Catamaran Sailing Day To La Graciosa with Lunch

Clear water, quiet villages, and a catamaran set the pace. This 5.5-hour La Graciosa sailing trip combines a ferry crossing, a scenic boat ride, time at Playa Francesa, lunch, and a short walk through Caleta del Sebo. I especially like the included meal and open bar, plus the chance to swim or kayak instead of simply looking at the island from offshore. The main concern is the transfer: pickup can mean a long bus ride, and one account describes a crowded boat and a guide who spoke too quickly.

At $87.72 per person, this is a fair package if you want transport, ferry tickets, food, drinks, and a catamaran outing bundled together. You should still bring your own snorkeling gear if you have it, since equipment is not included. Good weather matters, and the boat can carry up to 60 people, so this is not a private sailing experience.

Quick facts about the La Graciosa sailing day

• A two-boat island outing: You travel from Órzola to La Graciosa on the Biosfera Express ferry, then spend time aboard a catamaran around the island.
• Playa Francesa is the water stop: You get about an hour to swim, snorkel, kayak, relax, or reach the beach by water taxi.
• Lunch is served onboard: The meal includes pasta with tomato sauce, with or without tuna, fruit, salad, and bread.
• The open bar is included: A welcome glass of champagne and onboard drinks add value to the price.
• Caleta del Sebo offers a short village pause: You can walk around the quiet port settlement before returning.
• Pickup is available from five resort areas: Collection is offered in Puerto del Carmen, Arrecife, Puerto Calero, Costa Teguise, and Playa Blanca.

Why La Graciosa works well by boat

La Graciosa is best appreciated slowly. The sea crossing and catamaran ride make the island feel separate from the resort areas of Lanzarote, even though the trip begins on the same island. I like that the day is not built around a long list of rushed stops. Instead, you get one main beach stop, lunch on the boat, and a little time on land.

The trip begins at 11:30 a.m. from the Biosfera Express meeting point at Órzola port. If you arrange pickup, your morning starts earlier, and the exact timing depends on where you are staying. For anyone in Puerto del Carmen, Arrecife, Puerto Calero, Costa Teguise, or Playa Blanca, the pickup option removes the need to arrange transport to northern Lanzarote.

That convenience comes with a trade-off. One account described nearly two hours on the bus before reaching the port. This will matter most if you are staying in the south, especially Playa Blanca. If you have a rental car or are already near Órzola, going directly to the meeting point may give you a more relaxed start.

At the port, you board the Biosfera Express ferry for the crossing to La Graciosa. The ferry portion is listed at about 30 minutes. Admission is included, so you do not need to buy a separate ticket or work out the connection yourself.

The ferry from Órzola to La Graciosa

The ferry is not the glamorous part of the outing, but it is useful and well organized within the package. It gets you from Lanzarote to La Graciosa without asking you to manage separate reservations. Once you arrive, the catamaran portion takes over.

The boat day is described as a one-hour trip around La Graciosa with a welcome glass of champagne and snacks. That opening hour gives you time to settle in, watch the coast from the water, and let the crew handle the practical work. The crew received strong praise for professional boat handling and attentive service, which matters on a trip where the vessel is doing most of the sightseeing.

The catamaran is described as luxurious, but you should keep your expectations sensible. With a maximum of 60 people, this is a shared excursion, not a quiet private charter. One poor experience described the boat as feeling crowded and claimed the number onboard seemed higher than expected. That account conflicts with the stated maximum, but it still gives you a useful warning: space and personal attention may vary.

I would choose a seat early if you care about where you sit. The information provided does not promise a particular seating arrangement, so there is no guarantee of a quiet corner or an unobstructed view. The strongest part of this outing is the combination of open water, food, and swimming time, not a boutique yacht atmosphere.

Playa Francesa: the main hour of the day

The catamaran anchors at Playa Francesa, where the schedule allows about an hour. This is the point of the trip for anyone who wants to get in the water. You can swim, snorkel, kayak, relax on the beach, or use a water taxi to reach the sand.

The water is described as crystal clear, and the beach sits within the island’s marine reserve. That gives the stop a more natural feel than a standard resort excursion. You are not simply being dropped at a swimming pool with a view. You have open water, a protected marine setting, and several ways to spend the hour.

Bring a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, and a dry bag if you have one. Snorkeling equipment is not included, so pack your own mask and snorkel if you want to make the most of the stop. The tour information confirms swimming and kayaking, but it does not say that kayak rental costs extra or explain how many kayaks are available. For that reason, treat kayaking as an offered activity rather than a guaranteed private session.

The water taxi is another useful option. It may suit you if you want to stand on the beach but prefer not to swim from the catamaran. The available information does not state a separate price, so ask the crew before assuming it is covered.

An hour is enough for a refreshing swim or a short beach visit. It is not enough for an unhurried beach day, long snorkeling session, and extended kayaking all at once. I would pick one main activity and treat the rest as optional. If your priority is snorkeling, do that first. If you want photos and a walk on the sand, head to the beach early.

Lunch, snacks, and the open bar

Food is one of the better reasons to consider this package. You do not need to prepare a picnic or find a restaurant on La Graciosa during a short schedule. Lunch is served onboard and includes pasta with tomato sauce, with or without tuna, along with fruit, salad, and bread.

That menu is simple, but it suits a boat trip. Pasta is filling after swimming, and the choice of tuna or no tuna helps accommodate a basic preference. The information does not list vegetarian, vegan, allergy-friendly, or gluten-free alternatives, so you should ask in advance if you have dietary needs. Do not assume that a substitute will be available.

Snacks are included, as is an open bar. The day begins with a glass of champagne and snacks, then continues with drinks during the excursion. Previous feedback praised the arrival drink and meal, and I can see why this adds value to the price. You are paying for more than a ferry ticket and a short sail.

Still, an open bar does not mean you should plan the day around drinking. You are on a moving boat, in the sun, and possibly swimming. Water, sun protection, and a sensible pace will make the outing more pleasant. The supplied details do not specify the full drink list, so do not book expecting a particular brand or cocktail menu.

Caleta del Sebo gives you a taste of island life

After lunch, the boat sails along the coast and you disembark at La Graciosa’s port. The schedule gives you about 30 minutes to stroll through Caleta del Sebo, the island village.

This is a short stop, but it provides a useful change of rhythm. At Playa Francesa, the emphasis is water and leisure. In Caleta del Sebo, you can walk, look around the port, and get a brief sense of the island as a lived-in place rather than only a beach destination.

Do not expect a long village tour. Thirty minutes goes quickly, especially if the group needs to meet back at the port on time. I would use the stop for a relaxed walk rather than trying to shop, eat, and explore every lane. The tour does not list a guided walking tour or specific attractions in the village.

The village stop is also why this trip feels more complete than a simple catamaran swim outing. You see La Graciosa from the water, spend time at a beach, eat onboard, and step ashore. None of those sections is very long, but together they create a varied half-day.

Guides and crew can shape the day

The crew is an important part of this experience. Positive feedback described the catamaran staff as professional and the guide as friendly, amusing, and clear about how the day would progress. That kind of explanation is especially helpful when you are switching between a bus, ferry, catamaran, beach stop, and village walk.

The guide is expected to explain the schedule and practical details, but the quality of delivery may vary. One dissatisfied participant reported that the guide joined the group shortly before arrival and spoke so quickly that the information was hard to follow. That is a real concern for anyone who depends on spoken instructions, especially around meeting times and water activities.

I would pay close attention to the guide’s directions before leaving the catamaran. Ask where and when to return, how to find the water taxi, and what time lunch is served. If you miss part of an announcement, ask the crew directly rather than guessing. The positive feedback suggests the staff can make the day run smoothly, but the mixed communication experience means you should take some responsibility for staying informed.

The real value of $87.72

At $87.72 per person, the price is reasonable for a bundled outing. It includes transfer where offered, the ferry, the catamaran tour, snacks, lunch, an open bar, and time at La Graciosa. Booking each major part separately could be more work, and you would need to coordinate the ferry and boat timing yourself.

The value is strongest if you are staying far from Órzola and want the pickup arranged. It is also strong if you plan to drink onboard, eat the provided lunch, and use the catamaran rather than treating the ferry as the main attraction.

The value is weaker if you only want to visit La Graciosa independently. The schedule is fixed, the beach time is limited, and the group may feel busy at full capacity. You are paying for ease and structure, not maximum freedom.

A rating of 4.3 from 10 recorded reviews suggests a generally positive experience with some clear variation. The highest praise centers on the scenery, the water, the crew, the guide, the meal, and the relaxing pace. The negative experience focuses on a long bus transfer, crowding, and unclear commentary. Both sides are useful. This can be a very enjoyable day when the weather cooperates and the boat feels comfortable, but it is not guaranteed to feel intimate or perfectly paced.

Who should book this La Graciosa cruise?

I would recommend this trip to you if you want a simple way to combine several Lanzarote experiences in one booking. It suits people who like being on the water, want an organized day, and would rather have lunch and drinks handled than plan every detail.

It also works well for couples, families, and mixed groups where some people want to swim while others prefer a beach or village walk. The activities are varied enough that you do not have to spend every minute in the water.

You may want to skip it if you dislike group excursions, long transfers, or fixed schedules. It is also a poor match if you want serious snorkeling, since the water stop lasts about an hour and equipment is not supplied. Independent visitors who are already comfortable arranging the ferry and exploring La Graciosa at their own pace may prefer a separate ferry trip.

Most people can participate, and the maximum group size is 60. The tour requires good weather. If conditions force a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, but changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted.

My verdict on the La Graciosa catamaran day

I would book this outing if I wanted an easy, all-in-one sea day rather than a private sailing trip. The swimming stop at Playa Francesa, the included meal, open bar, and short visit to Caleta del Sebo give you a good sample of La Graciosa without much planning.

Before paying, I would check three things: your pickup time, the meal’s suitability for your diet, and whether you need to bring snorkeling gear. If you are staying in the south, consider the bus ride carefully. If you go directly to Órzola, you may reduce the most tiring part of the day.

Book it for scenery, swimming, and convenience. Skip it for solitude, a long snorkeling session, or complete control over your schedule.

FAQ

How long does the La Graciosa catamaran experience last?

The experience lasts approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes.

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 11:30 a.m.

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at the Biosfera Express meeting point, C. la Quemadita, 2, 35541 Órzola, Las Palmas, Spain.

Is pickup available from my hotel area?

Pickup is offered from Puerto del Carmen, Arrecife, Puerto Calero, Costa Teguise, and Playa Blanca. If you are staying elsewhere, you should go directly to the Órzola port meeting point.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch includes pasta with tomato sauce, with or without tuna, fruit, salad, and bread. Snacks are also included.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

No. Snorkeling equipment is not included, so bring your own if you plan to snorkel.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.