Timanfaya National Park — Attraction in Yaiza

Absolutely MUST-SEE! To be honest, this is the second best place I have visit through the whole Lanzarote trip! Absolutely breathtaking pictures when in one moment you feel like driving on the Moon and few second later like driving on Mars!

Pro Tip - be sure to come as EARLY AS POSSIBLE! You will avoid crowds and wont have a problem to find a parking place!

Timanfaya National Park, located on the island of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, Spain, is a stunning and unique volcanic landscape. It spans over 51 square kilometers and features dramatic terrain formed by volcanic eruptions that took place between 1730 and 1736, as well as later eruptions in 1824. The park is a protected area and part of the Lanzarote UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Key Highlights of Timanfaya National Park: Montañas del Fuego (Fire Mountains): • The park is dominated by a range of volcanic peaks, showcasing red, orange, and black hues. • Visitors can experience geothermal demonstrations where water is poured into the ground and erupts as steam, or see dry brush ignite from the heat just beneath the surface. El Diablo Restaurant: • Designed by renowned Canarian artist César Manrique, this restaurant uses the natural geothermal heat from the volcano to grill food. • It offers panoramic views of the volcanic landscape. Ruta de los Volcanes (Volcanic Route): • A guided coach tour takes visitors through the park, showcasing its lava flows, craters, and unique rock formations. • Independent exploration is restricted to protect the fragile ecosystem. Camel Rides: • Visitors can enjoy a ride on dromedaries (single-humped camels) along designated trails near the park. Visitor Center: • Located in Mancha Blanca, it offers interactive exhibits about the park’s geology, history, and flora and fauna.

Important Information: • Access: Visitors are not allowed to hike freely within the park to preserve its fragile environment. However, there are guided walking tours outside the restricted zones. • Flora and Fauna: Despite the arid appearance, the park supports specialized plants and animals adapted to volcanic conditions, such as lichens and small reptiles. • Geothermal Activity: The ground temperature just a few meters below the surface can reach up to 400°C (752°F).

Timanfaya National Park is a must-see for its otherworldly beauty and geological significance. Let me know if you’d like recommendations for planning a visit or tips on how to explore...

Unmissable visit in Lanzarote to see the otherworldly, stunning landscape generated by the latest volcanic eruptions in the 1700’s. I visited the most popular area: Montañas del Fuego, for which you have to pay an entrance fee of 12€ at the entrance from the road, before you reach the car park. There are combined tickets with other popular attractions in Lanzarote, reductions for children and disabled people.

The park is much bigger, but only small areas can be visited and only by guided tours.

Now the downsides: I arrived at 10:15 in the morning and I spent at least 30 minutes in my car queuing to pay for the entrance ticket first and then to get to the car park. I’ve read that if you arrive later it’s even worse and you could even be turned away. Try to get there before 10am. You can only tour the path across the lava fields on a coach. The tour is included in the entrance fee, it lasts 45 minutes-1 hour and it will stop in 3 or 4 places to make it easier for you to enjoy the landscape and take pictures. But you can never get off. That means hurrying up taking pictures, watching lava structures, struggling with window reflexes and with other passengers in the middle. Apparently this is for preserving the landscape. Which I totally agree with. However I think there must be a way to allow people to walk through the path, without letting them wander (which would be extremely challenging, considering the huge size and extreme ruggedness of the lava fields), but letting them enjoy the place a lot better. I know they arrange guided walks in other areas of the park only for small groups, so I understand that managing the huge crowds of visitors to the Montañas del Fuego can be challenging. Despite all of this, the site is well...

Timanfaya National Park – Lanzarote’s Martian Playground

Short Review:

Timanfaya National Park is a stunning, otherworldly landscape of lava fields and black ash valleys. While exploration is limited, the Devil’s Restaurant offers thrilling geyser demonstrations and hot stones, making this protected volcanic wonder both educational and unforgettable.

Longer review:

If you’ve ever wondered what life on Mars might feel like (minus the gravity suits and Elon Musk), then a visit to Timanfaya National Park is a must. This surreal, protected landscape is not just an area of scientific curiosity but an open invitation to marvel at nature’s fiery artistry.

Stretching for miles, the lava fields are a lesson in contradictions. They are barren, lifeless, and hauntingly desolate, yet somehow impossibly captivating. The true highlight, though, lies in the valleys of smooth, velvety black ash—a memento from the 18th-century volcanic tantrum that shaped this alien terrain.

Because the park is a strictly protected environment, you’ll have to remain aboard the coach as it winds its way through the otherworldly scenery. But don’t despair—there’s still time for some hands-on (or perhaps "lava-hot-stone-on") fun at the Devil’s Restaurant. Here, the Earth itself becomes the star of the show, with water exploding into geysers and molten-hot rocks daring you to touch them. A gimmick? Sure. But an entertaining and educational one that adds a touch of theatre to your journey through this sci-fi wonderland.

Timanfaya isn’t just a national park—it’s a portal to another world. Pack your curiosity and leave your...