Timanfaya Volcano Trekking Tour Lanzarote

Timanfaya, the volcanic landscape of the 1730 eruptions

Between 1730 and 1736 more than 30 volcanoes erupted in southwest Lanzarote, burying villages and reshaping a quarter of the island. Timanfaya is the protected landscape that remains: a wilderness of black lava, rust-red cones and pale ash with almost no vegetation. Most visitors see it from a coach, but the only way to feel its scale is on foot, and a guided volcano trek in Timanfaya is a rare chance to do it.

Access to the most delicate areas is controlled to protect them, which is why the trek runs only with a local guide and a small group. If you are asking whether hiking in Timanfaya is worth it, the answer is the silence: without engines or crowds you can hear the crunch of lava under your boots and the wind across the craters.

Walking across lava fields and up to the craters

The route is a circle of about 8 kilometres and takes three hours at a relaxed pace. You cross fields of rough, broken lava, follow tracks around cones and climb to crater edges where the wall of rock drops away in colour bands from black to orange. The ground is uneven and often loose, so good sports shoes matter more than fitness.

The guide stops regularly to explain how the lava flowed, why some slopes are red and others black, and how little water this landscape receives. Bring plenty of water and a hat, since there is almost no shade. The tour is not suitable for people with mobility problems or for anyone who cannot manage uneven ground for three hours.

Life on the lava: lichens, plants and history

Although the landscape looks lifeless, it is not. The first colonisers of fresh lava are lichens, which turn the black rock silvery grey and slowly break it down into soil. Later a few hardy plants take root in the cracks, and the guide points out species that survive on almost no water. In some areas farmers once used the volcanic ash to grow crops in the way you can see in nearby La Geria.

The commentary also covers the history of the eruptions and how villagers coped with losing their fields and homes. Learning these stories makes the walk more than a scenic outing, and it explains why Timanfaya is a protected natural area and a UNESCO biosphere reserve.

The Canarian break and practical details

Halfway through, the group stops for a short break with a Canarian appetiser and water, then shares a minute of silence to take in the landscape. The tour departs at 09:00 or 15:00, although the start times change with the season and the sunset, so check the panel for the day you want. Groups are small, and a local guide leads throughout.

You meet at the start of the trek, with the exact location on your voucher. Hotel pickup can sometimes be arranged for a fee but is not available from Playa Blanca, and it is not included in the price. Bring water, sports shoes, a hat and photo ID. Drones and littering are not allowed. Sun cream is provided, and insurance covers rescue, accidents and civil liability.