Romería de la Virgen de la Peña, Fuerteventura

The Romería de la Virgen de la Peña is one of the most important religious and cultural events in Fuerteventura, held each year in the valley of Vega de Río Palmas near Betancuria.

Centred around the valley of Vega de Río Palmas near Betancuria, the pilgrimage brings together tradition, faith and history in a setting that has been important to the island for centuries.

The Romería de la Virgen de la Peña

Each year, on the third Saturday in September, Fuerteventura celebrates its most important religious festival.

In the days leading up to the event, pilgrims gather and prepare for the long walk across the island, travelling on foot from towns and villages to reach the valley. 

Thousands of people take part each year, making it the largest and most important celebration on the island.

Many walk for miles, some even arriving from other islands, joining the route near Antigua before continuing inland. The pilgrimage is both a spiritual and cultural event, combining prayer, tradition, music and celebration.

Pilgrims walking across the island during the Romería de la Virgen de la Peña.

The Valley of Vega de Río Palmas

The hermitage lies in the fertile valley of Vega de Río Palmas, in the interior of Fuerteventura, an area that has long been important to the island’s inhabitants.

Close to Betancuria, this green valley provided a safe and productive place to live, far enough inland to offer protection from pirates and coastal attacks.

Today, it remains one of the most peaceful and scenic parts of the island.

The Valley of Vega de Río Palmas

The pilgrimage leads to the fertile valley of Vega de Río Palmas, an area that has long been important to the island’s inhabitants.

Close to Betancuria, this green valley provided a safe and productive place to live, far enough inland to offer protection from pirates and coastal attacks.

Today, it remains one of the most peaceful and scenic parts of the island.

A Place of Devotion

At the heart of the valley lies La Ermita de la Virgen de la Peña, the spiritual centre of the pilgrimage.

The current hermitage was rebuilt in the early 18th century and houses the island’s patron saint, becoming the focal point of the annual celebrations.

The story of the pilgrimage is also linked to earlier, smaller hermitages in the valley, including the original site connected to the rediscovery of the statue.

The hermitage in Vega de Río Palmas, the final destination of the Romería de la Virgen de la Peña.

The Virgen de la Peña

The Virgen de la Peña, often known as “Our Lady of the Rock,” has a long and fascinating history.

The statue dates back to the early 1400s and is believed to have been brought to the island by the Norman conquerors led by Jean de Béthencourt.

The statue itself is surprisingly small, measuring just 23 inches high, which explains how it could be lost and hidden so many times.

Carved from alabaster and protected by a wooden canopy added in 1705, it remains one of the island’s most treasured religious objects.

The Virgen de la Peña, the island’s patron saint, carried during the annual pilgrimage.

A Lost Statue and a Vision

According to local legend, the statue was hidden during early conflicts and eventually lost.

Its location was later revealed in a vision, guiding members of a holy order to a remote cave in the valley, where it was rediscovered in 1443.

Over the centuries, the statue was moved and hidden several times, particularly during periods of unrest and pirate attacks.

A small ermita marking the site where the Virgen de la Peña was rediscovered, according to local legend. Photo By Simon Waldran.

Praying for Rain

Many miracles have been attributed to the Virgen de la Peña.

One of the most well-known took place in 1961, during a period of severe drought. The statue was taken around the island as people prayed for rain — and shortly afterwards, the rains came.

Stories like this remain an important part of the island’s cultural identity.

A Living Tradition

The Romería is not only a religious event but also a celebration of local culture.

Visitors will see people dressed in traditional clothing, carrying food and playing instruments such as the timple, as they make their way towards the valley.

Hidden Ermitas

Beyond the main hermitage, smaller whitewashed ermitas can still be seen scattered across the valleys around Betancuria.

Some appear perched in remote and almost inaccessible locations, tucked into the landscape in a way that feels both isolated and timeless.

Linked to the Island’s History

The hermitage and its traditions are closely connected to nearby Betancuria and sites such as Santa María Church, where the island’s religious and cultural history can also be explored.

The Romería de la Virgen de la Peña is more than just a pilgrimage — it is a reflection of Fuerteventura’s history, faith and identity.

Set against the dramatic landscape of the island’s interior, The Romería de la Virgen de la Peña remains one of the most important and meaningful traditions in Fuerteventura, bringing together history, faith and community in a truly unique setting.