Key Facts – Arrecife to Las Palmas
- Crossing time
- around 5–6.5 hours
- Operators
- Naviera Armas and Balearia (possibly a codeshare)
- Frequency
- not daily – around 5 sailings a week
- Foot passenger
- roughly €50–80, sources vary – check live fares
- Vehicles
- car and motorhome fares by length, book ahead
- Ports
- Arrecife (Lanzarote's capital) ↔ Las Palmas (Gran Canaria's capital)
Route Overview
Unlike the short hop to Fuerteventura, the crossing from Arrecife to Las Palmas is a proper sea voyage – five to six and a half hours between Lanzarote and Gran Canaria, the two islands sitting at either end of the eastern Canary Islands chain. It suits travellers who want to combine a Lanzarote stay with time on Gran Canaria, or who are relocating a vehicle between the islands without flying.
The key thing to plan around is frequency: this is not a daily service. With sailings running roughly five times a week, it is worth checking the schedule for your travel dates well before booking anything else around the trip.
| Source | Crossing time | Foot passenger fare |
|---|---|---|
| Live sailing check (11:00 → 17:30) | ~6.5 h | — |
| External schedule estimates | 5–6.25 h | — |
| Aggregator price estimates | — | roughly €50–80, some quote more |
Sources disagree on the exact crossing time and price, so both are best treated as ranges. Always check live times and fares for the date you actually intend to travel.
Operators & Schedule
Naviera Armas, the largest ferry operator in the Canary Islands, runs this route as part of its wider inter-island and mainland network. Balearia also appears on the same route in live searches – the overlap suggests a possible codeshare arrangement between the two companies, though the exact commercial relationship is not something we can confirm from the booking data alone.
Update: in 2026 Baleària acquired Naviera Armas' Canary Islands ferry business (a deal reported at around €215m) and transferred these routes to the "Baleària Canarias" brand by around May 2026 – a more likely explanation for both names showing up on the same sailing than a simple codeshare. See our guide to bringing a car or motorhome to Lanzarote for more on this.
Whichever name appears on your booking, the practical points are the same: check the live search for the specific sailing days in your travel window, since this is a roughly five-times-a-week service rather than a daily one.
Why the numbers don't quite agree
You will see different crossing times and prices for this route depending on where you look. That's normal for a route that isn't run on a fixed daily timetable – the specific vessel, timing and fare can shift by sailing. Treat published figures as a guide and confirm the live details for your date before booking anything else.
Prices
Foot-passenger fares are commonly quoted in the roughly €50–80 range, though some price comparison sites show notably higher figures for certain dates. Vehicle fares (car, motorhome) are priced separately by length. Because this is not a daily route and vehicle space is more limited than on the short Fuerteventura hop, it is worth booking ahead rather than leaving it to the last minute – particularly in summer.
About Las Palmas & Arrecife
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is Gran Canaria's capital and one of the largest cities in the Canary Islands, with a historic old town, the long city beach of Las Canteras, and a major working port. The ferry terminal sits within the city's port area.
Arrecife is Lanzarote's capital and main port, and also the departure point for the mainland Spain crossing to Cádiz. It's a working port city rather than a resort, with straightforward road connections to the rest of the island.
Not a day-trip route
With a one-way crossing of five-plus hours and only around five sailings a week, this route works best as part of a multi-day itinerary that includes time on Gran Canaria – not as a same-day return trip.
Practical Travel Tips
- Check sailing days first: since this isn't a daily service, build your itinerary around the confirmed sailing days rather than assuming a departure will be available.
- Book vehicles early: with fewer weekly sailings than the Fuerteventura route, vehicle space sells out sooner.
- Check-in time: allow more time than for a short hop – arrive well ahead of departure, especially with a vehicle.
- Compare live fares: given how much published prices vary, always check the live search for your actual travel date before assuming a price.
FAQ
How long does the Arrecife to Las Palmas ferry take?
Around 5 to 6.5 hours. A live-checked sailing ran from 11:00 to 17:30 (6.5 hours); some external sources quote a slightly shorter 5–6.25 hour range, so treat it as a window rather than a fixed time.
Which companies sail this route?
Naviera Armas and Balearia both appear on this route – possibly a codeshare arrangement between the two. Check the live search for the specific vessel and operator on your date.
Is there a ferry every day?
No. This is not a daily service – it runs around five times a week. Check the sailing days before planning a trip, especially if you need to return on a specific date.
How much does it cost?
Published prices vary considerably by source – roughly €50–80 for a foot passenger is a reasonable guide range, but some aggregators quote notably more. Always compare live fares for your exact date rather than relying on a single estimate.
Can I take a car or motorhome?
Yes, vehicle transport is available on both operators, priced by length. Given the limited weekly frequency, book vehicle space ahead of time rather than turning up on the day.
Find the best price for Arrecife → Las Palmas
Compare live fares and check the sailing days for your dates – with or without a vehicle.
Search live prices See prices on DirectFerries