks...but she mentions the path TO the arch starting halfway along the path to the caves!?  Btw.. it was a figure of speech bout the caves being smelly.....as in the German *guide* can stick his stinky caves. I know theyre not...have been before AND eaten in the town. 

[duncolm]

The easy way would be to climb up from the path onto the top level. It shouldn't be hard to find a way round.
Come to think of it, it could be possible to bypass the 'pay point' and descend to the path half way along....

[raspberriesandcream]

Haha....NOW you're talking......I LOVE a challenge!   

[tamara_k]

raspberriesandcream - I didn't do this route, but it appears that Sandy D did - you cross the large barranco on your right _before_ you enter the village.

The KOMPASS map I have doesn't show that particular route, but here googlemaps even show a dirt track going in the direction that you need  Link

and yes, once on the top, you can go down a bit and find yourself on the path to the caves, past the money-taking post but I'd much rather it was sorted out legally, so nobody had to go around an obstacle that shouldn't be there in the first place

[appy ammer]

Is this the same company who towed away the American Star and sold it to Disney ?

[Spike On Q]

There is also a page on Trip Advisor you can add a comment too - maybe suggest that people do NOT pay!

http://www.tripadvisor.com/UserReviewEdit-g187467-d240410-a_placetype.10021-a_ReviewName.-e-wpage1-Playa_de_Ajuy-Fuerteventura_Canary_Islands.html

[Spike On Q]

Hello!

I've started the petition "Ayuntamiento of Pajara, Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain: Give The Caves of Ajuy back to the World and it's People" and need your help to get it off the ground.

Will you take 30 seconds to sign it right now? Here's the link:

http://www.change.org/petitions/ayuntamiento-of-pajara-las-palmas-canary-islands-spain-give-the-caves-of-ajuy-back-to-the-world-and-it-s-people

Here's why it's important:

Created 20 million years ago the central massive of Fuerteventura is considered unique, a UNESCO Biosphere. The Caves of Ajuy are part of this area and were given "National Monument" status by the Government. In recent weeks a private company has closed the old footpath leading to these caves and are now insisting visitors pay 7.00 Euro for the privilege of walking this ancient and most beautiful coastal area

[emmi]

Let's help here.  55 signatures have been added to Spike's petition and 44 more needed to be able to send it to the Ayuntamiento.
People will stop visiting Ajuy if  they have to pay Euros 7 to enter the caves - the village and restaurants will suffer from lack of trade just adding to the crisis the island is already suffering. So, please add your signatures for this worthy cause.