Las Palmas Ferry: All Routes from Gran Canaria
Fred Olsen, Balearia, destinations, fares and getting to the port
Two companies run the ferry from Las Palmas: Fred Olsen sails to Fuerteventura and Huelva, and to Tenerife from Agaete. Balearia serves Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and Cádiz. This guide covers routes, fares and how to reach each terminal.
Overview: Two Ferry Companies, One Port
Two companies run the ferry from Las Palmas: Fred Olsen Express and Balearia. They use different terminals in the large port area, and they serve some of the same islands. This can make it hard to choose the right ticket. This guide shows which company goes where, how to reach each terminal and what to check before you pay. The live map at the top of the page shows where the ships are right now.
Fred Olsen Express from Las Palmas
There is no single Fred Olsen terminal. The company uses two separate piers in the large port area. The fast ferry to Fuerteventura (Morro Jable) takes about two hours. It leaves from the terminal at the start of the Muelle de la Luz, near the port entrance. The ferry to Huelva on the Spanish mainland leaves from a different pier, the Muelle Cambulloneros. It sails twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays. The trip takes about 43 hours, and the ship stops in Tenerife on the way.
The fast Fred Olsen ferry to Tenerife does not leave from Las Palmas. It leaves from the port of Agaete in the north-west of the island (see the section below). The free shuttle bus to Agaete starts at Parque Santa Catalina.
Balearia from Las Palmas
Balearia sails from the Muelle Nelson Mandela and has more routes. To Tenerife there are several sailings a day. You can take the fast ferry (about 1 hour 40 minutes) or the classic ferry (about 3 hours 30 minutes). To Fuerteventura, Balearia sails to Morro Jable (2 hours, the same as Fred Olsen) and to Puerto del Rosario (about 6 hours). Only Balearia sails direct to Puerto del Rosario. Only Balearia also sails direct to Lanzarote (Arrecife), in about 6 hours 15 minutes. To the Spanish mainland, Balearia sails twice a week (Thursdays and Sundays) to Cádiz. The trip takes about 36 hours, with a stop in Arrecife on Lanzarote.
Direct Ferries from Las Palmas at a Glance
| Destination | Company | Journey time | How often |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuerteventura – Morro Jable | Fred Olsen, Balearia | 2 hours | several times a day |
| Fuerteventura – Puerto del Rosario | Balearia (direct) | 6 hours | daily |
| Lanzarote – Arrecife | Balearia (direct) | 6 hours 15 minutes | daily |
| Tenerife – Santa Cruz (fast ferry) | Balearia | 1 hour 40 minutes | several times a day |
| Tenerife – Santa Cruz (classic ferry) | Balearia | 3 hours 30 minutes | daily |
| Tenerife from Agaete (fast ferry) | Fred Olsen | 1 hour 20 minutes, plus about 1 hour by shuttle bus from Santa Catalina | several times a day |
| Huelva (mainland Spain) | Fred Olsen | about 43 hours (stop in Tenerife) | twice a week (Thu, Sun) |
| Cádiz (mainland Spain) | Balearia | about 36 hours (stop in Arrecife) | twice a week (Thu, Sun) |
Journey times and frequencies can change with the season. Only the current timetables of the ferry companies are binding, or the live information further down this page.
Ferry to Tenerife: Agaete Instead of Las Palmas
Many visitors get this wrong. The fast Fred Olsen ferry to Tenerife is not in the port of Las Palmas. It leaves from the port of Agaete, about 35 kilometres away in the north-west of Gran Canaria. Only the Balearia ferry to Tenerife leaves directly from Las Palmas. For the Fred Olsen route, the transfer is part of your ticket. The free shuttle bus leaves from Parque Santa Catalina and takes about one hour to Agaete.
Getting to the Port: Bus, Shuttle and Taxi
The port area of Las Palmas is much bigger than it looks. The piers are several kilometres apart, so walking is not a realistic option. Of the regular city buses (Guaguas Municipales; "guagua" is the Canarian word for bus), only line 19 goes into the port area. It starts at the bus hub Plaza Manuel Becerra, passes the Fred Olsen terminals (Fuerteventura and Huelva) and ends at the Muelle Nelson Mandela (Balearia). You pay for this bus.
Ticket holders have two free alternatives. The Balearia shuttle bus stops next to CC El Muelle and goes to the Muelle Nelson Mandela. The Fred Olsen shuttle to Agaete leaves from Parque Santa Catalina. A taxi to the port has a supplement. The trip from Parque Santa Catalina to the Muelle Nelson Mandela is at least 7 km and costs about €10.
Onward Travel After You Arrive
Arriving ferry passengers use the same free shuttle buses for the trip back. The Balearia shuttle and the Fred Olsen shuttle both end near Parque Santa Catalina and the Santa Catalina bus terminal. From there, long-distance buses run towards San Telmo, and from San Telmo you can reach the rest of the island.
Tickets and Fares: What to Watch For
The published fares can look high. One reason is that residents of the Canary Islands get a 75 per cent discount on the base fare through the state resident subsidy. The list price for visitors is the full price without this subsidy. Fares change a lot with the route, the season, how early you book and whether you take a vehicle. Ask at the ticket offices in the port, or check online for current offers and early-booking discounts. For foot passengers, tickets between the islands are usually much cheaper than tickets to the mainland.
Getting There: Transport Connections
| Connection | Details |
|---|---|
| City bus, line 19 | The only line into the port area. It starts at Plaza Manuel Becerra and runs towards Santa Catalina Terminal and San Telmo. It stops at the Fred Olsen terminals (Fuerteventura and Huelva) and at the Muelle Nelson Mandela (Balearia). You pay for this bus. |
| Balearia shuttle bus | Free with a ferry ticket. The stop is next to CC El Muelle. The bus goes to the Muelle Nelson Mandela. |
| Fred Olsen shuttle to Agaete | Free with a ferry ticket. It starts at Parque Santa Catalina. |
| Taxi | A supplement applies in the port area. The trip from Parque Santa Catalina to the Muelle Nelson Mandela (at least 7 km) costs about €10. For longer trips to the south of the island, a private transfer with Las Palmas 24 port transfers is a good option. |
Nearby Attractions
| Attraction | What to expect | Getting there |
|---|---|---|
| Parque Santa Catalina | Central park and square in the port district. The Fred Olsen shuttle to Agaete starts here. | Close to the port area. Walking distance from Las Canteras beach. |
| CC El Muelle | Shopping centre next to the cruise pier with shops, restaurants and a cinema. | The Balearia shuttle bus stops next to the centre. |
| Playa de Las Canteras | The long city beach of Las Palmas, with a promenade, cafés and restaurants. | A short walk from Parque Santa Catalina. |
| Harbour boat tour | Boat trip of about 75 minutes along the east coast of the city, with an audio guide in several languages. Tours depend on the weather. | Departs from the Muelle Wilson. |
| Agaete and Puerto de las Nieves | White fishing village with a natural rock pool and harbour restaurants. The port is also the start of the fast Fred Olsen ferry to Tenerife. | About 35 km north-west of Las Palmas. Free Fred Olsen shuttle for ferry ticket holders. |
Las Palmas Ferry: Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly is the Fred Olsen terminal in Las Palmas?
There is no single Fred Olsen terminal. The ferry to Fuerteventura leaves from the terminal at the Muelle de la Luz, near the port entrance. The ferry to Huelva leaves from a different pier, the Muelle Cambulloneros. The two piers are several kilometres apart.
Does the Fred Olsen ferry to Tenerife also leave from Las Palmas?
No. The fast Fred Olsen ferry to Tenerife leaves from the port of Agaete in the north-west of Gran Canaria, not from Las Palmas. A free shuttle bus takes ticket holders from Parque Santa Catalina to Agaete in about one hour. If you want a ferry to Tenerife that leaves directly from Las Palmas, use Balearia.
How often does the ferry go from Las Palmas to Huelva?
Fred Olsen sails from Las Palmas to Huelva twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays. The trip takes about 43 hours because the ship stops in Tenerife on the way.
Is there a direct ferry from Las Palmas to Cádiz?
Yes. Balearia sails from Las Palmas to Cádiz on the Spanish mainland twice a week, also on Thursdays and Sundays. The trip takes about 36 hours, with a stop in Arrecife on Lanzarote.
Which company sails direct to Lanzarote or Puerto del Rosario?
Only Balearia sails on these two direct routes: to Arrecife (Lanzarote) in about 6 hours 15 minutes, and to Puerto del Rosario (Fuerteventura) in about 6 hours. Fred Olsen does not sail these routes direct from Las Palmas.
How do I get from the city centre to the ferry terminals?
The port area is too big to walk. The only public bus into the port area is city bus line 19 from Plaza Manuel Becerra, and you pay for it. Ticket holders can also use the free Balearia shuttle bus (stop next to CC El Muelle) or the free Fred Olsen shuttle to Agaete (starts at Parque Santa Catalina). There is also a taxi rank at the port, where a supplement applies.
Are the shuttle buses to the ferry terminals free?
The Fred Olsen shuttle to Agaete and the Balearia shuttle to the Muelle Nelson Mandela are free for holders of a valid ferry ticket. City bus line 19 is a normal public bus, so you have to pay.
Why are ferry fares from Las Palmas so high?
The published list prices are for visitors, without any discount. Residents of the Canary Islands get 75 per cent off the base fare through the state resident subsidy, so the normal list price looks high. Ask at the ticket offices in the port, or check online for current offers and early-booking discounts.