When visiting the Canary Islands, the volcanoes of Lanzarote are not to be missed, especially the fiery mountains of Timanfaya National Park.
The island is covered with large and small volcanoes of all shapes and colors. It is fascinating!
Our volcanic guide to Lanzarote with photos, map, tips, excursions and hikes.
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
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The volcanoes of Lanzarote – the essentials
What volcanoes can you see in Lanzarote?
- Timanfaya National Park
- Montana Cuervo
- Montana Colorada
- La Corona volcano
It’s not easy to choose, but with these 4 activities, you have a good overview. In this article, we take a closer look at each of them.
If you don’t want to drive, there are many tours of Timanfaya and other volcanic sites – see options.
Origin of Lanzarote’s volcanoes
- Over the course of Lanzarote’s history, several eruptions have shaped the island.
- The La Corona volcano, now extinct, was created 4,000 years ago.
- But many of them were caused by the famous 6-year eruption that took place between 1730 and 1736. It destroyed 26 villages and hamlets, as well as numerous farms.
How many volcanoes are there in Lanzarote?
Lanzarote is sometimes called the island of 1000 volcanoes. Because everywhere you look, they’re there. Well, 1000 is not the number.
And it depends on what you call a volcano, how you count small frames and all.
It’s more like a few hundred.
Eruption risks – are Lanzarote’s volcanoes active?
Before setting off on your trip, you may be wondering: will Timanfaya erupt again? What is the risk of eruption on Lanzarote?
Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are located on the African Rift. It is thought that “if an eruption were to occur, volcanologists could give advance warning, but it would be difficult to say where on the island the eruption would occur” (according to volcanocafé).
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- 7 maps that make planning easier
- + 75 pre-selected locations
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What are the mountains of fire on Lanzarote?
The Lanzarote Mountains of Fire are the most famous part of the island. They correspond to the volcanoes inside Timanfaya National Park. It’s called Montanas del Fuego in Spanish. And it’s a Unesco Biosphere Reserve.
These volcanoes are located on the western side of Lanzarote, in an area affected by the eruption that lasted 6 years, from 1730 to 1736. It’s famous for being one of the most spectacular eruptions on Earth, and for changing the shape of the island.
In the national park, you can find many volcanoes of different colors. But many of them have a reddish color, and when the sun rises or sets, they seem to be on fire.
Other info
Lanzarote has been the backdrop for scenes in many films and TV shows, such as Doctor Who, Moby Dick, One Million Years BC, Krull…
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.
Timanfaya, the main volcanic attraction
The part of the island that is protected in a national park is accessible to visitors. However, the main area can only be explored from a bus that circles the area on a single road. Along the way, you can see smooth and rough lava flows, and numerous craters.
There are a few organized walks in other sections of the park, but places are limited.
Read more about Timanfaya National Park.
The main activity is the bus tour. Even if you can’t stop anywhere along the way (to protect the environment), it’s well worth it. The views are very impressive. You can book a half-day excursion from any of the resorts. Find out more here. Or combine with lava tube tours. Superb day trip! Read more
Lanzarote Volcanic Restaurant and Grill
The tour also includes 2 impressive experiences near the parking lot. They show just how hot it still is underground (600°C at 10m below the surface):
- when they pour water into holes creating mini-geysers
- when they see how things catch fire
It’s right next door to the famous Lanzarote volcano restaurant, where steaks and fish are cooked on a “volcanic grill” using only the Earth’s heat.
CHOOSING A HOTEL IN Lanzarote
Choosing where to stay:
Select by hotel type:
- 5-star hotels
- Best boutique-hotels
- Best adults-only hotels
- Best all-inclusive hotels
- Best hotels for families
Our favorite: Hotel Cala Lanzarote – See prices, photos and availability
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Other Lanzarote volcanoes to discover
Montana Cuervo – our favourite
Our favorite volcano is Montana Cuervo. We have a passion for all things volcanic. We love to see the power of the Earth and we really appreciate the colors and shapes created by the lava.
As soon as we saw Cuervo, we fell in love with it, despite the fact that it’s the most visited after Timanfaya.
We think it has a beautiful shape and a very deep, hypnotic color.
The advantage is that a path has been laid out around the volcano, offering breathtaking views of the lava flows, the crater and the surrounding volcanic area.
You can even take a detour to enter the crater!
See our article on Montana Cuervo.
Montaña Colorada
Another great hike in the Parc Naturel des Volcans. Red Mountain was the last to erupt at the eastern end of the Mountains of Fire fault line (in the 18th century).
This is a fascinating region where you can learn more about volcano eruptions and their geological features (e.g. the giant volcanic bomb).
You can walk around the crater. Along the way, you’ll see the many colors of the rock. And don’t miss the giant volcanic bomb. Unfortunately, no one was there when we were, so we don’t have a benchmark to give you an idea of size.
See our article on Montana Colorada.
Montaña Los Rodeos
A beautiful walk in the middle of a sea of lava, where some parts are very impressive. We loved it, as we were fascinated by the huge chunks of cracked lava.
The trail then skirts the volcanoes and climbs to offer breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape and volcanoes.
During the second half, you skirt the steep end of the lava!
The climb is steep and slippery, but even if you only do a small part of it, the views are worth it!
La Corona volcano
The La Corona volcano is essential to understanding the formation of Lanzarote. Its eruption led to the merger of two territories, creating the island of Lanzarote.
Today, the volcano reaches an altitude of 600m. The hike offers magnificent views of the island.
The path takes you past vineyards and then on to the crater.
Caldera Blanca
The Caldera Blanca (White Crater) is an extinct volcano over two million years old. It was formed by a single volcanic eruption, and is one of the largest craters on the islands (1,200 meters in diameter).
The hike takes you through a vast volcanic area, a sea of lava dating from the eruptions of 1730 to 1736.
Then it’s a steep but fairly short climb up to the crater.
Then you can go all the way around the crater, but if you’re tired, you can simply turn around and go back to the parking lot.
Montana Negra
Thanks to its central location, the views from the summit of Montana Negra are among the best on Lanzarote.
The steep ascent takes you up to 509 m above sea level, with direct views of Montana Colorada and Montana Cuervo.
Montana Negra is an older volcano than its neighbors, which have covered it with black pyroclasts during their explosions.
45min round trip to the summit.
Montana Roja
This volcano is located right next to the seaside resort of Playa Blanca, but few people climb this mountain to enjoy the view! This is one of our favorite activities at Playa Blanca.
Overlooking the town, Montana Roja (the red mountain, because of its color) is a volcanic crater that rises to 194m. It has a diameter of 350m.
A beautiful walk takes you to the top and around the edge with superb views of the southern tip of Lanzarote.
On a clear day, you can also enjoy views of Lobos Island and the north coast of Fuerteventura.
See our article on Montana Roja.
Volcano on the island of La Graciosa
Take the time to discover the island of La Graciosa next to Lanzarote. It has many colorful volcanic domes and beautiful beaches. See our article.
Island access by ferry – See ferry options and book your place
And much more…
We’ve only listed a few, but everywhere you look, you see volcanic craters!
All our favorite Lanzarote volcanoes are included in the Ebook:
WITH OUR GUIDE PLAN YOUR DREAM TRIP TO lanzarote
All the information you need for your trip:
- 7 maps that make planning easier
- + 75 pre-selected locations
- Practical advice
- + 140 photos to help you choose
Attractions linked to volcanic eruptions in Lanzarote
Where there are volcanoes, you can also discover amazing volcanic formations. Sometimes they are even more fascinating than the craters themselves. Here are just a few examples of what you can find on the island of Lanzarote.
Jameos del Agua Lanzarote
One of Lanzarote’s most famous visits is to Jameos de Agua.
This is a lava tunnel where certain sections have collapsed, creating open caves or ‘jameos’. César Manrique reimagined the space and it now boasts a restaurant, a lake with white crabs, a swimming pool and an amphitheater.
The architecture is perfectly integrated with nature. One of the most unique places we’ve visited in the world.
Read more about Jameos del Agua.
Lanzarote caves – Cueva de los verdes
Another part of the same lava tube remained wilder, with only lights installed by artist Jesus Soto.
The lava tube was created by the Montana Corona eruption. It is 6 km long and ends underwater.
It’s a completely different experience, as it’s completely enclosed underground.
See our article on Cueva de los Verdes.
Los Hervideros
One of our favorite landscapes in Lanzarote is Los Hervideros. It’s a place south of Timanfaya where lava flow has met the ocean, creating fascinating shapes and cliffs.
What’s more, erosion has also taken its toll, and you can admire the caves and explore the lava.
More photos in our article on the Los Hervideros lava cliffs.
Volcanic vineyards of Lanzarote
Another of Lanzarote’s famous excursions is to the vineyards, unique because of the volcanic landscape.
As a result of the eruption, much of the ground was covered with lava, which is not very good for agriculture. Especially as it rarely rains on Lanzarote.
However, the locals discovered a way of growing grapes using picon (small volcanic rocks like gravel). It captures moisture and provides plants with water even when it’s not raining.
Find out more about the wine route.
Tips for hiking around volcanoes
- As we’ve already written, the ground is mainly covered with solidified lava. Stay on the path! Don’t step on the lava! First of all, it’s sharp and you can’t stand up well. Secondly, there may be caves beneath the lava and you risk falling suddenly.
- Wear appropriate footwear. Most of the time, the path is made of picon, so it feels between sand and gravel and can be tiring on the leg. High-coverage shoes may be even better to prevent small stones from penetrating your shoes. We kept pulling them off ours…
- Cover your head and apply sunscreen. The sun is really harsh. We had forgotten about the first day and were soon burnt out.
- Bring plenty of water. There’s no shadow at all.
- But it’s worth it!!!
See our favorite hikes in Lanzarote.
Fascinating volcanic landscapes – video + photos
Here’s a short video showcasing Lanzarote’s fascinating landscapes created by volcanoes. She’ll show you Lanzarote’s fire mountains and other volcanoes around the island:
And below are a few more photos of Lanzarote volcanoes that look surreal, but we promise you this is what we saw!
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
