Beautiful Spanish island ‘dupe’ to Tenerife and Lanzarote ‘like the Caribbean’ | Europe | Travel

The Canary Islands received over 14 million visitors in 2023, a record year for international arrivals with a 13 percent increase from the previous year, according to Statista. This included around 5.7 million British tourists, who descended on the most popular islands of Tenerife, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria.

Yet the upward trend is set to continue. In 2024, between January and April the islands received five million tourists, which was the best start to the year on record. In February specifically, 1.4 million non-Spanish nationals visited, a 14 percent increase from the same month last year. 

Yet, there are seven large and several smaller islands that make up the archipelago that lies close to the African mainland and Morocco.

While all the islands boast extraordinary landscapes and rich natural diversity, there is a hidden gem that rivals the beauty of the Caribbean – Isla de Lobos, located just one mile north of Fuerteventura.

Isla de Lobos offers visitors a tropical experience without the need to get on an eight- or nine-hour flight to the Caribbean. With crystal-clear turquoise waters, white sandy beaches and virtually no tourists in comparison with its larger neighbours, the tiny volcanic island rivals destinations like the Bahamas or Cuba’s Cays. 

With an area of just 1.8 square miles, Lobos offers stunning views from the Mirador de La Caldera, as well as having a protected ecosystem that hosts many unique flora and fauna species. In fact, it has been a nature reserve – Parque Natural del Islote de Lobos – since 1982, home to over 130 plant species. 

Unlike many tourist-heavy destinations on Tenerife, Lanzarote and its closest neighbour Fuerteventura, Lobos remains largely undeveloped, with no sprawling hotels or crowded resorts. Instead, its unique charm is preserved, with just one restaurant serving fresh and locally sourced fish. 

To maintain the island’s delicate ecosystem, access to Lobos is strictly controlled since 2019. Only 700 visitors are permitted per day, which is reduced to 400 during certain times of year. Even then, one can only stay for a maximum of four specific hours. Its morning hours are from 10am to 2pm, and then from 2pm to 6pm.

This ensures that the island’s wildlife, including many species of bird such as Cory’s shearwater, European and band-rumped storm petrels and kentish plovers, remain undisturbed by human impact. The island has been declared a special protection area (SPA) for birds, as well as being recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International. 

The island is accessible via a short 15-minute ferry ride from Corralejo in the north of Fuerteventura, costing around 15 euros (£12.60) and visitors are required to obtain a free permit online in advance to manage both the time and the number of people on the island. One can only get a permit for a maximum of three people. 

Once on the island, clearly marked trails guide visitors through the islands highlights, including Playa de la Concha, a golden sandy beach with calm waters which are perfect for swimming and snorkelling, where one might be lucky enough to spot barracuda, hammerhead sharks and bream which can be found in Lobos’s waters.