La Caleta de Famara celebrates until 23 August, with a procession by sea

Until 23 August, La Caleta de Famara celebrates the Sagrado Corazón de María. This is the village's own festival, the real kind: not a programme for passers-through, but the days when La Caleta takes its streets back.

The moment to mark is the maritime procession. The image leaves the church, reaches the beach and boards a boat; the other vessels follow in line along the coast, with people standing on the sand to watch. It's a tradition repeated in every seaside village in the Canaries, and in Famara it has the backdrop it has: the Risco, six hundred metres of cliff behind the houses.

La Caleta is a strange and beautiful place: four sandy streets, low houses, and the island's biggest beach in front. In summer it's surfers' headquarters; these days it goes back to being the village of the people who live there year round.

If you drive, bear in mind parking is scarce and there's only one road in: come early and leave late.