Catamaran Sailing Day To La Graciosa with Lunch

La Graciosa feels wonderfully far away. This 5.5-hour outing combines a ferry ride from Órzola, a catamaran sail around La Graciosa, a beach stop at Playa Francesa, lunch, and free time in Caleta del Sebo. I especially like the included ferry and lunch, which keep the day simple, and the chance to swim or kayak in clear water instead of spending the whole trip on board.

I also like the professional catamaran crew and friendly guide, two details that can make or break a boat excursion. The main concern is space: the advertised maximum is 60 people, but one account described the boat and transfer as crowded. The pickup ride can also be long, so check your meeting arrangements before booking.

Quick points to know

• Playa Francesa is the main activity stop: You get time to swim, snorkel, relax, kayak, or reach the beach by water taxi.
• Lunch is served onboard: Expect pasta with tomato sauce, with or without tuna, plus fruit, salad, and bread.
• The ferry crossing is part of the experience: You leave from Órzola on the Biosfera Express to reach La Graciosa.
• Caleta del Sebo gives you time ashore: The quiet village is a pleasant change after several hours around the water.
• Pickup covers major resort areas: Transfers are offered from Puerto del Carmen, Arrecife, Puerto Calero, Costa Teguise, and Playa Blanca.
• Bring your own snorkeling gear: It is not included, although kayaking and an open bar are included.

What the La Graciosa day is really like

This is not a private sailing trip or a quiet little boat charter. It is a shared excursion with room for up to 60 people, built around easy sightseeing, a beach stop, lunch, and a drink in your hand. At $87.72 per person, the price is reasonable if you want the transport and main activities bundled together.

The day begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Biosfera Express office in Órzola, at C. la Quemadita, 2. If you are staying in one of the listed resort areas, you can request pickup. If not, you need to make your own way to Órzola port.

That distinction matters. Playa Blanca and Puerto del Carmen are not next door to Órzola, and one account described spending about two hours on the bus. A transfer saves you the trouble of driving and finding the port, but it may also make the day feel longer. If you are prone to motion sickness, keep that bus ride and the boat ride in mind.

The timing gives you a late-morning start and an afternoon on the water. It is a good fit if you want a planned day without having to organize the ferry, lunch, and beach stop yourself.

Taking the Biosfera Express from Órzola

From Órzola, you board the Biosfera Express ferry for La Graciosa. The crossing takes about 30 minutes and is included in the price. That is useful because independent visitors would otherwise need to arrange their own ferry tickets and then coordinate with the catamaran schedule.

The ferry is the practical link between Lanzarote and La Graciosa. It also gives you your first sense of the island’s separation from the main tourist centers. Once you arrive, the excursion shifts from simple transport to a boat outing around the coast.

The ferry portion is not the glamorous part of the day, but it is handled for you. Follow the instructions from the guide, keep your ticket or boarding information close, and avoid wandering off during the change from ferry to catamaran. The overall schedule includes several moving parts, so punctuality matters.

One small warning: the information places both Órzola and La Graciosa in the itinerary, and the exact handoff between ferry and catamaran may feel busy. Listen carefully when the guide explains the plan. One negative experience came from a guide speaking too quickly, while another praised the guide for clearly explaining how the day would progress. That makes the guide’s communication especially important.

A relaxed sail around La Graciosa

Once aboard the catamaran, you receive a glass of champagne and snacks. The boat then spends about an hour sailing around La Graciosa. This is the part of the outing that gives you a broader view of the island rather than just a short stop at one beach.

I like this format because you can settle into the boat before the main activity begins. You are not immediately rushed into swimming or a meal. Instead, you get time to look out toward the coast, enjoy the drink, and let the crew handle the sailing.

The boat is described as luxurious, but keep your expectations sensible. This is a shared catamaran, not an exclusive yacht. With a maximum of 60 people, the quality of your experience will depend partly on how full the departure is and where you find a comfortable place onboard.

The crew receives strong praise for professional service and careful boat management. That matters more than fancy decoration. A good crew keeps the day running on time, serves food and drinks efficiently, and helps passengers understand what happens next.

Weather can change the mood quickly. One person initially worried when the day began with poor conditions, then found that the weather improved and the outing became enjoyable. The operator requires good weather and offers another date or a full refund if conditions force cancellation.

Playa Francesa: swim, snorkel, or simply stop moving

The anchor stop at Playa Francesa is the heart of the excursion. You get about an hour at the beach and in the surrounding water. The marine reserve setting gives this pause more appeal than a simple cruise-by view.

You can swim, snorkel, kayak, relax, or visit the beach by water taxi. This range of choices is helpful because not everyone wants the same kind of afternoon. You can stay aboard with a drink, head into the water, or go ashore and sit on the sand.

Bring your own snorkeling equipment. It is specifically not included, and the excursion does not promise that gear will be available for hire. If snorkeling is a major reason you are booking, pack a mask and snorkel rather than assuming they will be provided.

Kayaking is included, but the supplied details do not specify how many kayaks are available or how long each person can use one. Treat it as an optional activity, not the sole reason to book. The same applies to the water taxi, since no separate operating details are given.

The one-hour stop sounds generous enough for a swim and a quick look around, but it will pass quickly if you want to do several activities. I would choose one main plan before you arrive: swim and snorkel, kayak, or go ashore. Trying to do everything could leave you watching the clock.

The beach and water were praised as a relaxing part of the day, and that fits the design of the trip. This is the point where the outing feels least like transport and most like a holiday.

Lunch, snacks, and the open bar

Lunch is served onboard and includes pasta with tomato sauce, with or without tuna, fruit, salad, and bread. Snacks are also included, along with an open bar. A welcome glass of champagne adds a small celebratory touch at the start.

The meal is practical rather than a culinary event. Pasta, salad, fruit, and bread are sensible choices for a boat day, especially after swimming. You do not need to leave the beach stop to search for food, and you do not have to pack a full picnic.

The tuna option may suit you if you want something more filling, while the plain tomato pasta gives you a meat-free choice. The information does not list other dietary alternatives, so contact the provider before booking if you have allergies or strict dietary needs.

An open bar adds value to the $87.72 price, especially when combined with the ferry, catamaran ride, snacks, and lunch. Still, I would not choose this tour solely because of the drinks. The stronger value comes from having the transport and main sightseeing arranged in one package.

Eat when food is served rather than assuming you can grab something later in Caleta del Sebo. Your village stop comes after lunch and is mainly for a stroll, not presented as a restaurant break.

A short walk through Caleta del Sebo

After lunch, the boat sails along the coast and you disembark at La Graciosa’s port. You then have about 30 minutes to walk through Caleta del Sebo.

This is a brief stop, so think of it as a chance to get your bearings, see the village atmosphere, and stretch your legs after time on the boat. It is not long enough for a detailed island exploration or a relaxed café crawl.

The village is described as quiet, which gives the afternoon a different pace from the catamaran and beach stop. You can take a short stroll, look around the port area, and enjoy the contrast between life on the island and the organized boat schedule.

Keep your return instructions clear. The excursion ends back at the meeting point, and the route involves ferry travel and a scheduled catamaran. A 30-minute village visit leaves little room for getting lost or arriving late.

The village stop is a modest part of the package, but I think it improves the day. Without it, the excursion would be only a boat ride and swim stop. Here, you get at least a small taste of La Graciosa itself.

The guide and crew can shape the whole day

The best experiences here seem to come when the guide gives a clear explanation at the start and the crew keeps service calm and organized. One guide was praised for being friendly, funny, and helpful, while another was criticized for talking so quickly that passengers could not follow the instructions.

That contrast is worth noting. The itinerary has several transitions: bus pickup for some people, ferry boarding, catamaran boarding, anchoring, lunch, beach access, village time, and the return journey. Clear instructions are not a luxury. They are what keep the day from feeling confusing.

The tour is offered in English. The supplied information does not promise multilingual guiding, so English is the safest expectation for the organized explanations.

The crew’s professional handling of the boat received strong praise. I would give that more weight than the champagne or open bar. On a shared boat, a capable crew helps everyone get served, keeps the schedule moving, and makes the outing feel relaxed rather than chaotic.

Is $87.72 good value?

At $87.72, you are paying for more than a scenic cruise. The package includes transfer service from selected resort areas, the ferry to La Graciosa, the catamaran tour, snacks, lunch, an open bar, and time at Playa Francesa and Caleta del Sebo.

That is good value if you would otherwise need to buy a ferry ticket, arrange transport to Órzola, find lunch, and organize your own boat trip. The price also removes much of the planning work, which is useful on a short Lanzarote stay.

The value is weaker if you want a private, quiet sailing experience. A group of up to 60 people can feel social and lively, but it may also feel crowded. One account specifically described the experience as packed and questioned the group size, so you should not expect personal space throughout the day.

The price also does not include snorkeling equipment. That is a small extra concern, but an important one if water activities are central to your plans.

Who should book this La Graciosa catamaran trip?

I would recommend it if you want an easy introduction to La Graciosa without handling several separate bookings. It suits couples, families, and groups who like a mix of sailing, swimming, lunch, and a short village walk.

It is also a good choice if you prefer a sociable boat day with an open bar rather than a silent sightseeing cruise. The friendly guide and crew can add a lot when the group is in a good mood.

You may want another plan if you dislike crowded boats, need a quiet or private setting, or want several hours to explore the island on foot. The 30-minute village visit is simply too short for a serious independent tour of La Graciosa.

I would also think carefully about the pickup. If you are staying far from Órzola, the bus transfer may take a large part of your day. Driving directly to the meeting point could give you more control, but only if you can arrange it comfortably and arrive on time.

Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not refunded, and poor weather can lead to a new date or full refund.

Final verdict: a strong shared boat day with one clear caveat

Book this trip if you want a well-organized taste of La Graciosa, especially with ferry travel, lunch, drinks, and the beach stop all handled for you. The most praised features are the cheerful crew, clear guidance when the day is well managed, relaxing water time, and the chance to see the island from both the sea and the village.

Skip it if you need elbow room or a slow, independent island visit. The potential crowding and long pickup transfer are real considerations. For most people seeking a convenient half-day boat outing from Lanzarote, though, the combination of sailing, Playa Francesa, lunch, and Caleta del Sebo makes the price fair.

FAQ

Where does the La Graciosa catamaran tour start?

The meeting point is Biosfera Express, C. la Quemadita, 2, at Órzola port in Lanzarote. The scheduled start time is 11:30 a.m.

Is pickup available from Lanzarote resorts?

Yes. 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 meeting point.

Is the ferry to La Graciosa included?

Yes. The Biosfera Express ferry from Órzola to La Graciosa is included in the tour price.

Is lunch included?

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

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

No. You need to bring your own snorkeling equipment if you want to snorkel at Playa Francesa.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you will be offered another date or a full refund.