Lanzarote Volcanoes – Tours + Origin + Photos (incl. Fire Mountains)

When visiting the Canary islands, the Lanzarote volcanoes are a bucket list item not to be missed, especially the Fire mountains of Timanfaya National Park. 
The island is covered in small or large volcanoes with different shapes and colours. It is fascinating.
Below is my guide with pictures and video, and give you some tips to plan your Lanzarote volcano tours, trips and walks.

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Let's start with short video introducing the fascinating landscapes of Lanzarote which have been created by volcanoes. It will show you the Fire Mountains of Lanzarote as well as other volcanoes around the island:

Inspiring isn't it?

What are the Lanzarote Fire Mountains?

The Lanzarote Fire Mountains is the most famous part of the island. It corresponds to the volcanoes inside the Timanfaya National Park.
They are called Montanas del Fuego in Spanish. And it is a Unesco Biosphere reserve.

Those volcanoes are located on the West side of Lanzarote, in an area affected by the 6-year eruption from 1730 to 1736. It is famous because it has been one of the most spectacular eruption on Earth and it changed the shape of the island.

In the National Park, you can find many volcanoes of different colours. But a lot of them have a reddish colour, and when the sun rises or sets, they seem to be on fire.

Inside the Lanzarote Volcano Park (Timanfaya National Park)

The part of the island that is protected in a National park is accessible to visitor. However the main area can only be experienced from a bus that goes around a single road. Along the path you can see the smooth and rugged lava flows, and many craters.
There are few walks organized in other sections of the park, but spots are limited.
Learn more on my article about the Timanfaya National park.

The main activity is really the bus tour. Despite not being able to stop anywhere along the road (to protect the environment), it is really worth doing. The views are very impressive. You can book a half day trip from all the resort towns. Learn more.

Lanzarote's "Volcano restaurant & Volcano grill"

The tour also includes 2 impressive experiences near the carpark. They show how hot it still is underground (reaching 600°C 10m below the surface): 

• when they pour water into holes creating mini geysers
• when they see how things catch fire

It is right by the famous Lanzarote volcano restaurant when they cook steaks and fish on a "volcano grill" using only the heat from the Earth.

Map - Volcanoes of Lanzarote 

However when talking about the volcanoes in Lanzarote, people tend to only mean the Fire mountains when the whole island is spotted by volcanic craters and mounts.
In the immediate vicinity of the National Park is the Los Volcanes Natural park. Where you have better access to several volcanoes with walks and hikes.

Here is maps of the main volcano area in Lanzarote (with the highest concentration of them), but there are more craters throughout the island.

My favorite - Montana Cuervo

My favorite of all the volcanoes is Montana Cuervo. I have a passion for everything volcanic. I love seeing the power of Earth and I really enjoy the colours and shapes created by lava.
As soon as I saw Cuervo, I fell in love with it despite the fact that it is the most visited after Timanfaya.
I think it has a beautiful shape and a very deep mesmerizing colour.

The advantage is that a path has been set up all around the volcano that offers great views of the lava flows, the crater and the surrounding volcanic area.
You can even take a detour to get inside the crater!

Large choice of volcanoes in Lanzarote - many shapes, colours & locations

And there are many more to choose from to organise you Lanzarote Volcano trip.

• You can choose a white one such as Montana Blanca,
• or climb to the top of another one for great views at Los Rodeos
• If you love colours, head to Montana Colorada with its intense red face and volcanic bombs
• In North Lanzarote, you will find a famous old extinct volcano. The one that created a long lava tube that goes underwater. It is called La Corona and reaches 609meters. 
• While at the South End, off the beaten track, Montana Roja, offers views all the way to Fuerteventura...
• And many many more...
• Tours and Walks can lead you to visit some of those if you don't want to rent a car (see my tips). See in further sections of this article

All my favorite volcanoes and their walks are included in my eBook:

Attractions related to volcanic eruptions on Lanzarote

When there are volcanoes, you can also discover amazing volcanic features. They are sometimes even more fascinating than the crater themselves. Below are a few examples of what you can find on the island of Lanzarote.

Jameos del Agua Lanzarote

One of the most famous things to do in Lanzarote is visit Jameos de Agua.
It is a lava tunnel where some sections have collapsed creating open caves or 'jameos'. César Manrique re-imagined the space and it has restaurant, a lake with white crabs, a swimming pool and an amphitheater.
Architecture is perfectly integrated with Nature. One of the most unique places I have visited in the World.
Learn more on my article about Jameos del Agua.

Green Caves Lanzarote

Another part of the same lava tube has remained wilder with only lights set up by the artist Jesus Soto.
The lava tube was created by the eruption of Montana Corona. It is 6km long and end up underwater. 
It is a completely different experience, since it is completely closed off underground. The Green caves are fascinating!

Los Hervideros

One of my favorite landscapes in Lanzarote is at Los Hervideros. It is a place South of Timanfaya where the flow of lava has met the ocean creating fascinating shapes and cliffs.
Plus the erosion has also done it works and you can admire the caves and explore the lava.
More photos on my article about the Los Hervideros lava cliffs.

Lanzarote volcanic vineyards

Another big Lanzarote excursions that is unique due to volcanic landscapes are the vineyards.
Because of the eruption, a lot of the soil has been covered with lava which is not great for farming. Especially has it rarely rains on Lanzarote.
However the locals discovered a way to grow grapes using the picon (small volcanic rocks like gravel). It capture the humidity and provide water to the plants even if it does not rain.

Origin of the volcanos in Lanzarote

• Over the history of Lanzarote, several eruptions have shaped Lanzarote
• La Corona, which is now extinct was created 4000 years ago
• But many have appeared because of the famous 6-year long eruption that happened between 1730 and 1736. It destroyed 26 villages and hamlets, as well as many farms

How many volcanoes in Lanzarote? 

Lanzarote is sometimes referred to as the Island of the 1,000 volcanoes. Because everywhere you look, here they are. Well 1000 is not the number.
And it depends what you call a volcano, how you count the small mounts and all.
It is more in the hundreds

Fun Facts about the volcanoes of Lanzarote

Lanzarote has been used has a backdrop for scenes in several movies and TV shows, such as Doctor who's, Moby Dick, One million year BC, Krull...

OK Now let's talk planning;
Do you want to explore some of the volcanoes?

The best way to explore the island of Lanzarote and its volcanoes is the rent a car and get around at your own pace.
This way you can complete entire hikes and stop whenever you want.
You can find all my favorite volcano views and walks in my Lanzarote travel guide eBook here.

If you don't want to rent a car, and just want to sit back, relax and learn more about the environment, many half-day excursions or full day tours are geared towards the volcanic landscapes of Lanzarote. They depart from all the main resort towns: Playa Blanca, Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise (check ou my article about the best areas to stay in Lanzarote)

• Half day trip to complete the bus tour around Timanfaya National Park (I recommend sitting on the right side of the bus) - Check out the program and Book
• Full day trip combining the Fire Mountains of Timanfaya with Los Hervideros and the Green Lagoon inside another volcanic crater - Check out the program and Book
• If you don't mind walking a little, there is also a tour that covers the beginning of the Montana Cuervo walk, as well as the beginning of the Montana Colorado walk. A great combination - Check out program and Book
• And if you are more interested by the lava tube, you can chose a day trip that combines Timanfaya with both Jameos del Agua and the Green caves - Check out program and book

If you like walking, some Volcano tours in Lanzarote are proposed with a guide and with pick up in the main tourist hubs, for example:

• Monte corona volcano and cliff hike in the North with views of La Graciosa - Check out program and book
• or a 4h hike with several volcanoes starting with Volcan del Cuervo but going further to other craters - Check out program and book
• Or, if planning in advance, you might get a spot in one of the Rangers' Timanfaya walks

• As I wrote before, the ground is mostly covered with solidified lava. Do not leave the path! Do no walk on lava! First is is edgy and you can't stand well. Second there might be caves under the lava and you are at risk of dropping suddenly
• Wear proper shoes. A lot of the time the path is made of picon, so it feels between sand and gravel and it can be tiring on the leg. High covering shoes might even be better so that the small rocks do not enter your shoes. I kept stopping to remove them from mine...
• Cover your head and apply sunscreen. The sun is really really harsh. I forgot the first day and was burnt very quickly
• Bring plenty of water. The walk can be strenuous and there is no shade at all
• But it is all worth it!!!!

With all that I wrote, you might be wondering: will Timanfaya erupt again? What is the risk of eruption in Lanzarote?

Timanfaya is currently classified as dormant.

However both Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are locate on the African Rift. It is thought that "If an eruption would be coming, the volcanologists would be able to warn about it in advance, but there would be a problem telling where on the island the eruption would happen." (from the volcanocafe)

And below are some extra photos fo the Lanzarote volcanoes that seem surreal but I promise this is what I saw!

Montana Colorada has really fascinating colours with a red side, and one that seems to change depending on the light:

Want to see more of the CANARY ISLANDS?