Fuerteventura is a beautiful place, but it also contains another stunning island just a short boat ride away. Isla de Lobos, one of the smallest of the Canary Islands, is a protected national park and one one of the best things to do if you’re in the area, being so easy to access if you’re staying in Corralejo. Its name means ‘Island of Seals’, a species that used to be abundant in the area.
The Excursion
Despite its small land mass there’s quite a lot to see on Isla de Lobos. Two great points of interest near to the boat drop-off point are the village where people live on the island (without electricity!), and the beautiful lagoon and beach area. Don’t make the mistake we did of following the ‘Laguna’ sign to reach it, as it turns out that it doesn’t even mean ‘lagoon’ and is actually in the opposite direction!
If you fancy food while you’re there you can pre-order it with the local restaurant when you buy your tickets. The only option is Paella, but many say it’s absolutely wonderful and worth including in your trip. If not, then it’s advisable to bring a picnic-style lunch with you. There are no shops or resources on the island apart from one vending machine with limited drinks.
For those that enjoy a bit of a trek you can find some other points of interest further afield. The Montaña La Caldera proves to be an exciting ascent, and you’ll be reminded very quickly why Fuerteventura is known as “the windy isle”! On the opposite side of the island you can visit the Punta Martiño Lighthouse, with stunning views and treacherous rocks and waves surrounding it. If you go the right way you may also come across an abandoned village, the salt flats, and an oasis-like clearing of agave plants, but due to the many walking routes it’s taken us a few trips to discover it all!
Booking Details
There are several different ways of travelling to Isla de Lobos and all involve a boat trip. All options go hourly – you can purchase tickets from Corralejo harbour either before or on the morning of your trip. Other things to do in Corralejo such as kite surfing can also be booked there. You can either go on a two-level boat, a glass-bottomed boat (which costs slightly more), or my all-time favourite option, the Water Taxi, which can be booked here.
The Water Taxi is essentially a brightly coloured speed boat with chairs and a seating area on the floor – it’s a slightly more thrilling method than the other boats but totally worth it if you enjoy the wind in your hair and the waves passing by at speed! Despite how fast they are they are safe and certainly a great experience. I’d advise to choose the glass-bottomed boat if you are less of a thrill-seeker and more of an animal-observer! You can see fish, rays, and other marine creatures so it’s also a really good option.
There are a couple of other excursions that take place at Isla de Lobos and are well-worth booking. For those who love boats, the Lobos Island Catamaran Day Trip is a great option that involves several different water-based activities. If you like snorkelling them you can also do this on the island via the Lobos Island Snorkelling Trip. Or, if you prefer to stay dry on land, check out the Lobos Island Hike.
What You Need To Know
There are a few things to be cautious of when visiting Isla de Lobos, namely the timings of the trip. If you are planning of walking to the further away points of interest then I’d recommend going earlier in the morning to remove any time pressures – the distance between the drop-off point and the lighthouse is quite far considering it’s on the other side of the island and can take quite a while if it is particularly hot.
As the temperatures can soar in the afternoon it’s advisable to take lots of water with you, and a hat or headscarf is a must as there isn’t really any shade to be found except in the visitor centre right at the start. You won’t find any trees, and there certainly aren’t any man made shelters past the drop-off point. As mentioned food is also vital (and I’d always recommend TUC biscuits as the local lizards seem to love them!).
One thing to also take note of – the final boat ride home at 4pm is very final. If you’re late then no one will come looking for you and you’ll end up stuck on the island… A very long night! Make sure to arrive back at the drop-off point in good time as it’s better to be safe than sorry.
As of 2019 you now need a permit to visit the island to prevent over-tourism (which is a great idea). The permit is free and you can purchase it up to three days beforehand from this website.
Final Thoughts
Isla de Lobos is a place that I’ve visited four times already and I know I’ll go again countless times more. It’s a unique excursion on the island and offers some interesting and unusual experiences, making it one of the most best things to do in Corralejo. Even if you’re not into long walks and boat rides it’s still worth it just to swim in the still waters of the lagoon, which is without a doubt one of my favourite places to visit during my Fuerteventura holidays.
If you enjoyed this review then please don’t forget to like, pin, and leave a comment! If you’d like to see some other Corralejo excursions then check out some of my other reviews here:
Lanzarote Grand Tour | Lanzarote Sur | Fuerteventura Grand Tour
Oh nice! I want to visit!
You definitely should, it’s gorgeous! So much else in the area as well
I went to Fuerteventura with my boyfriend a couple of years ago, we didn’t hear about Isla de Lobos though! Would definitely go if I visit again. We did go to the zoo though and really enjoyed it!
I still haven’t visited the zoo – how did you find it? I’m hoping to visit next year!
I loved it! It’s pretty big so we spent the whole day there, lots of different animals and shows throughout the day so there’s plenty to do!
Glad you had a good time! I’m sure I’ll review it at some point 😊
Seems like a nice place to visit. I have one question though, are they usually alot of people visiting at a time?
Lobos doesn’t actually get too busy, which is great! There will usually be a fair few people on the beachy bit but there’s always spaces, and even though you’ll pass people whilst walking you’ll find a lot of it you feel completely away from everyone else, especially the further out you go. When we walked to the lighthouse I don’t think we saw anyone else for a good hour or two – most people visit to either go to the lagoon or climb up the caldera. Corralejo is busier so actually Lobos can be a nice way to get away from that!
Oh okay. Thanks.
When I stayed in Corralejo I took a boat trip which anchored close to Lanzarote (I think) and there was this small Island that the tour guide said that only one family lived on. Is this Isla de lobos? I visited so long ago that the name sounds familiar but maybe it isn’t aha
It must be because I don’t think there’s any other islands in between! There’s a small community that lives there but not many people at all and they get all of their supplies by boat from Corralejo, with no electricity either!
Those pictures are amazing!!
Thank you!
I hadn’t heard of this island before. I love Lanzarote although I’ve never been to Fuerteventura. I love how deserted and peaceful this island looks! I think I’d like the speed boat ride, always up for a bit of an adrenaline rush! Who knew lizards like Tuc biscuits?! I’ll remember that for my next trip 🙂
They love them! They go absolutely crazy for then and we’ve got some great videos of loads of them darting around trying to eat all the crumbs. If you ever go to Fuerteventura then I’d definitely recommend Lobos – as you say it’s so peaceful and such a nice way to chill out.
I loved Fuerteventura when I was there. That was such a long time ago though. I just remember getting ridiculously burnt. Enjoy your trip.
Yes, I’ve got lots of memories that involve getting burnt! The sun is so strong over there. Thank you – hopefully I’ll have more content afterwards as well! (and no sunburn)
Fuerteventura looks so good for hiking! I’ll be sure to bring walking boots and not attempt hikes in flip flops when I go 😉
Haha yeah it is really good! Admittedly I pretty much only wear flip-flops out there but sensible people should go for trekking boots 😂
Such beautiful pictures
Thank you! It’s a wonderful place for photography – I’d love to get some sunrise/sunset photos over there
Nice blog post! Lobos island is a great place to be. I really love it! Take a look at my website (fuertefeelings) for more great places on Fuerteventura.
Thank you! I definitely will, I’m in love with the island 💞
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I’ve been wanting to visit the Canary Islands!I’ll definitely have to put Isla de Lobos on the list. It looks amazing!
It’s a must-visit if you go. There are so many beautiful places in just Fuerteventura alone so I’d certainly recommend several trips!