Visiting La Graciosa: what to do on the wildest of the Canary Islands

La Graciosa was a lovely surprise during my stay in the Canary Islands. It wasn’t planned at all to begin with, but the view of the island from the Mirador del Río convinced me to change my plans and go and spend a bit of time there. And in the end, I don’t regret it one bit!

La Graciosa is a surprising island. Like the other Canary Islands, it has its own character, its own identity, and is far more than just Lanzarote’s “little sister”. It’s the only island with unpaved roads, the only one where you can’t get around by car, in order to preserve it. So you mostly explore by bike, between volcanoes and heavenly beaches.

As we’ll see, the island isn’t very big, so you can do the round trip in a day, or take your time and stay a night or two after your stay in Lanzarote. Right then, here’s everything you need to know about La Graciosa!

Book your ticket for La Graciosa!

La Graciosa, Lanzarote’s gorgeous little sister

The best viewpoint over La Graciosa is without doubt from the Mirador del Río, on Lanzarote. From El Guinate it’s pretty good too! You see the island as a whole, you can make out the volcanoes, the turquoise waters — honestly, it really makes you want to go! And that’s what convinced me. It has to be said that it’s only a 25-minute boat ride from Órzola, so it’s easy for a day trip (or even just a few hours).

La Graciosa is:

• the wildest of the Canary Islands, and the smallest: 29 km², 8 km by 4
• around 700 inhabitants, almost all in Caleta de Sebo
• no paved roads, and therefore no hire cars
• only 2 villages: Caleta de Sebo and Pedro Barba
• beaches more beautiful than on Lanzarote!
• 5 volcanic craters, including the Aguja Grande which rises to 266 m
• the heart of the Chinijo Archipelago marine reserve, the largest in Europe with over 700 km²

One important detail: La Graciosa has only officially been the 8th of the Canary Islands since 2018. Before that, it was simply considered a piece of Lanzarote! And administratively, it still comes under the municipality of Teguise.

Around it, you’ll also see Montaña Clara (1.6 km to the north) and Alegranza, two islets that are completely off-limits. We look, we don’t touch 🙂

How to get to La Graciosa: the ferry from Órzola

Getting to La Graciosa is fairly simple: there’s only one way, the boat from Órzola, right at the north of Lanzarote. No airport, no bridge, nothing else. And that’s just as it should be!

Good to know before you set off:

• the crossing takes 25 to 30 minutes
• the return trip costs €29 per adult and €15 per child (you can book it here)
• you choose a day and a time for the outbound trip, but the return is open: you take whichever boat you like, the same day or the next!
• there’s wifi on board (but with European roaming, you won’t need it)
• you can bring your bike on board at no extra cost. Cars, however, never.

Líneas Romero or Biosfera Express: which to choose?

So, there are two companies on the route, and most people don’t know it before arriving at the port. They do exactly the same trip, at the same price, but not at the same times. And that changes everything when you want to make the most of a day!

The ticket is not interchangeable: if you took the outbound trip with one, you have to come back with it. Check the name on your ticket carefully before boarding — the two jetties are 50 metres apart.

In short: Biosfera leaves earlier in the morning (8am versus 8.30am), Romero offers a shuttle from the hotels. If you’re coming for the day, take the first one, you gain a good half hour on the island.

The ferry timetable for La Graciosa

Here are the times noted in August 2026. They change from one season to the next, so double-check before you go, but the general picture holds all year round.

Biosfera Express

• Órzola to La Graciosa: 8.00 / 9.00 / 10.30 / 11.30 / 13.00 / 16.30 / 17.30 / 18.30 / 19.30
• La Graciosa to Órzola: 7.00 / 8.30 / 9.30 / 10.30 / 12.00 / 15.30 / 16.30 / 17.30 / 18.30

Líneas Romero

• Órzola to La Graciosa: 8.30 / 10.00 / 11.00 / 12.00 / 13.30 / 16.00 / 17.00 / 18.00 / 19.00 / 20.00
• La Graciosa to Órzola: 8.00 / 8.40 / 10.00 / 11.00 / 12.30 / 15.00 / 16.00 / 17.00 / 18.00 / 19.00

See the gap between 1pm and 4.30pm? That’s the siesta, and it applies to both! If you miss the 1pm one, you’re stuck on the island for over 3 hours. Which, honestly, isn’t the worst thing that could happen to you :p

Two little rules all the same. Boarding is 15 minutes before departure, and the channel between the two islands (the Estrecho del Río) can get pretty choppy in the afternoon when the trade wind picks up. If you’re prone to seasickness, go for a morning boat and settle at the back.

Parking in Órzola, or coming without a car

If you’ve hired a car in Lanzarote, there’s a free car park a 5-minute walk from the port. It fills up very quickly in high season, so arrive with time to spare. Otherwise there’s a paid car park right next to the jetty, reckon on a few euros for the day.

Allow for the drive to Órzola, because it’s really right at the far end of the island:

• from Costa Teguise: about 30 minutes
• from Arrecife: about 35 minutes
• from Puerto del Carmen: about 40 minutes
• from Playa Blanca: about 50 minutes

And if you don’t have a car, no panic! There’s a package with pick-up from your hotel from the main resorts, ferry included. It’s right here! It’s also a good option if you’re visiting Lanzarote without a car.

Do you need to book your ferry in advance?

Right, let’s be clear straight away: in low season, no — you’ll find a spot at the ticket office no problem. I was there in January and bought my ticket 20 minutes before departure.

From June to September, though, on weekends and Spanish public holidays, it’s another story. The boats leave full and you can end up waiting two crossings. Then yes, book!

And above all, book if you’re sleeping over: missing the last boat one way or the other when all the accommodation is full can really ruin a trip.

Book your ticket for La Graciosa!

How to get around La Graciosa

This one’s very simple. You have 3 ways of getting around the island, bearing in mind that you can’t hire a car. That’s reserved for the island’s residents and the roads aren’t paved.

• Hire a bike: the most common method on the island. You’ll find plenty of hire places next to the port, we’ll talk about it in more detail just after
• Tour with a 4×4 driver: another popular and really handy method. You let yourself be driven around in a vehicle to visit mainly the beaches in the south of the island, which aren’t necessarily reachable by bike (unless you fancy getting bogged down in the sand)
• On foot: well, that takes quite a bit of time. The main loop will be tricky to do on foot. The northern loop is 18 to 20 km without a single patch of shade. On the other hand, you can reach the southern beaches with no trouble at all!

Getting around by bike

Getting around by bike really is the easiest and cheapest way to discover La Graciosa. There’s a good half-dozen hire places right at the exit of the port, you can’t miss them.

Here are the rates charged in 2026:

And now, the pitfalls. Because there are some, and no one tells you about them!

• generally speaking the bikes are fairly poorly maintained. Really do check the bike, the brakes, the saddle (otherwise it’s genuinely painful), the tyres. Don’t hesitate to ask for another one before paying
• be really careful where you ride so as not to get a puncture. No one will come and fetch you and you’ll get told off because it’ll be your fault (even if you’re on the main track)
• if you’re planning to head back late, take a head torch because there isn’t a scrap of light outside the village
• watch the opening and closing times, especially if you’re planning to head back on a slightly later boat
• on an electric bike, check the battery before setting off. I’ve read several accounts of people breaking down 8 km from the village, with a bike twice as heavy on their hands and zero compensation afterwards

Generally speaking, check everything, compare, look through loads of reviews online because they’ll try to palm off some really mediocre kit on you, and if there’s a problem you’ll get absolutely nothing.

The hire places that come up most often in reviews: La Graciosa Bike, Mato Bike, La Molina Bike, Pedalea La Graciosa and El Mar Safari Bike.

Standard bike or electric bike: which to choose?

Right, this is THE question everyone asks when it’s time to pay. So I’ll be blunt: go electric. Yes, it’s two to three times more expensive. And yes, it’s well worth it.

Here’s why, in very concrete terms:

• it’s far less bone-shaking. The tracks of La Graciosa are stones and sand, not tarmac. On a poorly maintained hire mountain bike, you feel it in your arms and elsewhere!
• there are a few little climbs that you wouldn’t suspect from looking at the map. Nothing Himalayan, but in full sun and with no shade, the assistance changes everything
• you save a huge amount of time. Where it takes you 1 hour to reach Las Conchas pedalling, it takes you 30 minutes. Over a day, that’s two or three more spots
• you see the whole island instead of seeing half of it. That’s really the difference: the north AND the south, without ending up fried
• and the electric fat bike, with its big wide tyres, is the only one that really floats over the sandy tracks of the south

A little lesson learned the hard way: I set off towards the southern beaches with a standard mountain bike. On a sandy track. Clever me! The result: I pushed my bike through the sand, never reached the Playa de la Cocina and stopped at El Salado. With a fat bike, I’d have been there in 20 minutes.

Book your bike in advance, really. That’s the advice I’d give anyone. The electric ones are few in number on the island and they’re obviously the first to go, often from the very first boat of the morning. If you turn up at 1pm in August hoping to find an available e-bike, there’s a good chance you’ll leave with a tired mountain bike. Or with nothing at all.

Yes, booking costs a bit more with some hire places: reckon on around €20 for the standard bike and €42 for the e-bike online, versus €10 to €15 and €25 to €40 at the counter. But you’re paying for two things on top of the bike: the certainty of having one, and the certainty of having the one you want, in good condition. On a day that already costs you €29 for the ferry and an hour’s drive to Órzola, it would be a shame to scupper it all to save €15!

And in low season, it’s the opposite but the result is the same: half the hire places are closed. A WhatsApp message the day before is enough to avoid the nasty surprise.

When the standard mountain bike is enough: if you stick to the village, the Playa de la Laja and El Salado, or if you’re a seasoned cyclist and set off early. Then yes, the budget option is perfect.

In short: standard bike for a relaxed half-day in the south, electric bike as soon as you want to go round the island. And if you’re still hesitating, think of the way back: it’s always on the way back, with a headwind and legs like jelly, that you regret having saved a few euros!

Visiting La Graciosa with a 4×4 driver

This is the more relaxed but still more practical version, it has to be admitted. At the port, the 4x4s wait for tourists to go and spend a day or a half day going round the island, or simply for a straightforward transfer.

As the businesses change all the time, I find very little info on the existing ones, on which operator is good or not. That said, you can find a price estimate:

• €50 for a 90-minute tour of the north of the island
• €10 per person to be dropped at the beach (return)
• €15 for a one-way transfer

It lets you do really whatever you like. For example, start the morning with a tour of the island, then in the afternoon go to the southern beaches, without too much constraint.

These rates are indicative and are negotiated at the port, there’s no displayed price list. What’s certain is that there are only 14 authorised 4×4 taxis on the whole island! So in high season, book, otherwise you’ll be queueing.

The drivers generally offer two options:

• the short circuit (1h30): Pedro Barba, the Caletón de los Arcos and the Playa de las Conchas. You see the essentials, you have time for photos, but not for a swim
• the long circuit (2h30 and more): the same stops plus the Montaña Amarilla and the Playa de la Francesa. And you can ask to stay on the beach, the driver comes back to fetch you later!

One detail: these are taxis, not guides. The explanations stay very brief, don’t expect a commentated tour.

Why it’s genuinely handy:

• you make no effort at all. On an island without a single patch of shade, believe me, that counts!
• the 4×4 goes everywhere, including the sandy tracks of the south where you’d get bogged down on a bike
• you do the north and the south in the same day. By bike, it’s very tight
• it’s THE solution with children, with grandparents, or if you have a fragile back
• you can ask to be dropped on a beach and picked up later: you’re not tied to a group’s schedule
• and if you only have 3 or 4 hours before the last boat, it’s quite simply the only way to see everything

These rates are negotiated at the port. If you’d rather lock in your spot in advance, a full 2h30 tour covering the north and the south starts at around €55 booked online.

The only real downside is the price when you travel solo or as a pair: at the port, the tour is often paid per vehicle, not per person. With four people, it becomes very competitive against four electric bike hires.

• Discover La Graciosa by 4×4!

On foot: the real distances from Caleta de Sebo

Visiting La Graciosa on foot is entirely possible. But you need to know what you’re letting yourself in for, because there isn’t a single patch of shade on the whole island. Not one. And not a single fountain either.

Here are the real distances from the village, so you can plan your day:

In short: on foot, aim for the southern beaches (Francesa, Cocina, Montaña Amarilla) and forget the northern loop. It’s 18 to 20 km with no shade and no water point, a slog that very few people do willingly!

In concrete terms, in the bag: 2 litres of water per person minimum, a hat, sun cream, closed shoes (the volcanic sand is abrasive) and something to snack on. The last shop is Caleta de Sebo.

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What to do on La Graciosa: the 10 places not to miss

La Graciosa isn’t a very big island. But even so, there’s quite a lot to see, whether it’s the volcanoes, superb landscapes and, according to some, the most beautiful beaches in the Canary Islands. So whether you come to sightsee or laze on the beach, everyone will find something for them.

Here are the 10 places that really deserve the detour, from the closest to the village to the furthest away. Let’s take a look!

1. Caleta de Sebo, the only real village on the island

Well, it remains a very quiet little village, especially in low season, but it’s really pleasant without there necessarily being a specific place to see. I liked its white architecture, like on Lanzarote, the pretty seafront houses, especially heading towards the north of the village along the shore.

By the port there are bars, a little beach, a nice setting for a drink. So you have everything you need, a lovely setting, and you can move away a bit for a nice view.

And above all, it’s your only logistical base. You’ll find supermarkets, a bakery, a pharmacy, a medical centre, a cash machine and the island’s school. Outside the village: nothing. Absolutely nothing. So do your shopping before heading north!

Right at the end of the houses, the Playa de la Laja lets you swim 5 minutes from the port. It’s not the most beautiful on the island, far from it, but it’s sheltered and it’s perfect for a last dip before the boat.

2. Playa del Salado and the best sunset on the island

The Playa del Salado is the closest to the village towards the south-west: 15 to 20 minutes on foot, 5 minutes by bike. A long beach of pale sand, backed by dunes, with Lanzarote standing right opposite.

This is where I saw my most beautiful sunset on the island, and by far. You’ve got Lanzarote, you can see the volcanoes, the sea, the dunes, and it’s close to the village so you head back at your leisure afterwards. The climate is really favourable there all year round, so you have a very good chance of enjoying it whatever the season!

This is also where the island’s authorised camping area is, more on that below.

My take: if you only sleep one night on the island, this is where you need to be around 7pm. And if you want even better, climb up the Aguja Grande or the Montaña del Mojón for the overall view. You just need the courage to climb up, which I didn’t have, haha!

3. Playa de la Francesa, the most famous

This is THE postcard of La Graciosa, the one you’ve definitely seen on Instagram. A beach of about 500 metres, sheltered from the wind, with water of quite incredible clarity and Lanzarote filling the frame in the background.

It’s about 3.5 km from the village: 45 minutes to 1 hour on foot, a quarter of an hour by bike if the sand is willing. I got close to it before losing the thread of the path and ending up even more in the sand than on the sandy track. Anyway, take the right bike!

What you need to know before going:

• it’s the busiest beach on the island, by a long way
• the catamarans coming from Lanzarote drop their passengers there around 1.30-2pm. Before and after, it’s a different beach!
• calm water, a gently sloping bottom, it’s the best on the island for a family swim
• zero shade, zero services, zero bins: you leave with everything you brought

The smart move is to be there early in the morning or late in the afternoon. You’ll have the same beach, with five times fewer people.

4. Playa de la Cocina, the quiet little sister

From the Francesa, carry on 10 to 15 minutes towards the south and you come across the Playa de la Cocina. A tiny cove nestled at the foot of the Montaña Amarilla, with a pretty crazy contrast between the turquoise water and the yellow and ochre earth of the volcano.

It’s smaller, more intimate, and there are noticeably fewer people than at the Francesa. Lots of people stop at the first beach and don’t do the extra 15 minutes. All the better for those who do!

Watch out, though, there’s little room: in the middle of August at 2pm, the cove can be full. And as everywhere here, not an ounce of shade.

A little tip: arrive by the upper path rather than by the beach — the plunging view over the cove just before you go down is really worth it!

5. Montaña Amarilla, the yellow volcano

It’s the most photogenic spot in the whole south of the island, and yet many pass it by. The Montaña Amarilla rises to 178 metres and owes its name to its colour: yellow-orange tuff cliffs that drop straight into turquoise water. The contrast is truly spectacular.

It overlooks the Playa de la Cocina directly, so the two are done in one. Reckon on 1h15 of walking from Caleta de Sebo, or 25 minutes by bike.

Two little rules all the same. First, the rock is crumbly: stick to the marked paths and don’t go near the edge of the cliffs, they collapse. Then, we’re in the middle of the Chinijo Archipelago nature park, so we pick nothing up, we don’t move the stones, we don’t build cairns.

The climb is short but there’s no waymarking at all. From the top, you see the whole south coast, Lanzarote opposite and the Mirador del Río clinging to its cliff!

6. Playa de las Conchas, the most beautiful (but not for swimming)

We come to what’s considered the most beautiful beach on the island: Las Conchas. And it’s true that it’s beautiful! Turquoise water, white sand 600 metres long, it’s pretty good. On top of that the setting is great, as it sits at the foot of the Montaña Bermeja, which you can climb for a lovely overall view. Well, I’ll admit I didn’t really have the heart to climb it 😀

It’s in the north-west of the island, 5.5 or 6 km from the village. Reckon on 30 minutes by bike, or 1h15 to 1h30 on foot.

Watch out, and this is important: swimming here is dangerous. The beach is fully exposed to the Atlantic, with breakers and rip currents that catch everyone out. There’s obviously no lifeguard. You come for the view, you dip your feet in the water, and you go and swim at the Francesa.

Right opposite, you’ll see the islet of Montaña Clara, 1.6 km away. Off-limits, it’s a strict reserve for seabirds.

7. The Montaña Bermeja and the Aguja Grande

The volcanoes are the island’s other face. At the start of the northern loop, you pass between two fine craters: the Montaña del Mojón on the left and especially the Aguja Grande on the right, which you go around. You can climb both!

And I’d say the Aguja Grande offers the most beautiful viewpoint on the island, especially for the sunset. It rises to 266 metres, it’s the high point of La Graciosa.

The Montaña Bermeja (154 m) dominates the Playa de las Conchas directly. The climb is short, over volcanic gravel that rolls underfoot, and from the summit you take in the whole northern tip of the island with Montaña Clara and Alegranza in the distance. Around thirty minutes there and back, it’s an excellent effort-to-view ratio!

Do bring shoes that hold up, though. In flip-flops, it’s a no :p

8. El Caletón de los Arcos, the lava arch

Just north of Las Conchas, the scenery changes completely. No more white sand: you see a wholly volcanic coast, black rocks, odd formations including the “Castle”.

You’ll also find surprising basalt columns and a natural arch carved out by the sea, nicknamed Caletón de los Arcos. It’s one of the wildest places on the island, with the swell coming to batter the lava coves. Quite the atmosphere.

It’s on the route of the northern loop, so you have no detour to make. Reckon on about 7 km from the village.

Watch out for the sneaky waves on the flat rocks: the sea comes up fast here and the rocks are slippery. We look from a distance!

9. Playa Lambra, the one nobody does

And nearby, here we go again, a new beach: the playa Lambra. Nice, windy, but not a scrap of shade so it starts to beat down after all that cycling!

It’s a beach of pale sand mixed with pebbles, on the north-east coast, about 7.5 km from the village. The wind blows there almost constantly and the waves are strong: no swimming here either.

So why go? Because you’ll probably be all alone there. It’s the most remote point of the loop, the one where most 4×4 groups don’t stop. And in this case, the feeling of being at the end of the world is total.

Shell collectors come here too, but a reminder: we’re in a nature reserve, so we look and we put them back!

10. Pedro Barba, the hamlet at the end of the world

Finally we come back along the other side of the Aguja Grande volcano, just as lovely. In particular, we pass by the island’s other village, Pedro Barba. Well, these days it’s just twenty or so white houses to rent, for getting away from civilisation. But it has to be said the setting is lovely!

It’s 6.8 km from Caleta de Sebo, so 25 minutes by bike or 1h20 on foot. The track runs along the east coast, it’s flat and smooth-rolling, it’s the easiest stretch of the island.

What there isn’t at Pedro Barba: no shop, no bar, no restaurant, no services. Nothing at all. So come with your water and your snack.

On the other hand, there’s a small sheltered cove in front of the hamlet, with very calm water and often no one around. It’s one of the best snorkelling spots on the island, and a perfect place for a quiet lunch break!

The northern loop by bike, the great classic of La Graciosa

The island’s northern loop is the great classic. And rightly so, because it’s really really lovely. A pain in the backside by bike but genuinely great!

It’s a loop of 18 to 20 km, counting the detours to the beaches. Reckon on 3 to 4 hours with photo stops and a swim, so a good half day. On paper it looks like nothing, but between the sand, the stones and the wind, it has to be earned.

The order I recommend, clockwise:

• start from Caleta de Sebo, you pass between the Montaña del Mojón and the Aguja Grande
• down to the Playa de las Conchas (careful swimming break, or just your feet)
• quick climb up the Montaña Bermeja if you’re feeling fit
• the volcanic coast and the Caletón de los Arcos
• the Playa Lambra, the wildest point
• return along the east coast via Pedro Barba, the easiest part

Why this direction? Because you tackle the hard sections with fresh legs and finish on the flat, smooth-rolling track. Do the opposite and you’ll finish pushing the bike through the sand, head in a mess. Take my word for it, haha!

Watch out: there’s no water point, no shade and no shop on the whole loop. The last tap is Caleta de Sebo.

The map of La Graciosa

To help you picture all this, here’s how the island is laid out. It’s very simple in fact: Caleta de Sebo is in the south-east, and everything starts from there.

• towards the south-west (the most accessible): Playa del Salado, then the Francesa, the Cocina and the Montaña Amarilla
• towards the north-west: the Playa de las Conchas and the Montaña Bermeja
• towards the north: the Caletón de los Arcos and the Playa Lambra
• towards the north-east (flat track along the coast): Pedro Barba

The northern loop links these last three groups. The southern beaches are done as a round trip from the village.

If you’re planning the rest of your trip, I’ve also made the full map of Lanzarote with all the must-sees, and Órzola is on it of course!

What to do on La Graciosa in 1 day: my hour-by-hour itinerary

Most people come for a day. So here’s exactly how I’d go about it, assuming you arrive on the first boat and hire an electric bike.

8am – Departure from Órzola. Take the very first boat, the 8am one with Biosfera. You arrive on a still-sleepy island, 5 hours ahead of the catamarans!

8.30am – Bike hire. The hire places are right at the exit of the port. Take the time to check brakes, tyres and battery, it’ll save you a lot of grief. Buy your water and your picnic at the village supermarket while you’re at it.

9am – Head south. Towards the Playa de la Francesa. You’ll be there around 9.20, and you’ll have it practically to yourself. It’s the moment for a swim: the water is calm and the light is superb.

10.30am – La Cocina and the Montaña Amarilla. 15 minutes more towards the south and the scenery changes. Climb the Montaña Amarilla for the plunging view, come back down for a dip in the cove.

12.30pm – Back to the village for lunch. Fresh fish, octopus, squid. You’ve earned it!

2pm – The northern loop. This is the big one: Aguja Grande, Playa de las Conchas, Caletón de los Arcos, Playa Lambra, return via Pedro Barba. Reckon on 3 hours at a relaxed pace with the stops. And meanwhile, the catamarans are pouring onto the Francesa that you’ve already done. Clever, no? 🙂

5.30pm – A last drink at the port. Return the bike, settle on a terrace facing the boats, and savour it.

6.30pm – Back to Órzola. You head back to Lanzarote with the late-day light on the channel. Perfect.

The version without a bike? Take a 4×4 taxi in the morning for the northern loop, do the southern beaches on foot in the afternoon. It works very well too, and you don’t push anything through the sand :p

Discovering La Graciosa by catamaran!

Another option, a bit more chilled, for discovering La Graciosa is to do it by catamaran. Board a lovely boat, do some kayaking, some snorkelling, enjoy the beaches and go round the island by boat. Nice touch: meal and bar are included. On the other hand, it’s not a tour of the island, you won’t get off on land for long before heading back to Lanzarote.

Basically you spend 5 hours on the boat. They pick you up at the hotel (if you’re in one of the island’s main resorts), meal and drinks included, from €66. Not bad!

Practical information about the island of La Graciosa

When to come to La Graciosa

Easy! You can come the whole season without any problem. I was there in January and had lovely weather, sun, not too hot. But it’s never too, too hot in the Canary Islands, even in summer.

In summer, you’ll have more people without treading on each other. You’ll also have more restaurants open, more accommodation and more operators. Because in low season, there’s reeeally not many people about and lots of accommodation or bike hire places, for example, are closed.

So La Graciosa is very much worth visiting in any season!

However, in the following article, I tell you when to go to Lanzarote, which is the best time depending on budget, crowds and weather.

How long to stay

Most people come for a day, do the round trip in the day from Lanzarote. A day going round by 4×4 or by bike, then leaving on one of the last boats. That’s already good! But for my part, I find that a tiny bit of a shame. OK, the island isn’t very big, but there’s easily enough to fill a big day, two days. And above all it seems important to me to be able to spend the night there in order to enjoy the superb sunset.

What I did and what seems really good to me is to spend 2 nights and 1 full day there. That is, go at the end of the day, enjoy the sunset in the dunes, do the loop by bike the next day (or the beaches, or both!), stay another evening eating seafood and leave the following morning to enjoy the morning in the north of Lanzarote. Well, subject to accommodation being available, which isn’t necessarily the case. So then yes, a day is already very good! 🙂

Where to stay on La Graciosa

Here too it’s very seasonal. Quite a lot of accommodation is closed in low season, but you still have options all year round, whether with locals, in a guesthouse or in a hotel.

The offering is becoming interesting compared to a few years ago, there’s good accommodation. On the other hand, it goes really fast for high season! So hurry up!

Most of the offering is concentrated in Caleta de Sebo, in apartments and small houses. Reckon on from €95 a night for a good apartment, and it climbs fast: around €140 for a house with a terrace, €190 to €300 for a family villa. There are also a few houses to rent at Pedro Barba, at the other end of the island, for those who really want to cut off from the world! I’ve listed 4 examples below, but don’t hesitate to look at all the accommodation on La Graciosa.

If you don’t want to sleep on La Graciosa, then you can take a look at the list of hotels in Lanzarote.

Find your accommodation in La Graciosa

Camping on La Graciosa: the free campsite at El Salado

Now this is the island’s best-kept secret! There’s a free camping area on La Graciosa, just behind the Playa del Salado, about fifteen minutes’ walk from the village.

In concrete terms:

• it’s completely free, but the permit is compulsory
• booking is done online only, via the booking centre of the Organismo Autónomo de Parques Nacionales
• the permit is in your name, with an assigned plot, and you have to show it to the warden on arrival
• 7 nights maximum
• about fifty plots, for around 500 people in total
• very basic facilities: shared toilets and showers, that’s all

Watch out: wild camping is strictly forbidden everywhere else on the island, and it’s fined. We’re in a protected nature park, so you pitch your tent at El Salado or nowhere.

It goes very fast in summer and during the Spanish school holidays, so plan ahead. But honestly, sleeping in the dunes facing Lanzarote for zero euros, with the sunset as a bonus, is hard to beat!

A few restaurants

Well, it’s not easy to find something good and affordable here. A funny experience is La Caletilla Casa Chano. A special welcome (rotten, for some), but the octopus and squid are really really good (and not too expensive). It’s an experience because the prices vary from one menu to another, from one customer to another — you feel more like you’re bothering them than anything else. If you’ve got the nerve, go for it!

For a bit more warmth, fall back on K’ Alegranza, a nice restaurant-bar, good service, decent food.

FAQ: your questions about La Graciosa

Do you need to book the ferry for La Graciosa in advance?

In low season, no: you get your ticket at the Órzola ticket office 20 minutes before departure without any trouble. From June to September, on weekends and Spanish public holidays, it’s different — the boats leave full and you can wait two crossings. Then, book! And book systematically if you’re sleeping over.

How much does the ferry to La Graciosa cost?

Reckon on €29 for the return trip per adult and €15 per child aged 2 to 11, with Líneas Romero as with Biosfera Express. Canary Islands residents pay around €7.25 thanks to a 75% discount. Your bike travels free. Prices noted in August 2026, to be double-checked when booking.

Can you go to La Graciosa by car?

No, never. No hire vehicle goes on the ferry and there’s no paved road on the island. Only residents and the authorised 4×4 taxis get around, on sandy tracks. Leave your car at the Órzola car park: there’s a free one a 5-minute walk away, and a paid one right in front of the jetty.

How long do you need to visit La Graciosa?

A day is enough to see the essentials if you’re on an electric bike and arrive on the first boat. But for my part I really recommend 2 nights and 1 full day: you enjoy the sunset and sunrise, and you have the island to yourself once the boats have left. It’s a completely different experience.

Which is the most beautiful beach on La Graciosa?

The Playa de las Conchas is the most spectacular, but swimming there is dangerous because of the currents. For swimming, it’s the Playa de la Francesa, calm and sheltered, but also the busiest. My favourite compromise: the Playa de la Cocina, smaller, quieter, and at the foot of the Montaña Amarilla.

Can you go round La Graciosa on foot?

It’s possible but I really advise against it. The northern loop is 18 to 20 km without a single patch of shade or water point, and the sand makes walking exhausting. On foot, make do with the southern beaches: the Francesa is 45 minutes away, the Cocina an hour. For the north, take a bike or a 4×4 taxi.

Is it better to hire a standard bike or an electric bike on La Graciosa?

The electric one, without hesitation. Reckon on €10 to €15 a day for a standard mountain bike and €25 to €40 for an electric one at the counter, a bit more booking online. Those few euros change the day: far less bone-shaking on the stony tracks, the assistance for the little climbs, and half the travel time. Book in advance, the electric ones go with the first boat.

Can you visit La Graciosa with a driver?

Yes, and it’s even very common: 4×4 taxis wait at the exit of the port and offer a short 1h30 circuit or a long circuit of 2h30 and more. It’s the best option with children, in strong heat, or if you only have a few hours before the last boat. Watch out, there are only 14 authorised vehicles on the island: book in high season.

Can you camp on La Graciosa?

Yes, in the El Salado camping area only, and it’s free. You need a permit, to be requested online from the Organismo Autónomo de Parques Nacionales, with an assigned plot and 7 nights maximum. The facilities are very basic. Everywhere else on the island, wild camping is strictly forbidden and fined.

Are there shops and a cash machine on La Graciosa?

Yes, but only in Caleta de Sebo: supermarkets, a bakery, a pharmacy, a medical centre and a cash machine. Outside the village, there’s absolutely nothing, not even a fountain. So do your shopping and withdraw cash before setting off to explore, some small shops don’t like cards.

What’s the best time to go to La Graciosa?

The island is worth visiting all year round! I was there in January with brilliant sunshine and a perfect temperature for cycling. In summer you’ll have more people, more restaurants open and more hire places, but also the catamarans. In low season, lots of accommodation and hire places are closed, but you have the beaches to yourself.

And on Lanzarote, just opposite?

Because let’s be honest: no one comes to La Graciosa without passing through Lanzarote! That’s where you sleep, where you hire your car, and it’s from there that your boat leaves. You might as well make the most of it.

If you’re looking for an activity that’s a change from the volcano tour by bus, this one is one of the best-rated on the island: the wild north by off-road buggy, with the old Guatiza quarries, the Mala dam and the Peñas del Chache, the highest point of Lanzarote at 671 m. Over 5,000 reviews and 4.7/5, that gives you an idea!

And for the rest, I’ve written a full article on what to do in Lanzarote, with all the must-sees.

In conclusion

And there you go, now you know it all! I hope I’ve made you want to go and discover this magnificent little island, Lanzarote’s little sister. Between the superb beaches, the craters, the lovely boat trip (or even the catamaran!), you’re sure to have an excellent day 🙂 And don’t forget that there’s an exceptional view from the miradors that face it on Lanzarote, like the Mirador del Río!

You can find the following articles on Lanzarote:

• What to do in Lanzarote
• Where to stay in Lanzarote
• Visiting Lanzarote with children – here’s why Lanzarote is an excellent family destination
• Visiting the volcanoes of Timanfaya
• The map of the most beautiful places in Lanzarote
• The best time to go to Lanzarote
• Whether you need to hire a car in Lanzarote
• How to get around Lanzarote by bus

I also recommend the following article to find out what to see in Gran Canaria

• and why hire a car in Gran Canaria
• if you’re struggling to decide, here are the best hotels in Gran Canaria!