If you have time during your trip, we suggest you take at least one boat trip to Lanzarote.
It’s a great way to admire the island from afar, enjoy the volcanoes and maybe see some dolphins and whales.
Here is our selection of the best boat trips in Lanzarote.
BEFORE ALL OUR TIPS, OUR favorites
Our favorite car rental platform with great offers: DiscoverCars
Our favorite activities:
Dolphin-watching boat tour
Bus tour: Timanfaya + El Golfo + Los Hervideros + Wines
Our favorite hotels:
Boutique: Royal Marina Suites in Puerto Calero
5 stars: Hotel Fariones in Puerto del Carmen
Adults-only: CalaLanzarote in Playa Blanca
Family: Aequora Suites in Puerto del Carmen
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
1. Dolphin-watching boat trip to Lanzarote
Departure: mainly from Puerto del Carmen
Duration: 1h30 to 2h30, depending on the tour chosen
Our favorite tour was the dolphin-watching trip. We were very lucky and had a dazzling show!
Of course, there’s no guarantee of seeing dolphins or whales, but in any case you’ll enjoy the beautiful views of the island, the pleasure of gliding over the water… And the excitement of looking off into the distance for a glimpse of a fin. And when you find them, it’s unforgettable!
Several types of boat tours are available, including dolphin watching:
Option 1 – Our favourite: daytime speedboat – duration 1h30 with swimming
See details and availability
Option 2 – sunset speedboat – 2h30 with champagne
See details and availability
Option 3 – Catamaran sunset cruise – 2h
See details and availability
Dolphins are present all year round in the Canary Islands. There are groups of resident dolphins. You’ll mainly see bottlenose dolphins and pilot whales.
Find out more in our article on dolphin watching in Lanzarote.
2. Ferry to the island of La Graciosa
Departure: from Orzola, north of Lanzarote
Duration: depending on the crossing chosen… we recommend a full day.
La Graciosa is a small island north of Lanzarote, one of our favourite spots in the Carabibean Islands! Access is by ferry and there are no roads at all, just tracks in the sand. You can explore it on foot or with one of the 4WD cabs.
Unlike Lanzarote, it is covered in golden-white sand. But there are also a few volcanoes. The colors are magnificent and you can enjoy a variety of landscapes: beaches, volcanoes and basalt columns.
Even the ferry crossing is fascinating, with superb views of the Famara cliffs to the north of Lanzarote.
If you have your own rental car, I recommend taking the first ferry in the morning to avoid the crowds that come to spend the day at the beach.
Ferries depart from Orzola. Note that for those staying in Playa Blanca, it takes longer to get to the north (1h10min by car).
2 companies offer ferries from Lanzarote to La Graciosa.
View express ferry departures and book your ticket
If you don’t have a car, they also organize hotel pick-ups combined with the ferry, but you have less choice of schedule.
See options and book your seat
Another option if you don’t have a car is to combine the bus and ferry with a catamaran trip. You won’t be on the island of La Gracios as much, but you’ll be able to admire it from the sea and get a better view of its volcanoes.
WHERE TO STAY IN Lanzarote
Option 1: Playa Blanca
To the south, the resort is charming with beautiful beaches. We recommend..:
- Hotel Resort Princesa Yaiza, right in the center – see prices, pictures and availability
- Boutique-Hotel Cala Lanzarote – see prices, pictures and availability
- Aparthotel Jardines del Sol – prices, pictures and availability
Option 2: Puerto del Carmen
Main seaside resort with large beaches. We recommend..:
- Hotel Fariones, 5 stars above the beach – see prices, photos and availability
- Boutique-Hotel Aqua Suites – see prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Seaside Los Jameos, for families – see prices, photos and availability
Option 3: Costa Teguise
Smaller and more central, for exploring the whole island. We recommend..:
- Barcelo adults-only Hotel – prices, pictures and availability
- Radisson Blu resort hotel, adults-only- see prices, pictures and availability
- H10 Lanzarote Family Guard – see prices, photos and availability
3. Cruise to Papagayo beaches
Departure: from Puerto del Carmen or Playa Blanca
Duration: 4 hours
Lanzarote’s southwest coast is a must-see.
Papagayo and its neighboring golden sandy beaches are considered to be the best on Lanzarote and are one of the island’s main attractions.
Their vast sandy expanses have remained largely untouched, with no paved roads leading to them.
These beaches are located on the Macizo de los Ajaches (Natural Monument), the island’s oldest territory, formed around 14 million years ago (hence the rounded peaks and deep ravines).
You can explore it on foot, or via an unpaved track.
Or you can take a boat out to sea and admire the wilderness. Just be aware that you won’t be able to get to the beaches from the boats.
From Puerto del Carmen:
A catamaran allows you to explore the entire south coast and perhaps catch a glimpse of dolphins. You can swim or kayak around the boat.
See program and availability
From Playa Blanca:
You’ll set off on a yacht to discover these magnificent landscapes. You can swim and stand-up paddle around the boat.
See program and availability
4. Yellow submarine ride
Departure: from Puerto Calero (note that this is not the same port as Puerto del Carmen)
Duration: 1 hour
Yellow submarine… Yellow submarine…
We warn you, after this trick, you’ll have the song stuck in your head!
This tour takes you a little way out of the harbor to discover the seabed. It’s pretty impressive to be underwater like that, knowing that you’re not that deep… no stress!
It’s an ideal activity for the whole family (except claustrophobics, of course). But the room is big enough, so we didn’t feel any anxiety.
Duration 1h.
You must watch a security video before entering their offices.
Places are limited!
See availability and make reservations
OUR ADVICE FOR RENTING A CAR IN Lanzarote
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- A small car is all you need.
- But you can also choose a larger one if you wish, as the parking spaces are rather large.
- There’s a lot of demand and it’s an island, so book early.
5. Excursion to Lobos Island
Departure: from Puerto Calero
Duration: 5 hours
This tour combines several experiences for those looking for a complete adventure:
- Fast boat trip
- Descent along the south coast with beautiful views of the oldest part of Lanzarote
- Search for dolphins during the crossing (but nothing is guaranteed)
- Discover part of the island of Lobos and its spectacular scenery.
Another way to discover Lobs Island is to:
6. Parasailing: boat and paraglider combined!
Departure: from Puerto del Carmen
Duration: 10min flight
Discover the pleasure of parasailing, an activity we particularly enjoy, with the sensation of flying but less stress for take-off and landing.
Enjoy exceptional views of Lanzarote and its volcanoes!
Check availability and book your flight!
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7. Kayak, paddle board or jet ski excursions
Departure: from Playa Blanca
Duration: depending on the activity
If you prefer more active craft, you can opt for kayaking or jet skiing…
You’ll have plenty of choice in Playa Blanca.
- Kayaking to explore the coast – see availability and make a reservation
- Paddleboarding for balance training – see availability and book now
- Jet-skiing, if you’re looking for speed – see availability and make a reservation
8. Ferry to Fuerteventura
Departure: from Playa Blanca
Duration: 5 hours
From Lanzarote, you can also explore the neighboring island of Fuerteventura. They are both very different, as many of Lanzarote’s landscapes are quite recent compared with Fuerteventura (eruption in the 18th century).
It’s a short ferry ride from Corralejo (north of Fuerteventura) to Playa Blanca (south of Lanzarote).
The island is big, so you’ll only be able to see the north, but it’s already nice with the sand dunes!
You can then take the ferry from Playa Blanca to Corralejo.
The crossing is very pleasant, with views over the 2 islands and also the small island of Lobos.
Once in Corralejo, you can take a cab to explore the dunes, stroll around the charming town of Corralejo or book a tour.
See our article on the best things to do in Corralejo.
9. Cab boat Puerto del Carmen – Puerto Calero
And finally, it’s not really an excursion, but if you want to walk a bit, you can take the short, fairly flat hike between Puerto del Carmen and Puerto Calero and return with the water cab between the two to enjoy the pretty views from the sea (10min crossing).
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO Lanzarote
- Best of
Most beautiful landscapes
Best things to do in Lanzarote
Most beautiful beaches
Best boat tours
César Manrique’s attractions
Secret places, off the beaten track
- Practical advice
25 tips for a successful trip to Lanzarote
How to get around
How to rent a car in Lanzarote
Driving tips
Best excursions
Itineraries: 3 days – 4 days – 5 days – 1 week – 10 days
- Where to stay
Where to stay in Lanzarote
Best hotels in Lanzarote
Best 5 star hotels in Lanzarote
Best hotels for families
Best adults-only hotels
Best all-inclusive hotels in Lanzarote
Best boutique-hotels
Best hotels with water park
