"Isla Graciosa" Isla Graciosa by annemariebyrne

La Graciosa is a volcanic island located 2 km north of the island of Lanzarote. The island is part of Parque Natural del Archipiélago Chinijo. The only two settlements are Caleta del Sebo in the south-eastern part of the island with houses encircling the harbour where there are two piers and a marina area; and a holiday village called Casas de Pedro Barba, further along the coast. There is a campsite on the north-western shore and bicycle hire available in the port. The island is entirely made of volcanic rock and sand. Access to the Island takes about half an hour by ferry from the port of Orzola. Tickets cost €10 return. (warning: there are no steps onto the ferry from the quayside in Orzola so access is difficult for those with impaired mobility, scary for the faint-hearted and fun for daredevils!) There are several cafes at the port as well as a minimarket, post office and public toilets.

Typical mode of transport

There are no paved roads on the island and the locals sweep the sand outside their houses on a daily bases to keep the road tracks smooth. Motor vehicles are strictly prohibited and limited to a handful of licensed vehicles for special purposes, with about 70% of the motor vehicles on the island being old Land Rovers which can be repaired by a local serviceman, otherwise vehicles have to be shipped to Lanzarote for repairs.

A typical street in Caleta del Sebo

The population is approximately 700. Tourism and fishing are the main industries. The island occupies an area of 29 km² and it is only 8km long. As there are no sources of natural water available, desalinated water has been piped directly from neighbouring Lanzarote since 2001. Many of the house do not have enclosed yards or gardens so it is not unusual to see washing hanging on lines as you walk along the street.

• Pros:Lovely, unspoilt island, off the beaten tourist track
• Cons:access takes some planning
• In a nutshell:A unique landscape in a remote location