Guide
Ferry from Morocco, Madeira or Portugal to the Canary Islands?
The honest answer to a common search - and the routes that really exist
- No ferry from Morocco, Madeira or Portugal to the Canary Islands, no scheduled or seasonal service
- The only mainland ferries sail from Cádiz and Huelva, 28 to 39 hours
- You can combine Morocco with your Canary Islands trip via Tarifa or Algeciras to Tangier
- Route inventory of every ferry company checked
- Former lines documented with years
- Alternatives with crossing time and booking
What Exists and What Doesn't
Table of Contents
The Canary Islands lie off Africa, and a glance at the map suggests a ferry from Morocco or Madeira should exist. The timetables say otherwise: every ferry to the islands sails from mainland Spain, from Cádiz with Baleària Canarias and from Huelva with Fred Olsen Express. This page sets out what used to exist and shows the routes that work today.
Morocco
No ferry sails from Morocco to the Canary Islands, neither from Agadir nor from Tarfaya, which lies closest to Fuerteventura. Naviera Armas opened a connection to Morocco in 2008 and tried a route from Gran Canaria to El Aaiún in Western Sahara in 2010; both were discontinued and have never returned since. If you want to combine Morocco and the Canary Islands on one trip, cross the Strait of Gibraltar: Tarifa - Tangier in 60 minutes with around 14 departures a day, or Algeciras - Tanger Med in 90 minutes with even more departures, then overland to Cádiz or Huelva and onward with the Canary Islands ferry.
Madeira
No ferry sails from Madeira either. Naviera Armas connected Gran Canaria via Funchal to Portimão until 2012, discontinued the line after a dispute over port fees, and tried a summer service in 2018 that also didn't last. Between Madeira and the Canary Islands, flying is the only option; once on the islands, you can join the dense network of inter-island ferries.
Portugal and Lisbon
The former line to Portimão on the Algarve was the only ferry connection between Portugal and the Canary Islands, and it's been history for years. There was never a line from Lisbon. From Portugal, Huelva is the nearest ferry port, around 100 kilometres past the border via the A-49: Fred Olsen Express sails from there three times a week to Gran Canaria and Tenerife, around 37 to 39 hours, with vehicles and motorhomes.
Cape Verde and West Africa
Naviera Armas runs the Mindelo - Porto Novo ferry in Cape Verde, an inter-island connection with no link to the Canary Islands. No passenger ferry sails between the Canary Islands and West Africa. If you want to travel further south, you fly.
The route that remains
The two mainland lines are the only ferries to the Canary Islands: Baleària Canarias from Cádiz in 28 to 47 hours depending on the island, once or twice a week, and Fred Olsen Express from Huelva in 37 to 39 hours, three times a week. Both carry cars, motorhomes and pets and sail overnight with cabins. Everything else is on the port pages Ferries from Cádiz and Ferries from Huelva and in the guide Travelling to the Canary Islands with a Motorhome.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about ferries from Morocco, Madeira and Portugal
Is there a ferry from Morocco to the Canary Islands?+
No. There's no ferry between Morocco and the Canary Islands, even though Fuerteventura lies only around 100 kilometres off the coast. Naviera Armas tried a connection to Morocco in 2008 and a route from Gran Canaria to El Aaiún in 2010, and both were discontinued. Today, the Canary Islands ferries sail only from Cádiz and Huelva.
Is there a ferry from Madeira to the Canary Islands?+
No. Naviera Armas sailed from Gran Canaria via Madeira to Portimão until 2012 and tried a summer service in 2018, but both are history now. Between Madeira and the Canary Islands, flying remains the only option.
Is there a ferry from Portugal or Lisbon to the Canary Islands?+
No. The former line to Portimão on the Algarve has been discontinued. From Portugal, you'd drive overland to Huelva, just over 100 kilometres past the border, and take the Fred Olsen Express ferry from there to Gran Canaria or Tenerife.
How do I combine Morocco with the Canary Islands?+
Via the Strait of Gibraltar: Tarifa - Tangier in 60 minutes or Algeciras - Tanger Med in 90 minutes, both with many departures a day, then overland to Cádiz or Huelva and onward with the Canary Islands ferry. With a vehicle, this works as a single trip, since the ports are 100 to 200 kilometres apart.
Why doesn't anyone sail the short route from Morocco?+
The ferry companies don't give public reasons for their decisions, but the attempts in 2008 and 2010 were both short-lived. If you want to reach the Canary Islands today, you sail from Cádiz or Huelva; the routes are on the pages Ferries from Cádiz and Ferries from Huelva.