La Graciosa is the eighth inhabited island of the Canaries, barely 29 km² of sand and volcanoes off the north coast of Lanzarote. There's no tarmac, no traffic lights, the only village has sand streets, and rental cars are banned. You can see the whole island from the Mirador del Río, but setting foot on it means crossing by boat. Here's what you need to know, whether you're going it alone or letting someone else run the day.
The starting point is Órzola, the village at the northern tip of Lanzarote. Regular ferries leave its harbour and cross El Río, the strait separating the two islands, in about 20-25 minutes. Operators such as Líneas Romero run the route daily with several sailings morning and afternoon, and in high season it's worth booking ahead since boats fill up fast.
Once you land in Caleta del Sebo, the island's only village, everything is on foot or by bike. There's no rental car and no paved road, just sand streets and the odd authorised 4x4 for longer trips.
If you'd rather not track ferry times or organise anything yourself, the catamaran cruise to La Graciosa covers the whole day. It picks you up at the main Lanzarote resorts, crosses over on an express ferry, and once you're aboard the catamaran you get a welcome mojito, an anchor stop at Playa Francesa for swimming and kayaking, and a paella lunch with free-flowing beer, sangria and soft drinks before heading back.
It runs 6 hours, departing at 11:00, with guiding in Spanish, English, French and German, and costs €69 per adult and €40 per child, hotel pickup included.
For anyone who'd rather spend more time sailing than on land, there's the full-day sailboat trip to La Graciosa: a ferry crossing to the island, an hour sailing along the south coast with cava and snacks on board, another anchor stop at Playa Francesa for swimming and kayaking, and a lunch of pasta, salad and fruit with unlimited drinks.
It departs at 11:30, also runs 6 hours, with guiding in Spanish, English and French, and costs €67 per adult and €45 per child, pickup included.
How do you get to La Graciosa? By ferry from Órzola, on the north coast of Lanzarote, a crossing of 20 to 25 minutes. You can also visit as part of an organised catamaran or sailboat tour that already includes the ferry and hotel pickup.
How much does the ferry to La Graciosa cost? Standalone tickets are sold by the operators running the Órzola route. If you'd rather not book that separately, the catamaran and sailboat tours already include it in the total price.
Can you visit La Graciosa in a single day? Yes, it's the usual plan: a full day is enough to cross by ferry, explore Caleta del Sebo and swim at Playa Francesa before heading back in the afternoon, or to do it all as part of an organised boat trip with lunch included.
Staying in the north of Lanzarote? The Mirador del Río has the best view of La Graciosa from the mainland. Check out our guide to what to do in Lanzarote and all our tours on the island.
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