A trip to the Island of Lobos is highly recommended if you’re on holiday in Fuerteventura or Lanzarote. This islet is entirely protected, comprising a small desert paradise where you can enjoy a whole day of sunbathing, hiking and surfing without having to deal with annoying crowds of people.
The Island of Lobos covers a total surface area of six square kilometres, lying two kilometres from north-east Fuerteventura and eight kilometres from southern Lanzarote. Lobos Island is an authentic ecological treasure; the perfect destination for disconnecting from the stresses of day-to-day life.
The Island of Lobos: how to get there and entry requirements
As this is a small protected island, access to the Island of Lobos is limited to 400 visitors per day. The Fuerteventura Island Council issues 400 visitation permits for the Island of Lobos, split equally across two daily windows: 200 in the morning slot and 200 in the afternoon slot, with each permit valid for four hours. In other words, you can only spend four hours on the Island of Lobos.
Permits are made available on the official website of the Fuerteventura Island Council three days before each visit day.
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Boat trips and excursions to the Island of Lobos from Corralejo
If you’re looking to visit the Island of Lobos, you can take one of the various regular boat trips that depart from the port of Corralejo in northern Fuerteventura. It’ll take around 15 minutes to reach the island.
Besides the regular ferries, you could also rent a private boat in Corralejo to travel to the Island of Lobos. There are options and activities for all tastes, ranging from catamarans and sailing boats to kayaks and ‘water taxis’. Alternatively, there are several options that combine boat rental with snorkelling, fishing, golf buggy rides and bike trips around the island.
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Boat trips to the Island of Lobos from Lanzarote
You can also reach the Island of Lobos from the neighbouring island of Lanzarote, located to the north of the islet across the La Bocaina Strait. It’s slightly further away than Fuerteventura, but if you find yourself on holiday in Lanzarote it’s a perfectly good option for a day trip. In Playa Blanca, in southern Lanzarote, you’ll find various options for getting to the Island of Lobos, some of which pass through waters in which dolphins are regularly spotted.
Private boat trips usually come with the required permit, although we recommend checking this when you make the reservation.
Things to do during the trip to the Island of Lobos
The Island of Lobos is a natural setting of huge ecological importance. However, besides wonderful nature, don’t expect to find any tourist attractions. Lobos Island is home to a virgin volcanic landscape that remains unspoilt; a magical place like no other.
The ferry will drop you off in the small dock in the south of the island. Close to the dock, heading eastwards, you will find the island’s only buildings. These are a series of oceanfront bungalows, including the island’s only beach restaurant where you can grab a bite to eat. These buildings look out onto a small bay of turquoise waters with a smattering of dark-rocked islets.
The lack of depth lends a wonderful shade to the bay’s idyllic waters. Snorkel lovers will be blown away by the rich marine fauna, with the crystal-clear waters providing optimal conditions for this sport. A small wooden jetty, the Puertito de Lobos, sticks out a few metres into the bay, where visitors can jump into the water or pose for the perfect photograph. This is just the beginning of your trip around the island!
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Beaches and surfing on the Island of Lobos
Lying westwards of the port where passengers are dropped off by the ferry is the surprising Playa de la Concha de Lobos. Shaped like a crescent or a half-moon, the curvature of this beach almost forms a complete circle. You will feel like you’re swimming in a lake rather than a small island in the Canaries! While the only two beaches on the Island of Lobos are the examples mentioned above, its wonderful coastline comprises other spots where you can head down to the water and take a dip.
Much like the other Canary Islands, Lobos Island is also a famous surfing destination. Despite its small size, the west coast of the island is exposed to the longest wave in the Canary Islands. This is known as “la ola derecha de Lobos”, measuring 300-500 metres long. This wave is found in the area beside the La Caldera volcano.
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Hiking in the Island of Lobos
Besides sunbathing on the beach and swimming in the ocean, hiking is another fantastic option for your day on the Island of Lobos. Lobos Island is easy to hike, with well-signposted tracks and barely any difficult stretches. The only difficulty is keeping track of time, being sure to return to the port before your 4-hour permit expires.
We recommend taking a circular route. Leaving from the Playa de la Concha, your first main milestone will be the La Caldera volcano. This is the highest point on the island, measuring 127 metres above sea level. Despite its low height, it still offers fantastic views of the neighbouring islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, with the Corralejo sand dunes in the foreground.
Despite it being a short climb, there’s no avoiding the slopes. As with all landscapes in the Canary Islands, this is a stony path, so make sure you bring suitable footwear.
Reassuming the track after your descent, the route continues northwards, passing by several small coves on the west coast. You’ll soon reach the northernmost tip of the Island of Lobos, which is home to the Punta Martiño lighthouse; a key structure that helps to guide ships through the La Bocaina Strait. Turning back from the lighthouse, another trail will take you back to the “puertito” along the eastern side of the island. En route, we recommend stopping in Las Lagunitas, where the refreshing water encroaches upon several parts of the coastline.
