Getting around by boat and ferry Spain

The motorboats María del Pino, Safari III, and La Graciosa of the Romero company run three to five times a day from the port of Orzola, at the northern tip of Lanzarote, to La Graciosa, in 20 minutes. The ride is quite pleasant, but sometimes a bit bumpy. Those who are prone to seasickness should take precautions beforehand... or be patient. In addition, she also organizes day trips on a catamaran, such as a five-hour excursion to discover the ocean floor. A beautiful discovery.

With more than 40 years of experience, it is the best inter-island ferry company. Trasmapi offers about 50 routes in high season and services on board. Located in the port of Ibiza, the company offers passengers a fleet of ferries with a large capacity for passengers and vehicles (Castaví Jet). All ferries are modern and comfortable. The interior rooms are spacious, equipped with television, air conditioning, bar, disabled access, baby changing facilities and external access to the deck.

Inter-island maritime transport, Iberian peninsula and Moroccan coast. Not much longer than Fred Olsen to reach Las Palmas from Tenerife and you avoid the Agaete-Las Palmas journey. If the new model no longer has a mini-terrace, to the great displeasure of users who regret it, the equipment remains correct: cafeterias, bars, television room. A mini-cruise for a low price that allows a nice overview of the different islands. The arrival is at Muelle Mandela, a little off-centre. But with taxis waiting a few meters from the boat.

Links to Tabarca Island (1 h) by Kontiki company, several times a day in summer and more than twice the winter (www.cruceroskontiki.com).

The first cruise port in Europe and the Mediterranean, the port of Barcelona is located at the foot of the hill of Montjuïc, at the very end of the Ramblas. Every year, some 100 liners call at the port, spilling over some three million cruise passengers. The industrial part of the port also handles more than three million containers a year! Ferry and cruise ship departures take place on the Moll de Barcelona (at the World Trade Center). This is where the boats leave for the Balearic Islands in particular.

This company operates inter-island routes. From Santa Cruz de Tenerife, it serves Las Palmas (Gran Canaria) daily. La Gomera and La Palma from the port of Los Cristianos, south of Tenerife (every day except Saturday). There are also daily connections to Fuerteventura and Lanzarote from the port of Las Palmas (with a stopover if you leave from Santa Cruz or Los Cristianos). No connection through this company to El Hierro. When purchasing the ticket, remember to leave "resident" unchecked.

With the Fred Olsen company, it is the other company that allows you to reach the island of La Gomera by boat. Direct connections will be made with Tenerife and La Palma. Because both companies leave every day from the port of Los Cristianos, south of Tenerife. For a crossing of about an hour, quite pleasant. From La Gomera you can also go to Sant Cruz de la Palma, a daily trip of about two and a half hours. With cafeteria, armchairs and different terraces to enjoy the crossing.

From Corralejo to Fuerteventura, this ferry regularly takes you to Playa Blanca via a mini-cruise of less than half an hour. The seats are comfortable and you will have the choice of the terrace that best allows you to admire the spectacle of the sea and the coasts. But it will be very quick. As soon as you leave the coast of Fuerteventura and the silhouette of the Isla de los Lobos, you will see the coast of Lanzarote appear. Several cafeterias to have a drink and even a bite to eat. Remember to arrive a quarter of an hour before departure.

Links with major Spanish cities (Valencia, Murcia, Madrid…) and the French border in Port-Bou. Links AVE with Madrid (route between 2 hours and 2 pm). It is also from the train station of the Cercanias, to Elche, for example. Instructions.

FRS Iberia is one of four airlines offering direct services to Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in Morocco, a city dedicated to shopping but also boasting an interesting cultural heritage. The journey takes around an hour, and there are up to eight crossings a day. Passengers and cars are of course welcome on this ferry. The first departure from Algeciras is usually at 7.15 a.m., and the last departure at 8 p.m. The company also operates connections to Tangiers (8 per day, crossing time approx. 1.5 hours).

Founded in 1998, the Balearia shipping company covers the whole of the south-western Mediterranean and provides a comprehensive inter-island connection service. Located in the port of Ibiza, the company offers travellers a fleet of high-capacity ferries that leave every half hour for the port of La Savina, starting at 7am. Some of the ferries have the capacity to take vehicles on board (check the timetable on the web). The boats are all comfortable: television, air conditioning, bar, disabled access and external access to the deck.

This shipping company is present in almost all the islands. From Las Palmas, it serves Fuerteventura with daily trips, arriving in Morro Jable, in the south of the island. As well as the island of Lanzarote, also with daily routes. You can also go to Tenerife, Santa Cruz, in the north of the island or Los Cristianos, in the south. This company has the reputation of having slightly faster routes than Naviera Armas, but this is not obvious. On the other hand, arrivals and departures are made from the port of Agaete.

Latitude 27 ° 49 ' N, longitude 15 ° 40 ' W. Longshoremen 200. Specialized in yachts over 12 m. Drinking water, electricity, telephone, diesel and gasoline, crane, mechanical workshop.

Mediterránea Pitiusa is Formentera's local shipping company. It offers a range of fares to suit every need. Originating from the Pityuses, it has four modern, comfortable boats, all of which are suitable for people with reduced mobility. Three routes and a departure frequency that in high season reaches every 30 minutes. Easy-to-use, comprehensive website for online sales and check-in. Several offers and packages are available: ferry/bike; ferry/scooter; ferry/bus. Pets allowed.

The marina of Formentera has 64 moorings.

Only Naviera Armas operates a direct daily route from Los Cristianos, in the south of Tenerife, with a different timetable depending on the day and which lasts an average of almost three hours. The arrival is in Puerto de la Estaca, the port on the island of El Hierro, located 10 kilometres from Valverde and developed since 1960. On board, cafeterias, bars, TV room. Everything for a rather pleasant mini-cruise while observing the coasts and the sea. For the ticket, it is easier to book online and arrive an hour earlier if you have a vehicle.

This inter-island shipping company is present in all the islands of the archipelago. It connects Santa Cruz de la Palma to Santa Cruz de Tenerife every Monday, Wednesday and Sunday and Los Cristianos, south of Tenerife, on Fridays and Sundays. This crossing takes about 2.5 hours and is rather cheaper than Fred Olsen's crossing. All boats are well equipped, cafeteria, TV room, various decks and shops for a pleasant mini-cruise. Remember to arrive an hour early if you have a car.

This company connects Puerto del Rosario to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (7 h crossing) and Santa Cruz de Tenerife (12 h crossing), once a day, at night, Monday to Friday. But this same company links Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife on a daily basis from Morro Jable to the southern tip of the island. There are also several daily Fuerteventura-Lanzarote connections from Corralejo, north of the island (30 min). The boats are well equipped (TV room, cafeteria and terraces and night berths) for these cruises.

This inter-island shipping company is present in almost all the islands. It connects Santa Cruz de La Palma to Los Cristianos, in the south of the island of Tenerife, on a daily basis. This route includes a stop in San Sebastian de la Gomera. The journey will take longer, but will cost less. To reach the other islands by boat from La Palma, it will always be necessary to make a stopover in Tenerife. All the boats are well equipped, cafeteria, TV room, various decks and shops to make you enjoy a pleasant mini-cruise.

This company regularly connects Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, with a journey of just half an hour. Many comfortable seats in a large air-conditioned room, paintings on the walls, a bar-snack to eat or drink, a souvenir shop... A piece of advice, take your tickets in advance on the internet to avoid queues and especially because the ticket office could stop ticket sales a little bit in advance during boarding: so you can arrive even a quarter of an hour before departure.