Here’s an article for those active adventurers who don’t want to spend their entire vacation on just one of the Canary Islands like Tenerife or Gran Canaria. They want to explore other islands because each one is quite unique. The article will offer tips to help you plan your perfect route across the Canary Islands, with timing and optimal transportation between islands.
Route across the Canary Islands: Key Points
I’ll briefly outline the main transportation points you need to know to plan your route across the Canary Islands:
- The Canary Archipelago consists of 7 islands. Except for the very small El Hierro, all the other islands are worth your attention (El Hierro is also worth it, but it’s hard to get there). Each island has detailed overviews in this travel guide, covering everything from resorts and beaches to the best attractions. You can find all the articles in the menu. I recommend reading the article on the best places to stay in the Canaries and which island to choose.

- There is excellent transportation between the islands of the archipelago: two ferry companies and two local airlines.
Useful to know:
A plane ticket between islands costs almost the same as a ferry, sometimes even cheaper. Always check prices for both ferries and flights to the island you’re heading to. Planes are much faster and more convenient, and you won’t get seasick like on a ferry in the ocean.
Here are two articles where you’ll find answers to all your questions about transportation between the islands, where to check schedules, prices, and buy tickets:
It’s always easier to get to a neighboring island that’s close by, as the ferry ride is short, and ferries arrive directly in major cities, resorts, and island capitals. You end up in the heart of the city’s infrastructure. Airports, on the other hand, are all located in remote areas. But renting a car solves this problem. Even in the smallest airport on any island, there are car rental offices.
Optimal Route and Timing in the Canary Islands
Below is the optimal route through the Canary Islands. This doesn’t mean it’s the only correct one; it just helps clarify many aspects of getting around. You can take any part of the route and adapt it to your needs.
- Tenerife – La Gomera. The easiest way to get there is by ferry, a 50-minute ride. Ferries to La Gomera depart from the south of Tenerife, from the town of Los Cristianos. And flights depart from the airport in the north of the island – Tenerife North.
- La Gomera – La Palma: both islands are small and, despite being in the same part of the archipelago, don’t have direct transportation between them. No planes or ferries connect La Gomera and La Palma directly. Only with a layover on Tenerife. The most optimal option here is by plane. There are flights specifically with short layovers, sometimes as short as 60 minutes. And such a flight with a layover on Tenerife will take a maximum of 2 hours. Whereas by ferry, you’d spend the whole daylight with a layover on Tenerife in Los Cristianos.

- From La Palma to Gran Canaria, the most convenient way is by plane. It takes 40 minutes, whereas taking a ferry would be an all-day affair in this case. In the Canaries, if you need to get further than to a neighboring island, it’s better to fly.
- Gran Canaria – Fuerteventura. If you’re staying in the capital Las Palmas or nearby, then the ferry is better, a 2-hour ride. But personally, when I’m in Gran Canaria, I often stay in resorts in the south, and I fly to Fuerteventura because the Gran Canaria airport is in the south. The prices for both ferry and plane tickets are often similar, so see what’s more convenient for you.

- Fuerteventura – Lanzarote – definitely by ferry only. It’s only a 25-minute ride, and tickets are cheap. This is a case where flying is both more expensive and longer.
- Lanzarote – Gran Canaria or Tenerife. Only by plane, you’ll save a whole day of relaxation that would be spent on the road if you took the ferry. Also, important information for those opting for the ferry: from Lanzarote, there are ferries with layovers on Fuerteventura. Keep in mind that ferries from Lanzarote arrive at one port in Fuerteventura, while ferries from Fuerteventura to Gran Canaria or Tenerife depart from another port.
And now I’ll outline the timing for each island. It’s the minimum number of full days needed on the island to see all the main attractions, assuming you have a rental car. This timing will help you estimate how many different islands you can visit during your vacation.

- La Gomera – 3-4 days
- La Palma – 4-5 days
- Tenerife – 7 days, preferably more
- Gran Canaria – 5-7 days
- Fuerteventura – 3-5 days
- Lanzarote – 4-5 days
- Note that this is the minimum; you can confidently go to any island for a longer period. Besides attractions, there are beaches everywhere. Click on the name of each island above, and you’ll find an article with the best attractions on each island.
Travel Tips
Some tips to help you create your ideal Canary Islands itinerary:
- A car rental is a must on any island. You won’t see even half of the cool locations by bus. Without a car, you’ll only have a great beach vacation.
- On all islands, the airport and port are in different parts. Moreover, Tenerife has two airports and two main ports. And Fuerteventura has two ports. Always check where your tickets are to or from and where you’re booking your car. This is the most common mistake tourists make – arriving at the wrong airport or port and missing their flight or booking a car in the wrong place.
Tip:
On all air routes between the islands, even if you’re not flying to Tenerife, you can see Mount Teide, the highest peak in Spain. The key is to choose seats on the right side in advance. The summit is never obscured by clouds.

In conclusion: I hope you’ve learned the general aspects of planning your route through the Canary Islands and what to pay attention to. As for which island to choose, it’s all individual; they are very different. Read the reviews on the pages of this travel guide; there’s a lot of useful information there. But my personal TOP Canary Islands are La Gomera and La Palma; they are the greenest, most beautiful, with lava pools, many beaches with black volcanic sand, and few tourists.
Useful links to help you plan your dream trip to Canary Islands:
- Car Rental: LocalRent or DiscoverCars – the most popular car rental platforms.
- Accommodation:
- Trip.com – the largest accommodation booking platform.
- or TripAdvisor – to compare prices among other platforms and choose the best one.
- Budget-friendly vacation packages to Spain and Canary Islands: CheapOair.
- Tours and activities: GetYourGuide or Viator – hundreds of offers, whales and dolphins, entrance tickets with discounts.
- eSIM and internet: Airalo.
- Flights: WayAway compares prices among dozens of companies.
- Travel Insurance: EKTA.