Montana Colorada is an easy hike around a colourful volcano with a few surprises in store!
Here are some useful tips for planning your hike from Montana Colorada to Lanzarote.
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Tour summary – map
- Distance: 3km, loop
- Duration: 1h for a tour of the volcano (1h30 with lots of photos and signage)
- Difficulty: No technical difficulty, easy walking, some slopes
- Height difference: 53m
- You can also use the volcano bomb to make just the first third counter-clockwise to the most colorful side.
- We recommend counter-clockwise.
- Wear closed shoes, as the trail is made of gravel!
Is the Montana Colorada hike worth it? Our review
The Montaña Colorada hike in Lanzarote is well worth doing. It’s an easy loop around a colorful volcanic cone, taking in volcanic bombs and panoramic views. This hike is suitable for all fitness levels and offers a fascinating glimpse of Lanzarote’s volcanic landscape.
In our opinion, this is one of the most beautiful hikes on Lanzarote.
Our favorite moments:
- The red side of the volcano
- The huge volcanic bomb
- The views at the end of the return journey to Volcanoes Park
What are the difficulties?
The floor
This is a fairly easy hike. The main difficulty is walking on these small gravel pits. For those less physically fit, it’s quite tiring on the calves. Wear good, closed-toe walking shoes.
Slopes
The tour of the caldera has a few steep sections, but the difference in altitude is only 53m, so it’s nothing too intense.
Shorten your hike
The advantage of this hike is that you can shorten it.
You can walk the first third counter-clockwise to the side most colored with the volcanic bomb, then turn around.
In the sun
Like most hikes in Lanzarote, there’s no shade at all. Remember to protect yourself and take water.
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Access to the Montana Colorada walk
Where Montana Colorada is – map
- The hike is in the heart of Lanzarote, in the Lanzarote Volcanoes Natural Park (around Timanfaya).
- Departure from a parking lot on the LZ-56 road, not far from the Montana Cuervo parking lot.
- From Playa Blanca = 25 min drive
- From Puerto del Carmen = 15 min drive
- From Costa Teguise = 30 min drive
Here’s a map to help you find the start of the hike:
Access by car and parking
The easiest way to get to the starting point is to rent a car.
The road is very easy and parking is close to the road. It’s a large gravel parking lot.
OUR ADVICE FOR RENTING A CAR IN Lanzarote
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- A small car is all you need.
- But you can also choose a larger one if you wish, as the parking spaces are rather large.
- Demand is high, so book early.
Public transport access
We didn’t see any public transport access.
Some tours stop at the parking lot and walk the start of the hike, but not the whole tour.
Useful tips
How long and best
- Allow at least 1 hour, but we took 1.5 hours to really enjoy the views.
- Avoid hiking in the middle of the day, as there are more people and the sun is at its zenith. There are no shadows at all on the path.
- If you visit early, you’ll enjoy the peace and quiet.
- The coloured part faces south-east, so the rising sun will provide beautiful light on this slice of the volcano.
The meaning of hiking
It’s best to hike counter-clockwise.
This way, once you’ve reached the colored part with the volcanic bomb, you can choose to turn back if you wish.
Hiking with children
This is one of Lanzarote’s most child-friendly hikes.
There’s plenty of space and few risks.
And there are panels all along the way to learn more about the geology.
However, we didn’t see any panels dedicated to children.
View of Montana Negra
At the start of the tour, you’ll have a beautiful view of Montana Negra, the black mountain, which lies on the other side of the lava field.
This is one of the island’s ancient volcanoes, created long before the eruptions of Timanfaya.
Note that there’s a bit of agriculture going on all around: the accumulation of rock helps plants to cling on. There are vines and fruit trees.
It’s possible to climb the Montana Negra dome.
Approach
The start of the hike allows you to approach the caldera at a leisurely pace.
The shape of this volcano is less interesting than that of Montana Cuervo, but from a distance its colors are already intriguing!
Montaña Colorada is part of the 1730-1736 series of eruptions on Lanzarote. It is composed of various volcanic materials, including basaltic lava, ash and pyroclastic deposits.
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The caldera and its colors
Montaña Colorada is known for its distinctive colors, which are the result of its volcanic geology. The name “Colorada” means “colored” or “red” in Spanish, in reference to the mountain’s predominantly reddish hue.
Red and orange colors are due to the oxidation of iron-rich minerals contained in volcanic rocks, particularly when exposed to air and humidity. These processes affect the different minerals in volcanic rocks, creating a range of hues.
Color perception can change depending on the time of day and lighting conditions. Morning light is ideal for admiring the most colorful part of the mountain.
Volcanic bombs
The volcanic bombs near Montaña Colorada on Lanzarote are geological features formed during volcanic eruptions. These are large fragments of molten rock ejected from a volcano during an eruption, which solidify as they move through the air.
The volcanic bomb near the red side of Montaña Colorada (pictured above) is particularly remarkable for its size and the distance it has travelled.
The volcanic bomb in front of Montaña Colorada was probably ejected from a nearby crater and carried away by lava flows, eventually coming to rest at its current location.
Unfortunately, I (Claire) was alone and couldn’t get anyone next to the rock to give you a ladder. It’s a few metres high, and weighs several dozen tonnes.
And here are a few more examples seen along the way. The contrast with the tiny volcanic pebbles all around is astonishing!
Caldera Tower
After the color and the main bomb, the rest of the hike is all about the views. With different perspectives on other volcanoes.
Colorada is very central in the park and has a small elevation, allowing you to see many volcanic formations.
For example, this is Caldera Blanca: its whiter color is quite surprising amidst the darker lava fields.
And the path is full of signs explaining a number of geological phenomena. These are ideal times to take a break and hydrate!
Lizards
And finally, take a good look around you. Lizards love lava rocks. They have plenty of places to hide!
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO Lanzarote
- Best of
Most beautiful landscapes
Best things to do in Lanzarote
Most beautiful beaches
Most beautiful villages
Best boat tours
César Manrique’s attractions
Secret places, off the beaten track
Most beautiful hikes
- Practical advice
25 tips for a successful trip to Lanzarote
How to get around
How to rent a car in Lanzarote
Driving tips
Where to stay in Lanzarote
Best hotels in Lanzarote
Best excursions
Itineraries: 3 days – 4 days – 5 days – 1 week – 10 days
