La Graciosa, recognised as the eighth island of the Canary Islands in 2018, is pretty much a virgin place, without roads, with few buildings and cars, and one of the few places where mass tourism has not yet arrived.
The golden beaches and turquoise waters of this protected area invite you to relax and unwind in just 29 square kilometers. Its little more than 700 registered inhabitants reside in two small urban centres called Pedro Barba and Caleta de Sebo, the latter concentrating most restaurants, accommodation and businesses.
As La Graciosa doesn't have an airport, and it is separated from Lanzarote by a strip of water known as El Río, the only way to get there is by boat from the north of Lanzarote. Every day ferries depart, every 30 minutes, from the town of Órzola to Caleta de Sebo’s pier, a journey that barely lasts half an hour but can get quite “hectic” on days with high waves.
Specifically, the family company Líneas Romero stands out for being the first to connect Lanzarote with La Graciosa, a job it has been doing since 1930. In addition, it also has connections to the neighboring island of Fuerteventura, as well as leisure excursions on catamarans.
Ticket prices
Tickets cost 26 euros for a round trip for non-resident adults, while children pay half (13 euros). You can purchase them online or at the Órzola pier. Better to buy return tickets as if bought separated, each way will cost 14 euros for adults per trip and 7 for children.
In the event that the buyer is a Canarian resident, he will be able to enjoy a 75% discount. In addition, it is important to mention that there is no reason to come back at a specific time if you buy the return ticket, since the latter is open but you always have to take the same ferry company.
The schedule
The boats leave Órzola from 08:00 in the morning until 19:30 in the afternoon and, in the high summer season, from June 1 to October 29, the route has one last ride at 8:00 p.m.
In the opposite direction, the trips go from 07:00 in the morning to 18:30 in the afternoon and during June, July, August, September and October, until 19:00. There is always a break in the middle of the day, around lunchtime.
During the ride you’ll enjoy the immensity of Famara’s cliff and some of the small islands that belong to Archipiélago Chinijo, of which La Graciosa is also a part. Roque del Este, Roque del Oeste, Montaña Clara and Alegranza islets are also part of these set, which constitutes the largest marine reserve in Europe.
Organised catamaran tour
Another option is to pay for a catamaran excursion with Líneas Romero, which usually includes transportation from the hotel to the port, the boat ticket, and several stops at the most famous beaches on the island, such as La Francesa or Montaña Amarilla.
In addition, the ticket also include food and drinks on board, as well as equipment for water activities, such as snorkeling.
The schedule and price per person will depend on the company but it usually ranges between 60 and 65 euros per person.
