Isla de Lobos: ferry, the free permit and what to see in your 4 hours

What Isla de Lobos is, in one paragraph

Isla de Lobos is a small protected islet just off Corralejo, in the north of Fuerteventura. No cars, no hotels, no shops: a volcanic caldera, a lighthouse, turquoise lagoons and one of the calmest swimming spots in the Canaries. The crossing takes about 15 minutes by ferry, which makes it the easiest "second island" day trip in the archipelago. It is also a natural park with a daily visitor cap, so there is one piece of paperwork to sort out before you think about boats.

The permit comes first (and it is free)

Access to the islet is controlled by the Cabildo de Fuerteventura. The rules, as they work today:

• The permit is free, personal and non-transferable. You request it at lobospass.com, the official site. If any page charges you for the permit itself, you are on the wrong page.
• Dates open only a few days ahead, five at most and sometimes less. There is no way to book it weeks in advance, so set a reminder for when your window opens.
• Each request covers a maximum of 3 people, for one date and one time slot.
• There are two slots: morning, 10:00 to 14:00, and afternoon, 14:00 to 18:00, with around 200 visitors per slot (about 400 per day). In summer and on weekends they run out fast.
• Your visit is capped at the 4 hours of your slot. Overstaying can mean a fine, and the wardens do check.

The mistake we see constantly: people book the boat and assume the permit comes with it. It does not. The ferry ticket and the Lobospass are two separate things, and you need both to step ashore.

How to get there: ferry, catamaran or mini cruise

The ferry is the workhorse: from 17€ return, 15 minutes each way, with three sailings out and three back. That flexibility matters, because you can match the boat to your permit slot and decide on the day whether Lobos deserves two hours or the full four.

The catamarans turn the crossing into the day itself. The Oby catamaran sails small groups from Corralejo for 4 hours from 69€ with paella, salad and drinks on board; the Oby Freebird runs the same idea with lunch included, and the Oby Luxury does an adults-only morning version. Time in the water replaces some of the time on foot, so these suit swimmers and snorkellers more than hikers.

The mini cruise is the shortcut: the Celia Cruz glass-bottom catamaran circles the islet in 1 hour 15 minutes from 28€, midday. You watch the seabed through the hull instead of walking the trails, and here is the useful part: if you do not go ashore, you do not need the permit at all. When Lobospass dates are sold out, this is the plan B that still gets you to Lobos.

What fits in 4 hours

The islet is small enough that the classic loop fits a slot comfortably if you keep moving:

• El Puertito, the tiny fishermen's cove by the jetty, with shallow turquoise pools that look edited and are not.
• Playa de la Concha, a white-sand crescent protected from the open sea, the best swim on the islet and ten minutes from the jetty in the other direction.
• Montaña La Caldera, the volcanic cone on the west side. The climb is short and the view back over the dunes of Corralejo is the photo of the day.
• The Punta Martiño lighthouse, at the far north tip. Doing the lighthouse AND a proper swim in one slot means walking briskly; with kids, pick one.

If you want all of it without watching the clock, take the morning ferry out and the last one back within your slot, swim first and walk second: La Concha gets busier as the morning goes on, the trails do not.

Practical notes locals will give you

• There are no shops on Lobos. Take water and food; four hours in volcanic terrain with no shade sells that advice better than we can.
• Stay on the marked trails and carry your rubbish back. It is a protected park and the whole point of the cap is that it stays like this.
• Sun protection is not optional: the islet is essentially treeless.
• The sea between the islands is where Fuerteventura's cetaceans hang out. If the crossing leaves you wanting more time on the water, the Celia Cruz whale watching trip sails from the same harbour in Corralejo.
• Staying in Corralejo with an afternoon to fill? The dune buggy safari leaves from town too, and pairs naturally with a morning slot on Lobos. More ideas on our Fuerteventura page.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to visit Isla de Lobos?

Yes, if you set foot on the islet. It is free and issued by the Cabildo de Fuerteventura at lobospass.com, for a morning (10:00 to 14:00) or afternoon (14:00 to 18:00) slot, up to 3 people per request. Boat trips that sail around Lobos without landing do not need it.

How far in advance can I get the Lobospass?

Dates open only a few days before the visit, five at most and sometimes as little as three. In summer and on weekends the roughly 200 places per slot go quickly, so request it the moment your date appears.

Is the permit included with the ferry ticket?

No. The ferry and the permit are separate: the boat gets you across, the Lobospass lets you ashore. Book the permit first, then match the ferry times to your slot.

How long can you stay on Isla de Lobos?

The 4 hours of your slot. There is no staying over into the next slot and no camping; overstaying can bring a fine.

Can I visit Lobos if the permits are sold out?

You can still see it from the water. The glass-bottom mini cruise rounds the islet in 75 minutes with no landing and therefore no permit, and the Oby catamarans spend the day in its waters with lunch on board.