6 of the best Volcano Tours in Lanzarote

Lanzarote is famous for it's volcanic landscape. Although most of the Lanzarote Volcanos are extinct there is one sleeping giant in the Timanfaya National Park, known as Fire Mountain (Montaña del Fuego). It's at this Volcano that you'll get to witness real time geothermal experiments such as the burning of hay and turning water into steam to create a geyser. It's also true that the restaurant in the Timanfaya National Park uses natural volcanic heat to cook the food.

Whilst the Timanfaya National Park is the most popular of the Volcano attractions in Lanzarote, it's not the only one. We're going to talk a little bit about some of the Volcanos you can visit on excursions, along with caves and tunnels that were created by the flow of lava as it made it's way out to sea.

The Timanfaya National Park

Without a single doubt, The Timanfaya National Park IS the jewel in the crown of things to see and do in Lanzarote. The National Park covers 51.07 square meters of the island. Whilst there are over 200 volcanoes on Lanzarote, only the one - Timanfaya volcano - is classed as active. Although it hasn't erupted since 1824, and no eruptions are expected any time soon, you can witness the presence of the heat under the surface which can rise as high as 600 degrees.

It's also amazing to see the huge natural BBQ grill that the El Diablo restaurant uses to cook it's food. It's a hit with the tourists and there is something about the way that food cooked on a volcanic heat source tastes. Beautiful! The El Diablo restaurant offers great food and panoramic views over the Timanfaya National Park.

During your visit to The Timanfaya National Park you can also take a bus ride around the aptly name 'Lunar route'. This is a guided tour that takes you through the twisting roads that rise and fall through the dramatic volcanic landscape. There are plenty of photo opportunities and you'll see sights, rock formations and colours that you won't see anywhere else.

If you had to do just one Volcano Tour when visiting Lanzarote, The Timanfaya National Park would be our pick. The beauty of visiting the park through an organised excursion is that you can also beat the long queues of car visitors which can sometimes results in wait times of over an hour to get in.

Los Jameos del Agua

Los Jameos del Agua is a man made attraction that's been constructed inside a segment of Lava tunnel. The tunnel is tiny part of a 7km stretch that was created by the nearby Volcano la Corona in the north of the island of Lanzarote.

Once inside Los Jameos del Agua you'll descend into the tunnel via spiral staircase. The first thing you'll come across is a small cafe area with a viewpoint through the tunnel, where you will see a subterranean salt water lake. In the other direction is a small cave with ambient lighting which shows off some magnificent rock formations.

The subterranean lake here is fed by the nearby sea water. Therefore it's not uncommon for the levels of the lake to rise and fall. It's also home to hundreds, if not thousands, of White Albino Crabs that are native to the island of Lanzarote and a protected species.

As you walk through the tunnel you'll feel the temperature drop ever so slightly and a chilled ambience take over your body. Imagine the once destructive force of the lava that once flowed through this area to create such a magnificent tunnel!

When you emerge from the tunnel, you'll be welcomed with a typical Manrique style garden design. Bright white floors, palm trees and a swimming pool that is literally fit for a king. So much so that the crystal clear, blue water pool, named The Kings Pool, can only be used by the King of Spain. The garden makes for some great photo opportunities.

The final part of the Los Jameos del Agua attraction is a magnificent concert hall that has been carefully constructed within the lava tunnel to enhance acoustics. It's a grand auditorium for sure. Regular concerts are played here in the evenings and a private ticket events, so keep your eyes open for more information if this interests you.

The Green Caves

The Green Caves is literally a stones throw from Los Jameos del Agua, so it's will come of no surprise to you that the attraction is actually built into the same lava tunnel. The first thing you will think, considering the name, is that the caves are named after the colours of the rock you will find inside but in fact that isn't the case at all. They are named after The Green Family who used to use the cave as shelter for themselves and their livestock. This was of course a long time before the caves were reformed and opened as a tourist attraction.

When you visit the Green Caves you'll take part in a guided tour through about 1km of the Lava Tunnel and the tour takes around 45 minutes to 1 hour. If you're not sure if you'll feel claustrophobic visiting these caves then don't worry. The visitor attraction part of the cave has been carefully constructed with steps, pathways and ambient lighting, along with some atmospheric music playing in parts of the tour.

You'll get to see some stunning geological formations and scars on the walls where the molten lava scorched the rock face. Mineral deposits have created some fascinating colours on the walls and ceilings, and the ambient lighting really helps to bring them to life.

Once again, you'll come across a small concert area where private concerts are regularly held. As with Jameos del Agua, the volcanic rock helps to create some amazing acoustics. If it's possible, we highly recommend attending a concert at some point during your visit to Lanzarote. Before the end of the tour you'll discover the secret of the green caves. No photos here, and remember not to tell anyone about it!

Volcan El Cuervo (The Ravens Volcano)

You won't find many excursions that visit the Ravens Volcano, but it is possible to visit through one of our VIP Private Excursions.

Although you can longer walk up to the ridge of Volcan El Cuervo, it's possible to walk around the perimeter where you will find a small path that descends into the crater itself. Inside the crater you'll find small pathways and it's a great place to take photos and videos to create memories of your time in Lanzarote. The walk is quite easy and relatively flat and there is a purpose built pathway. It provides some stunning views of the Timanfaya National Park and La Geria wine region of the island.

The Cèsar Manrique Foundation at Tahiche

Although not strictly a volcano, the house of the late, great Cèsar Manrique is certainly a sight to see. The well known architect carefully constructed the building around a series of Lava bubbles. It's the perfect fusion of nature and architecture. The house is also home to a large number of his art exhibits and provides information points about the history of the island and how Manrique fought to prevent mass tourism on the island as he feared this would create slaves out of the local population.

There is also a gift shop here where you can purchase prints of the work of Manrique. A great purchase for anyone who loves the style of his art decorate their home.

Montaña Roja, Playa Blanca

If you're looking to ascend a Lanzarote Volcano and staying in Playa Blanca, then Montaña Roja deserves a special mention. This extinct volcano stands out above the town of Playa Blanca and is easy to climb via pathways from the North or East of the ridge.

Montaña Roja is very popular walking trail with holiday-makers and locals and on a clear day offers some spectacular views across the southwest of Lanzarote and across the waters to the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura.

Our Tips for Volcano Trekking

The Volcanoes in Lanzarote that are accessible to the public are all fairly easy to climb if you follow the designated pathways. Our top two tips are quite simple. Wear good shoes for walking (no flip flops!) and remember to take plenty of water to keep you hydrated. The heat in Lanzarote can be intense and it's easy to become dehydrated quite quickly when you're exposed.