Spain Travel Destinations

Exploring the otherworldly Lanzarote is a one-of-a-kind getaway on the “Island of 1000 Volcanoes.”  This protected area offers tours to enjoy the overall vast lunar-like, surreal landscapes and history.  I experienced 2 epic days, exploring Timanfaya National Park, Jameos del Agua and Mirador del Rio in one day. Then, day 2, I explored the northeastern area, including Cesar Manrique’s Cactus Garden and Lanzaloe Park.   So, read on to learn about these Lanzarote Canary Islands itinerary.

Lanzarote’s Volcanic History

Lanzarote is one of the 8 Canary Islands, just 125 km (78 mi) off the coast of Morocco.  The capital city is Arrecife, a nice hub from which to explore this volcanic paradise.  Furthermore, about 15 million years ago, the Canary Islands emerged after the division of the American and African continental plates.  Then, from 1730-1736 the world’s greatest recorded eruptions involving more than 100 volcanoes transformed the island.  Later, in 1824 two volcanoes erupted leaving the island as it is today.

The overall aftermath of these unprecedented events is the surreal moonscapes of Timanfaya (Fire Mountain) National Park.  The entire island is a biosphere reserve by UNESCO. Lanzarote is known as the “Island of the 1,000 volcanoes.” Six years of eruptions created an overall barren landscape covered in craters, canyons, valleys of solidified lava, and many small volcano cones.  However, only 1 volcano remains active today.

The volcanic activity continues at the core temperatures surface at just 13 (43 ft) meters deep, ranged from 100-600 degrees C (212-1,112 deg F).  

Furthermore, since the atmosphere has not yet affected the landscapes, scientists can research the initial stages of evolution after such volcanic events. Also, the Trade Winds are their strongest in spring and summer.  Thus, it’s best to plan a tour outside this time.  In addition, hot sirocco winds arise in the summer months, causing even more dry and dusty conditions. 

Fun Fact:  Pictures of the lunar landscapes of Lanzarote were shown to astronauts in training for their Apollo 17 expedition to the moon.

César Manrique, Architect and Artist

The monuments, artworks and architectural achievements of Cesar Manrique (1919-1992) help define Lanzarote culture.  His ingenious work overall strives for the ideal harmony between nature and art or architecture.  Therefore, the most iconic sites of the island are designed by this local. 

For example, I experienced 3 monuments of his creative achievements.  Being an architect, he designed the El Diablo Restaurant and Icon Sculpture, that is the national symbol. In addition, he created the eco-sanctuary, Jameos del Agua and epic Mirador del Rio Lookout. 

Lanzarote Canary Islands Itinerary
Timanfaya National Park, Jameos del Agua and Mirador del Rio

Day 1

This park is named after the island’s only active Timanfaya or “Fire Mountain” Volcano.  I enjoyed 2 separate tours in this national park by bus with awesome stops to walk, ride camels and even witness the geyser affect.  Overall, this is the most surreal, moon-like landscape, that I ever experienced.  The only other place that even compares is Iceland.  Overall, Lanzarote’s national park is an epic way to experience the unfathomable power of volcanoes. 

Surreal Landscapes and Geology

Lanzarote is a barren terrain with minimal plant life and vast tracts of lava fields covered with craters, canyons and many small volcano cones. However, even though it’s referred to as the “Island of 1000 volcanoes, only 1 volcano remains active today.

The molten rocks mix with mineral blends of red, brown, beige, black and orange. This contrasts strikingly with the bright blue sky and coastal waters.  Moreover, along with mineral content, the first signs of life are lichens variegating the color palette of landscapes.  The grounds expose materials exploded from the volcanoes, such as, ash, lapilli, tephra and volcanic bombs.  The lapilli create fields of tiny stones known as picon. 

My tour group rode in a camel train or caravan.  I opted out, to take photos instead. So, roaming the rugged terrain, I took stunning photos of the landscapes and tourists riding the camels in the morning light.  Also, I caught photos of the moon setting behind the barren rusty-brown hills.    

Fire Mountain and El Diablo Restaurant

At Fire Mountain we visited a visitor’s center with Cesar Manrique’s El Diablo Restaurant.  A demonstrator poured water into a hole.   (Just 10 meters below, the earth boils at almost 300 deg C.)  Then, almost immediately a gust of steam blew out of the hole straight into the sky, literally blowing off steam.  This is possible because the geothermally hot surface creates this geyser affect.

Manrique’s nearby El Diablo Restaurant is a cylindrical one-story structure enclosed in glass for panoramic views.  Furthermore, the restaurant’s oven utilizes the geothermal heat for naturally cooking unique dishes.  Outside the restaurant is Manrique’s sculptured symbol of El Diablo.  Also, this icon is the national symbol. It is a devil with pitchfork over head, representing the devilish force from the volcanic eruptions. 

La Geria Vineyard
Lanzarote Canary Islands Itinerary

Lanzarote’s historic volcanic eruptions buried fertile soil under lava and volcanic ash, known as picon.  Furthermore, icon retains moisture and locks it into the earth, allowing vines to survive in this dry climate.  The unique vine-growing of Lanzarote is laid out in deep hollows and curved dry stone, known as zocos.  Also, these zocos protect the vines from the summer’s drying siroccos and trade winds.  

Additionally, our tour stopped at the Valley of La Geria, spread out about 20 sq miles (52 sq km).  These vast fields spread throughout the valley reaching the volcanic slopes.  This area produces most of Lanzarote’s popular wines, with 75% made from the Malvasia grape.  This wine is known for being sweet and honey colored.  Overall, the Malvasia grape produces a variation of red, white and rose wines from sweet to very dry.   

Jameos de Agua Sanctuary
& César Manrique

Jameos del Agua is a series of lava caves, located in northern Lanzarote.  It’s also a eco-sanctuary of art, culture and tourism created by Cesar Manrique.  Furthermore, it offers amenities, like a subterranean salt lake, restaurant, gardens, emerald-green pool, museum and auditorium. Overall, it reflects the creativity of Cesar Manrique expressing nature and artistic creation in harmony.

Jameos del Agua  is home to a unique and endemic species of squat lobster. The blind lobster Munidopsis polymorpha, is barely one cm in length and sensitive to any changes. Therefore, Cesar Manrique designed a lobster sculpture outside the entrance to the Jameo del Agua. 

Mirador del Rio Lookout

Another architectural genius works of Cesar Manrique is the epic Mirador del Rio.  He built a viewpoint on a 475-metre high (1,560 ft) escarpment in northern Lanzarote.  This was created between 1971 and 1973.  Overall, it’s his trademark style with a balustraded café and platform on its top, integral with lava rock. 

Overall, this view is spectacular, seeing the Strait of El Rio and the island, La Gracioso far below.   From my memory and pictures, the cobalt blue water and sky that day was one of the most stunning displays of vivid indigos of my life. 

Lanzarote Canary Islands Itinerary
Cesar Manrique’s Cactus Garden
& Lanzaloe

Day 2

On the northeastern part of the island is Cesar Manrique’s Cactus Garden. The artist collaborated with the botanist Estanislao Gonzalez Ferrer transforming a volcanic crater into a terraced cactus garden. They quarried picon or volcanic gravel with decorative sculptures among 500 species of dramatic cacti from 5 continents.

A windmill is perched on a knoll and is one of the best-preserved in Lanzarote. The view at the top of the stairs offers a nice view of the garden below. Also, there’s the Cactus Garden Cafe offering the popular cactus burger. If you are using public transportation in Lanzarote, Buses 7, 9 and 26 run between Arrecife and the Jardín de Cactus.

Lanzaloe Park

Lanzaloe has 6 hectares of plantation harvested weekly with free admissions. It’s one of the biggest organic Aloe Vera plantations in the Canary Islands. The plantation also has fig trees, olive grove and argan trees. These ingredients are used in their products for sale onsite or online. Overall, the plantation is sustainable with solar power and a wind turbine.

Enjoy Lanzarote!

This geological magnum opus of Mother Nature had me awestruck.  After being to 105 countries, Lanzarote is one of my top 5 destinations for both culture and nature.  The artwork and architecture provide a connection between Mother Nature and Art.  Ultimately, there are numerous creative ways to experience this “Island of 1000 Volcanoes.” 

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