Island hopping · Spain · Canary Islands
Canary Islands island hopping
Four islands in two weeks, by ferry and rental car
This route links four Canary Islands that each feel different: the black lava fields and white villages of Lanzarote, the dunes and long empty beaches of Fuerteventura, the mountain heart of Gran Canaria and the volcano and cliffs of Tenerife. Ferries do the island hopping, so you never need an internal flight. Every night is spent in an adults-only hotel, with three options per island.
Getting there: Fly into Lanzarote (ACE) and home from Tenerife South (TFS). Best time: November to April for warm, dry days; all year round works.
Day by day
- 1Arrival on Lanzarote
Fly into Lanzarote, pick up your car at the airport and drive to your hotel on the south coast.
11 km - 2Manrique and the north
Visit the Fundación César Manrique, then Jameos del Agua and the Cueva de los Verdes. Continue to the Mirador del Río and return via the old town of Teguise.
105 km · 2 h 06 min driving - 3Timanfaya, La Geria and Papagayo
Start early at Timanfaya, drive through the vineyards of La Geria and spend the afternoon on the Papagayo beaches.
78 km · 1 h 50 min driving - 4Ferry to Fuerteventura
Return the car and take the ferry from Playa Blanca to Corralejo. Pick up a new car, walk into the dunes and drive south via Betancuria and Ajuy.
156 km · 2 h 47 min driving + ferry - 5Sotavento
A slow day on the beach and at the lagoon of Sotavento.
29 km - 6Cofete and Jandía
Drive the gravel road from Morro Jable to Cofete beach, then return for dinner in Morro Jable.
90 km · 2 h 13 min driving - 7Ferry to Gran Canaria
Take the ferry from Morro Jable to Las Palmas. Walk through Vegueta and along Las Canteras, then drive south to your hotel.
97 km · 1 h 35 min driving + ferry - 8The mountains
Hike up to Roque Nublo and have lunch in Tejeda.
99 km · 2 h 39 min driving - 9Dunes and Mogán
Morning in the Maspalomas dunes, afternoon in Puerto de Mogán.
55 km · 1 h 00 min driving - 10Ferry to Tenerife
Drive to Puerto de las Nieves in Agaete and take the ferry to Santa Cruz. Visit La Laguna on the way to your hotel in the south-west.
192 km · 2 h 35 min driving + ferry - 11Teide and La Orotava
Take the cable car up the Teide, then drive down to La Orotava.
148 km · 2 h 41 min driving - 12Los Gigantes, Masca and Garachico
See the cliffs at Los Gigantes, drive the road through Masca and swim in the rock pools of Garachico.
96 km · 2 h 53 min driving - 13Whales and the coast
Join a whale and dolphin trip from Puerto Colón and spend the rest of the day on the beach.
19 km - 14Home
Drive to Tenerife South airport for your flight home.
27 km
Day 1 to 4 · 3 nights
Lanzarote
Volcanic landscapes shaped by the artist César Manrique
What to see
- Timanfaya National ParkLava fields from the eruptions of the 1730s. You drive to the visitor area at Islote de Hilario, where staff show the heat just below the ground, and a coach takes you along the Ruta de los Volcanes, which private cars cannot drive.
- Jameos del AguaA collapsed lava tube that Manrique turned into a lagoon, garden and auditorium.
- Cueva de los VerdesGuided walk through part of a lava tube several kilometres long, right next to Jameos del Agua.
- Mirador del RíoViewpoint on the northern cliffs, looking out over the island of La Graciosa.
- La GeriaVines growing in hollows in the black ash, each behind a low stone wall. Several bodegas pour the local Malvasía.
- Papagayo beachesSheltered coves of pale sand on the southern tip, reached over a dirt track.
For the two of you
Watch the sunset at the Salinas de Janubio salt pans or at El Golfo and its green lagoon.
Order papas arrugadas with mojo, local goat's cheese and a glass of Malvasía from La Geria.
Where to stay
Day 4 to 7 · 3 nights
Fuerteventura
Dunes, lagoons and the longest beaches of the islands
What to see
- Corralejo dunesA natural park of white sand dunes that runs down to the sea, just south of the ferry port.
- BetancuriaThe island's old capital in a green valley, with a church and quiet squares.
- AjuyBlack sand beach and sea caves in ancient rock, a short walk along the cliff.
- Sotavento lagoonAt low tide a lagoon forms behind a sand bar; the beach is a favourite of kitesurfers.
- Cofete beachA wild beach below steep mountains on the far side of the Jandía peninsula, at the end of a gravel road.
For the two of you
End the day on the beach at Sotavento, or at Cofete if you are there late.
Try Majorero cheese, grilled fish in Morro Jable and gofio in desserts.
Where to stay
Day 7 to 10 · 3 nights
Gran Canaria
Old town, mountain villages and the Maspalomas dunes
What to see
- Vegueta, Las PalmasThe historic quarter of Las Palmas, with the cathedral and the Casa de Colón.
- Las CanterasCity beach of Las Palmas, sheltered by a reef and lined by a long promenade.
- Roque NubloVolcanic rock tower at the heart of the island, a short hike from the car park.
- TejedaMountain village with views of the central peaks and almond sweets in the bakeries.
- Maspalomas dunesA protected field of dunes between Playa del Inglés and the lighthouse.
- Puerto de MogánSmall harbour town with canals, bridges and flowers on whitewashed houses.
For the two of you
Walk into the Maspalomas dunes in the late afternoon, or watch the sun set from the harbour wall in Puerto de Mogán.
Look for fresh fish in Mogán and ropa vieja or sancocho in the mountain villages.
Where to stay
Day 10 to 14 · 4 nights
Tenerife
Mount Teide, old towns and the cliffs of Los Gigantes
What to see
- Teide National ParkThe cable car climbs most of the way up Spain's highest mountain. A free permit, booked well ahead, is needed for the path to the summit.
- La LagunaUNESCO-listed old town with colonial streets and colourful houses.
- La OrotavaHillside town with wooden balconies and gardens above the valley.
- MascaMountain village in a deep gorge, reached by a narrow road with sharp bends.
- Los GigantesCliffs that drop several hundred metres into the sea; boat trips leave from the harbour.
- GarachicoOld port town with natural rock pools filled by the sea.
For the two of you
Watch the sunset from the cliffs at Los Gigantes, or join a sunset trip to the Teide National Park.
Try a guachinche, a simple family-run eatery in the north that serves its own wine, and fish in the harbour at Los Gigantes.
Where to stay
Ferries
| From | To | Crossing |
|---|---|---|
| Playa Blanca (Lanzarote) | Corralejo (Fuerteventura) | about 30 minutes |
| Morro Jable (Fuerteventura) | Las Palmas (Gran Canaria) | about 2 to 3 hours |
| Agaete (Gran Canaria) | Santa Cruz (Tenerife) | about 1 hour 20 minutes |
Crossing times are indications. Check the current timetable with the ferry company before you travel.
Good to know
- Rent a separate car on each island. Most rental contracts do not allow the car on the ferry, so return it at the port and pick up the next one on arrival.
- Book the ferries a few days ahead in high season and check the times on the ferry company's website the day before.
- The roads to Cofete and the Papagayo beaches are unpaved. Check whether your rental contract allows this.
- Book the Teide cable car ahead, and the free summit permit weeks or months in advance.
- The road through Masca is narrow with sharp bends; drive it in daylight and give way to buses.
- Bring layers: the Teide National Park can be cold even when the coast is warm.
Shorter or longer
- One week: Lanzarote (3 nights) and Fuerteventura (3 nights), flying home from Fuerteventura.
- Extend with two nights on La Gomera, a short ferry trip from Los Cristianos on Tenerife.
Questions
Can I take my rental car on the ferry?
Usually not. Most companies ask you to return the car at the port and rent a new one on the next island. Some allow it for an extra fee; ask before you book.
Do I need a car on every island?
It makes the route much easier. Buses link the main towns, but the volcano parks, mountain villages and wild beaches are hard to reach without one.
Is November to April really warm enough for the beach?
Daytime temperatures on the coast usually stay in the low to mid twenties. The sea is cooler in winter, and the mountains are much colder than the coast.
Can I do this route in one week?
Yes, with only Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. The full four-island route needs two weeks to stay relaxed.
Are the hotels on this route all adults-only?
Yes. Every hotel in this route welcomes adult guests only, and we checked each one before adding it.
Take the route with you
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Driving distances and times come from OpenStreetMap data, without stops. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.