Best Volcano Hikes in Lanzarote
The best volcano hikes in Lanzarote compared on distance and difficulty: Volcán del Cuervo, Caldera Blanca, Montaña Colorada, the Tremesana walk and Timanfaya's coastal trail.
Lanzarote is one of Europe’s most unusual places to hike, because volcanic terrain covers so much of the island. The access rules vary, though. Timanfaya National Park is tightly protected, while the land around it has good marked trails you can walk for free.
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If you want a guide, the Lanzarote: Hike Across Timanfaya’s Volcanic Landscapes tour covers about 9 km of lava in three hours from $51, rated 4.8/5 from 1,545 reviews.
Best hikes at a glance
| Hike | Approx. distance | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Volcán del Cuervo | Short circuit | Easy |
| Caldera Blanca | ~10 km | Moderate |
| Montaña Colorada | ~6 km | Easy |
| Tremesana | ~3.5 km | Easy, guided |
| Timanfaya coastal route | ~9 km | Difficult |
| Volcán de la Corona | Short/moderate | Moderate |
Volcán del Cuervo
The best easy volcano walk for most visitors.
On the marked route you can approach the cone and walk into the crater. It suits families and first-time hikers.
Our pick if you would like a guide: the Lanzarote: Volcano Hike, from $51, rated 4.8/5 from 423 reviews, walks Volcán del Cuervo and Montaña Colorada in one outing.
Caldera Blanca
Choose this if you want a proper half-day hike.
The route crosses black lava to an older, pale volcanic cone and climbs towards the rim of an enormous crater, about 10 km there and back. The views across the Timanfaya landscape are excellent. We found no guided Caldera Blanca walk on GetYourGuide, so plan to do this one on your own.
Montaña Colorada
An easy circuit of about 6 km with warm red and ochre volcanic colours.
The trail also passes a large volcanic bomb, which makes it a good walk if you are curious about the geology. The Volcano Hike above includes it with a guide.
Tremesana
The main guided walk inside Timanfaya.
The ranger-led Ruta de Tremesana is free and covers about 3.5 km in three hours, including the minibus from Yaiza, where the group meets in the Plaza de los Remedios. Places are limited to small groups, walkers must be 16 or over, and booking is mandatory. The park advises reserving at least 25 to 30 days ahead. It runs every day except Thursday.
Timanfaya coastal route
A path of roughly 9 km, one way, over rough lava along the park’s western coast, usually started from the El Golfo area.
The distance may sound moderate, but the park rates it high difficulty: allow four to five hours, wear sturdy footwear, carry plenty of water and expect stretches with no waymarking. No guide or reservation is needed. Stay on the path and well back from the cliff edges, which the park describes as unstable.
Guided or independent?
You can walk Cuervo, Caldera Blanca and Montaña Colorada independently if you have a car.
A guide adds the geology, the interpretation and the transport. Our pick for most people is the Timanfaya landscapes hike ($51, 4.8/5 from 1,545 reviews), which crosses the Los Volcanes Natural Park next to Timanfaya. If you would rather have hotel transfers included, the Lanzarote: Guided Volcano Hike with Transfers costs from $49 and is rated 4.9/5 from 952 reviews. The full comparison of Lanzarote volcano tours lists the rest.
Best time for hiking
Autumn through spring is the most comfortable time for longer routes.
You can still hike in summer, but start early and carry plenty of water because there is very little shade. Our guide to the best time for a Lanzarote volcano tour goes month by month, and what to wear and bring covers footwear.
Frequently asked questions
Can you hike freely in Timanfaya?
No. The volcanic interior is closed to walkers. The two exceptions are the free, booked Tremesana walk and the long coastal trail on the western shore.
Best easy volcano walk?
Volcán del Cuervo, a short marked circuit that takes you into the crater.
Best longer hike?
Caldera Blanca, about 10 km there and back to the rim of a large crater.
Best walk inside Timanfaya?
Tremesana, which is guided by park rangers and must be booked in advance.
Do you need hiking boots?
Not always for the easiest routes, but you do need sturdy footwear with good grip, because loose volcanic gravel is slippery.
For the coach route through the park itself, read how the Timanfaya bus tour works, or go deeper in our Timanfaya National Park guide.
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.
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