Five islands, one world – the Chinijo Archipelago
North of Lanzarote, beyond La Graciosalies an archipelago that hardly anyone knows about – and that is precisely why it is so extraordinary: the Chinijo ArchipelagoFive islands, one of which is inhabited. Four of them are nature reserves, off-limits and left to their own devices. An island realm that time has forgotten.
| The five islands of the Chinijo Archipelago | |
|---|---|
| La Graciosa | Inhabited (~700 inhabitants) · Main island · Ferry from Órzola |
| Alegranza | Uninhabited · 10.3 km² · Lighthouse · Breeding ground for shearwaters |
| Montaña Clara | Uninhabited · 1.2 km² · Privately owned · Eleonora’s falcon |
| Roque del Este | Uninhabited · small rock · seabirds |
| Roque del Oeste | Uninhabited · small rock · seabirds |
The uninhabited sisters
Alegranza: the northernmost Canary Island
Alegranza is the northernmost island of the Canaries – an extinct volcano, a lighthouse, thousands of seabirds. Cory’s shearwaters breed here in rock caves. The lighthouse is automatically operated. Access by authorisation only.
Montaña Clara: the Falcon Island
Montaña Clara – a small rocky outcrop rising from the Atlantic. A breeding and resting ground for Eleonora’s falconswhich arrive from Africa in the summer. From Playa de las Conchas, it is within touching distance.
Roque del Este and Roque del Oeste
Two isolated rocky outcrops in the Atlantic. No people, no infrastructure – just rocks, waves and seabirds. They mark the eastern and western boundaries of the Chinijo Archipelago.
Why the Chinijo Archipelago is so important
Europe’s most significant marine protected area
Die Reserva Marina del Chinijo Archipelago covers 70,000 ha – the largest marine protected area in Europe. 228 species of fish, an extraordinary underwater world, strict conservation measures. The result: a natural environment that has recovered.
Protected since 1986
Since 1986 the Chinijo Archipelago has been a nature reserve. Since 1993 it has been part of the UNESCO Lanzarote Biosphere ReserveSince 1994 additional bird protection has been in place. These are no coincidences – they are the result of years of work by conservationists.
Nature conservation
- Wild camping prohibited
- Campfires prohibited
- Chinijo Archipelago Nature Park · Lanzarote UNESCO Biosphere Reserve · Reserva Marina del Chinijo Archipelago (70,000 ha)
Boat trips around Alegranza and Montaña Clara are possible. Access is prohibited without a special permit.
In the Lanzarote dialect, ‘Chinijo’ means ‘small’. The Chinijo Archipelago is the ‘small archipelago’ – small in size, but significant in importance.
Conclusion
- The Chinijo Archipelago is one of Europe’s best-protected nature reserves.
- Five islands, only one inhabited – the rest belong to the birds and the sea.
- You can experience this archipelago from La Graciosa – even if you’re just looking from the coast.
This article is based on on-site research by the go-la-graciosa.com editorial team. Updated: April 2026
