Guide
Island Hopping in the Canary Islands by Ferry
Plan your own island hopping trip - which islands you can link by ferry, how long the hops take and what's allowed with a rental car
- Eastern loop: Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria with hops of 25 and 105 minutes
- Western loop: Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro from Los Cristianos
- Rental cars only allowed on board with the hire company's permission, Baleària requires confirmation in advance
- Crossing times from the current timetables
- Every hop linked to its route page and booking
- Ferry company rules documented per route
The Hops Between the Islands
Crossing times are median values from the published timetables, as of early September 2026. Departures per day combine all ferry companies; the timetable shows the times of day.
Crossing time, ports and departures per route
| Route | Ports | Crossing time | Departures a day | Car on board |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lanzarote - Fuerteventura | Playa Blanca - Corralejo | 25 to 35 min | around 25 | Yes |
| Fuerteventura - Gran Canaria | Morro Jable - Las Palmas | 105 min | 4 to 6 | Yes |
| Gran Canaria - Tenerife | Agaete or Las Palmas - Santa Cruz | 80 or 100 min | up to 12 | Yes |
| Tenerife - La Gomera | Los Cristianos - San Sebastián | 50 min | around 7 | Yes |
| Tenerife - La Palma | Los Cristianos - Santa Cruz de La Palma | 2.5 hrs | around 4 | Yes |
| La Gomera - La Palma | San Sebastián - Santa Cruz de La Palma | 4 hrs | around 4 | Yes |
| Tenerife - El Hierro | Los Cristianos - La Estaca | 2 hrs 20 | 1 | Yes |
| Tenerife - Fuerteventura | Santa Cruz - Morro Jable | 4 hrs | 2 | Yes |
| Gran Canaria - Lanzarote | Las Palmas - Arrecife | just over 6 hrs | 1 | Yes |
| Lanzarote - La Graciosa | Órzola - Caleta de Sebo | 25 min | around 16 | No |
Planning Your Island Hopping Trip
Table of Contents
Island hopping in the Canary Islands doesn't mean a package tour, it means the ferry. Fast ferries run every hour or so between neighbouring islands, and once you know the hops, you can build your own loop: with your own car, with a rental car on each island, or as a foot passenger using buses and taxis. This page explains which islands connect, how long the hops take and what's allowed with a rental car; the day's departures are shown in the timetable.
Two halves, one bridge
The Canary Islands' ferry network has two halves. In the east, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria connect directly with one another: 25 minutes across the Bocaina strait, 105 minutes from Morro Jable to Las Palmas. In the west, La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro connect to Los Cristianos in the south of Tenerife, with the 50-minute hop to La Gomera being the shortest. The bridge between the two halves is Tenerife - Gran Canaria, 80 minutes from Agaete or 100 minutes from Las Palmas. No ferry sails direct from Gran Canaria to La Gomera, La Palma or El Hierro.
The eastern loop: Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria
The classic starting point for drivers. From Lanzarote you cross in 25 minutes from Playa Blanca to Corralejo, drive the length of Fuerteventura, and take the ferry from Morro Jable to Las Palmas, 105 minutes. If you're travelling with a motorhome or overnight, take the overnight ferry from Puerto del Rosario to Las Palmas instead. Getting back to Lanzarote is a direct sailing of just over six hours from Las Palmas, or the same route back via Fuerteventura.
The western loop: Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma, El Hierro
You can reach all three western islands from Los Cristianos, and two of them also connect to each other: La Gomera in 50 minutes, on to La Palma in four hours, and from there back to Tenerife in two and a half hours. El Hierro is a detour of its own, with one departure a day and at least one overnight stay required. Without a car, the western loop is especially straightforward, as every ferry brings you back to the same port.
Both halves in two to three weeks
If you want to link east and west, build in the Tenerife - Gran Canaria bridge and allow three weeks: for example, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria in the first half, then a fast ferry to Santa Cruz de Tenerife, across the island to Los Cristianos, and La Gomera or La Palma in the second half. Two weeks is enough for one half plus a day trip, for example Gran Canaria with a day on Tenerife, or Tenerife with a day on La Gomera. You can also reach Fuerteventura direct from Tenerife without the detour via Gran Canaria, four hours to Morro Jable.
Rental cars on the ferry
The most common question about island hopping, and the answer depends on your hire company. Baleària Canarias requires you to check with the hire company before booking whether the vehicle is allowed on board, as some hire companies forbid it; if it's allowed, you book the car just like your own vehicle and add the number plate as soon as you know it. Fred Olsen Express also asks for the number plate when booking. Without permission, you drop the car off at the departure port and hire a new one on the next island; every major ferry port has rental car desks, and the short hops are quickest as a foot passenger anyway.
With your own car or motorhome
Your own vehicle can travel on every inter-island ferry except those to La Graciosa and Lobos. With Fred Olsen Express you need to be at the quay 40 minutes before departure with a vehicle, with Baleària Canarias 90 minutes; as a foot passenger the times are 20 and 60 minutes respectively. With a motorhome, Baleària Canarias' overnight ferries are the relaxed choice, with cabins and large vehicle decks. Everything on dimensions, gas and booking is in the guide Travelling to the Canary Islands with a Motorhome, and on pets in the guide Travelling to the Canary Islands with a Dog.
Booking and paying
On the busier routes, you can usually get a ticket on the spot at the port as a foot passenger; with a vehicle, on the single daily departure to El Hierro, and on the overnight ferries, book in advance with the ferry company. Canary Islands residents pay significantly less with the state resident discount, and for everyone else it's worth comparing ferry companies, as many routes are served by more than one. Starting fares for every route are in the fare overview, and the ferry companies are profiled on the Ferry Companies page.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about island hopping in the Canary Islands
Can I link all the Canary Islands by ferry?+
Yes, but not every island with every other. The eastern islands Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria connect directly with one another, while the western islands La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro connect to Los Cristianos on Tenerife. The bridge between the two halves is the Tenerife - Gran Canaria route. There's no ferry from Gran Canaria to La Gomera, La Palma or El Hierro.
Can I take my rental car on the ferry?+
Only if your hire company allows it. Baleària Canarias requires you to check with the hire company before booking, as some hire companies forbid it; if it's allowed, you book the vehicle just like your own car and add the number plate once you know it. Without permission, you drop the car off at the departure port and hire a new one on the next island.
How many islands can I fit into two weeks?+
Three to four, without rushing. The eastern loop of Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria or the western loop of Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma both fit into two weeks; if you want both halves, you'll need the four hours on Tenerife - Gran Canaria and closer to three weeks.
Do I need to book the ferries in advance?+
With a vehicle, yes, as the car spaces on the fast ferries are limited. As a foot passenger, you can usually still get a ticket on the day on the busier routes; for Tenerife - El Hierro, with just one departure a day, and for the overnight ferries, book in advance. The fare overview lets you compare prices across routes.
Is a motorhome worth it for island hopping?+
Yes, every inter-island ferry apart from those to La Graciosa and Lobos carries motorhomes, and Baleària Canarias' overnight ferries have large vehicle decks. What applies to dimensions, gas and check-in is covered in the guide Travelling to the Canary Islands with a Motorhome.