Chill Out on a Camping Trip to the Lanzarote Island of La Graciosa

Aug 25
21:48

2016

Lisa Jeeves

Lisa Jeeves

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Get away from busy hotels, loud bars and airport transfers! Lanzarote is a secluded island away from the tourist crowds which is a camper’s paradise.

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Lanzarote has plenty of quiet spots and remote villages,Chill Out on a Camping Trip to the Lanzarote Island of La Graciosa Articles but if you’re looking for something completely off the beaten track, then book yourself a spot in the campsite on La Graciosa.

With no tarmac roads, a population of only 650 people and a distance from one side of the island to the other of 27km, the Isla de la Graciosa lying just off the north-east coast of Lanzarote is a remote paradise.

Beautiful golden sand beaches set against a volcanic backdrop of red soil and blue seas make this stunning island a rich treat for the senses. Travel here by ferry from Lanzarote and you’ll feel like you’ve left the modern world behind and travelled into an idyll of slow-moving island life.

The History of La Graciosa

Rumours that La Graciosa was the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s tale of piracy and adventure, Treasure Island, stem from the island’s past as a stop-off for pirates in the region during the 17th century. It was only later that a small number of fishermen came to settle here and set up the island’s two habitation centres: Caleta del Sebo, which serves as the island’s capital and harbour, and the village of Pedro Barba.

Beaches

Unlike much of the Canary Islands which have black volcanic sand, La Graciosa has golden sand dipping into clear blue seas.

As there are no roads on the island, the best way to reach its beautiful beaches is by boat or on foot. Those travelling on foot may enjoy the Playa de El Salado, just to the west of the harbour. This beautiful 2km stretch of golden sand is also the location of the island’s campsite.

A further 40-minute walk on from the Playa de El Salado is the Playa Francesa, which offers a beautiful view of the Montaña Amarilla.

But if you crave true solitude, you’ll find it on the island’s most beautiful beach, the Playa de Las Conchas. A two-hour walk from the harbour will bring you to this secluded stretch of sand from which you can see some of the other unpopulated islands of the archipelago of which La Graciosa is a part, including Montaña Clara, Alegranza and Roque del Oeste.

Things to do on La Graciosa

Despite the charming separation from the modern world you’ll find on this island, there is still plenty for campers to do here. There are several ways to explore the beautiful, unspoilt landscape so it is simply for you to choose whether you’d rather hike on foot, travel across the rough terrain and local paths by mountain bike, take a 4x4 off-road safari or sail around the island by catamaran.

Watersports enthusiasts can enjoy kitesurfing or surfing on the island as well as scuba diving, although as the water around the archipelago is protected, you must dive with a guide.

There are two restaurants on the island which mostly specialise in seafood caught locally by the island’s fishermen.

Camping on the Island

There is one campsite on the island which is set behind the Playa de El Salado to the west of the harbour. The campsite can hold a maximum of 200 people so it’s worth booking well in advance. It is also compulsory that all campers register online before they arrive at the campsite so make sure you do, to avoid disappointment.

How to Get to La Graciosa

The best way to get to La Graciosa is to arrange your transportation in advance with a company offering airport transfers. Lanzarote is a small island and your pre-booked driver will drive you to Orzola, a fishing village in the north of the island, from which you can catch the ferry to La Graciosa.