Coastal Canary Life
Things to Do in Lanzarote
Fire mountains, lava tubes, volcanic vineyards and an eighth island across the water — here’s what’s actually worth your time, and how to do it right.
Lanzarote doesn’t look like anywhere else. A whole island sculpted by six years of eruptions in the 1730s, then shaped by one artist — César Manrique — who decided tourism here would work with the volcanoes, not bury them under concrete. The result is magic: black lava fields you can walk through, caves turned into concert halls, vines growing in ash pits, and viewpoints that stop you mid-sentence.
Below are the experiences I’d send a friend to — the big unmissables, the boat trips, the wine, and the eighth island. Plus the rules you really need to know (some of these sell out or need booking before you leave home) and how it all connects.
The unmissables
Timanfaya National Park
This is the one. A Mars-red sea of craters and lava where the ground is still hot enough to grill your dinner — and they prove it, frying water into a geyser and cooking chicken over a natural heat shaft at the El Diablo restaurant. The standard ticket includes the Ruta de los Volcanes, a 35–45 minute coach loop through landscapes you simply can’t reach on foot, with audio in English, Spanish and German.
- Timed-entry slots since June 2025 — and the Montañas del Fuego ticket is sold online only, with a set date and time. Book ahead on the official site (~€22 adult).
- Get there before 9:15am or risk up to 2 hours queuing — the real bottleneck is parking, not the ticket desk.
- On the bus you can’t get off, and across the park: no drones, no smoking, never leave the marked paths. It’s fragile and protected.
- Want to walk it? The free, guided Tremesana route (3 km) is official-guide-only, minimum age 16, and books out weeks ahead via the national parks site.
Jameos del Agua & Cueva de los Verdes
Two ends of the same giant lava tube left by the Corona volcano — and the most beautiful things on the island. Jameos del Agua is Manrique’s first great work: a collapsed cave turned into a surreal world of a turquoise underground lake (home to tiny blind albino crabs found nowhere else), a white garden, and an auditorium with astonishing acoustics. Up the road, Cueva de los Verdes is a raw 50-minute guided walk through the lava tunnel itself, ending on an acoustic trick I won’t spoil.
- Cueva de los Verdes is online-only too (~€17), last entry 16:15 — book before you drive up, there’s no walk-up desk.
- Jameos del Agua (~€17) and most other centres do take walk-ups, but buying ahead saves queuing.
- Wear comfy shoes — it’s volcanic rock underfoot throughout.
Mirador del Río & the north
Manrique carved a viewpoint into the cliff at the island’s northern tip, 475 m above the sea — you walk through a curving white tunnel and emerge to a window over the strait, the salt flats and the island of La Graciosa floating below. On a clear day it’s one of the great panoramas in the Atlantic. Pair it with the Jardín de Cactus (Manrique’s last work — 4,500 cacti in an old volcanic quarry, ~€9) and the palm-filled valley of Haría.
🌵 North Lanzarote & Manrique tours →
La Geria wine valley
One of the strangest, most beautiful sights you’ll ever see: thousands of vines, each planted in its own pit dug into black volcanic ash, shielded by a little curved stone wall against the wind. No irrigation — the ash traps the dew. The grape is Malvasía Volcánica, and the wine is genuinely good. Stop at a bodega (La Geria, El Grifo — the oldest winery in the Canaries, Rubicón) for a tasting and a long lunch.
🍷 La Geria wine tours & tastings →Out on the water
Lanzarote’s coast is half the trip — turquoise coves, an offshore island, dolphins and even a real submarine.
La Graciosa, the eighth island
A 25-minute ferry from Órzola takes you to the Canaries’ eighth, officially-inhabited island — sand streets, no real roads, and some of the most pristine beaches in the archipelago. Go independently by ferry, or take a catamaran day with lunch. Often paired with Sunday’s Teguise market.
Catamaran to Papagayo
The south’s golden coves are gorgeous from land but unbeatable from the sea. A half-day sailing catamaran anchors in the sheltered Papagayo bays for swimming, snorkelling and kayaking — usually with paella and drinks aboard. The classic relaxed Lanzarote day out.
Dolphins & sunset sailing
The waters off Lanzarote are full of dolphins and whales. Morning wildlife cruises go looking for them; evening sunset sails (some on a silent, fully-electric catamaran) trade the search for golden light and a glass of cava.
A real submarine
From the millionaires’ marina at Puerto Calero, Submarine Safaris runs one of the world’s most advanced tourist submarines — a genuine dive to the seabed, no getting wet. Pricey, but unforgettable, and brilliant with kids or on a rare rainy day.
Volcanic wonders & viewpoints
The free, drive-yourself stops that string together perfectly on a south or west-coast road trip.
El Golfo & the Green Lagoon
A vivid emerald lagoon (Charco de los Clicos) cupped in a half-eaten crater, against black sand and the deep blue Atlantic. Looks photoshopped. It isn’t. The village does great fresh fish too.
Los Hervideros
Lava cliffs riddled with caves and blowholes where the Atlantic crashes and booms up through the rock. Walkways let you get right above the spray. Loud, raw, mesmerising — especially on a big swell.
Salinas de Janubio
The island’s historic salt flats — a patchwork of pink-and-white pans beside a black beach, glowing at sunset. Still working, quietly beautiful, and right next to Los Hervideros and El Golfo.
Echadero de Camellos
The camel rides up Timanfaya’s slopes — a centuries-old island tradition (these are working dromedaries). Short, touristy, but the kids love it and the view over the lava is real. It’s just outside the park gate.
Towns, markets & culture
Teguise & its Sunday market
The beautiful old capital, all cobbles and whitewash, hosts the biggest open-air market in the Canaries every Sunday, 10am–2pm — crafts, leather, mojo, cheese and live folklore. Come early; it gets busy. Climb to the Castillo de Santa Bárbara above for the pirate museum and the view.
Fundación César Manrique
To understand the whole island, visit the artist’s own home in Tahíche (~€10), built inside five volcanic bubbles linked by lava tunnels — each bubble a room with its own tree or pool. His art hangs alongside Picasso and Miró. The key that unlocks everything else you’ve seen.
Rancho Texas Park
Near Puerto del Carmen, a wildlife-and-water park with birds-of-prey and sea-lion shows, a small water zone and a Wild-West night show. The reliable rainy-day / restless-kids option.
Arrecife & its lagoon
The real capital, often skipped — and worth an afternoon. Stroll the Charco de San Ginés lagoon, the seafront, the Castillo de San José (Manrique’s contemporary-art museum, MIAC) and proper local tapas away from the resorts.
🧭 Getting around & connections
Honestly essential. The island’s small but the best spots — El Golfo, Los Hervideros, La Geria, Famara — aren’t on bus routes. Pick it up at the airport and just drive.
From Órzola in the north, ~25 min. Frequent crossings; book ahead in summer. No big cars needed on the other side — it’s a walking/cycling island.
From Playa Blanca, ~25–40 min to Corralejo — an easy day trip to the dunes, or an island-hop.
Most excursions pick up from Playa Blanca, Puerto del Carmen, Costa Teguise, Puerto Calero and Arrecife — and the Timanfaya bus route can only be done as an organised visit anyway.
🗓️ If you only have a few days
Timanfaya (early!), then La Geria for wine, El Golfo, Los Hervideros and Janubio at sunset.
Jardín de Cactus, Cueva de los Verdes, Jameos del Agua, Mirador del Río, lunch in Haría.
Catamaran to Papagayo, or the ferry to La Graciosa (perfect on a Sunday with Teguise market).
Famara beach, Fundación Manrique, Arrecife’s lagoon — or a dolphin/sunset sail.
Book the experiences
The big sights need tickets, the boat trips need seats — here’s where to sort it.
Some links above are affiliate links. If you book through them it costs you nothing extra and helps keep Coastal Canary Life running. Opening hours, ticket rules and prices change — always check the official sources (cactlanzarote.com, the national parks site) before you go.
Go slow, let the lava surprise you ✦
