The village of Guinate is comparably young. It didn’t appear in official records until the 1830’s. The families that settled there were predominantly agricultural farmers with a little livestock. That to all intents and purposes remains true today.
Historically however the villagers of Guinate supplemented their diet by hunting shearwaters and rabbits in the surrounding clifftops and hills. They also made perilous journeys down the steep ravines to the sea to fish and collect shellfish.
Risqueros
One family in particular became so adept at hunting along the dangerous clifftop paths and ravines, that they were often called upon to rescue others who had become trapped. There is a plaque in the village in their honour and a publication paying homage to the family.
Risqueros doesn’t seem to have a direct translation. What I can gather however is it carries the meaning of crags, rocks – so is applied to those with the skills to traverse the dangerous crags and ravines of the Risco de Famara. Whether hunting seabirds or making the perilous descent to the seashore.
Guinate Walks
There are a number of walks in the area and with a little exploring you can discover your own favourites. As a starter for ten however, you can check out Guinate Los Helechos.