Chinijo Archipelago Natural Park

Five volcanic islands lie off the northern tip of Lanzarote, and only one of them has people on it. La Graciosa, the largest, is the one you can walk: sandy beaches broken by dark volcanic rock, cones and craters rising behind them, low shrubs and succulents scattered over the ground. People come for the quiet, and for the beach and the sun.

The other four stay out of reach. Alegranza, Montaña Clara, Roque del Este and Roque del Oeste are closed to landing, left to the seabirds and to the sea around them, which belongs to one of the largest marine reserves in Europe. Even the name is modest: chinijo is the local word for "small".

• La Graciosa is the only island with people on it and the only one you can step onto, so plan the day around the ferry there and back.
• The land is bare volcanic ground with scattered shrubs and little shade: bring sun protection and water.
• Every island sits in open Atlantic water, and a windy day makes the crossing rougher.
• The sea around the islands is a marine reserve, protected along with the land.

The approach is by sea. Regular ferries cross to La Graciosa, the largest island and the only inhabited one, and that crossing is the way into the islands of the park. Alegranza, Montaña Clara, Roque del Este and Roque del Oeste have no ferry: only small fishing boats go out to them, and landing is prohibited. Part of the park also lies on the northern edge of Lanzarote itself.

Best: a calm, clear day, with the morning on the beaches.

Avoid: the middle of a summer day on open ground, and days of strong wind.

The islands are bare volcanic land with little shade, and every crossing goes over open Atlantic water that turns rough when the wind gets up.

The archipelago is a protected natural park and a Natura 2000 site, and its waters form part of a marine reserve. Of the five islands, only La Graciosa can be visited on foot. Landing on Alegranza, Montaña Clara, Roque del Este and Roque del Oeste is prohibited; those islets can be approached only by small fishing boats.