Caleta De Fuste or El Castillo in Fuerteventura

Fuerte Focus: A closer look at Caleta de Fuste or El Castillo

An article by Local Historian, Bernie Power, with The Voice Fuerteventura

As you walk around Caleta de Fuste or El Castillo as it is often refered to by the locals, it seems hard to believe that it was once a bustling port and harbour for Spanish ships. 

After the invasion in the 1400’s it became the number one industrial port for importing the supplies to the island and as a safe harbour for ships destined for the other islands and eventually the Americas. It is named Caleta, which means bay, and a fuste (or Fusta) was an Arab trading ship. The bay was so-called as there was a wreck of a Fuste laying just off the coast in the water for over 200 years. 

PIRATE SHIPS 

Fustas were a favorite ship of the North African corsairs of Salé and the Barbary Coast. They were prized for their speed, mobility, capability to move without wind and ability to operate in shallow waters. This made them the perfect pirate ship, as hiding in coastal waters before pouncing on a passing ship was a crucial pirating technique. What the ship was called or how it sunk is unclear, but many spanish ports were plundered by Fustes becuase of their inate ability to get in close to the shore. 

EXPORTS 

Unfortunately many of the cargo ships that left the port, never visited on their return journey. This meant that the island lost out on any possible bounty from South America. By the late 1500’s it was a busy port, transporting the grain grown in Antigua over to the other islands, including Madeira. Alongside the grain was lime which was produced in kilns all over the island. The lime industry was a massive boost to the islands economy and many of the old lime kilns are still visible today. A good example can be seen in Ajuy.  The cochineal beetle was also exported and used for its natural, vibrant red dye. It was farmed on the Nopale cactus across the canaries and shipped from here during the 1700`s and until the 1850’s.

El Castillo and the little fortifications that gave it its name

However, around that time the port suffered from a major drought that affected all of the islands. This resulted in the Bay port often being closed off to prevent people leaving the islands and fleeing to the Americas. From 1739, for a period of nine years, Spain was at war with Britain. This resulted in battles such as the “War of Jenkin’s Ear.” There were also other attacks by privateers who were working for King George II. Subsequently in 1742 a tower ( El Castillo) was built in the harbour area in order to offer protection against attacks from the sea. It is dedicated to St.Bonaventura. It never actually saw active service and is still standing proud, guarding the bay today, after being renovated recently. There is also a smaller copy of the tower situated by the bus station in Caleta too, welcoming you. 

 Rebirth of Caleta De Fuste 

Caleta as a place was forgotten by most, for more than 100 years. It was not until the late 1950’s that it was once again resurected. The island needed an airport and the chosen location was near Caleta. It was finally finished in 1969 and from then on the bay once again began to blossom. It now boasts hotels, bars, resturants, a casino, harbour, a championship golf club which hosted the Spanish open in 2004 and a neighbouring course which opened in 2007. There are always improvements going on in the local areas and the beach is one of the nicest and shallowest for families, surrounded by great bars and restaurants, making it the perfect place to literally sit back and relax on the “dock of the bay.”