Is the Bocaina Strait rough? What to expect on the crossing
Only briefly at worst. The Bocaina Strait is at least 11 km wide, and the Playa Blanca to Corralejo ferries take 25 or 35 minutes. Lanzarote's windiest months are July and August, so those are the days to check the wind forecast.
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Strait · Canary Islands · Reputation among passengers: mixed: commonly reported as uncomfortable in the wrong conditions.
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
Roughness summarises typical reported conditions for this crossing, not a forecast for any given sailing.
Trade-wind chop in a short, shallow strait
In the Nausea Index table of the 121 sea crossings we cover, the Bocaina Strait is rated manageable, one of 81 in that band, with 40 rated higher. Full table: the roughest sea crossings, ranked.
Key facts
- The Bocaina Strait is a strait, and passenger reports place it in the moderate roughness band.
- The mechanism behind that reputation: Trade-wind chop in a short, shallow strait.
- It is also known as La Bocayna / Estrecho de la Bocaina.
Why does the Bocaina Strait get rough?
The Bocaina Strait separates Lanzarote from Fuerteventura and is at least 11 km wide, with Lobos Island on its southern side. The water is shallow in places: Spanish Wikipedia gives the water depth between the islands as 30 to 35 m and lists the maximum depth as 160 m. The Canary Islands climate is moderated by the sea and in summer by the trade winds, and Fuerteventura's coasts see the summer trade winds and the winter swells of the Atlantic.
When is the Bocaina Strait roughest?
Lanzarote's windiest months are July and August, followed by April and June, and the wind usually eases a little in September. The summer trade winds and the winter Atlantic swells are the two seasonal forces named for Fuerteventura's coasts.
Where to be on board
Front to back
- Bow (front)Avoid
- MidshipBest
- Stern (aft)OK
The crossing: 25 to 35 minutes
Roughest stretch: The middle of the strait, away from both harbours
Stay low and near the middle of the ship, face forward and keep your eyes on the horizon.
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The crossings that cross it
| Route | Typical duration | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Playa Blanca to Corralejo | 25 minutes by fast ferry, 35 minutes by ferry | Fred. Olsen Express: the Bocayna Express carries cars and passengers, the Buganvilla Express passengers only. Up to 12 departures a day. |
| Corralejo to Playa Blanca | 25 minutes by fast ferry, 35 minutes by ferry | The same two ships in the other direction. |
What helps on this crossing
- The crossing is short: 25 minutes on the Bocayna Express fast ferry and 35 minutes on the slower ferry. Settle low near the middle of the ship and face forward.
- Watch the horizon and keep your phone away until you land.
- Check the wind forecast for your day, most of all in July and August, which are Lanzarote's windiest months.
For the full toolkit see the seasickness guide, or what to do once it has already started. For what the trials actually say about the oldest trick on that list, see the verdict on looking at the horizon. If the rocking follows you ashore afterwards, that is land sickness, which is normal, and it passes.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Bocaina Strait rough in July?
July is one of the two windiest months on Lanzarote, with August, and the trade winds are a summer feature of the Canary Islands. The crossing is only 25 to 35 minutes, so check the wind forecast for your day.
Is the Bocaina Strait rough in September?
September is usually a little less windy than July and August, because the winds die down a little. The crossing is 25 to 35 minutes.
How long is the ferry from Playa Blanca to Corralejo?
Fred. Olsen Express lists 25 minutes by fast ferry and 35 minutes by ferry, with up to 12 departures a day.
How wide is the Bocaina Strait?
Wikipedia gives a minimum width of 11 km. Spanish Wikipedia gives the water depth between the islands as 30 to 35 m.
Other crossings
Sources & further reading
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Bocayna
- https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estrecho_de_la_Bocaina
- https://www.fredolsen.es/en/fast-ferry-lanzarote-fuerteventura
- https://www.fredolsen.es/en/fast-ferry-fuerteventura-lanzarote-lanzarote-fuerteventura
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playa_Blanca
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuerteventura
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canary_Islands
Sea conditions described here are typical patterns drawn from published marine and operator information as of July 2026, not a forecast: conditions on any given sailing depend on the weather that day, and any month can deliver a calm crossing or a bad one. Route and operator names are trademarks of their respective owners; Dizzout is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. Seasickness sensitivity varies from person to person; this page is informational and not medical advice.