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La Oliva gives its name to the most touristy municipality in northern Fuerteventura, which includes Corralejo, Lajares and El Cotillo. But the village itself is something else: a small municipal capital, with whitewashed houses in the middle of a volcanic plain, Mount Tindaya in the distance and little tourist activity once evening falls.
There’s no seafront promenade or large hotels here, just houses and villas with private pools for those who want space and don’t mind being a short drive from the coast. We’ll tell you which area to choose and which places to stay we select one by one before recommending them.
How to choose an area in La Oliva
Corralejo and Lajares have their own guides; here, we focus on the village of La Oliva and the surrounding countryside. There are three distinct settings:
- La Oliva village: around the church and La Cilla, with bars and shops within walking distance, but no nearby beach.
- Villaverde and the road to Corralejo: houses scattered among volcanoes, making it easy to reach the dunes without staying in a tourist area.
- Tindaya and the west: open countryside, the sacred mountain of the Majos and El Cotillo nearby for surfing and sunsets.
For couples who want to walk to dinner, the village is a better fit; with children or in a group, a villa in the countryside offers more freedom, although every beach requires a drive. All the places we’ve reviewed are on our page for places to stay in La Oliva and, if you prefer a village of its own, on the page for Villaverde.
Where to stay in La Oliva village
There’s little accommodation in the village centre. Our pick is the only hotel in our selection:
Casa Montelongo - Adults Only
An adults-only hotel with spacious apartments, each with a separate bedroom, living room and kitchen, set around an outdoor pool and a garden with a sun terrace. La Cilla and Casa de los Coroneles are very close by. There’s no on-site parking, and breakfast costs extra.
Houses and villas with pools in the surrounding area
Outside the village, you’ll find mostly entire houses with kitchens, gardens and private pools, nearly all with free parking. Let’s start with the more spacious options.
Villa Amistad
A 250-square-metre villa with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a garden and a private pool, plus a high chair for little ones. It has a fully equipped kitchen and private parking. Quiet hours are from ten at night to eight in the morning, and parties aren’t allowed.
LA CALDERETA CASA RURAL
The largest option in our selection: three bedrooms for six people, a private pool and a terrace overlooking the sea. It’s a good fit for groups and for anyone travelling with a dog, as pets are allowed, and Playa de Las Valdivias is less than five kilometres away. A cash deposit is required on arrival.
Villa Enola
A villa for five with a private-use pool, patio, garden and mountain views, well placed for driving down to Corralejo’s beaches. There’s a TV and games console for evenings in. The minimum stay is four nights.
We’ll finish with two simpler houses, both with mountain views.
CASA MIMAR moderna y acogedora
A modern two-bedroom house, one bedroom with bunk beds, with a terrace and garden facing the mountain and a kitchen with an oven and dishwasher. There’s wifi throughout the house and free parking nearby. A minimum stay of four nights is required, and check-in ends at ten at night.
Bungalow + Piscina independiente
An independent bungalow with its own outdoor pool, a garden and a terrace overlooking the mountain. It has a fully equipped kitchen and free private parking. Airport transfers cost extra, and check-in is from three in the afternoon.
Things to see in La Oliva and the surrounding area
You can explore the village in a morning. The Church of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, with its dark volcanic-stone tower, stands over the square, and nearby is La Cilla, a former granary turned grain museum.
On the outskirts is Casa de los Coroneles, the mansion from which the island was governed militarily, a historic-artistic monument since 1979. It’s now closed to visitors for restoration work, so for the time being you can only see it from the outside.
Mount Tindaya was sacred to the ancient Majos, who left foot-shaped carvings on its summit. It’s a Site of Cultural Interest and a Natural Monument, and climbing it without authorisation is prohibited: it’s better to follow the tracks around its base.
To the west, El Cotillo brings together calm-water lagoons, surf beaches and El Tostón tower. To the north are the Corralejo dunes and, towards Lajares, the Calderón Hondo volcano, with a short trail leading to the crater’s edge.
When to visit La Oliva
The climate is mild year-round and it rarely rains. The trade winds blow strongly in summer, making for good windsurfing and kitesurfing, while the best waves reach the west coast in winter.
In 2027, the municipality’s local public holidays are 2 February, the feast day of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, patron saint of the village, and 16 July, the feast of the Virgin of Carmen. They’re good times to experience village life.
Getting there and getting around
La Oliva is just over half an hour by car from the airport and about 20 minutes from Corralejo, where boats depart for Lobos and Lanzarote. There are interurban buses, but a hire car is essential if you’re staying here. Find all the details in our guide to getting to Fuerteventura.
La Oliva is part of our guide to where to stay in Fuerteventura, within our guide to where to stay in the Canary Islands. If you’d rather be within walking distance of the beach, see where to stay in Corralejo; if you’re travelling with young children and want to be close to the airport, see where to stay in Caleta de Fuste.
Frequently asked questions
Here are the questions we’re most often asked by people choosing between La Oliva village and the coast.
Is it worth staying in La Oliva instead of Corralejo?
It depends on what you’re looking for. La Oliva is quiet, with clear night skies and private-pool villas that are often more spacious than those on the coast. Corralejo puts you within walking distance of the beach, restaurants and boats to Lobos. If you’re hiring a car to explore the north, La Oliva is a comfortable, peaceful base, about 20 minutes from the dunes and El Cotillo. If you don’t want to drive, stay in Corralejo.
Do you need a car to stay in La Oliva?
Yes, pretty much always. There are interurban buses, but they don’t reach the coves or coastal tracks, and many villas are in the countryside, far from bus stops. You’ll need a car to get to any beach. Most of the houses we recommend have free parking; if you choose the hotel in the village, bear in mind that it has no on-site parking.
What is there to see in La Oliva village?
In the centre are the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, with its volcanic-stone tower, and La Cilla, the former granary turned grain museum. On the outskirts is Casa de los Coroneles, now closed to visitors for restoration work. Mount Tindaya, El Cotillo and the Calderón Hondo volcano are all nearby by car.
Can you climb Mount Tindaya?
Not without a permit. Tindaya is a Natural Monument and a Site of Cultural Interest, with foot-shaped carvings left on its summit by the ancient Majos. The Fuerteventura Island Council prohibits climbing without authorisation; the ban is signposted and penalties are very high. It’s best to follow the tracks around its base, preferably at sunset, and always stick to the marked paths.
Are there places to stay in La Oliva for families with children or pets?
Yes. Villa Amistad and CASA MIMAR moderna y acogedora have a high chair and two bedrooms, and the former also has a garden and private pool. With three bedrooms, LA CALDERETA CASA RURAL is the most comfortable choice for groups and also allows pets. Always check each property’s rules: some require a minimum stay of four nights. Casa Montelongo, on the other hand, is adults-only.
