Timanfaya National Park

Parque Nacional de Timanfaya

A dramatic volcanic landscape formed by 18th-century eruptions, featuring reddish-black terrain, craters, and geothermal demonstrations. Guided bus tours and camel rides reveal this Martian-like 'Fire Mountain' scenery unique in Europe.

Things to do

• Route of the Volcanoes bus tour — A guided bus ride is the only way to access the park's dramatic interior, winding through craters and lava fields shaped by the 1730s eruptions.
• Islote de Hilario geothermal show — Rangers demonstrate the earth's residual heat by pouring water into a pipe to produce an instant geyser and igniting dry brushwood placed just below the surface.
• Lunch at El Diablo restaurant — Designed by César Manrique, this restaurant cooks meats over a grill powered entirely by geothermal heat rising from the volcanic vents beneath it.
• Camel ride up the volcanic slopes — At the Echadero de los Camellos, dromedaries carry visitors on a short ascent through the ash-covered Islote de Timanfaya cones.
• Visitor Center exhibits — The Centro de Visitantes e Interpretación explains the park's volcanic origins, ecology, and the history of the eruptions that buried nearby villages.
• Photograph the Fire Mountains — The Montañas del Fuego offer surreal, Mars-like vistas of red, black, and ochre volcanic cones stretching to the coastline.

Food to try

• Geothermally grilled meats at El Diablo — Chicken, pork, and sausages are cooked directly over natural volcanic heat instead of charcoal or gas, a novelty unique to this restaurant.
• Papas arrugadas con mojo — Small wrinkled potatoes boiled in salty water and served with spicy red mojo or green herb mojo, a Canarian staple found at park-area eateries.
• Gofio-based dishes — Toasted grain flour, a pre-Hispanic Canarian food, appears in soups, desserts, and as a side to local stews near Timanfaya.
• Malvasía wine from La Geria — Nearby vineyards grow vines in volcanic ash pits, producing distinctive mineral-driven Malvasía wines often paired with lava-cooked meals.
• Local goat cheese — Lanzarote's volcanic pastures yield tangy goat cheeses often served as a starter before exploring the park.

Local customs & good to know

• No independent walking or driving into the core zone — To protect the fragile volcanic ecosystem, visitors must explore the central park by official bus tour or on a restricted guided walking route.
• Book tickets in advance — Entry slots for the bus tour and restaurant can sell out quickly during peak season, so reserving ahead is strongly advised.
• Dress for wind and sun exposure — The exposed lava terrain offers little shade and can be windy, so hats, sunscreen, and layers are recommended even on mild days.
• Respect marked trails and barriers — Straying off designated paths damages slow-forming volcanic soils and lichen colonies that are still recovering after nearly 300 years.