Pierre & Vacances Village Fuerteventura Origo Mare

Reminiscent of a freshly erected housing estate, Origo Mare is an isolated, but well-equipped holiday village owned by French hotel chain Pierre and Vacances. Common areas are freshly decorated in a contemporary neutral palette, with comfortable armchairs dotted around the main lobby and plenty more places outdoors to unwind in the abundant sunshine. The resort mainly caters to British, French, Spanish, and German families, but the attractive adult-only pool, which sits in the middle of the main building, offers a quiet and relaxed atmosphere for couples to lounge in the sunshine or shade. The distant sound of ocean waves breaking in the background is certainly a highlight here. Even with that relaxed vibe, there's still something for everyone at the resort. For instance, the extensive Crater Park children's water park has a completely different vibe, with families noisily enjoying the water slides and wave machine together. In the evening, families gather in the pool bar area for entertainment, which can include quiz nights, a mini-disco, and poker tournaments. It's a modern hotel, for sure, but more is being added to its already sprawling set-up. It’s hard to miss the rows and rows of villas under construction when walking around the property, with new infrastructure including additional paths and roads currently under development. 

This property is in the middle of nowhere, which helps give the Origo Mare its quiet vibe. The real appeal of this isolation is being close to the ocean and in the middle of a natural environment. The resort is private and pedestrianized, meaning children can cycle around on rental bikes without the fear of traffic. It's less than a five-minute walk to a nearby (unnamed) surfing spot, where kite- and wind-surfers enjoy the waves late into the evening. Otherwise, travelers staying here will need a car to explore the area. The quaint surfing village of Lajares is a 15-minute drive away, and has a small collection of restaurants, cafes, and shops to explore. The pretty town of El Cotillo is a 25 minutes away by car, or less than an hour by bike, and has some beautiful beaches as well. Corralejo, the main town in northern Fuerteventura, is a 30-minute drive away, and has a vibrant shopping center and pleasant harbor area. The airport will take about 50 minutes to reach by car.

This resort is a maze of winding streets, with rows of private villas divided into five separate sections, each of which is called an Oasis. Villas are all stand-alone units, and the interiors are simple, but fresh. Expect polished tile floors, hardwood furniture, and comfortable sofabeds plus on-trend colors like seafoam and gray alongside furniture hewn from reclaimed wood. Mattresses are firm. Features include fruit baskets upon arrival, plus air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs and kitchens with ovens, full-size refrigerators, wardrobes, and dining tables with chairs. Everything needed to cook is provided in kitchens. Every villa has a patio with table and chairs, and a pleasant landscaped garden. During our 2017 visit, there was no Wi-Fi in the villas, although we were told this service would be added shortly. Studios and One-Bedroom Villas are the same size, but the latter have sliding doors between the bedroom and kitchen/living area. Two-Bedroom Villas have balconies and two bathrooms, including a shower and bathtub. VIP Villas feature extra amenities including washing machines, Nespresso coffeemakers, and sun beds. Bathrooms are sharp and modern, with slate tiled floors, spacious walk-in showers, sleek marble vanities, fresh white towels, and plenty of toiletries. 

Given this resort’s quiet, isolated location, the number of activities on-site are a welcome addition. A clever combination of adult-only and child-friendly areas means mature couples spend long afternoons around the tranquil adult-only pool, while families spend their time at the extensive Crater Park children's area, with its huge variety of water slides and a wave machine. Balinese beds can be reserved at the children’s pool area for a fee. In addition, each cluster of villas has its own small pool.The small beach near the hotel is ideal for surfing, and water-sports equipment and bikes can both be rented. Surfing and diving classes are available for adults and children for a fee. A gym and children’s club are welcome additions to the resort. A separate teenagers room has computer games and a DJ booth. Extra on-site facilities include grass and all-weather tennis courts, a mini-golf course, and an outdoor children’s playground. A beauty salon offers a range of spa treatments including massages and facials by appointment. Group activities throughout the week include pilates, water aerobics, and Zumba. Food is served on an all-inclusive or half-board basis, and guests wear wristbands to indicate the package they've chosen. The main restaurant serves buffet breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Expect a busy atmosphere when the restaurant opens, as families with young children eat together. There’s a reasonable selection of food on offer here, including a variety of meat and vegetarian choices, a children’s buffet, salad bar, and dessert bar. A self-service drink station has cold juices, wine, and hot drinks. The bar in the children's pool serves light food throughout the day, and a separate sports bar serves lunch and evening meals. Free Wi-Fi is available in the reception area, but not in the villas. A free daily return shuttle takes guests to and from the town of Corralejo. A supermarket and laundry room are also available. Parking is free.