The eight tracks, and why these ones
The resolution lists the tracks: Corralejo–El Cotillo via Majanicho, Corralejo–Lajares via Las Calderas, Lajares–El Cotillo via Cañada Melián, El Cotillo–Montaña de Tindaya via Esquinzo, Tindaya–La Oliva via Montaña La Oliva, Valle de Fenimoy, Valle de Fimapaire and Montaña Negra–Cien Hombres. The selection comes from a report by the council's environmental guides dated 4 September.
According to that report, the Majanicho track runs entirely through the Costa Norte de Fuerteventura bird protection area (ZEPA) and largely follows the HL3 footpath. Around Esquinzo and Tindaya, a second bird protection area and the Montaña de Tindaya natural monument are at stake. At Cien Hombres the report cites a feeding site of the Canary Islands Egyptian vulture, known locally as the "guirre", and the nearby Villaverde primary school.
What residents complain about
According to the council, residents have submitted written complaints and signatures over recent months; these have not been published. Radio station Dunas FM sums up the complaints as dust, damaged tracks, disturbance to homes and livestock farms, and risk on tracks shared with walkers and cyclists. On 7 September the local police recorded a "progressive and severe" deterioration of the track surfaces and verges.
According to the resolution, milder measures were not enough: since 2016 these vehicles have been limited to 30 km/h on dirt and 40 km/h on tarmac. Environment councillor David Fajardo said in the council's statement that La Oliva cannot allow recreational uses to end up "damaging tracks, affecting protected areas or interfering with the road safety of residents, livestock farmers, walkers and cyclists".
What the operators say
We had found no reaction from the industry to the ban by Tuesday. However, four buggy and quad companies from La Oliva had already issued a joint statement on 3 August, reported by Dunas FM. They say they provide more than 60 direct jobs and operate legally, only on authorised routes that make up a small part of the network. The state of the tracks should not be blamed on them, they argue, as many people use them all year. They are calling for clear rules and offer to work with the authorities.
Mayor Blanco stresses that "this is not about acting against any economic activity". Tourism "has to be compatible with the conservation of our territory, with the peace of our residents and with the traditional use of our tracks". Back in 2017, according to Fuerteventura Digital, La Oliva ordered five operators to stop their excursions because they lacked permits.
Legal basis, fines, appeals
The council relies on its traffic by-law, adopted by the full council on 30 June 2016. Under Article 48, rental vehicles of this kind may use all municipal tracks except those the council expressly closes. Breaches are penalised under Title XI of that by-law. The driver, the organising or rental company, the guide and whoever ordered the trip can all be held liable. Damage to the tracks must be made good.
The resolution can be challenged within one month by an administrative appeal, or within two months in the courts in Las Palmas, counting from publication. The council is to review the ban at least every two years.
What is still allowed
Tours are not banned outright: according to the council, operators will keep running on the designated sections under the island's by-law. The council has not published which sections these are in La Oliva. The Cabildo's 2019 island by-law sets up a network of official routes with quotas and time slots. According to Diario de Fuerteventura, one of them runs in La Oliva from Parque Holandés to the Casilla de Costa roundabout (as of January 2025).
Anyone driving a hire car privately is not affected by this resolution, though general traffic and environmental rules still apply. For buggy tours already booked in the north, nothing changes until the ban takes effect. From then on, operators will have to avoid the eight tracks.