Planning Island Hopping
Visiting multiple islands is THE Canary Islands experience — but it requires planning. Here are the most important tips:
The Three Island Groups
The Canary Islands are geographically divided into three clusters, within which connections are excellent:
- Western Islands: Tenerife – La Gomera – La Palma – El Hierro. Ferries from Los Cristianos (TF). La Gomera reachable in 50 min, La Palma in 2.5h.
- Eastern Islands: Lanzarote – Fuerteventura. Only 25 min ferry in between! Practically a double destination.
- Middle: Gran Canaria connects both groups — ferries to Tenerife (80 min from Agaete) and Fuerteventura (2.5h from Las Palmas).
The Best Island Hopping Combos
| Combination | Duration | Connection | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tenerife + La Gomera | 7–10 days | Ferry 50 min | Beach + Hiking |
| Lanzarote + Fuerteventura | 7–10 days | Ferry 25 min | Volcanoes + Beaches |
| Gran Canaria + Tenerife | 7–10 days | Ferry 80 min | Diversity + Diversity |
| Tenerife + La Palma | 10–14 days | Ferry 2.5h or Flight | All-round + Hiking |
| All Eastern + Gran Canaria | 14 days | Ferries | Beaches, Volcanoes, City |
| Grand Canary Tour (6 Islands) | 21 days | Ferries + 1–2 Flights | Everything! |
Logistics Tips
- Open-Jaw Flights: Fly to one island, return from another. Saves time and money. E.g., fly to Lanzarote (ACE), return from Gran Canaria (LPA). Most flight search engines offer this as “open-jaw flight”.
- Rental Car per Island: Instead of taking a car on the ferry (expensive!), book a separate rental car on each island. Cicar makes it easy: pick up at the port, drop off at the airport.
- Book Ferries in Advance: In high season (Christmas, Easter, August) definitely book ferries in advance — especially with a car. Foot passengers almost always get a spot.
- Luggage on Ferries: No weight limit for foot passengers. Suitcase, hiking backpack, surfboard — everything can be taken. Luggage stays in the car on the auto deck.
- Time Planning: At least 2–3 nights per island, better 3–4. Visiting a new island every day is stress, not a vacation. Exception: La Gomera as a day trip from Tenerife works well.
- West-East Transfer: There is no direct ferry Tenerife → Lanzarote. You have to transfer via Gran Canaria or fly (Binter, from €30, 50 min).
Achtung
There is NO direct ferry connection between the western islands (Tenerife/La Gomera/La Palma) and the eastern islands (Lanzarote/Fuerteventura). You must transfer via Gran Canaria or take a Binter flight. Plan this into your route!
