Lanzarote

Graziosa Island

The island of dreams! Where you can take off your shoes and forget the world. There are no paved roads, no built-up areas, no hurry. Geographically it is an island belonging to the Canaries, 27 square km, of volcanic origin with a population of 525 inhabitants of whom about 300 are fishermen. The highest mountain is Pedro Barba, at 266 metres, then there is Montagna Amarilla at 170 metres. The island of Graciosa is the northernmost of the Canaries and, with the oceanic platform between the islands of Montagna Clara and Allegranza, it brings about a great reproduction of fish species, making the island of Graciosa a unique place in "Europe" for fishing. Graciosa is a part of the Chinico archipelago, with Allegranza and Montagna Clara, they are a nature park, where birds of a unique species nest. The Queen's falcon lives and reproduces here, on the verge of extinction.

The island is desert-like, a paradise of rabbits and partridges, with no crops, practically impossible due to the lack of springs and because of the extremely rare rains. Graciosa is separated from Lanzarote by a "Rio", practically a channel. In 25 minutes of crossing, a ferry connects Orzola (Lanzarote) with the port of Isla Graciosa (Caleta del Sebo). The temperature does not have great swings, it never drops below 14 degrees and never rises above 28 degrees. There are several beaches, the largest is the beach of the "Concha" (so called because it is made up of tiny shells). The beach of the Francesa, more convenient to reach on foot from the village with a half-hour walk, and the beach of Montagna Amarilla. The village is made up of cubic-shaped houses, white, with green or light-blue windows.

There are two small supermarkets, a church, a doctor on call 24 hours a day, a bank, a pharmacy, several small bars, restaurants, two guesthouses. The rhythms are marked by the arrival or departure of the ferry. Tourists who return after the day visit to paradise or inhabitants of the island who return after a day's work in Lanzarote.

How to get to Isla Graciosa: Cost of the taxi from the airport to the port of Orzola (where you board for Graciosa) about 30-35 euros. Cost of the ferry: Orzola - Graciosa return 13€ (duration about 20 minutes.) Ferry times: From Orzola: 10.00 - 12.00 - 17.00 (18.30 in summer, from June): From Graciosa: 8.00 - 11.00 - 16.00 (18.00 in summer, from June)