Pajara, Fuerteventura

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Pajara is the name of both this southern municipality (district) and its main town. The actual minicipality of Pajara (which includes the whole of the Jandia Peninsula) contains some 149 km of coastline, of which 68km are magnificent beaches, with fine white sand and turquoise waters, certainly the best in the Canary Islands. Some may also say that these same beaches are the best in the whole of Spain.

The local economy was once based on agriculture but is now based more and more on tourism. The town itself is the base for the administration of all the tourist complexes in Jandia, yet still it manages to retain a peaceful rural atmosphere. Agriculture still certainly has a foothold in the region though, with the growing of tomatoes and potatoes, goat breeding and fishing.

The town preserves many traditions, especially in the old farmhouses that are to be found near the woods. ‘Las acompañadas’, which is the rounding up of the livestock into enclosures, is so that the young males can be castrated and the ‘baifos’, or kids of less than a month old, can be branded.

The name of Pajara means ‘bird’ in English, and is thought to have originated from the huge number and variety of migrating birds that nested here. There is still plenty of noise to be heard in the trees that overhang the picturesque adobe houses!

The old town originated as a 15th century Norman settlement, although before that it was an aboriginal hamlet. Unfortunately, with the coming of the Normans, the original inhabitants were turned into galley slaves. Slave traders would gather the slaves in this area before selling them on upon their return to their homelands. This very lucrative trade was common right up until the middle of the 17th century.

One hundred years later, the Colonels of La Oliva decided to station some of their Militia in Pajara, to protect this part of the island from possible attack by corsairs. Unfortunately the residents of Pajara were not much better off, as the Militia abused their authority dreadfully, until finally they were disbanded by the Spanish government in Madrid in 1834.


Home Business Directory Classified Ads Information Pages News Pages Weather Maps Holiday Accommodation Long Term Accommodation Flights Estate Agents Property For Sale Property Services Employment Search Advertise Contact Last Update 29 Jul 2010	Pajara, Fuerteventura You are here: Fuerteventura > Information Pages > Towns & Villages > Pajara Pajara is the name of both this southern municipality (district) and its main town. The actual minicipality of Pajara (which includes the whole of the Jandia Peninsula) contains some 149 km of coastline, of which 68km are magnificent beaches, with fine white sand and turquoise waters, certainly the best in the Canary Islands. Some may also say that these same beaches are the best in the whole of Spain. The local economy was once based on agriculture but is now based more and more on tourism. The town itself is the base for the administration of all the tourist complexes in Jandia, yet still it manages to retain a peaceful rural atmosphere. Agriculture still certainly has a foothold in the region though, with the growing of tomatoes and potatoes, goat breeding and fishing. The town preserves many traditions, especially in the old farmhouses that are to be found near the woods. ‘Las acompañadas’, which is the rounding up of the livestock into enclosures, is so that the young males can be castrated and the ‘baifos’, or kids of less than a month old, can be branded. The name of Pajara means ‘bird’ in English, and is thought to have originated from the huge number and variety of migrating birds that nested here. There is still plenty of noise to be heard in the trees that overhang the picturesque adobe houses! The old town originated as a 15th century Norman settlement, although before that it was an aboriginal hamlet. Unfortunately, with the coming of the Normans, the original inhabitants were turned into galley slaves. Slave traders would gather the slaves in this area before selling them on upon their return to their homelands. This very lucrative trade was common right up until the middle of the 17th century. One hundred years later, the Colonels of La Oliva decided to station some of their Militia in Pajara, to protect this part of the island from possible attack by corsairs. Unfortunately the residents of Pajara were not much better off, as the Militia abused their authority dreadfully, until finally they were disbanded by the Spanish government in Madrid in 1834. Copyright © Ideal Internet Ltd 2006 - 2009