Graciosa, Canary Islands

Graciosa Island or commonly La Graciosa (Spanish: [la ɣɾaˈθjosa] ^ⓘ; locally [la ɣɾaˈsjosa] Spanish for "the graceful") is a volcanic island in the Canary Islands of Spain, located two kilometres (one nautical mile) north of Lanzarote across the Strait of El Río. As the rest of the Canary Islands, it was formed by the Canary hotspot. The island is part of the Chinijo Archipelago and the Chinijo Archipelago Natural Park (Parque Natural del Archipiélago Chinijo). It is administered by the municipality of Teguise in the neighboring island of Lanzarote. In 2018 La Graciosa was officially declared the eighth Canary Island by the Spanish Senate, with few real effects. Before then, the island had the status of an islet. It is administratively dependent on the island of Lanzarote.

The only two settlements on the island are Caleta de Sebo in the southeastern part of the island and summer-residence Casas de Pedro Barba; the rest of the island is owned by the Government of Spain and is administered by the National Parks Autonomous Agency.

The population is about 700. Tourism is the main industry along with fishing. The island has a tempered climate and sandy volcanic coasts. The island has a school, lyceum, post office, supermarkets, medical center, pharmacy, and a bank, port, beaches, bar-restaurants and a square. Because of the transportation cost, everyday shopping is more expensive than in the other islands.

Streets and roads on La Graciosa are unpaved sand. Motor vehicles are strictly limited to a small number of licensed vehicles for special purposes. Access to the island is by a 25-minute ferry crossing from Órzola on Lanzarote to the harbour in the village. There was a campsite on the island situated on Playa del Salado at the western edge of Caleta del Sebo which closed permanently during the COVID pandemic.