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Lanzarote
Volcanic landscapes, wine and white villages
Volcanic landscapes, wine and white villages
The ‘Fire Mountains’ — a surreal, Mars-like expanse of craters and lava fields where the ground still radiates volcanic heat just metres down.
💡 Access is by the official coach tour; independent walking is restricted to protect it.
Lanzarote’s unique wine region, where vines grow in individual pits dug into black volcanic ash, shielded by low stone walls — a landscape found nowhere else.
💡 Stop at a bodega to taste the crisp volcanic Malvasía wines.
A vivid green lagoon set in a half-sunken volcanic crater beside black-sand shores — one of the island’s most striking natural sights.
💡 Visit late afternoon when the green lagoon glows against the black rock.
A string of sheltered golden-sand coves in the protected south, with clear turquoise water — among the finest beaches in the Canaries.
💡 A rough track leads here; go early for calm water and space.
Lanzarote’s whitewashed villages and the artworks of César Manrique — cave halls, cactus gardens and viewpoints — define its unique, low-rise character.
💡 Don’t miss the Jameos del Agua and Mirador del Río by Manrique.
Lanzarote’s cuisine is Canarian with a volcanic twist. The must-try is papas arrugadas with mojo, alongside fresh grilled fish, sancocho (salt-fish stew) and goat dishes. The island’s pride is its La Geria wine — distinctive Malvasía whites grown in the black ash — best sampled at a bodega with tapas. At Timanfaya, the El Diablo restaurant famously grills food over natural volcanic heat. Fishing villages like El Golfo and Playa Blanca serve superb seafood by the water, while the resorts offer international choice. Seek out a village tasca for authentic, affordable Canarian cooking, and finish with a local coffee or a glass of that remarkable volcanic wine.
Lanzarote’s airport is near the capital Arrecife, central to the island. A rental car is by far the best way to explore, as the volcanic sights are spread out and public transport to some is limited; roads are excellent and quiet. The bus network (guaguas) links the main towns and resorts affordably but reaches the remote sights less frequently. Taxis are available. Note that Timanfaya is seen via an official coach tour, and some tracks (like the one to Papagayo) suit a sturdy car. Ferries run to Fuerteventura and the tiny island of La Graciosa. Driving is on the right.
The Fire Mountains coach tour, then La Geria for volcanic vineyards and a tasting.
Jameos del Agua, Mirador del Río and the white villages of the north.
The green lagoon at El Golfo, then the Papagayo beaches in the south.
The Fire Mountains are seen via the official coach route — independent hiking is restricted.
La Geria’s Malvasía whites, grown in ash pits, are a unique Lanzarote experience.
The artist’s sites — cave halls and viewpoints — are the island’s cultural highlights.
The volcanic sights are spread out — a car makes exploring Lanzarote far easier.
Quick answers to the questions travellers most often ask before visiting Lanzarote.
Its dramatic volcanic landscape — the Timanfaya ‘Fire Mountains’, black lava fields and the unique La Geria vineyards grown in volcanic ash — plus the artistic legacy of César Manrique, whitewashed villages, and golden beaches like Papagayo. The whole island is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Both — alongside the striking volcanic scenery, Lanzarote has excellent beaches, especially the sheltered golden coves of Papagayo in the south and the resorts of Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise. The contrast of black rock and turquoise sea is part of its appeal.
Yes — the heart of the park is seen via an official coach tour along a route through the lava fields, with demonstrations of the volcanic heat. Some guided walks and camel rides are also available, but independent hiking is restricted to protect the fragile landscape.
Year-round — Lanzarote is warm, dry and sunny in every season, and is a popular winter-sun escape. Spring and autumn are ideal and quieter; summer is hottest and busiest. It gets less rain than the western Canaries.
Tenerife’s Mount Teide, Gran Canaria’s dunes and city, Lanzarote’s volcanic wine country and Fuerteventura’s beaches — the four great Canary Islands.