Stroll across mountains of sand and investigate local traditions in this town full of stunning resorts in northern Fuerteventura.
Visit La Oliva, a quaint colonial town with pristine beaches and pretty architecture. It has Fuerteventura’s most popular resort areas, such as El Cotillo and Corralejo. Here the national park is full of sand dunes meeting ocean.
Enjoy a sense of the sublime as you look wistfully into the unforgiving desert and imagine being stuck in the Sahara. Then dash into the warm, clear ocean water to cool down and forget the harsh desert conditions.
Just north of the park in Corralejo Beach, relax and sunbathe with a view of Lobos Island. Take a short ferry ride from the resort’s harbour to the island. Walk around its circumference in 2 or 3 hours and note interesting wildlife and vegetation.
On La Oliva’s west coast is El Cotillo, a picturesque haven of beaches and lagoons. Stroll along the white sandy beach and capture photos of the lighthouse. Don’t be surprised to encounter naked sunbathers, as the area welcomes nudists.
Learn about the town’s culture at the Centro de Arte Canario. The outdoor sculpture gallery has works by local artists from the Canary Islands. See the fortified tower of Castillo de El Toston and look around the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, with its whitewashed façade and ornate interior. Find restaurants serving local dishes, such as tapas and shellfish.
People from La Oliva speak Spanish, although many who work with tourists also understand English and German.
Find La Oliva at the northern tip of the island, incorporating the stunning resort villages of Corralejo and El Cotillo. Ride a bus or taxi about 20 miles (32 kilometres) north from Fuerteventura Airport to get to the centre of town. The journey should take less than an hour.
Stay in La Oliva for lagoons, sand dunes and a sense of colonial traditions.
