What to do in Isla de Lobos

This small volcanic island north of Fuerteventura It is located just 20 minutes by boat from the port of Corralejo. It owes its name to the sea lions (monk seals) that inhabited the island until the fifteenth century, when they were exterminated by fishermen who thought they could end the fishing in the area. It is currently part of the Fuerteventura Natural Park and it is one of the best excursions you can do in one day on the island.

👀 Excursion on your own to the island of wolves!
Ferry to Lobos Island from Corralejo
Ferry to Lobos Island + Snorkeling from Corralejo

How to get to Lobos Island

There are several ways to reach the Lobos Island from Corralejo You can take a ferry, a water cab or a kayak excursion for the more adventurous.

But before hiring anything, you should know that being a protected island, since 2019 access has been limited to 400 people per day. For this reason, it is necessary to ask for a free authorization to the Cabildo of Fuerteventura (you can only request it 5 days in advance) which gives you permission to be on the island for 4 hours and you can choose the shift (10-14h or 14-18h). If thinking about this makes you lazy don't worry! We took the excursion with Civitatis because for the same price they include the boat and they also take care of requesting the necessary permission to enter the island of Lobos.

If you want to get to the island in just 10 minutes you have the option of hire a water cab. It is a little cheaper but they do not manage the authorization to access the island. From our point of view, it is better ferry contracting We caught some swell and the waves already looked pretty big from the boat so we don't want to think about what they will be like from the water cab boat.

On the other hand, if the weather is good and you like active tourism, we recommend you to hire the Kayak excursion to Lobos Island. The excursion lasts about 5 or 6 hours and is done in a Hawaiian canoe. The best part of the excursion is that the guide takes you to the best places to snorkel and contemplate the marine fauna of the island. It also includes a picnic lunch to regain strength during the trip.

😴 Where to sleep on the island of Lobos
If you are wondering if you can stay on the island of Lobos, the answer is that it is not possible. As it is a protected area, only the houses of the former inhabitants of the island remain there.

Excursion to the island of lobos

The island has a circular route with the possibility of including the ascent to its volcano, La Caldera (which we recommend 100%, the views are spectacular). The truth is that with 4 hours you have just enough time to walk around the island without stopping too much if you want to climb the volcano. We did it at a fast pace and we had time to rest for half an hour in the area of the Puertito A beach with the clearest and bluest waters we have ever seen. In addition, here is the only beach bar on the island.

Since the excursion only drops you off at the port and gives you 4 hours to tour the island, we tell you how we organize the visit so that you have time to see everything, you can see the best things of the island and of course you can enjoy its spectacular beaches:

Circular route around Lobos Island ➡ How to see it all in less than 4 hours.

As we disembark at the port we find a booth with information about the natural park of the island and the famous sculpture of the monk seals that give name to the islet. We also see a sign indicating where the different points of interest of the island are and how to get to them.

Our recommendation is that you take the path to the left that leads directly to the La Concha beach. So we left the beach of Puertito, from our point of view the best of the island, for the end and to rest after completing the route.

📍 Circular route information
The entire route is about 10 km long and has very little slope except if you climb the volcano. It is easy but you will have to wear comfortable shoes. Not flip-flops like many people we saw 😂.

Swimming in La Concha beach

Less than 10 minutes from the port you will find the first spectacular beach of the island. If you take one of the first ferries you will find the first spectacular beach of the island La Concha beach as we show you in the photo. Completely deserted for you. It has super clear water and very few waves because it is protected by a natural stone barrier that makes it almost does not go directly into the sea.

Although it is very beautiful I would not stop too much and continue walking towards the Caldera volcano that you will see in the background.

Climbing La Caldera (the volcano on Lobos Island)

The ascent to the volcano is perfectly indicated on the road. It is well worth spending 30 to 40 minutes to go up and down because the views from the top of the crater are spectacular The view from the top, both towards the island of wolves and Fuerteventura, and you will not have them from anywhere else because the island is very flat. There are a few natural stairs and quite windy to the top but, we repeat, it is worth it.

Visit the Punta Martiño lighthouse and its green marshes.

Once you have completed the ascent to the volcano you can walk the rest of the island to the north and reach the lighthouse at Punta Martiño. Here you will have views of the sea and the green marshes right next to the lighthouse. It is a good spot to sit down and rest before continuing.

Contemplate the Lagunitas

After visiting the lighthouse we take a road that takes us on the opposite side of the island. This part of the route becomes less bearable until we arrive at the lagunitas We will also see other marshes that form one of the few areas of the island with vegetation. Once you cross the lagoons you will reach a rocky area that will lead you to the famous Puertito beach.

Snorkeling in El Puertito

The puertito beach is the typical fairytale beach taken from Thailand or some Caribbean island. It is an old pier (now disused), surrounded by old fishermen's houses. It is one of the clearer waters We saw in all our visit to the island and in fact we saw locals crossing to Isla de Lobos just to spend the day on this beach. It is well worth a visit, have a good swim and if you like to dive you can do some snorkeling snorkel We were able to see a lot of fish, mollusks and even an octopus!

Visiting Lobos Island with children

Many of you who follow us often ask us about the difficulty of some of the routes that we propose you with young children. In this case it is possible to do the entire circular route with children because it is very well marked and the road is flat and comfortable (we saw a couple with a stroller). Obviously we do not recommend you to climb the volcano with them because it is usually quite windy and there are many stairs.

Even so, since you can only stay for 4 hours, if you want to try the beach and make a quieter visit you can avoid seeing the northern part of the island. The most beautiful is concentrated in the south and with a visit to the Playa de la Concha, to see the Caldera volcano from afar and to be on the Puertito You will walk for about 30 minutes and you will have made the most of the day.

☀ Important recommendation.
Lots of sunscreen and hat/cap. There is practically no not a single shadow The truth is that we ended up a bit burned, as it is usually windy and the sun doesn't seem to be shining, but don't be fooled!

Return to the dock

The way back from El Puertito to the pier where the boat left you upon arrival is very fast. It takes less than 10 minutes walking so don't worry about rushing and enjoy the Puertito beach. If you visit the island in high season you will probably find a queue to catch the ferry back.

How long does the ferry from Corralejo to Lobos Island take?

The ferry ride from Corralejo to Lobos Island is usually very short, approximately 15 minutes. However, the duration may vary depending on the weather and sea conditions of the day. The schedules and frequencies of the ferries may change depending on the season and the time you visit the island so it is always recommended that you check the schedules at this link.

How long does it take to tour the island of wolves?

By walking at a normal pace you can see the most important parts of island in a 2 h and 30 min although if you want to go up to the volcano you will have to use some 40 minutes additional up and down. If your plan is to go to the beaches and take a swim or snorkel, you can arrive by boat in less than 10 minutes.

What is needed to go to the island of wolves?

To access the island of lobos you need to ask for an authorization to the Cabildo of Fuerteventura that you will be able to manage in a free here. You will have to be attentive to apply for it as it can only be ordered with 5 days in advance and usually run out in high season. The certificate generated by the Cabildo is associated with your name and can be requested at any time during the visit. We were not asked for it but it is better not to take the risk of being ticketed.

Please note that this does not include the transportation that you must hire a part in this link. If you wish, the transport company can even arrange access to the island.

How much is the entrance fee to Isla de Lobos?

Currently, the entrance to the island of wolves is free. The only requirement is to manage the access request online with the Cabildo of Fuerteventura and then hire the maritime you prefer. We use this option and it worked very well for us. The updated price per passenger is 17,50€, for children up to 11 years old it is 11,50€ and it is free for children under 4 years old.

Map of the route around the island of lobos

If you want to read other articles ideal for your trip that complement What to do in Isla de Lobos you can visit our posts about Fuerteventura.