Green Lagoon Lanzarote (El Golfo) – Photos + Visit Tips

Let's discover the unique volcanic landscape of the Green lagoon Lanzarote at El Golfo. 
Also known as Lago verde or Charco de los Clicos, it is a world of colourful contrasts and strange shapes: a green lake, black and red rocks and the blue sky!
Below is my guide to help you plan your visit with photos, map and tips.

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Charco Verde: A unique landscape!

On my way to Charco verde, all I was expecting was  to see a green lagoon. But what remains of the volcano behind is also stunning. There is a mix of red, yellow and black rocks which have been beautifully shaped by erosion. Plus all that is combined with a black beach and a practical viewpoint. A great short stop and one of the great things to do in Lanzarote.
Sadly, I think none of my pictures give justice to this landscape. You will have to see it for yourself.

About the Green Lagoon Lanzarote

• The volcanic crater was formed during the 1730s eruptions and it was flooded by the ocean. With erosion, only half of the cone remains.
• Due to the flooding, the green lagoon was formed. It now keeps its water level through underground cracks
• Why is it green? Lago Verde is green due to the combination of an algae (the sea grass algae) and sulfur
• The inside of the volcano is quite unique too because of the porous rocks which are very susceptible to erosion. This is typical of hydrovolcanism, where magma has met water
• The highest point of the volcano is 157m above the lake
• On the other side of the parking is the small fishing village of El Golfo, which is why the green lagoon is sometimes referred to as El Golfo.

About the name

One of its name is Charco de Los Clicos. It is named after a shellfish that used to be abundant here. 

Many photos after the practical tips

How to get to the Green lagoon Lanzarote by car - Map and Location

El Golfo, with its GPS coordinates, is included in my eBook with complete map to help you plan your trip:

Excursion options

If you don't want to rent a car and drive around, you can book a complete day excursion from any of the sea resorts - it covers all the Central West region with Timanfaya, EL Golfo and Los Hervideros - Check out program and book

Visiting Charco de los Clicos

• Best to visit at low tide to see the nice formations on the beach
• Best to visit at sunset for the colours to be more intense and the contrasts magnificent
• Delicious seafood restaurants in El Golfo
• No facilities outside of the cafés
• Large carpark by the walk to the viewpoint:

Staying at El Golfo in Lanzarote

In the photo below, you can see the village of El Golfo in the background.
If you want to enjoy beautiful sunset every evening, El Golfo is a great place to stay - Check out the accommodations in El Golfo

For more ideas of where to stay in Lanzarote, head to my complete guide.

To access the viewpoint over the volcano and Lago verde, it is a short 5 min walk on a maintained path.
You can see the path on the side of the volcano in the picture below:

It is an easy access, just be careful with young kids.

At the end is a viewing platform on the red part of the volcano. You get a complete view of the caldera, the lagoon, the beach and the ocean.

Below, are my pictures to give you an idea of the views from that platform.
As I said because the volcano was formed by the water, the rock is porous. So overtime, erosion has created beautiful shapes, like waves of rocks.
At the bottom is the famous green lagoon Lanzarote. It really stands out against darkness of the beach. It creates one of the most beautiful beaches in Lanzarote.

The Laguna Verde is roughly 150m long. It used to be bigger. According to this site, it is denser and saltier than the Dead Sea. It is protected and you can't approach it.

But because my favorite colour is red, I really enjoyed the North side of the volcano, right by the viewpoint. The walls are intense red and there are strange black rocks stuck on the side. It is fascinating.

Between the Lagoon and the ocean is a 30m wide black beach. It is made of volcanic sand, pebbles and it contains olivine a semiprecious stone of olive colour.
And notice the lava chimney at the end of the beach.

Depending on the light and conditions, the lagoon can appear more or less green. However picture where you see it completely neon green have been heavily post-processed.

I also really enjoyed the small cove, below the access path to the viewpoint.
Here is a view from that path:

Below is a view from the carpark side. You can see the different types of rocks and colour. It used to be a fishing village, and there are many great seafood restaurant for you to enjoy.

It is easy to get down to the beach and sit to enjoy sunset. I really enjoyed the rock formations and the play with water. It was pretty quiet at this hour.

Note that there used to be an access to the beach via the South end (when driving from Los Hervideros), but it is now closed because the cliffs are not stable and it has become dangerous.

You can combine your excursion with a visit to the cliffs of Los Hervideros. This is one of of my favorite places in Lanzarote.
However if you have time, I recommend coming twice, because the Green Lagoon is better at low tide, while Los Hervideros is better at high tide.
See more photos

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