The best day trips in the Canary Islands are the car-free island of La Graciosa from Lanzarote, Isla de Lobos from Fuerteventura, Masca gorge and Mount Teide on Tenerife, the volcanoes of Timanfaya on Lanzarote, a whale-watching sail off the southern coasts, and easy ferry hops between neighbouring islands. Wherever you're based, the Canaries reward a bit of exploring — a boat to a wild islet, a drive up a volcano, or a ferry to a completely different island for the day. This guide rounds up the best day trips and links you to the full guide for each, so you can build your ideal itinerary.
La Graciosa — the eighth island, from Lanzarote
A short ferry from Orzola in northern Lanzarote lands you on La Graciosa, the tiny, car-free eighth Canary island. Sandy streets, whitewashed houses, empty golden beaches and a wonderfully slow pace make it feel a world away. Hire a bike or a 4x4 taxi to reach beaches like Playa de las Conchas, or simply wander from the harbour village of Caleta de Sebo. It's one of the most magical days out in the whole archipelago — see our full guide to a day trip to La Graciosa.
Isla de Lobos — the islet off Fuerteventura
Just off Corralejo, the uninhabited nature reserve of Isla de Lobos is a short boat ride and a brilliant half or full day. Crystal lagoons, easy walking trails, a little lighthouse and a volcanic peak to climb make it a favourite for families and walkers alike. Visitor numbers are capped to protect the island, so book your (free) permit and ferry ahead in peak season. Bring water, lunch and snorkel gear — there are no shops. It pairs perfectly with a stay in Corralejo.
Masca and Mount Teide — Tenerife's big two
Tenerife offers two unmissable land-based days. The hamlet of Masca clings to a spectacular gorge in the Teno mountains, reached by a hair-raising mountain road with viewpoints that stop you in your tracks. And no visit to the island is complete without Mount Teide, Spain's highest peak, where the drive through the lunar Las Canadas caldera and the cable car towards the 3,715-metre summit are genuinely once-in-a-lifetime. Combine them, or give each its own day. See more in our day trips from Tenerife.
Timanfaya — Lanzarote's fire mountains
Lanzarote's Timanfaya National Park is one of the most extraordinary landscapes in Europe: a sea of solidified lava and ochre cones left by the great eruptions of the 1730s. You explore the protected heart by coach tour along the Route of the Volcanoes, with geothermal demonstrations at the visitor centre showing just how hot the ground still is a few metres down. It's an easy, spectacular half-day from anywhere on the island and works well combined with the nearby wine country of La Geria.
Whale and dolphin watching by boat
The deep, warm waters off southern Tenerife and Gran Canaria are home to resident pods of pilot whales and dolphins all year round, making a whale and dolphin watching sail one of the most reliable wildlife days in Europe. Boats leave from harbours such as Los Cristianos, Costa Adeje, Puerto Rico and Puerto de Mogan, from small sailing catamarans to bigger family boats. Choose a responsible, licensed operator that keeps a respectful distance — the blue-boat "Barco Azul" flag marks approved vessels.
Ferry island-hops
The islands sit close enough that a ferry to a neighbour makes a superb day out. From southern Lanzarote it's a 30-minute crossing to Corralejo on Fuerteventura; from Los Cristianos on Tenerife you can reach La Gomera in under an hour for its ancient laurel forests, or press on to La Palma and El Hierro. Fast ferries run several times a day, take foot passengers and cars, and are far more scenic than flying. Plan routes and times with our guide to ferries between the islands and the timetable tools at viamo.net.
Guided tour or go it yourself?
Most of these trips can be done independently or as an organised excursion, and which suits you depends on the day. For the boat trips — whale watching, glass-bottom cruises, the sail to Isla de Lobos — booking a licensed operator is the natural choice. For the land-based days like Mount Teide, Masca and Timanfaya, a hire car gives you freedom, saves money for a group, and lets you linger at the viewpoints; just note that Timanfaya's protected core can only be entered on the park's own coach, and the road into Masca is narrow and best driven early. Organised coach tours take the stress out of the driving and add a guide's commentary, but they run to a fixed timetable and the popular ones fill fast. Our guide to getting around the Canary Islands helps you weigh it up.
Gran Canaria's mountain day
One trip that deserves its own mention is a drive into the heart of Gran Canaria. From the southern resorts you can climb through pine forest to the iconic monolith of Roque Nublo, take in the whitewashed mountain villages, and reach viewpoints that look clear across to Teide on a good day. Add a stop for lunch in a village restaurant and it's one of the most rewarding self-drive days in the islands — proof that the interiors are every bit as spectacular as the coasts. See more in our day trips from Gran Canaria.
Day trips by island — a quick guide
| Based on | Top day trips |
|---|---|
| Tenerife | Mount Teide, Masca, La Gomera by ferry, whale watching |
| Gran Canaria | Roque Nublo, the mountain villages, Maspalomas dunes, boat trips |
| Lanzarote | Timanfaya, La Graciosa, César Manrique sites |
| Fuerteventura | Isla de Lobos, Cofete, Betancuria, Lanzarote by ferry |
For boat and ferry trips, book ahead in July, August and over Christmas and Easter, when the popular sailings and the capped Isla de Lobos permits sell out. A hire car makes the land-based trips — Teide, Masca, Timanfaya — far easier and cheaper than an organised coach.
The bottom line
The Canaries' best days out mix land and sea. Sail to La Graciosa or Isla de Lobos, drive up Mount Teide and into Masca, tour the volcanoes of Timanfaya, spot whales offshore, and hop a ferry to a neighbouring island. For more ideas by base, see our day trips from Tenerife and day trips from Gran Canaria.