Jameos del Agua: Tickets, Opening Hours & What You'll See
Jameos del Agua is César Manrique's lava-tube centre in northern Lanzarote — the underground lake, the blind crabs, the white pool and the auditorium. Prices, hours and what to expect.
Jameos del Agua gets filed under “Lanzarote’s caves,” and that undersells it. It sits inside a volcanic lava tube, but what César Manrique built there is closer to a garden, a concert hall and an art installation than a cave tour — an underground lake, a palm-filled chamber with the island’s most photographed pool, and an auditorium carved into the rock.
Here’s what the ticket gets you, and how it compares with its neighbour, Cueva de los Verdes.
Check Availability
Jameos del Agua at a glance
- Location: northern Lanzarote, on the La Corona lava-tube system
- Opening hours: 10:00–18:00 daily, last access 17:15
- Standard adult admission: from €17, children aged 0–6 free
- Typical visit: 60–120 minutes, self-paced
- Main highlights: the underground lake and blind crabs, Jameo Grande, the white pool, the auditorium
What exactly is Jameos del Agua?
Jameos del Agua occupies part of the lava tube created by the Volcán de la Corona eruption. As lava flowed toward the coast, the outer surface cooled and hardened while molten rock kept moving underneath; once the flow drained away, a hollow tunnel was left behind. Where sections of the roof later collapsed, they created openings known locally as jameos — this one gives the attraction its name.
Rather than hide the volcanic rock, César Manrique built the visitor route around it, and Jameos del Agua opened in 1966 as the first of his art-and-nature centres on the island.
The underground lake
Early in the route you reach a natural underground lake, connected indirectly to the Atlantic through the rock. Look closely at the dark water and you may spot tiny white crustaceans moving along the bottom — Munidopsis polymorpha, blind albino crabs found nowhere else on Earth. They’re the island’s unofficial emblem, and the reason staff ask visitors not to throw coins into the water: it’s a protected ecosystem, not a wishing well.
Jameo Grande and the pool
Past the lake, the route opens out into Jameo Grande, where black lava walls surround a landscaped space of palms, white paving and the turquoise pool that appears in most photos of the site. The pool is for viewing, not swimming — it’s part of the design, not a public bathing area.
The auditorium
A separate volcanic chamber holds an auditorium built directly into the lava tube, seating several hundred people for concerts and cultural events. It’s one of the clearest examples anywhere on the island of Manrique’s approach: working with the volcanic landscape rather than paving over it.
Jameos del Agua vs Cueva de los Verdes
The two attractions sit on the same La Corona lava-tube system a few minutes’ drive apart, but they’re different kinds of visit. Choose Jameos del Agua for the Manrique architecture, the gardens, the pool and photography. Choose Cueva de los Verdes for a true guided walk through a kilometre of raw, dark lava tunnel with a geology-led commentary.
If you only have time for one and want the volcano itself rather than the design around it, Cueva de los Verdes is the stronger pick. For the full side-by-side — prices, timings and a pick for every kind of traveller — see our Cueva de los Verdes vs Jameos del Agua comparison.
Can you visit both on the same day?
Yes, easily — they’re one of Lanzarote’s simplest sightseeing combinations, a few minutes apart on the same road. Since Cueva de los Verdes runs on timed, guided entry, book that slot first and fit Jameos del Agua around it rather than the other way round.
How long do you need?
Around 90 minutes covers a typical visit at a comfortable pace. Add extra time if you stop at the on-site Casa de los Volcanes (a small volcanology exhibition covering the same La Corona system) or eat at the Jameos del Agua restaurant.
Is Jameos del Agua worth it?
Yes, especially once you know what you’re buying a ticket for. If you came hoping for a pure cave experience, Cueva de los Verdes delivers that more directly. If you want a distinctly Lanzarote combination of volcanic landscape, architecture and art in one visit, Jameos del Agua is one of the island’s most distinctive stops — and it’s the attraction most visitors remember longest.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jameos del Agua a cave?
It sits inside a volcanic lava tube, but it has been developed as an architectural and cultural space rather than left as a natural cave — expect gardens, a pool and an auditorium alongside the underground lake.
Can you swim in the pool?
No. The white pool in Jameo Grande is for viewing and photography only, not public swimming.
Are Jameos del Agua and Cueva de los Verdes connected?
Yes. Both are sections of the same La Corona lava-tube system, a few minutes apart by road, though only these two stretches are open to visitors.
How long does the visit take?
Most visitors spend 60 to 120 minutes, longer with a stop at Casa de los Volcanes or the restaurant. It’s self-paced, unlike the guided Cueva de los Verdes visit next door.
Can you combine it with Timanfaya?
Yes, but it makes for a long north-to-south day, since Timanfaya sits in the south-west of the island and Jameos del Agua is in the north. Several full-day tours are built around exactly this combination — see our guide to choosing a Lanzarote volcano tour.
Compare it directly against its neighbour in our Cueva de los Verdes vs Jameos del Agua guide, or browse tours that include Jameos del Agua.
Stand on the Fire Mountains
Guided hikes across the lava fields, coach tours with Timanfaya park entry, and the lava tubes of the La Corona eruption. Free cancellation on every tour listed here.
Check Availability & Book