For anyone dreaming of a trip to outer space, there’s a pleasant surprise waiting. This spot on the Atlantic Ocean makes every visitor feel like they’re on another planet, without having to board a rocket.
Timanfaya National Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional de Timanfaya) is a natural protected area that was recognized as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1993. It is located in the southwestern part of Lanzarote, one of the Canary Islands. This extraordinary park was formed as a result of a series of volcanic eruptions that took place on Lanzarote between 1730 and 1736. The lava destroyed everything in its path at that time, and many inhabitants of the island decided to leave their homes and look for a safer place to live.
The lack of vegetation, the extreme harshness, the intertwining shades of red, brown, ochre, black and orange in various configurations, and the groups of volcanoes towering in the background create an exceptionally beautiful, though unusual landscape that no one planning a trip to Lanzarote should miss.
Discover Timanfaya National Park
The Timanfaya National Park covers a little over 50 km2, and although the highest volcano in its area is only 540 m high, it doesn’t take much more to be delighted by this place. This fact is confirmed by about a million tourists who visit this place every year, practically each of whom is silent for a moment in admiration.
Such a large number of visits makes Timanfaya one of the most popular places not only on the island of Lanzarote, but also in the Canary Islands. The park is often called the Fire Mountains (Montañas del Fuego), because the whole area is still active and hot. The temperature just a few centimeters below the ground is 100°C. It is even hotter at a depth of 10 meters – there the temperature can reach up to 600°C!
The symbol of Timanfaya Park is the characteristic devil that greets visitors at the entrance to the park, and whose image can be found on magnets and other souvenirs. The devil was designed by Lanzarote’s chief architect and the most popular figure on the island, César Manrique. Thanks to the work of the same artist, tourists on the island can also admire such popular attractions as Jameos del Agua and Jardín de Cactus.
You can often hear the Fire Mountains compared to the planet Mars or the Moon. And indeed, there must be something to it, because the potential of this place was also noticed by film producers. Timanfaya served, among others, as a film set for “Planet of the Apes”, and also appeared as a backdrop in many commercials. In addition, it is a place often chosen by astronauts for training before space expeditions.
What to see in Timanfaya?
The main attraction of Timanfaya Park is the Volcano Route (Ruta de los Volcanes) designed by César Manrique. Impressed by the volcanic beauty of this area, the artist created a 14-kilometer route along the main core of the eruption. Following this path, visitors can see volcanoes, caves, craters, lava fields and unusual formations created from volcanic rocks. If the view of the volcanic landscape is not enough for you, see what unique experiences await you in the park.
Timanfaya Park Interpretation Center
Before starting the actual tour, it is worth visiting the Volcano Museum located at the entrance. This institution is a center of knowledge about the history of the protected area, the genesis of individual volcanoes and all the secrets hidden by the park. Centro de Visitantes e Interpretación de Mancha Blanca, as the museum is officially called, presents a scientific view of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in the history of the Earth, which took place on Lanzarote in 1730-1736. The building is divided into several parts, which include:
- Exhibition Hall – the knowledge gained in this hall allows visitors to understand everything they can observe during their visit to the park. You can also see a cabin for the prevention and monitoring of seismic and volcanic risk and a space dedicated to the cultivation of vines on volcanic slopes.
- Simulation Room – as the name suggests, in this part of the museum you can experience a simulation of a volcanic eruption.
- Projection Room – the room shows two audiovisual presentations, the total duration of which is about 30 minutes.
- Library – has an extensive collection of publications, photos and films related to the geology of Timanfaya National Park, Lanzarote and the Canary Islands.
Geothermal Demonstrations
Have you been enchanted by the volcanic landscape of Timanfaya Park? Then this point of the trip will make an even bigger impression on you. In the geyser area, you can witness geothermal demonstrations presented by park staff.
The branch they throw into a small hole immediately catches fire, and the water poured there immediately boils, creating an impressive geyser. Thanks to such an experiment, everyone can see with their own eyes that the earth in this place is still active and very hot!
Restaurant in the Volcano
The trip is complemented by a visit to an unusual building. The structure, covered with raw volcanic stone, blends perfectly with the surroundings, and inside there is an extraordinary restaurant, which is worth visiting not only if you get hungry after the trip. The El Diablo restaurant, located on Hilario Island (Islote de Hilario), is very unusual because it offers dishes prepared in the crater of a volcano!
The heat generated by the still active volcano allows cooking in a characteristic, five-meter-deep oven. Thanks to the heat coming from the interior of the earth, the furnace reaches a temperature of 250-300 degrees. In this way, not only meat, fish and vegetables are grilled, but also coffee is prepared.
The building is another project of the aforementioned artist, Cesar Manrique, whose creativity is visible, among others, in the form of lamps in the restaurant, which are created from hand-forged pans.
How to See Timanfaya Park?
The best way to get around the whole island is to rent a car (you can rent it, for example, through the RentalCars website), not only for convenience, but also due to the fact that you will not reach many attractions by bus. However, even if you go to Timanfaya National Park on your own, you will not avoid a coach ride anyway.
You cannot drive your own car on the Volcano Route. The main tourist attractions of the park can only be seen in organized groups. What’s more, Timanfaya National Park is such a valuable place for the inhabitants of Lanzarote that you cannot get off the vehicle during photo stops. For fear of potential damage, walking freely in the park is strictly prohibited.
Another option to explore this area is by hiking trails, the 9-kilometer Ruta del Litoral and the 4-kilometer Ruta Tremesana. However, entry to these trails is also only allowed with a guide. They are recommended as a complement to the main tour, for those who want to spend more time surrounded by the volcanic landscape. This is definitely not an alternative to a bus visit, because the hiking trails do not allow you to see the main attractions of the Volcano Route.
Practical info
If you decide to sightsee on your own, you must bear in mind that you will still not miss the bus trip. Timanfaya National Park is such a valuable place for the inhabitants of Lanzarote that they do not allow tourists to freely walk around its area, for fear of potential damage.
- It is best to buy tickets to Timanfaya in advance. You will then avoid standing in line and you will avoid the risk that all tickets have been sold out.
- Buy tickets on GetYourGuide
