La Graciosa exceeds 600,000 visitors over a 12 month period

La Graciosa, the eighth Canary Island, has reported that over 600,000 visitors came to the island in the previous 12 months, a figure that has doubled in the last decade

The Centro de Datos Lanzarote reported the information based on figures collated by the General Directorate of Ports and Ministry of Public Works and Transport of the Canary Islands.

To put the number of visitors to La Graciosa into context, in 2013 286,292 tourists made the trip over. Fast forward to 2023 and that figure increased by over 100% putting a strain on the islands services, such as energy, water and waste management, as the infrastructure simply isn't designed for this kind of tourism.

Already, in 2024, visitor numbers have hit 114,109 compared to 103,798 during the same period in 2023.

La Graciosa was declared the Eighth Canary Island back in 2018. It's part of the Chinijo Archipelago, a group of islets and rocks that includes several uninhabited islands. La Graciosa itself, however, is home to a small population of around 800 people, mainly living in the village of Caleta del Sebo.

Visitint La Graciosa, either to explore the island or enjoy a Catamaran Cruise, is one of the most popular things to do in Lanzarote.

Reports of the number of visitors to La Graciosa come at a time where locals are protesting about the effects of mass tourism on the Canary Islands, including availability and affordability of housing.