Ermita de Nuestra Señora de Puerto Rico

Ermita de Nuestra Señora de Puerto Rico is a small rural chapel in La Oliva, Fuerteventura — one of those modest, easy-to-miss shrines that quietly hold a piece of the island's history.

How do you get there?

The chapel sits on the outskirts of La Oliva, in the northern part of Fuerteventura, close to the road that connects the town with nearby neighborhoods. It is not a signposted tourist stop — the building is tucked away behind houses and surrounded by cactus fields, which makes it genuinely easy to walk past without noticing. The simplest way to reach it is by car or scooter from La Oliva's town center, a drive of just a few minutes, followed by a short walk on foot through the local streets. GPS coordinates point to roughly 28.608° N, -13.9275° W, but expect minimal or no on-site signage once you're in the area.

What will you see?

Locally, the hermitage goes by more than one name — besides "Nuestra Señora de Puerto Rico," it's also known as Ermita de la Capellanía and Ermita de Puerto Escondido. These names aren't arbitrary: the building originally served as the residence of a clergyman, which is where the "capellanía" (chaplaincy) reference comes from. Like many rural chapels on Fuerteventura, it was raised through the effort of local residents, who hauled stone, mixed clay, and put up the walls and timber work themselves. It's a fairly typical example of the island's religious architecture — a simple form, local materials, and a construction process built on community labor rather than any official budget.

Detailed historical records about the exact date of construction are scarce, which is common for most small chapels of this kind on Fuerteventura — many were built without formal documentation, and what's known about them today survives mostly through local tradition rather than archives. The building itself is small and unadorned, and it's precisely that plainness, combined with its setting among cactus fields and residential houses, that gives the place its appeal for anyone curious about the island's vernacular history and architecture.

When should you visit?

Since this is a small, outdoor site, the best time to visit is during the cooler parts of the day — morning or late afternoon — when the sun is less harsh and the light falls well on the stone walls. Fuerteventura's climate stays dry and mild year-round, so time of day matters more here than season. It's worth pairing a visit with a walk through La Oliva itself, where other historic sites such as the Casa de los Coroneles and the church of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria are located — the Ermita de Puerto Rico fits naturally into a longer stroll around the town and its edges.

Frequently asked questions

Is Ermita de Nuestra Señora de Puerto Rico related to the country Puerto Rico? No. "Puerto Rico" here is a local place name within La Oliva on Fuerteventura, unrelated to the Caribbean country of the same name.

Can you go inside the chapel? Access to the interior is often limited — it's a small, semi-private religious building, so most visitors view it from the outside.

What other names does this chapel go by? It's also known locally as Ermita de la Capellanía and Ermita de Puerto Escondido.

Is it worth combining with other sights in La Oliva? Yes — the chapel is close to the town center, where you can also see the Casa de los Coroneles and other historic buildings, making it easy to plan a single, relaxed walking route.