If you want to get away from traffic noise this winter, as well as chilly temperatures and Christmas stress, there’s really only one option. The Spanish island of La Graciosa has no cars, boasts the largest marine reserve in Europe, and is perfect for hiking.
Best of all, as we shiver on frosty mornings, La Graciosa is basking this week in balmy 22C temperatures with even its chilliest days rarely dip below 16C. Rain is comparatively uncommon too. This mild climate means that any time of year is a good time to visit La Graciosa.
But one of La Graciosa’s most distinctive attractions is its complete absence of traffic, because there is not a single paved road. In fact, it is the only island in the whole of Europe to not have a road. Of all of the Canary Islands, La Graciosa remains the most unspoiled.
The island only has a few hundred permanent inhabitants, and never has mass tourism. The few locals have no cars, and travel by bicycle along its fine sandy paths.
From the top of the Risco de Famara, La Graciosa appears like a golden mirage in the middle of the Atlantic: a strip of golden sand, silent and luminous. Its sandy paths and peaceful atmosphere make it the most secluded and serene of the Canary Islands.
In keeping with its minimal approach to tourism, the island has a small but well-maintained range of accommodation. They’re mainly concentrated in Caleta de Sebo, where there are guesthouses, apartments and a fully-equipped camping area.
But with that limited stock of holiday accommodation, it is advisable to book well in advance, especially in summer, Easter, Christmas or during July’s Carmen festivities, when the island buzzes with a festive spirit that is unusual in its everyday life.
La Graciosa also lies close to the largest marine reserve in Europe.
Excursions depart from La Graciosa to the islets of the Chinijo Archipelago Marine Reserve, a 70,700-hectare natural sanctuary.
There, the transparent waters allow you to see the seabed and stop at remote beaches to disconnect from reality. The Marine Reserve is a biological treasure trove: with a wealth of seabirds roosting in its cliffs.
On the nearby islets, a small population of monk seals, largely hunted to extinction throughout the rest of the world, still clings to existence.
At Roque del Este, lies the Integral Reserve, a zone inaccessible except to scientists where nature continues its course without the interference of humanity.
To get to the beautiful island of La Graciosa, Brits will need to fly first to Lanzarote, with flights from London as cheap as £39 in December. You will then need to hop in a taxi for a 45-minute ride to the port of Orzola, where you can catch a short 25-minute ferry to the secluded spot.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
