Timanfaya and Southern Lanzarote Day Trip from Fuerteventura

The ferry crossing from Corralejo to Playa Blanca

The day begins in Corralejo, where you board the express ferry to Playa Blanca in the south of Lanzarote. The crossing takes about 30 minutes, and you can sit on the open upper deck to feel the sea breeze and see Lobos Island and the volcanic coast of both islands.

Many visitors search for a day trip from Fuerteventura to Lanzarote because the two islands are so close and so different. Lanzarote is darker, drier and more volcanic, and the ferry makes the journey simple. Because you travel between islands, bring your passport or ID card.

Timanfaya National Park, the Fire Mountains

Timanfaya National Park was created by a series of eruptions between 1730 and 1736 that buried villages and farmland and left a landscape of black, red and orange volcanic cones. The visit takes you by coach through the park on a road that crosses lava fields, with commentary explaining the eruptions and how plants and animals returned.

Timanfaya is famous for its geothermal activity: just below the surface the ground is still extremely hot, which is shown in demonstrations at the visitor area. It is the highlight of the day and the answer to whether Timanfaya is worth visiting, since the scenery looks like another planet. Allow about an hour and a half here.

La Geria, the vine landscape

La Geria is a protected landscape south of Timanfaya where vines are planted in individual hollows dug into the black volcanic ash, each protected by a low semicircular stone wall. Seen from the road, thousands of these dark pits create a pattern found nowhere else in the world.

Your guide explains how farmers developed this method to trap moisture in a dry climate. The stop lasts about an hour and is mainly for photographs and to learn how the island's agriculture works.

Charco de los Clicos, the green lagoon

On the south-west coast, Charco de los Clicos, also called El Lago Verde, is a bright green lagoon in the remains of a volcanic crater beside the sea. Its colour comes from algae, and it stands against black sand and orange cliffs, so it is one of the most photographed places on Lanzarote.

You have about an hour for a short walk along the viewpoints and time to take photos. The lagoon is protected, so swimming and going down to the water are not allowed. The stop is usually followed by the drive back to Playa Blanca for the ferry.