‘Paradise’ of La Graciosa with 710 residents and NO tarmac roads becomes the eighth Canary Island
The tiny island has been named as the eight Canary and has beautiful beaches, whitewashed villas, just two small towns - and no cars, just bikes
IF you've visited each one of the seven islands in the Canaries then you can now add an eighth to your bucket list.
Boasting just 721 residents, no tarmacked roads and only 18 square miles in size, La Graciosa can now hold its own with Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, El Hierro, Fuerteventura and La Gomera.
Spain's General Commission of the Autonomous Communities of the Senate has agreed that the island of La Graciosa can officially become the eighth inhabited Canary Island.
Locals have already issued a warning over attracting too many tourists, which could create a problem of over-crowding and putting too much strain on limited services and resources.
For now, however, campaigners are celebrating the victory which was spearheaded by the Popular Party and the local residents' group, the Council of Citizenship.
The archipelago of the Canaries actually encompasses 13 islands with just eight of them inhabited.
La Graciosa, which has about 710 inhabitants, receives about 25,000 tourists and has the status of a protected area within the Chinijo National Park. It is often hailed as "paradise", with one of its five kilometre long beaches being described as the best in Spain.
The Popular Party said the island's "extraordinary natural values" should be officially recognised for the benefit of residents and visitors alike.
There are only two towns on La Graciosa, La Caleta del Sebo and Casas de Pedro Barba.
It is located to the northwest of Lanzarote, separated just a kilometre away by a stretch of sea known as "El Río" - which can be reached by a 15 minute ferry ride from Lanzarote.
The island economy is based on fishing and tourism and the island is one of the few places in Europe where there are no asphalted roads and therefore very few cars, except for taxis. Most people get around by bike.
Residents have been campaigning for years to get official recognition as the eighth Canary island and gathered more than 4,000 signatures on a protest petition.
The island will not become self-governing as it will still be linked to Lanzarote. Neither will it have its own island council known as a "cabildo".
It will have its own budget so that the public services for residents and visitors can be managed at local level.
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Senator for Lanzarote Partido Popular, Joel Delgado said: "This is an act of justice and an historic day for La Graciosa."
Tourism chiefs describe La Graciosa as the "island for special, sensitive travellers who know how to enjoy nature, silence and beauty."
Sun Online Travel previously revealed the best secret holiday destinations for 2018 - including La Graciosa.