Lanzarote #1, Canary Islands – Lunar Landscape, Volcanic Violence

The Island of Volcanoes: Some describe the lava fields as ‘desolate wasteland’, I see surreal moonscape. One of Spain’s Canary Islands, 60 miles off Africa, Lanzarote’s landscape is due entirely to thousands of years of volcanic activity (and yes, its desolate.)

CONTENTS

1. The Big Bang
2. Parque Nacional de Timanfaya
3. Colorful Hikes (Manageable)
   1. Volcán el Cuervo, aka Caldera del Cuervo
   2. Las Grietas, “The Cracks”
4. South of Timanfaya By Car
   1. Los Hervideros, “Boiling Pots”
   2. Charco Verde, Green Lagoon
   3. Papagayo Beaches
5. North of Timanfaya By Car
   1. Malpais de la Corona Road (Malpais Translation – Bad Country)
   2. Arrieta and Punta Mujeres – Go Take a Look.
6. Summary – Why Visit?

The Big Bang

Less than 300 years ago, 1730-1736, a sustained six-year eruption left hundreds of empty, gaping craters. Twenty-five new volcanoes created along an 11-mile fissure buried 10 villages. Six freakin’ years of dripping lava, spitting ash and darkness over 1/3 of the island. In 1824 it erupted again, lasting 3 months.

Parque Nacional de Timanfaya

We made a beeline to iconic Timanfaya National Park, a “must do”. Yep, crowds of visitors. Unless you have pre-booked a guided hike, everyone boards the park’s bus tour, no walkabouts. I suppose some folks complain, but I liked the bus as it wound through crater after crater.

With the dry climate (less than 6 inches of annual rain) and lack of erosion, the volcanic landscape looks very much as it did just after the eruptions.

Map Legends: a) Lava flows; b) Lanzarote topography, noting the location of the active volcano

Map Credit: Geochem Geophys Geosyst, Volume: 23, Issue: 10;agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2022GC010576

TIP: To avoid hours-long queues arrive before 10am or mid-afternoon. To walk inside the park, prebook a guided hiking tour, or hire a camel.

Will Lanzarote Erupt Again?

The sole active volcano is Timanfaya. Underground, a magma chamber radiates temperatures up to 1120°F (605°C). Demonstrations grill lunch, dried branches catch fire, and a geyser sends steam up from its tubular hole through the Earth’s surface.

Colorful Hikes (Manageable)

Volcán el Cuervo, aka Caldera del Cuervo

This was the first crater to explode in 1730, then again in 1824, blowing its top, spitting ash and spilling a sea of lava. Once I saw the blown top, I couldn’t wait to tramp around El Cuervo and inside the caldera. Plant life is adapting to an inhospitable environment. TIP: Accessible carpark and well marked trail.

TIP: Next Time Hikes (I could go on and on)

• Montaña Colorado – short hike with a 5 meter (16 ft) 50 ton lava bomb rock. (Stay OFF of it.)
• Montaña Blanca – 2-hour summit trail at 595 meters (aprox. 2000 ft). Near Tias, don’t confuse with Caldera Blanca.
• Volcán de la Corona – a summit climb at 609 meters. (They say it’s manageable.) It erupted 5,000 years ago and dominates northern Lanzarote.

(If you love volcanoes – Link: Blown to Oblivion in New Zealand)

Las Grietas, “The Cracks”

After visiting slot canyons in SW USA, there was no way I could bypass this. Heaps of fun to squeeze through narrow ravines formed by cooling and contracting lava. TIP: Unmarked attraction near Tias. Google for directions and parking info.

South of Timanfaya By Car

Los Hervideros, “Boiling Pots”

Waves CRASH against giant lava cliffs with caves, crevices and blowholes. Feel the force via stone paths, stairways and balconies. Lava from the Timanfaya volcanoes solidified when reaching the sea. TIP: free, accessible by car – don’t stop and park too soon, drive to the last carpark; uneven walkways, crazy high waves at high tide and in winter.

Charco Verde, Green Lagoon

An odd green lagoon on a black sand beach at El Golfo, a fishing village. From the carpark, a 5 minute walk to view the underwhelming sight; however, I jumped onto the paths on the nearby cliffs for dazzling views.

Papagayo Beaches

Choose between sitting on a stunning beach, or tromping walking trails over hills and lava cliffs. Within two minutes I was on the trails for a couple of hours. (Steve at the bar.)

TIP – Driving to Papagayo: From Playa Blanca, there is an unposted “thank you, god” shortcut via Calle del Cercado, (landmark: Dreamplace Bocayna Village) to an unnamed dirt road that connects to the beach road before the tolls. Otherwise, a tortuous drive via the signposted road at the LZ705 Roundabout, not for the faint of heart (or rental car) but we did it.

North of Timanfaya By Car

Malpais de la Corona Road (Malpais Translation – Bad Country)

Northeast, the LZ-2 and Malpais de la Corona Road wind through a sea of brittle black lava “badlands”. Fun paths to the lava pools.

Arrieta and Punta Mujeres – Go Take a Look.

The giant waves on a super windy day, were fantastic. The natural lava pools fill with clear seawater at high tide. A shame to pass by these two villages.

Summary – Why Visit?

A giant draw for hikers, bicycling (huge!), watersports (the windy type). Home to the La Santa Ironman, one of the world’s most challenging Ironman competitions.

We spent a week . . . hoping to return.

The volcanic environment is just one-half of the story. read Lanzarote, Unique, Exotic and Vineyards HERE.

---

Sign up to receive an email for a new story. (No advertising!)

Click shortcuts below for

• Home – Destination Menu
• Photo Gallery
• USA
• Mexico
• New Zealand
• Switzerland
• Nature
• Portugal
• Spain